A few days ago, I saw a video someone made in California to create consciousness on the acceptance of different people. (Video link… super worth the time to see it!). It made me think about traveling as a way to gain World peace.
And yes, definitely traveling is a way to get World peace. Why? Because when we travel we discover humanity. We discover the humans behind the race, the cultures, the religions and some other tags we give to other humans of the World. We discover that they are no different from us.
People from all over the World struggle for the same reasons, laugh of the same funny things, and love the same beautiful things. The amazing thing about traveling is that you discover that among all these equities there are also tremendous differences… in form. Content is the same, but the form changes and that’s exactly why traveling is such a delight! Because it is in the colors, the tones, the flavors and the aromas where the beautiful differences come.
Costa Rica is an great country… the actual word for it would be: exceptional. But… What makes it an exception… really?
It is a very easy, however tricky answer: Peace. That’s what makes us different.
Our history makes us different… However, when we travel we realize that what really makes Costa Rica (And Costa Ricans) different is not the abolition of the army, but what that did to us… We are exactly like the rest of humanity but we were shaped by our history in a peaceful way. Peace with our neighbors, peace with nature. That is our form. We are peaceful.
And peace without a doubt, creates happiness, creates prosperity, creates education, creates a different pace.
As daring and fragile it may sound to be from a country without an army for Costa Ricans getting the army back is out of the questions. Statistically proven, 98% of Costa Ricans don’t consider the army to be a possible choice. Whatsoever.
Costa Rica is a beautiful country, and it is exceptional. In a very small area you find so many different options that is almost confusing. In a very small lapse of time you can be in several different climates, and see a lot of wildlife, birds and forests. But what really makes it outstanding is that you really travel in Peace. And Peace surrounds you. You see it in the people, you feel it in your skin when you are here.
Unknown by many, underrated by others. Peace is a powerful, shaping, extraordinary force. Is a force that guides, protects, shapes and drives. And we are immersed in it. That is Costa Rica’s strength and way, the only one we know. Peace.
Written by Olga Sáenz for Camino Travel.
