Packed for a month!!!

We spent the day in San Jose.   Have I mentioned that I am not a big fan of San Jose?   It is the heartbeat of Costa Rica – it really is.      About 30% of the population of Costa Rica is here.   You can find anything you might need here.   It is in the Central Valley so the temperatures are spring-like year round.   That is about the end of the pros.    It is crime-ridden, dirty, ugly, and I can go on and on.   If you see anything beautiful in San Jose – there will be bars, cages, or barb-wire around it.   Photographers bring your editing software because you can’t get a nice shot of ANYTHING here without something ugly in it.   Like I said in my first post – people only stay in San Jose because they have to.   Our room at Casa 69 - $35 a night!

Fresh bromeliads everywhere!!!

Pura Vida means “Pure Life” and it is the greeting Costa Ricans (Ticos) use like we use Hello/Goodbye in the states.

We walked to the grocery store (super Mercado) this morning and saw raw sewage running out of a house and into a storm drain in the street.   It was disgusting.   John said “don’t get bent out of shape over sewage”!  We bought stuff for a sandwich – tomatoes, avocado, fresh basil, a loaf of crusty bread – it was absolutely delicious!   You can buy homegrown EVERYTHING here year round.  The bread was heavenly – the selection was great and the loaf John chose was fresh out of the oven! (don't you love how i discuss raw sewage and food in the same paragraph?).

All American fast food restaurants are here as exhibited the debris strewn everywhere…..  

Everything here is open air and that is one of the things I love about Costa Rica.  We have windows here but in Puerto Viejo over 50% of the house will be screens.   There are no air conditioners.  You definitely don’t need them in San Jose – it is a little warmer in Puerto Viejo during the day but the nights are perfect  -  between 60-65 degrees.

  I will be in a secondary rainforest tomorrow and will be able to post some REAL photos!!!

Adios San Jose!!!