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Published: December 18th 2005
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Gates, Gates and More Gates
Walking around Heredia, we found this house with a gate around the entire front yard, another gate inside that around the little front patio area, and ANOTHER gate on the front door! So with the help of lots of buses and helpful Ticos (and despite no street signs or good maps), we figured out how to get around. Last Thursday (yes, I know I'm way behind -- I don't want to skip ahead because, as evidenced by the entry before the last one, no one wants to hear about old news) we got up and out early and headed for The European School in Heredia. Before heading out, Dara had done some research and had arrived at the conclusion that this was the best option for continuing Ari's education while in Costa Rica.
After the taxi drove around for a little while, asking directional questions as we went (par for the course), we finally arrived at the school. I must say that upon first inspection it looked great -- a big, orderly "U" of white class buildings with blue roofs with bunches of kids doing school stuff on the grassy area in the middle. The school uniform is white shirts with jeans. Add in the sun and a bright blue sky and it is easy to see its appeal.
We headed in to the office for our meeting with Ms. Anne,
Bikes and Washing Machines for Sale!
You see lots of little stores throughout neighborhoods in town. This store we found in the neighborhood called Mercedes in Heredia. It specializes in bikes and washing machines. Why not? the principal. I was expecting a sales schpiel - come to our school because it is so great, etc. Boy was I wrong. Ms. Anne is a straight forward, no nonsense, do it my way or the highway kind of lady. Needless to say, Dara and I liked her right away. While we were talking, the kids were squirming so we sent them outside to play. Within minutes they found trees to climb, a gym class to watch and more.
After going on for a few minutes about teaching philosophy and what not, we took a walk around to look in some classrooms. We met the lady in charge of the lower school (can’t remember her name) and got to chatting. It turns out that originally she came to Costa Rica for 6 months from Switzerland as sort of a “sabbatical.” Now she has been at the school for 8 years and her kids are in high school at the school. Hmm… interesting.
After leaving the school, we made the short walk into Heredia. While Dara popped into an internet café, the kids and I hit the Mc Donald’s playland. In a setting like that, the play place
Church in Heredia
This is one of the more modernistic churches we've seen (and we've seen a lot) in Costa Rica so far. This one is in the Heredia neighborhood of Mercedes. (in Spanish it is just called a “play”) provides the common language and all the kids play together. Ellie, in particular, has a good time when she finds a girl a couple years older.
Heredia is a bustling little town. It is about a ½ hour bus ride north of San Jose and, while the center of town is crowded, it is nothing like the capital. Like the typical Latin American town, it does have a central square with a big church. In addition, it has a big university, so I think that keeps things interesting, too.
Pardon me if I have talked about this before but there were a few things I had envisioned our life would be like (or experiences I was hoping we would get). One of the clearest visions - and there were few clear ones - was of us strolling to the central square in the evening, Dara and I sitting on a bench while the kids ran around (and we yelled at them not to knock over the old ladies or pet the stray dogs). I also thought of a place that had little shops and restaurants within walking distance - maybe
Avenida Central in San Jose
Here's the hustle and bustle in downtown San Jose. This is the main shopping street that runs through town. It's always busy and you do have to watch your bags and pockets. even one close to our house that we would be “regulars” at (envision the scene out of the old Cheers TV show here where everyone yells, "Mark!" instead of "Norm!"). Heredia maybe is a little bit bigger and bustling-er than the place I had envisioned, but I think it is pretty close.
Since we were pleased with the school and the town, we decided that Heredia was the place where we would settle. We headed back to San Jose, ready to start the house hunting.
That night we went to the Chinese restaurant a few blocks away from the Figuer’s house. Costa Rican Chinese food isn’t exactly the same as in America, but it is pretty close (and not much like food in China). The kids ate up a storm, Dara and I had our first Imperials (the local beer) and so far things were looking good. (See pictures of this first Chinese Costa Rican meal and more in the Photo Gallery.)
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Barbara & Hal
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Enjoying your blog
Just because we don't comment doesn't mean we aren't enjoying reading about your adventures. Keep 'em coming! Merry Whatevertheydo in Costa Rica. Bet Heredia doesn't have Santacon.com like San Francisco, complete with ChanuClaus dressed in blue.