16 February 2009
The “greater” Monteverde area encompasses three communities rather spread out in the mountains here: Santa Elena, Cerro Plano, and Monteverde. We are on the western edge of Monteverde, near Cerro Plano, a diffuse zone gathered along the road that connects Santa Elena, a Tico town, with Monteverde, a community founded by Quakers in 1951. There must be a very interesting social history that connects the settling of US Quakers in this area shortly after WWII (Quakers are pacifists and Costa Rica has no army since just before that time), the founding of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, the ecotourism movement, and Costa Rica’s current economic, political, and socio-geographic configuration. But I don’t know much about this all.
On my walk today, I went along the dirt road to the entrance of the Monteverde Cloud Forest reserve, about 2.25 miles. Here’s a glimpse of what things look like in that direction. There are lots of businesses along the road, such as Stella’s bakery (only 5 min from the Tree Top House), which, according to Ingrid, has the world’s best brownies. The scene at the top of the post is looking over the Cloud Forest reserve, from near the end of the road. Although the final photo suggests a nice walking path, the reality is mixed. Often one must walk on the dirt road and contend with the SUVs and buses that ply the route (slowly but dustily).
No comments:
Post a Comment