Nomadic Narrative

I got off the bus right in front of Turrialba’s main plaza. My feet were tired from wandering around Guayabo and the surrounding area, but the minute I saw the festive town center, I decided to do a bit more exploring.

Turrialba used to be on the road to riches in Costa Rica. The “Jungle Train” which once traveled between San José and Puerto Limón passed through Turrialba allowing the mountain village to prosper from the coffee trade. Unfortunately, this monetary vein collapsed along with the nation’s rail system after the 1991 earthquake. Today Turrialba is an agricultural town, which is still well-known for its great coffee ― and I’d venture to say its lively public square.

With the absence of mega stores and malls, the main plaza is still the place to hang out. There were couples chatting on benches, people walking dogs and groups of teenage boys and girls circling. Mass was still in session and bellowing from the doors of the large, contemporary church. The few restaurants and the bakery which surround the plaza were full. There was even a line in front of the butcher shop.

While we can see many plazas around Costa Rica, a lot of them no longer play the traditional role of community building. Turrialba’s main plaza is not a monument in itself like so many plazas around Latin America, but what it does have is life. Instead of collapsing back at the hotel, I decided to “steal a moment” and soak up this friendly tradition. It’s interesting how identifying and cherishing unconventional moments can bring such lasting memories!

When was the last time you “stole a moment” on the road?