Sunday, January 29, 2006
Mercado Central - San Jose, Costa Rica
I enjoy the markets of Costa Rica (and Mexico too) much more than our Canadian shopping malls. The Central Market in San Jose has inexpensive t-shirts, fresh meats, fish, poultry, vegatables, spices, flowers, some souvenir shops and lots of places to eat!
Here are some of the places to enjoy a full meal or a snack!
Our family was buying last minute soiuvenirs before returning to Canada - the kids wanted more T-Shirts, the adults inexpensive souvenirs.
Mercado Central is a full San Jose city block in size with entrances at every corner plus along the sides. Many of the outer store had separate entrances off of the streets. Once you got inside it was difficult to figure out where you were in relation to the streets, but it did not really matter as there was plenty to see and lots of interesting goods and busy shopkeepers.
Despite warnings about pickpockets in most of the guide books, we saw nothing of concern and felt as safe or safer than in a North American city - in spite of being obvious as tourists!
Here are some of the places to enjoy a full meal or a snack!
Our family was buying last minute soiuvenirs before returning to Canada - the kids wanted more T-Shirts, the adults inexpensive souvenirs.
Mercado Central is a full San Jose city block in size with entrances at every corner plus along the sides. Many of the outer store had separate entrances off of the streets. Once you got inside it was difficult to figure out where you were in relation to the streets, but it did not really matter as there was plenty to see and lots of interesting goods and busy shopkeepers.
Despite warnings about pickpockets in most of the guide books, we saw nothing of concern and felt as safe or safer than in a North American city - in spite of being obvious as tourists!
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Ojo de Agua - Family Fun in Costa Rica
We did not see any fellow North American tourists here at the Ojo de Agua near Alajuela. We did see lots of Costa Rican families, just as Loretta and Dick had 19 years earlier. This time we are a family and the Ojo is even more of a delight with the swimming pools, the park and picnic areas.
There is something about the place (including the modest entry fee of 600 colones - $1,50 Cdn each) that is so much nicer than the lineups and expensive rides at Disney World.
There are more of our pictures at
The water from the Ojo is still "refreshingly cool" after all these years!
The local bus back to Alajuela was nearly free and much more interesting than the taxi.
There is something about the place (including the modest entry fee of 600 colones - $1,50 Cdn each) that is so much nicer than the lineups and expensive rides at Disney World.
There are more of our pictures at
The water from the Ojo is still "refreshingly cool" after all these years!
The local bus back to Alajuela was nearly free and much more interesting than the taxi.
Breakfast at the Gran Hotel Costa Rica
The classiest place to eat in Costa Rica is the Gran Hotel! This San Jose landmark overlooks the Plaza de la Cultura and was recenty named a landmark site.
Our family of 5 was travelling on a budget of $200 CDN a day so staying at the hotel was never a consideration, but breakfast on the plaza was! We arrived at the plaza with rolling suitcases in tow and seated ourselves for desayano tipico comple with juise, coffee, fruit plate eggs and, of course, gallo pinto . The fruit plate was extra over our usual Costa Rica breakfast and well worth the $8 per person vs a more typical $4-5 each back in Alajuela.
Jon and Mark are enjoying their meal with the Plaza behind them.
Here is the Gran Hotel Website
Our family of 5 was travelling on a budget of $200 CDN a day so staying at the hotel was never a consideration, but breakfast on the plaza was! We arrived at the plaza with rolling suitcases in tow and seated ourselves for desayano tipico comple with juise, coffee, fruit plate eggs and, of course, gallo pinto . The fruit plate was extra over our usual Costa Rica breakfast and well worth the $8 per person vs a more typical $4-5 each back in Alajuela.
Jon and Mark are enjoying their meal with the Plaza behind them.
Here is the Gran Hotel Website
Saturday, January 14, 2006
The Corberrie - Costa Rica Connection
On our family vacation to Costa Rica we experienced this small world story.
While at the Hostel Mango Verde, in Alajuela near San Jose, one of the guests asked if the T-Shirt with the name of Yarmouth (our small hometown in Nova Scotia, Canada) he saw drying outside our room was mine and if, by chance I was from Yarmouth. Answering yes, Peter told me he was from Corberrie - a small village near home that only a Yarmouth resident would have heard of.
Here are Loretta, and Peter discussing mutual friends in Nova Scotia.
Peter has lived near Montezuma for a number of years, and we have numerous friends in common, including friends who have visited with him. Peter was in Alajuela looking to buy a motorcycle so we had time to get to know each other and exchange travel stories.
While at the Hostel Mango Verde, in Alajuela near San Jose, one of the guests asked if the T-Shirt with the name of Yarmouth (our small hometown in Nova Scotia, Canada) he saw drying outside our room was mine and if, by chance I was from Yarmouth. Answering yes, Peter told me he was from Corberrie - a small village near home that only a Yarmouth resident would have heard of.
Here are Loretta, and Peter discussing mutual friends in Nova Scotia.
Peter has lived near Montezuma for a number of years, and we have numerous friends in common, including friends who have visited with him. Peter was in Alajuela looking to buy a motorcycle so we had time to get to know each other and exchange travel stories.
