COUNTRY POPULATION SIMILAR TO OREGON
By Bob Van Leer

  (CALDERA, COSTA RICA, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 1997) - A white water raft trip was the highlight of this short visit to Costa Rica.

  Our cruise ship, Legend of the Seas, arrived in Caldera this morning after a 1013 mile sail from the Panama Canal.

  Several shore excursions were available and one billed as Corobici River whitewater rafting looked good to me. Given the time limitations, it was a two-hour float and the river wasn't very white, more like the lower Rogue River, but much narrower.

  Our guide said Costa Rica offers challenging rafting, but up in the mountains too far to reach in the short time our ship is in port.

  It was a lot of fun after not being off the ship for three days. Wildlife was a little different. There were quite a few howler monkeys in the taller trees. One group didn't like our raft below them and threw things at us. I also saw several iguanas , but these were in a tree near the restaurant where we had lunch.

  Betty and my sister, June, elected for a shopping trip at a nearby town.

  Costa Rica is a small, peaceful Central American country sandwiched between Panama and Honduras. Its population is about that of Oregon, 3.2 million, and about a million are in San Jose, the capital, located in the mountains out of the coastal heat. 

  It is not a wealthy country. Our guide said a low paid job would be $200 per month. But living costs, with a few exceptions, are low and the dollar goes a long way. A considerable number of U.S. citizens have retired here where $750 per month buys a comfortable living. We were told a very good house is in the $50,000-60,000 range.

  Interests are a little different. Our guide said the minimum infrastructure to have a town are: a soccer field, a school, a church and a bar.

  Automobiles, however, cost twice as much as they do in the U.S. and gas prices are about $1.80 per gallon.

  It rains here from April to November and annual rainfall is almost 10 feet, which is just about what fell in Gold Beach in 1996.

  Costa Rica has no army. It was abolished 70-80 years ago. But one local said part of the reasoning is that they can always call on the United states for help, and he is probably right.

  Our guide said tourism has replaced coffee and bananas as the number one industry in the country. The country has a lot for tourists to see. We were told 25% of the country is in national parks.

  Costa Rica has several active volcanoes, some still steaming. And all around are tropical rain forests.

  At 6:30 p.m. our ship sailed for Acapulco, Mexico, 1013 miles to the northwest. For the next two days we will be at sea.