Perspectives of Sierpe

Ricardo Camacho. Works in Las Vegas as tour operator, bartender, amd he drives a shuttle from the airport to Las Vegas. He says that Sierpe needs more than anything more commerce, more work. He says the best way for this to happen is for a huge international airport, which was proposed by the government, to be built about 10 minutes from Sierpe. He says this would benefit everyone in Sierpe, bringing more jobs and easier transportation. He says the town Coto 46 is also vying for the airport, but that closer to Sierpe is better, as there are no mountains and plenty of ocean. He also says that there are strong political interests working on behalf of Sierpe. He claims the airport would have no impact on the mangrove ecosystem because the airport would be 10 minutes away from Sierpe.

Susan Barbosa. subarbosa86@hotmail.com. contigo el fenix numero 2.
She would also like to see more tourism, which she thinks would bring more money for her internet cafe and her town. She said while an airport and increased tourism is important, it wouldn´t affect everything, that there would be very little impact. After talking for a bit longer, she decided she really likes the tranquilness of the two, and that its good for her the way it is. She doesn´t worry about her kids playing alone outside, that there is very little juvenile delinquency. She appreciates that most everyone in Sierpe has lived there for a long time, and that there are not too many outsiders. She worries that more movement within the town would bring more crime. She says that there is no crime in Sierpe, and that she feels totally safe. She has seen the problems that larger metropolises like San Jose have, wehre increased traffic of people bring more money but also more criminals. She doesn´t want this for her town.

Kattia. Daughter of the house that I am staying in (Casa de Ilda).
She says there is more bad things to report on in Sierpe than good. She says the aquaduct is more expensive than ever, but the water is still bad. She says the tourism has declined as gas has become more expensive and the boats have started to cost too much to operate. With less tourism, there is not much work in Sierpe. Now there are too many people with boats, but not enough work to go around. Don Jorge helps many people out, but not all. He takes care of the tourists and makes Sierpe a more attractive place for them to come, but also gets most of their money. She appreciates that Sierpe is calm and safe, and also acknowledges that the school is improving, which she attributes to the work of the ministry of education. She says the town needs a better old folks home, school, and medical clinic, but that Sierpe receives very little money from the government. She says they could also use someone to give english lessons, and that this would help with getting people work.

Worker in the local grocery store. El Fenix. From San Jose.
She says Sierpe is very small, but has improved a lot in recent years. Says 30 years ago there was no water or electricity. Now she praises the town for having 6 buses in and out each day, and points to tourism as the reason behind the improvement. She says that without tourism, Sierpe would die. She says there is little crime in Sierpe, and not too many drugs, only marijuana, which she doesn´t seem to mind. She talks about a friendly and relaxed population, and that Donya Sonia and Don Jorge are very important people in the community. She says the only work is tourism related and fishing, and that Sierpe needs immersion into a larger economy. She says that many years ago, when the American company Bananera left, there was no work, but now that land is being used to grow palm trees to make palm oil. She says the town is waiting for an airport, which would bring money like in Quepos, Jaco, and Guanacaste. Despite this, she believes that Sierpe wouldn´t change much even with an airport.

Daisy Rojas Salazar. Sierpe contigo el escuela, Hotel Margarita. dayana1607@hotmail.com (niece´s email)
Says the aquaduct needs to work better, and that Don Marcos Morillo is planning filters that will clean the water, which is extremely important. She laments that besides this man, very few people are trying to collaborate with the community. She is forming a group to help the children, by creating a band to help keep them busy and give them something to do. She worries that there isn´t much for the kids to do, the boys have only soccer and the girls next to nothing. She worries that they may fall into drugs for lack of activities. She wishes people would stay for a night at least when they go to Drake Bay (a nearby tourist destination) because there is no tourism for her now. She blames the economy of the U.S. for the drop in tourism, as most of the tourists the town relies on are Americans. She also thinks news of the huge earthquake that struck the country about a month ago is dissuading people from coming to Costa Rica.

Dona Emanuela. Owns local pizzeria with husband, from Italy. ummo66@yahoo.com
Says Sierpe is tranquil and beautiful, but that there is not much for tourists to do, nowhere to go and have fun, can´t go see a movie. Despite this, she says she wouldn´t change much - says there are not many places where you can leave your door unlocked and not worry. She says Sierpe is not for everyone, but she is content - she could only use a few more patrons. Appreciates the people of Sierpe as good people, as lived here with her husband for two years.

Maritzia Rojas Salazar. 50 oeste Hotel Margarita. Owns the Cabinas Sofia.
Part of the Catholic Church, where they do activites to improve the church structure and give food to the poor. She said Sierpe has already improved a lot, that there are much better roads and much more beautiful houses than there once was. She says increased tourism has brought more money into the community, and that the increase is due to the relatively new highway, the park corcovado, and the attraction of seeing whales and dolphins. She says that they eat and sleep in Sierpe. She is glad she has the cabinas, and that she gets a fair share of tourists. She says many years ago, when the banana company left, the town died and many people left. She says only the highway was able to revive the town. She says that after this, the people changed to accomodate tourism, and that the water has improved a lot and she is grateful that they now have plumbing. She also appreciates the good order that is kept in Sierpe.

Sonia Rojas. soniadesierpe@yahoo.com. lives behind fenix.
From Grecia, which is close to the airport, but has lived in Sierpe for 25 years now. She says the best part of the town is its calmness, and lack of crime and hard drugs. The town is very safe for the children. They have clinics, school, high school, and that they are all good. Life in Sierpe is very cheap, because there are not many diversions, not too many places to waste money. There are free fish, flee platanos, and papayas everywhere - plenty to eat for little money. Also there is very little pollution, as there are not many cars. She thinks of Sierpe as already being in paradise, and that there is so much to enjoy. She says good health is easy to maintain in an environment like this, with pure air, clean water - the best things with little money. It is a simple life in Sierpe, not necessary to work much, more time to enjoy family. She said her son went to University, and was offered a high paying job with a computer programming company in San Jose, but that he stayed here to be a fisherman instead, and now he is paid to do his hobby.