EMINYAKENI engamakhulu amahlanu edlule, abantu baseSpain baqala ukuvakashela le ndawo. Bayibiza ngokuthi iCosta Rica (Ugu Olucebile), becabanga ukuthi bazothola igolide eliningi—okuyinto engenzekanga. Leli zwe namuhla laziwa njengezwe lezilwane nezitshalo eziningi emhlabeni, hhayi njengezwe lamagugu ambiwa phansi.

Abantu baseCosta Rica baziwa ngokuthi ama-Ticos ngenxa yomkhuba wabo wokuqedela amagama ngezinhlamvu ezithi “-ico” ukuze bakhe isinciphiso. Ngokwesibonelo, esikhundleni sokuthi bathi, “un momento” (umzuzwana nje) bangase bathi, “un momentico” (umzuzwanyana nje). Ekukhulumeni kwansuku zonke bavame ukuthi “¡pura vida!” (impilo emsulwa!) ukuze babonise ukwazisa noma lapho benza isivumelwano noma lapho beqonde ukuthi “sawubona” noma “sala kahle.”

Esinye sezidlo ezithandwa abantu baseCosta Rica yi-gallo pinto (okusho ukuthi “iqhude elinamachashaza”)—bapheka ilayisi nobhontshisi bese bekufaka  izinongo. I-gallo pinto ingadliwa ekuseni, emini nantambama. Isiphuzo sabo somdabu yi-café chorreado—ikhofi elisefwa ngendwangu elengiswe ohlakeni olwenziwe ngokhuni.

Kunamabandla oFakazi BakaJehova angaba ngu-450 eCosta Rica. Imihlangano yabo iqhutshwa ngezilimi eziyishumi, kuhlanganise nolimi lwezandla lwaseCosta Rica nezilimi zomdabu ezimbili zaseCosta Rica—isiBribri nesiCabecar.