San Jose - First Impressions of Costa Rica

Costa Rica

We arrived after a 13 hour flight and by the time we arrived in San Jose it was dark. The journey from the airport is described as 20 minutes but after factoring in rush hour traffic it took about 90 minutes.   Alfredo and Eric his assistant meet us as planned at the airport and turn out to be avid football fans and John chats away until they recall Costa Rica's success in the 1990 World Cup when they beat Scotland 1-0.

Although we're about 5,500 miles from home our luggage decided not to make the trip and we're informed that it is still in Heathrow.  The emergency pack provided by Iberia fails to raise our spirits.  The change of clothes comprises white t shirt and shorts - when modelled by John they look as if he forgot his gym kit and had to pick replacements from the lost property bin.

Emergency rations I don't think so!

Out hotel is right in the middle of the city so after a quick shower and not surprisingly, we opt for our travel gear and head out in search of a beer.  And what luck - this is truly a civilised country that does decent Pilsner and to John's immense satisfaction - brown beer.  Refreshed we get set for San Jose.

Emergency rations I think so

Cold beer and people watching was welcome before returning to bed shattered with the 6 hour time difference.

Up bright and early on our first day and off exploring the town is bustling with shoppers and has a relaxed played back atmosphere we visited the famous jade museum which is based over 5 floors personally i think it could have been condensed in to 2 floors

Jade carvings

The National Theatre is a little gem

The National theatre

We walked the streets and obviously stopped for refreshments  and bought a few essentials T-shirts and knickers and prayed that  our luggage arrives before we head south tomorrow.  At 10.30pm we're reunited with our luggage.

It's an early start next morning for Puerto Vieja on the Caribbean coast.  We're smelling fresh as daisies in our clean clothes as we set off.  The four hour journey takes six hours.  We head up through the mountains and neither the roads nor the traffic are a bad as we were led to believe.  The views after the mountains are pleasant if uninspiring and as we drop down we stare at the fields of prickly leaved pineapple bushes that stretch into the distance.

Pineapples for as far as the eye can see

Eventually we hit the coast and things start to look up.  The beaches are clean and empty with waves crashing ashore.  We're staying opposite Coccles beach which is pretty but not for swimming because of fierce currents

sandy beach

happy now

surfing

Oh, the frog at the beginning of the blog is the Green Tree Frog, a national symbol and Pura Vida, pure life is what we're looking to experience on our trip.