Bri Bri Village Visit

 

     Motor boats took us on an hour and a half long boat ride through olive green water.  We  glided smoothly on the river that bordered Panama and Costa Rica.  When the river became too shallow, the front boatman would use a tall bamboo stick to push off the ground and propel us forward.   The scenery surrounding us was spectacular.  I felt like I was in a travel magazine.  I slowly took it all in, still amazed at the fact that I was in the middle of the jungle in Costa Rica.  We arrived at a river bank and were greeted by a few very welcoming villagers, they held our hands firmly and helped us out of the unstable boat.

     We hiked through winding, narrow paths that were muddy from the monsoons that had occurred a few days earlier.  A major leader and founder of the Bri Bri village and organization led the way through the thick vegetation.  The sun played peek-a-boo between the leaves in the canopy and the spaces of visible sky. A variety of tropical trees and bushes loomed over our heads.

     At the village we learned about the cacao plants, ate lunch and made fresh 100% dark chocolate.  The dark chocolate alone left a bitter taste in your mouth, but with just a bit of sugar it transformed into a heavenly treat.  I bought a souvenir and drank authentic, black Costa Rican coffee with rock sugar.  Before we had lunch, we had the opportunity to refresh ourselves and swim in the cool, crisp river water.  I enjoyed climbing up the rocks and sliding down the rapids.  I almost touched an ugly brown spider, literally the size my palm, while trying to find a big enough crevice in the rock to put my left hand. 

     The villagers led a simple, uncomplicated life.  Their economy revolved mainly around their exportation of chocolate and bananas.  Three women founded the organization and village, now there are fifteen main women in charge.  These women broke away from their suffocating, patriarchal society to from a productive, feminist society that produced all organic goods.  They are all very proud of their work.  The village also included an outdoor hotel, a primary school and a secondary school. The residents of the village were kind and hospitable.  I had an amazing time visiting the Bri Bri village.

~ Nikita

 

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