Joseph Rosendo's Steppin' Out

-It's said a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

-Whoo-hoo!

-Welcome to "Joseph Rosendo's Steppin' Out."

Today we're steppin' out in Costa Rica, Central America, and discovering the many meanings of pura vida.

Gracias.

Pura vida.

-Qu rico... -iPura vida!

-"Joseph Rosendo's Steppin' Out" is made possible by... -Since 1975, we've inspired adults to learn and travel in the United States and in more than 100 countries.

From exploring our national parks to learning about art and culture in Italy, we've introduced adults to places, ideas, and friends.

We are Road Scholar.

We make the world our classroom.

-There's a reason people call Myrtle Beach "the beach."

There are 60 miles of wide sandy beaches along South Carolina's Grand Strand coast.

This vacation destination has golf courses, attractions, food, wine, and southern sun.

-Costa Rica is a haven of peace and stability in an historically turbulent Central America.

This state of affairs was not established by accident, but rather by the determined will of the Ticos, the friendly nickname native Costa Ricans give themselves.

Since 1949, their constitution has forbidden a standing army, and more than a quarter of the country's land is protected in national parks, reserves, and wildlife refuges.

At the center of the country, geographically and culturally, is the capital city of San Jos.

San Jos is considered one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Latin America.

In its resurgent downtown, I wander through busy pedestrian zones to the lively Central Market... -Hola, cmo est?

-Bien, gracias a Dios.

-Oh, gracias.

...and to historic buildings housing casas de caf y cacao for coffee and cacao tastings... -[ Chuckles ] -Mmm!

...and with my guide, Jimmy, to the city center's crown jewel, el Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica.

Wow.

It's quite impressive.

-Back in the day, you had nothing but a few fields and very modest houses.

Imagine the impression of Costa Ricans seeing this castle being built in Costa Rica.

The elite of the time wanted to re-create what they were seeing while being educated in Europe.

-So this is one of the treasures of San Jos.

-Treasures of San Jos and Costa Rica.

-It's part of the historic district down here which is being revitalized, I understand.

-It is.

-So, he's restoring it.

Fabulous.

-They're restoring all the -- the golden plated.

-Ah, they're in the process of doing that.

How long does it take to redo these?

-It's going to last like 14 months for... -To do this whole room.

Spectacular.

This is going to be stunning.

San Jos is the natural jumping-off point for exploring Costa Rica's volcanoes, rivers, rain and cloud forests, and discovering why it ranks in the top 20 of the planet's most biodiverse countries.

The amount of wildlife is overwhelming -- 903 kinds of birds, 240 types of mammals, 300,000 varieties of insects.

These wondrous creatures represent nearly 5% of the world's non-human population.

Eco resorts, like the Selva Verde Lodge, make Costa Rica's diversity accessible to all.

How did it begin?

-My mom, Giovanna Holbrook, had a birding tour group that was in the area and had a problem staying at the nearby station that was full, and that's how we learned about this property and started Selva Verde at that time.

So it was really just as eco tourism was starting to take off.

The reserve is about 500 acres.

It's mostly old growth and also secondary growth forests on the other side.

This is a great base for families, student groups, groups that just want to enjoy nature, experience the birds, the wildlife, the insects, the forest.

And yet, at the same time, you need a level of comfort in order to enjoy it.

-Right.

-And so we really try and maintain that balance.

What's really important for us is to have covered walkways so that when it's raining, which it does very often, you can just walk around and really visit so much of the wildlife and the bird life, and you don't have to get wet and you can just enjoy it.

This was really part of our family, part of us.

And even though we don't live here, I feel like my heart and part of my mind is always here.

-Well, thank you for having developed this, 'cause we really appreciate the ability to have shared it.

You know, Costa Rica, they say pura vida about pretty much everything.

What about this experience and the way you show off the natural environment here?

How is that part of the pura vida idea?

-Pura vida is "pure life," and the biodiversity here is really all about life -- just the abundance and variety of life.

-I think that's some guy right there.

Howler monkey.

[ Monkey howling ] So, this is all coming back -- all the conservation of the animals and... -Conservation of [indistinct] a great deal for us.

-So, this is the Sarapiqui River?

-Yes.

-And where does it start?

-Up in the mountains.

Barva volcano, 70 kilometers down, reaches the border with Nicaragua.

-I love the suspension bridge.

You can get right out over the river and see the birds.

Now, this is a river we're going to be rafting later today.

Can't wait.

It's fabulous.

[ All shout "pura vida" ] -Whoo!

-Whoo-hoo!

-Whoo-hoo!

-Yes!

Okay, let's do a high five.

Everybody put their paddles up together.

iPura vida!

-From my river-running adventures, I've learned that rapids are a trip's exclamation points.

An the Sarapiqui, there's plenty of whitewater to thrill those in search of heightened punctuations of pleasure.

-Whoo-hoo!

-There's also time and places to chill out and enjoy a leisurely drift by the abundant array of rainforest flora and fauna.

Not only do we get a taste of the river, we get a taste of Costa Rica -- literally.

-I'll have some.

There you go.

Thank you.

-This adds another touch to the pura vida experience that we get on the river, which has to do with how sweet it is, huh?

Costa Rica is not only rich in wildlife.

It has a wealth of agricultural crops.

10% of this small country is devoted to them.

At the tasty top of a list that includes coffee, guanbana, bananas, coconut, and sugar are pineapples.

I've discovered that to get the best taste of a country... go to the source.

How important to Costa Rica is pineapple?

-Wow, you know, it's very, very important.

Costa Rica is the number-one country in the world producing pineapple.

-Really?

-Pineapple give a lot of opportunities to people.

It's super tasty, and it's super healthy.

-That's great.

-If you walk a little bit around... -Yeah.

Let's see what you got.

-...we can find -- Here!

Look, do we have a baby right here?

Look.

It's a baby.

I want to take it.

You know, it's okay.

-Sure.

-Oh.

Don't cry.

That's a baby.

Wah!

No, it's a baby.

Look how beautiful.

The roots is everything.

-Look at that.

Ready to plant, huh?

-You can take it for you.

-Oh, look at that.

Okay, so how do I know that it's a good pineapple?

How do I pick a pineapple when I go to the store?

-To pick a perfect pineapple, we have four characteristics.

Number one, we call these eyes.

-Yes.

-Bigger they are is perfect.

-Okay.

-Bigger the eyes.

-Bigger the eyes.

-Number two, symmetrical shape.

-Ah.

-Number three, green healthy top and a little golden bottom will be amazing.

-So you told me about how important pineapple is to Costa Rica.

How important is pineapple to you?

-Whew.

Wow, you know, it's my whole life.

I mean, I have been working in pineapple like the last 17 years.

-You've got your own project going here.

How did that come about?

-Uh, well, I dream every night, I said, "One day, I want to have my own project.

I want to have my own farm."

-Here it is.

-Dreams come to reality.

-There you go.

Everywhere in Costa Rica, people use the phrase pura vida to mean lots of things.

How do pineapples specifically illustrate the concept of pura vida particularly, you know, in food?

What do you think?

-Well, they represent because they are like the hospitality symbol, and then the pura vida pineapple.

Pineapple represent -- many people put it in a -- on a table like "welcome," hospitality.

-That's "welcome."

-And then we have to say something about this is pura vida.

Basically, yo, if you learn the meaning of pura vida... -Yes?

-...you speak like 60% of Spanish.

[ Laughter ] Everybody says pura vida.

-Everybody says pura vida.

-We don't say here like, "How are you?"

"Good morning," "goodnight," goodbye."

It's pura vida.

-It's the welcome.

It's tied to the welcome.

Costa Rica is in the forefront of countries working to reduce their carbon footprint.

One way they are doing this is by promoting small home farms.

Hazel cooks what she grows and teaches others how to do the same.

So these are yuca rolls and she can fill them with meat or cheese.

And that's what she's doing.

And this -- The yuca was cooked, and then she added some flour to it, and she crushed it down, as you can see.

Another word for yuca is cassava, and it's very popular throughout Caribbean.

My background is Cuban, and my family used to have yuca for special occasions, particularly at Nochebuena -- Christmas Eve.

-Ahora vamos a poner el -- -No, hacemos una bolita.

-Una bolita.

"So make a little ball," she says.

And then... -La colocamos ac.

-...put that right in the middle of the tortilla press.

-Mm-hmm.

-So you have a little tortilla now, and we're going to make an empanada after we stuff it with some cheese.

-Una cucharadita de queso.

-Una cucharadita.

And you notice the "ito"?

That's -- Ticos are always saying "ito" like "cucharito."

-Ah est.

It's a term of endearment that sets Costa Ricans apart from other Latin cultures.

-Ahora hace una empanadita.

-"And make an empanada," she's saying.

-Correcto.

-Correcto.

S?

-S.

-Okay.

So far, so good.

Close it off.

-Uh-huh.

-Ahora usted lo toma en la mano... -S.

-Y lo tomamos en la mano y lo ponemos all.

-Okay.

As?

-As.

-Quiz un poquito ms.

-S, un poco de cario.

-Cario.

A little bit of love.

Put a little love.

A little cario.

-[ Chuckles ] S.

-Care, a little care to make it round again.

And there you have a cheese-stuffed yuca roll.

[ Sizzling ] So the yuca is being done.

So this is the yuca with cheese.

-Yuca y queso.

-I've had lots of yuca in my life, but this is really delicious.

Gracias.

-Con mucho gusto.

Whenever I'm in Latin America, the day always ends with music and dance.

If you don't know the steps to their Swing Criollo, a dance using elements of American swing, at the Selva Verde Lodge, you can get a little help from your friends and the local instructor.

-Now I'm going to show you the flavor of Costa Rican dance.

-Okay, great.

-And one...two... one, two.

Ay, ay, ay, ay.

iEso!

Come on.

One, two, one, two.

Yes, sir.

You got it right.

Remember -- first one, two, one, two, one, two.

iEso!

One, two, hey, hey, hey!

Now....hey!

Hey!

Hey!

iEso!

One, two, one, two!

Whoo-hoo!

iEso!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Whoo!

Alright!

Costa Rica!

iPura vida!

In the La Fortuna area, there are forests, farmlands, rivers, streams, hot springs, but the star of the show here is the Arenal Volcano.

It's been dormant since 2010, so don't worry.

It's safe and beautiful to look at.

There are dozens of hot springs and spas in the La Fortuna area, where you can go in and soak for a fee.

Or you can come here to the Tabacn River for free.

The locals have named this spot El Cholln, which means you get bruises by hitting the rocks when you get pushed along by the river.

Whoo!

Ahh, I love coming to places like this, which are completely different than the tourist spots which are developed with full swim-up bars.

Here you are out in nature.

The heat comes from the volcano itself.

That is a gift from the Arenal Volcano.

And you're surrounded with nature out in the open.

And in Costa Rica, nature is one of the main definitions of pura vida.

For a heightened perspective on Costa Rica's rainforests, Mistico Arenal Hanging Bridges offers a trek through the trees up to 180 feet above the woodland floor.

Besides the accessibility to the wildlife and different kinds of plants that you could only see that are up at the top of the canopy and in the canopy, this is accessible to people.

I saw that you can get a cart and if you're disabled, you can go on the bridge as well.

That's pretty exciting.

And it's safe for children, everybody.

Costa Rica has so many ways now that people can experience its nature -- horseback riding, boats, rafting, hikes, of course.

What do you feel about that -- you've lived here -- when you came?

-I grew up here, and, you know, I remember my childhood walking through the woods and seeing all that wildlife.

Now, as a grown up, I feel now like Costa Rica is my big house.

And when visitors come, I want to show them my playground, my favorite tree, my favorite animals.

-You do get to see a nice cross-section of the trees that are in the rainforest, and the animals live in them.

-Mm-hmm.

-Lots of palms, lots of ferns, lots of the understory growth here, it's extremely well adapted to low-light conditions.

This is a beautiful old-growth forest patch.

-How can you tell it's old growth?

-Um, we have a very dense canopy and a very open understory.

Oh.

-What have you got?

-Bats.

-Bats?

-There's a couple of bats roosting up here.

-Look at those guys!

-Sac-winged bats.

-How many species of bats do they have here in Costa Rica?

-Uh, 120.

The most numerous group of mammals in Costa Rica are bats.

-They must do havoc on the mosquito population.

-Mosquitoes, pollination, um... -They pollinate.

Yeah.

-Mm-hmm.

A good number of the bat species are nectar-feeding.

Also, a lot of the plants that you see here are dispersed by them.

They are the gardeners of this place.

-Wonderful.

I always loved bats.

Night must fall, and that's when Costa Rica's 120 different kinds of bats go to work.

That's also when the scientists of the Night Wings Project begin their process of capturing, cataloging, studying, and releasing bats.

So, Willie, we went out and captured a bat.

Do we know which one we captured?

-We guess it's a common species because it was found in this -- in the middle of the cacao plantation.

But we need to process the bat in order to identify it.

So this is a Seba's short-tailed bat.

This kind of bat feed on fruits, and they need to transport the fruit in their mouth.

That's why -- They fly using their hands.

They hold the fruit in their mouth, but that's a problem for them because they need to produce the echolocation calls that help them to navigate at night time.

That's the reason why all these bats in Costa Rica and tropical countries have this big nose, and they use these little claw of his thumb in order to rotate and hold the fruits.

-Wow.

-So we usually release them from here, and they usually fly that way.

One, two, three.

-Go!

Whoo!

-This is guano.

These are all the seeds that bats were eating from the fruits.

Bats disperse millions of seeds every night.

In tropical countries, they also disperse so many seeds that help us in order to regenerate the rainforest.

-In Costa Rica, everybody uses pura vida for lots of things.

How do you think the concept of pura vida relates to what you're doing?

-Well, I will say that bats are pura vida because they help us in order to control mosquito populations, which are a big problem, they pollinate plants like agave that give us many different products, and also they disperse seeds that produce more plants and more trees and more oxygen for us.

That's why they are pura vida, because they help us.

-Live.

-Exactly.

Exactly in the same way.

-Thank you so much.

-My pleasure.

It was really good to have you here.

-Coffee became an economic force in Costa Rica in the 18th century and has been a part of the Tico cultural heritage ever since.

That suits me and my caf con leche Cuban sensibilities just fine.

To get to the bottom of the country's caffeinated passion, I track its path from bean to cup.

Carlos, here we are in a coffee plantation.

When did coffee come into Costa Rica?

-It is said that during the early 1700s coffee was already here.

-Ah.

-Though the first records of plantations didn't come until the late 1700s.

-It's got a long history here and it's been developing over the years.

-Coffee was pretty much the main developer of the Costa Rican economy early on, lots of families dedicated to coffee, and right now it is one of the biggest national symbols of Costa Rica.

-Let's look at what we've got on this coffee plant.

Look at these, the cherries are called, right?

-Mm-hmm.

Coffee cherries.

-And the coffee beans are actually inside this cherry.

So, how do you know they're ripe for sure?

-Right now, coffee changes from green to red, and that tells us it's ripe.

-So now you can dry it, then roast it, and grind it.

The proof of the coffee is in the drinking.

There's many places you can find coffee in Costa Rica 'cause Costa Rica is famous for its coffee, and rightfully so.

It's some of the best coffee in the world.

And I'm with Roy.

I was here before at the Red Frog coffee stand and restaurant, and I was so impressed with the way he makes coffee and his knowledge of coffee.

-In this area grows the coffee that was called the best coffee in the world.

Like, this one is a honey process.

This coffee is sun dried.

The whole fruit, you know, the cherries.

-Oh, the cherries of the coffee beans.

-The coffee is more aromatic, more flavor.

-I can't wait.

-More body.

-I can't wait.

Oh, it's got a tremendous aroma.

Okay, so this is an old-fashioned way to make coffee.

-It's a chorreador.

It's a pour-over.

It is the model of other pour-overs.

This is the original.

-My father used to make coffee like this.

He had a little sock, and he had a little pot, and he would put the beans in there.

-In many countries they do that.

-Cuba.

This was Cuba.

-Cuba.

-Yeah.

I love this process.

It's wonderful.

Reminding me of home.

This is personal.

-It's personal.

This is love.

-Everybody talks about pura vida.

How would you say making coffee like this illustrates pura vida?

-Pura vida normally for us is when you have your family.

It's a good thing.

Good vibes, you know?

-Good vibes.

-What is better than have your family around you and prepare coffee like this for them?

My friend.

-No -- No milk, no sugar.

-Black.

-Black.

-Black and without sugar.

-Salud.

-Cheers, guys.

Salud.

-Hey.

Cheers.

Salud.

Gracias.

Pura vida.

-Pura vida, amigo.

[ Chuckles ] -I emerge out of the rain and into the mists of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve, one of more than 100 national parks, wildlife refuges, forests, and biological reserves that safeguard Costa Rica's natural treasures.

Well, here at the edge of the Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Preserve is a very interesting phenomenon.

In keeping with the wonderful accessibility in Costa Rica to the wealth of nature and wildlife that's here, there is the Hummingbird Gallery and the Caf Colibr.

Colibr is "hummingbird" in Spanish.

Part of the experience here is coming to places like this which have designed themselves so it's easy for everyone to have a little taste of the Costa Rican nature.

-As you climb up in the tropics, the conditions change, like the temperature.

It's a lot cooler up here, so the species vary.

Like this.

See, this one started around a small tree.

And as it grows, it wraps himself around.

Over the years, you will end up with a hollow strangler fig because many times the host trees will die.

-So what's the difference between a cloud forest and a rainforest?

-Uh, elevation is one of the main differences.

Different kind of animals, different kind of plant life.

High up here.

-Oh, my gosh, it's right here.

-This is a green pit viper.

They planted three trees in the trail so that people don't get too close.

-Excellent example of why you go into a forest like this with a guide.

It's a warning, and it's pointing right up to the green pit viper.

Amazing.

A beautiful, beautiful snake.

Talk about pura vida.

That's -- Wow.

Thank you for stepping out with me on my Costa Rica adventure.

Costa Rica is considered one of the happiest places on Earth.

-[ Laughs ] -There's much to revel in.

There's an abundance of natural beauty, a vibrant culture... -Whoo-hoo!

-...and a respect for nature and people.

Bye.

They haven't had an army since 1948.

Using those resources for the environment, education, and public health, the Costa Rica model pura vida translates as "pure life."

During my travels, I've asked the people I met what does pura vida mean to them.

I've learned it means many things and is used many ways.

It's a greeting, an observation, an affirmation.

-iPura vida!

-It's a dicho that urges us to be peaceful, relish life's pleasures, and be content with what is.

So, what does pura vida mean to me?

I believe it's a reminder.

It reminds us to focus our priorities, honor what's really important, and joyously live life to its fullest.

[ Chuckles ] Pura vida indeed.

Life is an invitation to live.

-Whoo-hoo!

-It's up to us to RSVP.

Until we meet again, this is Joseph Rosendo reminding you of the words of Mark Twain: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."

May your next adventure always be your best.

-"Joseph Rosendo's Steppin' Out" is made possible by... -Since 1975, we've inspired adults to learn and travel to the United States and in more than 100 countries.

From exploring our national parks to learning about art and culture in Italy, we've introduced adults to places, ideas, and friends.

We are Road Scholar.

We make the world our classroom.

-There's a reason people call Myrtle Beach "the beach."

There are 60 miles of wide sandy beaches along South Carolina's Grand Strand coast.

This vacation destination has golf courses, attractions, food, wine, and southern sun.

-For a DVD of any of my "Steppin' Out" adventures, or my companion memoir and travel book "Musings: The Short Happy Pursuit of Pleasure and Other Journeys," call 888-876-3399, order online at josephrosendo.com, or e-mail me at [email protected].

Now that we've stepped out in Costa Rica together, learn more at josephrosendo.com, where you can follow my worldwide adventures through my E-magazine, blog, podcast, and social media.

Stay in touch -- 888-876-3399 or e-mail me at [email protected].

-Pura vida for me is love.

-Pura vida...

I think it's an expression that we are a happy people.

-If you love what you do, it's pura vida.

– Our coffee break at 3: 04 p.m. in the afternoon.

-Yes?

-That's part of the pura vida lifestyle -Pura vida.

-That is living a pure life.

-What does pura vida mean to you?

-Pura vida means to me everything, you know?

Because no matter what I want to express, I would say pura vida.

"How are you feeling?"

Pura vida.

"How was the beach?"

Pura vida.

"How was the food?"

-Pura vida.

[ Laughter ] -Salud.

[ Applause ]