Today there was a Marimba concert in the park. There were no bum dancers this time, I think they are on strike after yesterday. The Marimbas in Costa Rica are made of wood and are beautiful. They have a full, rich, sound that is incredibly happy. Because of the tone that comes from the wood, they aren´t really good to use for any kind of really fast music. They remind me of what Steve Martin said about the banjo, "You can´t sing a sad song with a banjo!"
The Marimba is the same way. It is warm and unhurried, it is almost the musical equivalent of Costa Rican favorite phrase: Pura Vida. This means so much more than Pure Life. It means everythings ok, live the good life, don´t be worried about anything, enjoy yourself, spend time with friends, enjoy the pure life.
When you meet people on the street and ask them how they are doing, many times they answer "Pura Vida!". It´s an all purpose expression that is useful for so much.
Juanito
Next Costa Rican Entry: Tutoring
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