Where are the Ticos?

You know how the holy grail for travelers is to "go where the locals are"? Yes, it is kind of a paradox. But of course sometimes it is indeed possible, if you know where to look.

Well, last Saturday there was a big soccer game - Costa Rica versus Mexico. These two local kids at the bus stop told us to go to Lirio's (a bar in Manuel Antonio) to watch the game. We showed up, expecting to see a bar packed full of people who were drinking and shouting at the screen. Instead we saw several couples or small groups of people quietly watching the game, and several tables were empty. What happened? People told us that CR v. Mexico is like a national holiday. This game is a big deal. Well, earlier in the day I had asked the guy at the hostel where he was going to watch it. 'At a friend's house', he said.

See, locals actually don't have lots of money to go out to bars or restaurants. This is sometime we take for granted so much in the US. How many people in the U.S. could not afford to go to a sports bar and have one or two beers while watching a game?

Now on Sunday, we found the Ticos. R. convinced me to go to mass with her. The church is in Quepos, not Manuel Antonio. (I don't think there are actually any Ticos who live in Manuel Antonio. But Quepos is a 'real' town.) I'm pretty sure we were the only foreigners in the whole church. Afterwards, everyone streamed out of the church and went straight to the soccer field. A bunch of local kids who do karate were dressed up in their uniforms doing demonstrations on the field. Music was playing and everyone was hanging out.

I generally don't go to church anymore, but it was fun to see a Costa Rican mass. It was pretty similar to an American mass. The main difference that I noticed was that after the homily all of the kids went up to the front and hugged the priest. How cute is that? Not sure it would fly in the States these days.