Thousands of Costa Ricans have gathered for the highlight of the year, Fiestas Palmares 2011. Throughout the year there are several state fairs and festivals but none compare to Fiestas Palmares. The two-week long festival celebrates Costa Rican culture, tradition and customs through music, food and other activities.
Now half-way through, the festival has been a success and will probably continue to be so. In the coming days there are a variety of activities to please every taste. Every afternoon at 1:00pm starts Tarde de Arte y Cultura (an afternoon of art and culture), with the showing of an art exhibition and at 5:00pm a cultural activity. For example, January 18 will showcase a local Cimarrona while on the Read more
Partying like a monk may seem like a giant contradiction, but in Le Monastere the concepts of fun and peace exist in perfect harmony. Formerly a monastery, the main floor of this gorgeous building was converted into one of the most elegant restaurants in Costa Rica. The lower level is now the enchanting Cantina La Cava, a medieval style tavern. Located in San Rafael de Escazu, Le Monastere attracts elite clientele and its a great place to meet other expatriates living in Costa Rica.
The main floor is divided into several dining rooms and a bar, all of which are decorated in the french style, including beautiful marble statues and luxurious furniture. You can always hear the sounds of Read more
Costa Rica is famous for its beaches, volcanoes, rain forests, etc. However, if there is one place you should definitely visit in Costa Rica, it is the Central Avenue in San Jose. The Central Avenue is a pedestrian walkway that stretches through all downtown San Jose. Walking down the Central Avenue you will find many historic buildings reflecting the architecture of the late 1800′s and early 1900′s.
One of the main attractions sits across from the Central Plaza, where artists gather to sell their work, and people sit on benches to feed the many kinds of birds as the day goes by. This building is The National Theater of Costa Rica. This ornate opera house Read more
San Jose is the capital of Costa Rica, a modern city, center of all political and commercial activity in Costa Rica. The city is painted with culture, art and architecture. However there is something else that makes this city special. At night, its people come to life and spend their time dancing or enjoying a drink with friends at one of its many lively venues.
The Jazz Cafe offers quite an experience. There are live shows every night featuring national and several international musicians. The food is great and the display of various sculptures and art pieces by local artist gives this place a wonderful ambiance. There are now two venues, the original one sits over 200 Read more
San Pedro Movie Theater, though being quite large is not any more spectacular than any other movie theater in San Jose. Despite it being one of the largest that is about all it offers. The theater area itself is quite small; it has limited seating which makes the view experience feel intimate, like watching a movie at home on a very large screen. The seating area is quite clean and obviously well maintained.
As far as snacks it is not possible to get good old fashioned popcorn all that is offered is candy caramel popcorn. They do have great deals on combos; you can get a Soda, candy and popcorn for under six dollars. You can also get Read more
There are a ton of different ways to go about getting information regarding traveling to and living in Costa Rica. But how do you know the information is reliable? Plenty of you have e-mailed asking for information, but as you know… I don’t always find the time to answer, and sometimes I just don’t have the answers! I can, however, connect you with the people who do have the answers!
I, together with all the other Gringo writers (see my blogroll for affiliate sites) have worked to create a database that puts you in contact with the people you need to reach in Panama (and Guatemala, Costa Rica, Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador and more!)
If you are looking for legal services, real Read more
As a trained Jazz musician I am also interested in seeking out Jazz clubs in the many countries I travel to and getting a feel for what each country considers to be Jazz. I especially like it when what is considered to be traditional Jazz is mixed in with the local flavors producing a new fusion of sound that, when played by quality musicians, almost always sounds fantastic.
Now, if you are a Jazz snob and particular about keeping things in line (which is basically an oxymoron in the organized chaos of Jazz) visiting a Latin American Jazz club may not be the best way for you to spend an evening. However, if you, like me, enjoy watching musicians haphazardly play Read more
Cerutti Restaurante is planning a dinner to celebrate the artful tastes of five star Italian cooking and the most prestigious of Spanish wines. The evening begins at 8:00 pm on Wednesday, December 17th and includes not only the most delicious of Italian dishes care of the famous Cerutti Restaurante, but also the best wines from Frontaura.
Reservations can be made by calling 2228–4511/2228–9954.
A night out in San Jose isn’t complete without a trip to Calle de la Amagura (Street of Bitterness), where you can find a variety of bars, and an even more diverse crowd of people mingling and enjoying the late night scene.
Terra U is one of the more popular bars on Calle de la Amagura, offering a street front patio, good music and excellent food, offering Mexican, American, and traditional plates. They also have free Wi-Fi, which adds to their appeal.
Terra U is open from Monday to Sunday 11 am to 2 am and Sundays from 3 pm to 2 am. Contests and special offers are featured on a daily basis. Terra U has a Read more
Searching for something fun to do in San Jose this weekend? Why not try the theatre. The Little Theatre Group is presenting the musical comedy “Nusense” in English at the Laurence Oliver theatre. Performances will be held Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm.
Sunday afternoon there will be a special matinee performance at 2:30 pm. For those who arrive early, from 1 pm onward there will be a cash bar and free bocas (fingerfood). Democrats Abroad of Costa Rica will be there in order to encourage attendees from the United States to apply for their absentee ballots for the general election.
The price for the Sunday ticket is 7,000 colones, while Friday and Saturday run 4,000 Read more
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