Hidden Treasures
Back in the capital of San Jose after enjoying the excellent French food found in informal little restaurants along the dirt roads of southwestern Costa Rica, I had a chance to investigate the city by way of the standard "city tour." The group was me, a Peruvian, and eleven Venezuelans. Fortunately the guide, a very knowledgeable gentleman named Oliver, was happy to accommodate me with frequent English translations.
There were two high points to the tour. Number One was the National Theater, a very high Wow Factor experience. Everything hand made by indigenous artists: bronze detail work on the walls, marble tile floors, etc. The theater, constructed in the late 19th century, is small but packed with beautiful detail.
The second best part of the tour was the Museum of the Central Bank. Yes, strangely enough, the Central Bank started collecting tons of artifacts many years ago, and now in the mostly underground museum you can see beautiful gold work from hundreds of years ago, before the Spanish conquest, like the gold ear pieces and plates that warriors wore, or little figurines that the shamans wore to signify their power. There are also many ceremonial maize-grinding stone platforms with intricately carved figures on the legs. Explanatory panels in English and Spanish put the objects in context and explain the importance of Costa Rica and Central America in the cultural history of the whole of central and South America.
So, next time you're on layover in San Jose, between zip lining or bungee jumping or volcano expeditions, be sure to check out these two gems.
There were two high points to the tour. Number One was the National Theater, a very high Wow Factor experience. Everything hand made by indigenous artists: bronze detail work on the walls, marble tile floors, etc. The theater, constructed in the late 19th century, is small but packed with beautiful detail.
The second best part of the tour was the Museum of the Central Bank. Yes, strangely enough, the Central Bank started collecting tons of artifacts many years ago, and now in the mostly underground museum you can see beautiful gold work from hundreds of years ago, before the Spanish conquest, like the gold ear pieces and plates that warriors wore, or little figurines that the shamans wore to signify their power. There are also many ceremonial maize-grinding stone platforms with intricately carved figures on the legs. Explanatory panels in English and Spanish put the objects in context and explain the importance of Costa Rica and Central America in the cultural history of the whole of central and South America.
So, next time you're on layover in San Jose, between zip lining or bungee jumping or volcano expeditions, be sure to check out these two gems.
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