Kirsten recently returned from Costa Rica, and I’m jealous. I’ve been twice, and it’s among my favourite destinations on the planet. They’ve got it going on there–an effective mix of literacy, environmentalism and democracy with no standing army and few of the usual Central American political issues. Kirsten writes:
Along the way Shalina stopped to rescue a sea turtle, which had gotten a leg trapped in some kind of mesh bag and was swimming frantically in circles with dozens of tiny fish surrounding it. One of the other guides held it while she figured out how to detach the bag, and those of us close to it gingerly touched it, avoiding the nasty hook on its beak. She released it as soon as it was free.
It sounds like she had a great time. She also took a bunch of great photos.
In one section, she writes about meeting other travellers. I know lots of people, particularly teenagers and twenty-something, view this as a valuable part of the travelling experience. I can’t stand it. I aspire to travel where there are few other tourists. So, when someone one comes up to me and starts chatting about the weather in Kingston or Brooklyn or wherever, I must resist the urge to beat them senseless with my day pack. I’m always eager to talk to the locals, but if you ever see me abroad, steer clear.
DarrenBarefoot.com 
Well, ordinarily when I’ve travelled I’ve also preferred talking to locals over other tourists. But this was the first time I’ve travelled in a place where I really didn’t know the language well enough to hold a conversation – and while locals know a lot of English, they’d probably prefer to converse in Spanish. I didn’t find the locals all that friendly, either – not rude, just not particularily friendly. A bit like New Yorkers (who really aren’t rude, but just have other things to do and aren’t interested in you) but without ANY of the rushing around.
Most of the friendly travellers were going to or from the Monteverde cloud forest area, at or near the ecological reserves. The Montezuma tourists by the beach seemed to be younger kids looking to get away or to party, and they weren’t as interested in talking. Guess it just depends where you go…