Nica to Tica

Greetings from Monteverde Costa Rica. I've been away from internet for a while and a lot has changed since the last time I wrote. On Monday we tackled the daunting task of crossing the frontera . Nicaragua and Costa Rica are two completely different worlds. Both Heidi and I feel like we're experiencing culture shock. Here are a couple of differences we've noticed:

- Cordobas to Colones ... a good brain work out: new conversion rates and prices. Unfortunately things are a bit pricey here. When we were in Nicaragua we usually had to ask to clarify the price because we couldn't believe the prices were so low. Now we're shocked because they're so high. :-(

- Intern to tourist - my role now is quite different. I'm no longer living and working in a foreign country. I'm now traveling around as a white American tourist. I think I prefer the role of intern, but it can be fun to play the tourist role as well.

- "Ma and Pa shop" to "well-established restaurant." A few times in Nicaragua we went to eat at Comedor's that were literally in a family's yard/house. Now things are more ritsy and upscale. I would say that Nicaragua is to Costa Rica what Masaya is to Granada. The experience in Masaya feels very authentic and "small town". Granada is full of tourists and expensive restaurants. Life in Nicaragua is completely different....even on the Isla de Ometepe: a beautiful tourist destination, things are pretty rustic. That's part of the charm. Costa Rica is beautiful as well, I think I'm just partial to NI because I miss it right now.

- Gallo Pinto to Gallo Pinto - Each country claims that they were the first to come up with it and that theirs is the best. We have yet to eat it here in Costa Rica so we'll see how they compare.

- Spanish to English/or "Costa Rican Spanish" - Every once in a while you'll run into English-speakers in Nicaragua but not nearly as common as here in Costa Rica. And the Spanish here is SO different. It's almost funny to me to hear the Costa Rican Spanish.

- Cold to warm - They have warm water for showers in our hostel! We're very appreciative for this because it's quite chilly here in the cloud forest of MonteVerde.