The Ticos say that God forgot to make their country. Later, noticing the omission but now out of earth-making materials, He reached down and patched the gap with a small measure of Eden.

After a rain I watched the sun poke broad shafts of yellow beams through the jungle canopy, parting the steamy air. Water droplets glistened on the undersides of the broad green leaves that the frogs like. A large blue and black butterfly floated by, and then a moment later a small dark hummingbird. It stopped for one instant in front of me, and then moved on so quickly I wondered if I’d blinked. I saw the argument.

(This book contains both German and English text)