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Shirley and “Harry” King (Mr./Mrs. H.L. King) celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary
with an escorted tour of Costa Rica.
The Clearwater residents took Tropical Breeze along and offered this report about the Central American country: “The people are friendly and
the verdant mountains, valleys and sea shores beautiful.
Costa Rica is a progressive democratic country. 70% of the people (age 18 with a National Card) vote in major
elections. San Jose, the capitol, has a beautifully preserved opera house. The city of one
million residents is bustling; businesses and homes are well “barred” in, indicating the need
to protect against crime.
The airport is modern; the “mercardo” is full of beautiful veggies and flowers along with the country’s products of delicious pineapples, bananas and coffee.
(They say even Juan Valdez, in the ad for Colombian coffee, drinks Costa Rican coffee;
it is very good.)
Costa Rica is very eco-minded and Dr. Archie Carr, University of Florida, set up an institute for the preservation of turtles in 1972. The rain forest and institute at
Tortuguero affords the opportunity to observe and study the turtles and help in their
preservation. This is on the Atlantic side; Tamarindo, a bustling Pacific beach (not unlike Clearwater Beach in development) completes the tour on the other side of the country after
spending time midway at the active Arenal volcano. Tectonic plate up-lift produced the land
bridge between the Americas, leaving many volcanoes, mountains and valleys. Water “oscillators” from Arenal lake is a simple method of allowing gravity flow to push the water
into towers and flow out to turn the turbines, producing 40% of the country’s electricity.
Even though it was the rainy season, we easily stepped around it to enjoy what they call: “Pura Vida” — Life is good (all the time, in Costa Rica).”
PHOTO FOR TROPICAL BREEZE COURTESY OF HENRY L. AND SHIRLEY S. KING
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