Hospitality, Costa Rican Style

A few days ago we bumped our way up a steep, rock-strewn road in a four-wheel-drive SUV, 10 miles up the side of a mountain to the Tenorio Volcano National Park in northern Costa Rica.

As we approached the ranger, my mother threw up her hands, “Wilber!”

“Doña Mary!” he said.

This is what it’s like to travel around Costa Rica with my parents, who served in the country as Peace Corps volunteers almost 20 years ago. The very fortunate entourage of Doña Mary and Don Jerry get free lodging in a beautiful cabin, lavish homemade meals, guide service, horseback rides. Whatever we want.

Estan en su casa, they tell us, and they mean it.