Geo: 9.98333, -84.1167Oh boy! We enjoy farmer's markets and are looking forward to today's in Heredia. We learned that for the best selection you should be there around 6:30-ish (yeah, right) and for the best prices arrive late morning around 11:30. We only need a few things and know that compared to US prices (even US farmer markets prices) things here will seem ridiculously inexpensive to us.I write a short grocery list in Espanol(!), we grab our net shopping bag and catch the bus. We're very pleased with ourselves to remember exactly where the market is and if we hadn't remembered it would have been super easy to find...just walk past the people who are walking up the hill with their overflowing bags. We get there about 8:45. OMG! This market is HUGE!! It is about ... read more

Geo: 9.98333, -84.1167This morning we need to return the rental car, but first we're going to drive through Heredia and see a little bit of the town. The streets (Calles) and avenues (Avenidas) are laid out in a grid pattern which makes it a little easier to navigate. For example, we know that the main plaza is at Calle 0/Avenida 0. But many of the calles and avenidas aren't marked so it is still a challenge.We didn't stop anywhere in town, but we did stop for gasoline as we drove back to the Budget car rental place. We check in the car with 4 minutes to spare. We are thinking of taking Budget's free shuttle back to the airport to get a taxi, when a taxi pulls up to drop someone off. Great! We jump in ... read more

Geo: 10.096, -84.3475Today we are going to visit the towns of Sarchi and maybe Grecia. Sarchi is a well known artist town and is famous for its painted oxcarts which are Costa Rica's most visible example of folk art. Apparently in the past the oxcarts were all decorated. We set off with Jeff at the wheel. Our directions are to follow the autopista (highway) and turn left at Naranja. There won't be a sign for Naranja, but, we're told, it is a big intersection. Okkkkk...Surprise,we didn't get lost! Sarchi is a nice little town and we can tell that it is a popular tour bus stop, but not this time of year. Colorful geometric motifs are painted on the bus benches and even the trash cans. We walk to the main plaza to see the largest ... read more

Geo: 10.0704, -84.5041There is a man with a machete at our door.It's okay, he is Juan, the gardener. After intoducing himself, he asks if it is okay with us if he sharpens his machete on the carport. He uses an electric sharpener and it will be noisy. Mind you..this whole conversation takes place is poor Spanish and worse English! Whew.We spent pretty much the whole day with Ana and Norman and it was very fun. First we piled into their Sidekick - women in the front, men in the back (I love this country! haha) Ana first drove us down the road to the river - this is the road into and out of San Ramon on this side; yes, one road. The river is running very high and muddy from the runoff. It is the ... read more

Geo: 10.0704, -84.5041We've awakened to a clear and beautifully blue sky. So pretty! We need to get on the move because in Costa Rica's rainy season (June-December) the rains are usually in the early morning, breaking in the early afternoon, start again in the late afternoon and end in early evening. No, we aren't normally so concerned with the weather, but this trip will be the first time we've rented a car in Costa Rica. The roads here are mostly okay, in the urban areas anyway, but the people drive like maniacs - seriously. Seriously. We need to have breakfast, take the shuttle back to the airport to pick up the rental car and drive back to the hotel to get our stuff and check-out. Today we drive to San Ramon.Fortified with coffee and a very ... read more