Pura Vida
Since arriving in Costa Rica, I’ve been curious about the expression “Pura Vida” which I saw splashed across billboards, towels, t-shirts and heard often from the locals. While I knew that pura vida translates to “pure life”, I came to understand that the meaning encapsulates a Beautiful mentality of the tico culture. Pura vida is used as a greeting to mean both hello, goodbye, all is good, and even thank you, rather like the Hawaiian “aloha” or the Australian “no worries”, but holds even greater meaning, as it also encompasses the philosophy of living in balance, good spirits, and appreciation of the Beauty of the moment. While contextually it holds other meanings, such as “full of life”, “this is living”, “going great”, “cool” and even “f#ck it” this Lovely expression’s meaning is a mindset which recognizes that life is short and that it’s important to see the good in the grander scheme of life, in appreciation for community and the ability to persevere.
“But where did the expression come from?” I asked repeatedly, “Who started it?” With some research I’ve learned of a couple of theories about the origin of “Pura Vida” as the Costa Rican emblem. Wikipedia and other sources all agree that it began in 1956, some saying that the expression got its start from an exchange between surfers and the locals. According to Jose Melendez, a Costa Rican journalist who has done extensive research on the phrase, the expression arrived when the film Pura Vida arrived in Mexico in 1956. The main character in the film is an eternal optimist who cannot seem to get anything right, but maintains a great attitude of pura vida, the pure life which arrives with a positive mindset and appreciation for the good.
Pura Vida is a mentality of living in a flowing way which allows an appreciation for the Beauty of the moment and the gifts it holds. The expression carries the knowledge that all is in harmony and should be appreciated. As I sat on a Glorious sand beach where the lush greens of the mountains meets the clear blue of sea to watch the Sunset’s orangey glow across the sky I looked up at a local couple walking, “Pura vida,” they said, smiling. It is in these shared moments of Gratitude for the Beauty which makes its way through our lives that real understanding and appreciation for the saying will stay with me for the rest of my one precious, magickal and pure life.
Love and Blessings,
Antonia
¡Una Pipa al Día!
“Una pipa, por favor,” I say each day at the local fruit stand, as drinking this healthy coconut water has become a part of my daily Costa Rican routine. While delicious, it took me a couple of tries to adjust to the taste of the slightly salty sweet coconut water. I was repeatedly told that I was really missing out by not drinking them, and kept hearing that a pipa a day would keep me healthy. I began researching the opaque juice one finds inside young, green coconuts and was really impressed. It’s one of the most nutritious and wholesome beverages one can find.
Not to be confused with coconut milk, this liquid is found in a young coconut, the juice gradually gives way to the coconut meat as the coconut matures. Coconut water is fat-free, low calorie, full of electrolytes, contains lauric acid, and contains more potassium and less sodium than sports drinks. It also contains natural, unaltered sugar, which the body can readily use. The coconut meat in these young coconuts has a jelly-like consistency, which I like to put in my smoothies. Waste not, right? As it matures, the coconut water becomes the hardened coconut meat with which you are probably familiar, which when pressed is a fat-filled and far less nutritious coconut milk.
The nutritional value of coconut water decreases once exposed to air, so I always request that it be freshly cut. This wholesome beverage is known to build up the immune system, aid in urinary tract health, decrease kidney stones, help with artery pressure thus lowering blood pressure, and wards off fatigue. I’ve also read that it can kill intestinal worms, assists HIV patients, and has many more health benefits. The fact which really amazed me is that coconut water is naturally sterile and is closest to human blood plasma, which is why it is sometimes used in IV’s as a blood transfusion in place of blood plasma. While boxed varieties can be purchased, one can also buy Thai Coconuts (young, coconut water filled) at health food stores and local co-ops to maximize health benefits. I know that coconut water is a tremendous gift, which is why I happily subscribe to, “¡Una pipa al día!”
Love and Blessings,
Antonia
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