Friday 4 September 2015

Costa Rica: Getting started in San Jose

      This year, Martine and I have decided to keep things simple. We are travelling this year to Chirripo again, and will spend all our time there. I want to write this year, in detail about this trip, so as to savour every anticipated moment. So I'll start with the first day of the trip, and what we have planned, spending more posts on different stages of the trip.
       My students will arrive in San Jose,  Costa Rica, on January 23rd, 2016. 

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I love flying into San Jose. It's nestled in the bottom of a bowl - like fashion, surrounded by low lying and well spread out mountains. If you fly in at night, you've got all the city lights, and the subtle horizon line of the surrounding mountains. Notice the lights getting fewer and fewer as you ascend the mountains. 

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If you fly in during the day, while still in the air, it's very exciting, as you can see roads and unending rivers trickling down mountains sides, National Geographic like.

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       CASA 69, FLAVOURS OF COSTA RICA, 2016
       It's still part of the miracle, entering a plane in Canada in January, and exiting the plane into the gorgeous balmy warm breezes of Central America. We'll be staying at a new hotel this year. The place we have previously stayed is very nice, and quiet. However this hotel is downtown, in a great location. Everyone will arrive at different times, and make their way to our hotel, Casa 69. 


     Image result for HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE COSTA RICA

           San Jose has tons of colourful shopping districts,...

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The National Theatre, (built 1897) located in la plaza de la culture,. The marble lined lobby of this 18 century building houses 19 century paintings depicting Costa Rican life with paintings of coffee and banana plantations. 

Art, culture and history are all represented in many museums, such as this one, very close to our hotel.

You'll drop your luggage off, and get out for a walk in the historic downtown-a great thing to do when you've been on a plane for several hours. Whether you find someone from our group to accompany you or not, you'll find much to entertain. There are museums and art galleries, and many outdoor shopping stalls, selling all sorts of things, from food and fruit, to Costa Rican chachkas, souvenirs and clothes. There are many large public sculptures down different streets, and a festive air of bustling business every street you walk down.  

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Many of my past participants on my trips come early or stay after out tour to experience San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica. 
Our trip hasn't even begun!
After arriving at our hotel, Casa 69, we'll meet for dinner, get a good nights' sleep, and assemble for a very big day on the first day of our tour. 
That will be in my next installment though! So stay tuned as I take you through out exciting itinerary. 
Painting starts in 2 days!



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