Blogs from San José, Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean

After nearly four hours on a bus, we tried to get a taxi to our hotel. The drivers were asking about four times what it was going to cost on Uber so that's what we did. Our driver was quite chatty once he found out that we spoke Spanish. He bemoaned the lack of investment in the city and called it feo - ugly. We thought tatty would have been a better adjective. For the final four nights of our trip we had chosen to stay somewhere a bit more comfortable - url=https://www.booking.com/hotel/cr/radisson-europa.en-gb.html?aid=1769628&sid=ab9aa21dab04cda1b948410f9013a650&all_sr_blocks=35060709_240313887_2_41_0;checkin=2023-03-16;checkout=2023-03-17;dest_id=350607;dest_type=hotel;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=35060709_240313887_2_41_0;hpos=1;matching_block_id=35060709_240313887_2_41_0;no_rooms=1;req_adults=2;req_children=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=to... read more

A dozen years later, I have started another adventure. The world is different with the Covid pandemic, travel restrictions, transit visas and much more. But the soul of the wanderer remains intact. So I am off to backpacking across Costa Rica and Panama. The fact that I don't speak Spanish makes this even more challenging, but my first few days in San Jose have shown me that people are sweet and helpful if you try and approach them. And yes, in the changing world, there are enough technologies to help in translating. I travel older (definitely), lighter (learnt to pack better), wiser (? Who knows). Will keep posting as I go. Pura Vida!!!... read more

Today is the last full day of our trip and we’re going into San José for some culture. We spent a day sightseeing in the city last week, but it was a Monday when everything is closed. So today we plan to visit the museum and art gallery. We take an Uber into town and find a spot for breakfast; Restaurante el Patio del Balmoral. We order the del Patio breakfast – gallo pinto (fried rice and beans) with fried cheese, fried eggs, fried plantain and fried bread. In case that wasn’t sufficient calories, it comes with a side of sour cream! And a pint of orange juice. Once we have consumed a zillion calories, we head to the National Museum, which is housed in the former Bellavista Fort, HQ of the Costa Rican army until ... read more

It’s our last day in Costa Rica (for now) and as I’m feeling pretty much back to normal, we can take an Uber into town for a wander. We decide to start to the north of the city centre in Barrio Amón, which Lonely Planet informs me is a “pleasant, historical neighbourhood, home to a cluster of 19th-century coffee grower mansions. Recently many of the area’s historical buildings have been converted into hotels, cafes, bars, and offices, making this a popular district for an architectural stroll.” Our driver pulls up at our chosen location. He looks a little worried and checks that we really do want to be left here! We do, so off we set on our architectural stroll. First, we head in the opposite direction as the old man has spotted a fire station ... read more

Another day of isolation. The morning is sunny, so I can escape to the pool, which is totally deserted again. A couple of swims, a nap and a couple more swims take up most of the day. The final swim was a bit much, leaving me totally exhausted, despite the fact it was only 10 minutes. In addition, the sun has gone in, so I struggle to get warm again. As my step count since I got ill has been pitiably low, I decide to kill two birds with one stone and take a walk around the hotel grounds, photographing some of the stained glass windows en route. Living the covid dream! Then, it’s time for tea (with 3 nights left in Costa Rica, the old man has bought a 1.8 kg sack of rice), FaceTime ... read more