Costa Ricans like to use the expression “pura vida.” There is no other place in Latin American where you will hear it used.  It means literally “pure life.”  However, Costa Ricans, or ticos, use it generally to express various forms of gratitude.  Costa Ricans are a very gracious people.  I believe the reason for their extraordinary sense of gratitude lies in their unusual experience of freedom.  Costa Rica is a democracy in the truest sense that you will find anywhere.  This was exhibited recently when the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which was stymied in the legislature, was put to a national referendum.  It narrowly passed as the ticos took to the pools peacefully to cast their vote.  However, tico “democracy” is also displayed in the way they conduct their daily lives and especially in the attitudes they carry as they go about doing so.  Ticos love their freedom and it is reflected in the easygoing nature they exemplify that is captured so succinctly with their often used phrase, Pura Vida!  I am fortunate to live among the ticos and hopefully their example of freedom in spirit will rub off on me and that I might have the opportunity to rub off on others who come to the country through my influence.  Ticos may not be as wealthy or affluent as those in the U.S. or even those in developed Latin American countries like Chile or Argentina, but the level of freedom one possesses and moreover, actually enjoys, is not always a direct corollary of one’s affluence. Ticos are rich because they not only are free, but they live free. Free from the idea that one has to live to work and open to the idea of working to live.  The government provides the freedom necessary for the working, but the attitude of the ticos, the pura vida attitude, provides the impetus for the living.  I would say Costa Rica more than any other Latin American country, and maybe any country anywhere for that matter, exemplifies Ronald Reagan’s “shining city on the hill” and hopefully their light will shine and illuminate the path of freedom for others who are searching to find their own sense of “pura vida.”

Freedom Facts:

• Form of Government: Constitutional Democratic Republic
• 115 years of uninterrupted democracy
• Abolished military in 1949 after 44 days civil war
• Government separated into 4 powers: Executive, Legislative and Judicial
• Presidential elections every 4 years

Free 100 Cool Things eBook

100 Cool Things to Do in Costa Rica

10 Crazy Cool Things to do in 10 Super Cool Places - entertaining, informative and the perfect tool to help make your Costa Rica vacation as cool as it should be...