Being a Tourist in San Jose. Costa Rica (City of)

We ended up with only one free afternoon in San Jose to explore the city's offerings - and this was a blitz of an afternoon at that!

First we walked through the bustling Avenida 2 where people were out in numbers. Blankets spread on the walkway offered customers ample opportunities to purchase handbags, electronics, happy face pillows and more.

We continued on to the Museueo del Oro Precolombino. Otherwise known as the Gold Museum.

Here we saw impressive pre-Colombian treasures such as El Guerrero - a life-sized warrior adorned with gold ornaments:

Also many many many cases of gold figurines:

I especially was drawn to the golden frogs:

Keep in mind some of these were smaller than my pinkie fingernail.

By this time, we needed to refuel a bit and we found a lovely respit in the Theatro Nacional cafe. The theatre was closed on Mondays, unfortunately, but at least we got a feel for this gorgeous, historical landmark.

Next we walked over to the Catedral Metropolitana.

If you look closely, you can see two bright green parrots roosting in the left pediment.

On the cathedral's north side, a statue (contemporary) of Pope John Paul by Jimenez Deredia is to be found.

It would have been lovely to take a closer look inside the cathedral, but it was 5:00 mass and that wasn't  possible. However, the tiling on the floors was most attractive.

Right across from the cathedral is Parque Central with a gazebo-type structure that is reported to also serve as a bandstand. Most impressive (and messy) was a tree in this area that was home to thousands of squawking parrots!

The daylight was lessening and we needed to make our way back to the hotel. But not before we checked out the Mercado Central (indoor market) that takes up an entire block of real estate; it reminded us a bit of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey.

Fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and fresh "curiosities" we would've enjoying learning about had we not been so exhausted after our whirlwind time as tourists in this city!

Bedtime was especially welcomed on this day!

 

Why Costa Rica?

Shown here: the view from our hotel window in San Jose, Costa Rica.

If you are a part of the Facebook community and happen to be my friend, you know that Wes and I -along with 9 other NPU students, professors, alumni and friends - were fortunate enough to say "yes" to the annual International SBNM Experience. 

"The purpose of the International experience is to help participants gain a better understanding of the business and nonprofit management practices, economics, and politics of Costa Rica, and to learn more about Costa Rica's rich history and culture."

Three very full days of meetings/visits took place.  We were to have had four full days of business, but our flight delay in Chicago led us to miss our connection in San Jose (insert 🙁☹️🙁☹️🙁 here. Including visits to the US Embassy, Florida Bebidas/Nutrivida and GS1.)

Our first visit was to HB Fuller, maker of adhesives. The world certainly needs adhesives!!

Our second visit was to Irex de Costa Rica. Because of the presentation given by the man in the white coat, I am now way into Irex detergents; the paste dish detergent made its way home in my luggage!  The star product, in my opinion, is the TERROR line of room deodorizers and cleaner.  Yes, you can actually buy a cleaning product named TERROR!!! But, sadly, I had to leave my sample product in the hotel room as it would create a problem with its flammability on an airplane ride back home. Again...🙁☹️🙁☹️😕.

Visit #3 was my favorite:  Habitat para la Humanidad - Habitat for Humanity. Three dynamic women were our presenters and they work so hard/care so much that we all left inspired by the differences they are making in the lives of others.

Following this was visit #4 to Financiera Desyfin. The rooftop deck following this financial lending company presentation was breath-taking. Here I nearly lost it with some confusion as to a Spanish/English translation and a hearty cough (almost) covered my fit of painful giggling. Again, I apologize to my spouse and group!!

Recognize these California surfers?  They founded the company of our fifth visit, DHL, a shipping giant.

Our 6th and final visit was to FOS - Federacion de Organizaciones Sociales. This is a nonprofit 

with exceptional connections to various areas of services for the people of Costa Rica and beyond!

Many in our group felt this was a top visit as well.

Speaking of our group of travelers and learners, this group meshed well and I loved our times together in the sessions as well as out and about in this gorgeous Central American country. 

You can read about those adventures in upcoming blogs... This is just your orientation into the whys of

taking this memorable trip.

Road Trip Wrap-UP

Though I put little snippets of our recent trip south together on FB, I thought I'd make a blog to be a companion to those mini blasts. Oh my, did we have fun!!!

Our final destination was Orlando, Florida.  With two overnights in Nashville and Macon, Georgia, the many miles together in the car were very doable. Seeing our niece, Jennifer, in her present academic environment was a highlight of this travel time!

Once we made it to Florida and saw green vegetation, colorful flowers, blue skies and palm trees we

did our happy dances! You will have to imagine these as I am reminded that "filtering" is good.

As you will also have to only imagine two Nelson Sisters zipping down the water slides as shown in the bottom right picture...

Taking a break from the "campus" found us at Downtown Disney enjoying the bustle (and princesses) there.

Then off to another Marriot Vacation Club play-land for more of the same chillin' out.

Being in Orlando also meant we had a field trip to a really big park: Disney's HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS.

Golly, gosh, gee that was so much fun! We nearly closed the place down as we stayed into the night

to see Mickey and a cast of characters:

Her family was coming and I left the next day to carry on my regular life back in Illinois.  Lots

of great perks where I live, too.

Here we also have our own unique theme park with a cast of characters!!

Blue

Seriously, who doesn't like the color blue??? I'm a big fan --- it's one of my favorite colors and 

I've liked it for a long time.  Probably started when I was a kid in Colorado looking up at those 

beautiful blue skies....see the upside-down sleeping rabbit?

My wedding China is blue: Tranquebar by Royal Copenhagen. (Upon registry at Sweden Shop, 

My mom questioned my choice and suggested something in avocado green instead.)

In a denim jacket or a chambray shirt is just fine with me!

Blue ice cream? Yes, please.

The bluebird of happiness? C'mon in!!

My alma mater home team wears blue (and gold).  Go Vikings!

All this being said, how is it possible to miss out on the biggest BLUE thing going on in the 

city of Chicago for the past 20 years???

We went last Saturday and it didn't disappoint. Not one little blue bit. Perfect as a getaway from the gray and blah right now in the month of February in Chicago.

(And, no, toilet paper is no longer a part of the show.)

Cake Pops

Rebel that I am, I snuck cake pops into the Shedd Aquarium recently. Slippery slope, I know.

They might not look like much, but they were very tasty. I simply took delicious leftover cake from Maggiano's and mixed the frosted cake in a bowl, rolled the blended mix into balls and froze them.

Next, almond bark was melted and the cake balls were rolled in this.  Done.  Popsicle sticks were packed on top and applied at the time of serving.

Nice thing about those sticks is that they are easily "morphed" into birthday candles!

We had such a fun time celebrating the anniversary of my 30th birthday! The Shedd is a great place to go with kids of all ages. Don't miss the show at the Oceanarium!

Or the sting rays, sharks, turtle or colorful fish in the circular Carribean Reef.

Or the jellyfish.

Or touching living sturgeon in the pool.

And don't forget the cake pops!!