Braulio Carrillo National Park, Costa Rica

It proportion to it's territory, Costa Rica has more of its land in National Parks than any other country in the world. On our trip to San Jose from Puerto Limon we passed through the Braulio Carrillo National Park which is only 20 killometers northeast of the Costa Rican Capitol.

Although the limited time of our tour did not allow us to stop and explore the park, it was still very interesting to at least get a passing glimpse of the lush green volcanic mountains, laced with rivers and streams. The fact that our tour guide was a retired National Park Ranger was a bonus because he shared many stories as only someone intimately involved with the park service could do.

One of our best views of the Braulio Carrillo National Park was that of the Rio Sucio, literally translated as "Dirty River" - pictured above. We were informed by a park naturalist that the water is actually very clean. The yellow color is caused by sulfur from the volcanos within the park and not from mud or pollution.

Gran Hotel, San Jose, Costa Rica

The Gran Hotel is located in the heart of downtown San Jose. Built in 1930, it is one the Costa Rica's most historic accommodations. In fact, it is the only hotel to in the entire nation to be named a Historical and Architectural Landmark. The five story hotel sits facing the Plaza de la Cultura and across the street from the National Theater.

The entire Gran Hotel is designated as a "non-smoking facility. Amenities include free parking, laundry facilities, fitness equipment, and airport transportation (surcharge). The hotel also offers conference and meeting rooms, a business center and wireless Internet access in public areas.

Fort Bellavista, San Jose, Costa Rica

Visitors to the National Museum of Costa Rica in San Jose get a double treat because the museum is housed in the former Army headquarters of Costa Rica, Fort Bellavista. Bellavista means "Beautiful View," and the view from the fort overlooking the city is beautiful indeed. My opening photographs for this San Jose page were taken from there.

As you approach the old fort you will notice that the sides are riddled with bullet holes, put there by those who wanted to overthrow the government during the revolution of 1948 and before. In front of the fort and in the courtyard you will see old cannons.

After the civil war, on December 1, 1948, President José Figueres Ferrer abolished the Costa Rican army. In a ceremony here at the Fort Bellavista, Figueres broke a wall with a mallet symbolizing the end of Costa Rica's military spirit.

The national budget previously used to support the military is now dedicated to security, education and culture; the country maintains Police Guard forces. Since 1986, Costa Rica has celebrated Día de la Abolición del Ejército (Military abolition day), every year on Dec. 15. Unlike its neighbors, Costa Rica has not endured a civil war and has been the most peaceful country in all of Central America for more than half a century.

Costa Rica's National Museum

The National Museum of Costa Rica is in an old military fort, symbolizing Costa Rica's peaceful tradition. The museum, in the capital city of San Jose, features pre-Columbian art with displays of gold, jade, stone and pottery. There are other pre-Columbian artifacts from indigenous cultures dating back more than 12,000 years.

Among the most interesting artifacts we saw were mysterious intricate carvings thought to have been made by peoples who occupied this part of Central America before the Mayans.The museum encloses an open courtyard from which there are beautiful views overlooking downtown San Jose and the mountains beyond.

Plaza de la Cultura, San Jose, Costa Rica

This small plaza is a focal point in the heart of San Jose. It is situated in front of the Grand Hotel and across the Street from the National Theater. The Plaza offers a great spot for tourists to give their feet a rest while doing a little people watching.

The attractive square provides benches, a fountain, several small shade trees and one magnificent towering Royal Palm. There is also a monument to the Juan Mora Fernandez, the first President of Costa Rica. This is the main square for San Jose and is visited by thousands of both locals and visitors every day. The Plaza often hosts celebrations, demonstrations, performances, etc.

On prominent display in the Plaza de la Cultura is this statue of Juan Mora Fernandez (1784-1854) an early leader of the Republic of Costa Rica.

In 1824, just three years after Costa Rica gained its independence from Spain, Juan Mora Fernandez became the first elected head of state. Fernandez is best remembered for his land reforms and liberal policies. He is also credited with inadvertently creating an elite class of powerful coffee barons.

Costa Rica National Theater, San Jose

Located on the south side of the Plaza de la Cultura, Costa Rica's National Theater has been the nation's architectural show showpiece and cultural temple for more than a century. The theater had it's beginnings in 1890, when a European opera company featuring the prima donna Adelina Patti toured Central America but was unable to perform in Costa Rica because there was no suitable venue.

Wealthy coffee barons voted a tax on coffee exports to fund construction of a theater. Craftsmen were brought in from Europe were imported to build the magnificent structure with a classical Renaissance facade. The Theater was inaugurated in October 1897, with a performance of Faust by the Paris Opera and its famous Corps de Ballet.

Statues on the outside of the theater represent Dance, Music, and Fame. The inside foyer is decorated in pink marble with allegorical figures of Comedy and Tragedy. Beautiful murals depict native Costa Rican themes. A giant crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

The auditorium floor was designed to be used as a ballroom as well as for performances by a manual winch which can raise the main floor to stage level.

The Smoking Room, on the front second story of the National Theater was so opulent that I thought it deserved a tip of its own. this was the prettiest part of the theater and certainly is in indication that smoking was looked upon more favorably a century ago than it is today.

The room has pink marble with ornate gold trim, green velvet seats, statuary, and murals of naked celestial deities on the ceiling. From the windows of the room there was a very good view of the Plaza de la Cultura, and also the Grand Hotel, across the street from the Theater.