Arriving into Costa Rica, the tired burns your eyes and the shining halls soothe. Security was easy and the final check point was also easy. Something that they don't tell you is that you should get your SIM card sorted out before you leave. GPS here is a priory as nothing has an address and nothing has directions. Driving around in the dark after getting the rental car was stressful and quite frankly, infuriating.
We
are. Blessed this week to be staying at the Taranova Villas Palmas, a
three bedroom condominium with great security and a walkable
neighborhood. Church bells are chiming in the distance and traffic is
muted, except for the loud motorbikes.
Today
was day one. We got groceries, and then headed with Sol Tropicana Tours
into San Jose for a city tour. We toured the cultural embassies and saw
the old airport which is now a school. Reclaimed land and sustainable
development were big themes on the tour. Did you know that owning guns
is illegal in your home? Did you know that they have 100% clean energy?
Did you know that they have passed a law that makes zoos illegal? I do
now.
We had a lot of fun at a
local gallery that made indigenous art. They had the gold, silver and
bronze jewelry. They had a very informative lecture and we decided to
take advantage of the local coffee. Sipped coffee and bought some
awesome pieces made of silver and recycled wire. Beautiful.
From
there it was to downtown. We had time at the cathedral and then went to
the National Theatre. We saw the scramble of the street vendors trying
to avoid the police and wonderful views of the downtown bustle. The
cathedral was opulent and quiet, while the theatre was covered with gold
leaf art and marble, a mixture of Italian and French architecture. It
was stunning and the acoustics were perfect. The best part was learning
the secrets of the moving floor, and the painting with the mistakes.
Even better were the paintings with optical illusions...I won't wreck
your tour.
Sadly, we also learned the lesson of "do not drive in Rush Hour". My darling child left her retainer on the plane and we can't find it. So, we had to head back there to file paperwork. 12 kilometers took 45 minutes. It was worse on the way back. We. Also learned to check the numbers on the liscence plate, something the rental car company failed to mention. Ending in one or two, don't drive Monday. Our ends in 8, so no driving Thursday.
By the time we hit Grandmas House for dinner we were starving. The food...just order what Laurie tells you to. The menu is simple and perfect for adults and children. Cooked freshly in front of your eyes, with veggies and wicked tastes, you really have stepped into grandma kitchen.
From the tour , we had cruised
around and spied some options for tomorrow. A good restaurant and great
museums. I think we have a winner. The country feels beautiful and safe.
So far so good. Thirteen days to go.
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| Italian Embassy |
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| Guide giving a very informative and detailed description of the cultural heritage. Sol Tropical Tours stop one. |
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| Outside the Metropolitan Cathedral |
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| Christian of Sol Tropical Tours |
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| National Theatre...Marble and Gold aplenty |
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| Mahogany Chairs |
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| Paintings that watch you |
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| Traffic is a headache. Can take 45 minutes to drive 4 km at rush hour (which this wasn't). |
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