Costa Rica 2024

Please check back late Monday night for completed captions below. They are essential to understanding the sights shown, as well as the museum pieces. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Most people who come to Costa Rica simply skip San Jose. As one of two main entry points to the country by air, the majority collect their checked bags and head out of the city Immediately.  We decided, however, to buck that trend. “A sprawling city of two million people has to hold enough gems to merit a visit,” we thought while planning the trip. The Global Affairs Canada website, however, painted a very scary picture of San Jose. So it was with fear and trepidation, especially in the wake of our mugging incident in Rome back in March, that we set out to explore the city. After a delicious breakfast in the Sheraton Club Lounge, including the best omelettes we have had in a long time, we ordered an Uber and set out at 9:30AM.  San Jose's notoriously horrible traffic was almost nonexistent this ...

Our time in Arenal was planned to be focused around the outdoors.  Torrential rain, however, did require us to modify our activities a little.  For example, last night, we had hoped to do a night-time tour to see colourful frogs in the rainforest.  But it rained so hard that we’d have been drenched, so that was set aside. We had also hoped to soak in the “free” hot springs late yesterday but that, too, was washed out.  So, we decided to get up at 6:30AM this morning (it was a lovely morning) and go do a soak before heading off towards San Jose.   We arrived at Rio (“river”) Choyin, just west of Arenal, at 7AM.  The infamous parking touts, who demand $10 USD to help you park along the highway (which is free), had not yet started their day, which was nice.  (Oh, if you don’t pay them, they will get revenge by scratching your car, or so the on-line comments say.)  Across the street is a posh spa, one of dozens in the area, that take the same water fr...