Costa Rica in Crisis
Our Readers Write
To whom it may concern:
I just wanted to let you know
about my recent experience in
Costa Rica.
I was in your country on
vacation with my family and I
got caught in traffic due to the
strike.
We were traveling home from
the beach to my parents home ( a
trip that should have taken 3
hours) and we were on the road
for 18 hours.
I was so disappointed in the
lack of action taken by the
government and police force in
this emergency.
In fact, it didn't even seem to
be an "emergency" with the way
natives were reacting. The only
people who seemed to be angry
and agitated by the situation
were the tourists.
As I sat in my rental car for
hours, I went through every
single radio station, both AM
and FM to hear news about what
was happening and nothing was
being broadcast.
It's unbelievable that a country
cannot update the public about a
serious situation like that.
They're living in the dark.
We begged the truckers to let us
pass because one of my relatives
was very sick and needed her
medication but they refused. We
risked our lives trying to drive
home through a 'back road'
filled with pot holes that
night.
We nearly drove off a cliff
because of the dangerous driving
conditions.
This experience has left a very
bad/negative impression of the
country with me. When I had left
Costa Rica, every tourist I met
at the airport said they would
never return to this country
again and I personally feel the
same way.
It will take me a considerable
amount of time to forgive the
county for the hell they put me
and my family through.
I hope the president of Costa
Rica realizes the impact his
inability to lead the country
has left on peoples lives.
On August 23rd, I almost lost my
life in a small country who had
no control over its people and
whose people had no respect for
laws and human suffering.
Kimba Reich
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - -
I am not sure what is really
going with the strikes. I can
only say that it's a lousy way
to treat visitors who come to
your country with money to spend
and vacation on their minds.
I was fortunate enough to get
back to San José on Sunday, the
day before all the road blocks,
after a week at beach and had no
problem leaving.
I still think of what would have
I done if I had missed my flight
because of the protests.
I will still come back to Costa
Rica. I hope by then all the
strikes will be over.
Fabian McPhell
|
