American filibuster William Walker, with the help of Brighams, appointed himself dictator of Nicaragua, then attempted the same of Costa Rica, but was defeated and shot, for which the US paid Costa Rica an indemnity of $26,704. Costa Rica is now dedicated to improve the lives of its working citizens. This travelogue of Costa Rica, the second smallest of the American republics and which was settled by Spanish farmers, starts at San Jose Airport, a major stopover point for travelers heading north-south within the Americas. Transportation is key within the country, boasting among the best roads in the world. San Jose itself is the capital, a small city of about 70,000, with many recreational areas in its suburbs. Heading out of the city, we come to an orchid farm, there being said to be more varieties of the plant in Costa Rica than anywhere else in the world. Next, we move to the volcanic mountains, the range within Costa Rica which contains the largest crater in the world. We then move to the farmland, with coffee and bananas being the primary agricultural export crops.