San José & Costa Rica's Central Valley by Bruce Conord

Author:Bruce Conord [Conord, Bruce]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hunter
Published: 2010-06-25T16:00:00+00:00

San José

Nestled high in the Central Valley (1,253 meters/3,770 feet), between green volcanic mountain ranges, San José, a metropolitan city of one million plus people, orients east and west, surrounded by suburbs that cling to the foothills. Southwest of the city, the upscale town of Escazú is home to the largest population of North Americans living in Costa Rica.

Unlike other Central American capitals, San José is not very colonial, although the heart of the historic center features several beautiful old buildings. It didn't become a decent-sized city until relatively late in the 1800s, long past the colonial era, and had a modern building boom in the 1950s and 60s. Because of its economic success from coffee exports, San José became the second city in the Americas to install electricity (1884). At its heart are the National Theater, Plaza de la Cultura, Parque Central, the Cathedral and Gold Museum, which are centered in a four-block area with a long pedestrian-only shopping walkway bisecting the middle of downtown.

San José is a very cosmopolitan capital with many welcoming qualities, including near-perfect weather. The temperature is fairly consistent between 70 and 75°F. Occasional cold fronts call for a jacket or sweater at night. The rainy season, when late afternoons and evenings bring showers, lasts from May to October, mas o menos.

As the cultural heart of the nation, San José is home to several theater groups, excellent museums, parks, a national symphony, cinemas and universities. It is also host to nightclubs, casinos, discos and fine restaurants.

On the down side, the city is often crowded, dirty, noisy, ugly and disagreeable. It may take some getting used to - some people absolutely hate it, but the longer you stay, the more San José grows on you.

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