www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Are there any musems or cultural centers in San Jose? Are they open on Saturdays. I would love to learn a little more history about the country and the people. What are the good places to go? Thanks.
M

I thought the DelRey and Key Largo were cultural centers/museums.

The National museum is cool and walking distance from the gulch, be sure to go in the butterfly aviary. The gold museum and National theater are a few blocks in the other direction.
http://www.costarica.com/travel/museums.html

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For attractions near the Gulch, I'd also add the Jade Museum, which is on the top floor of the ICE bldg. at the north end of Espana Park (1 blk w. of Morazon Park). It can be viewed in an hour or less and affords great aerial views of the Gulch and surrounding areas. Then a nice walk through Espana and the National Park will take you to the National Museum (already mentioned) which is also my personal favorite. Its good for at least a couple of hours. If you go around lunchtime you can scope out the many secretaries that work in the government buildings in the area. There's a nice crafts market in the Democracy Plaza on the way back to the Gulch. You might also check out the Zoo which is a couple of blocks north of the Jade Museum. Finally, there are a couple of Art Museums in the area, but thats not my thing. The museums are a good thing to do on a rainy day or also on a hot day when you are just hanging around the Gulch and want to go somewhere to cool off. Who said SJ was just for mongering?


Oh yeah, most of the major museums in SJ are open every day except Mondays. The smaller museums like the Jade Museum are only open M-F.

Prolijo is exactly correct, but I might add...why the f*ck can't people
spend $30 or so dollars for a couple of guidebooks at Borders or
Barnes and Noble and research the matter for themselves? It really
is well worth the money spent. Can't people do anything for
themselves anymore?!!!!!!

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"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

$30 could be an hour at the lesser MP's. Got a map and direction to those Besides. I am working 12-14 hour days until Nov. first. Doing anything but thinking about tica @ss requires to much motivation.

Honestly spur of the moment. I just got a wild hair and bought a ticket!

One of the many nice things about this board is that a member has the right to post a reply to a request or to just ignore the post. So why get bent out of shape when someones asks a question? Just ignore the post and move on.

While I personally agree a few dollars spent buying a good guide book and investing a few hours reading it is an excellent idea maybe that route is not for everyone.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Well said DingDong,I will throw out one bit of information for anyone who wants to get a good travel guide.The Moon Travel guide is by far the best and most comprehensive I have found on Costa Rica. DTA,I think I am in on your dates and would be glad to give you pointers about some things to see and do in the country.rbc100

I am a big reader of guidebooks. I have at least half a dozen on CR alone and have perused many more. I agree that the Moon book is the best one on CR. In fact, I liked it so much I got a second updated edition. The Lonely Planet is also very good. However, I also agree that the prices for guidebooks are ridiculous.

For those not willing to pay the price, or who would rather save their hard-earned money for other things, there is also a lot of info available on-line for free. And for those too lazy or busy to even do the search, just use the links that I have provided in this thread http://www.costaricaticas.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=2483&highlight=guide where the subject of guidebooks was thoroughly discussed. If you scroll down to my 2nd post you'll find the links I provided to a variety of sites where big chunks of the guidebooks, including the first 100 pages of Moon, were available free on-line.

Aw heck, these are great links guys, here they are again:

http://www.photo.net/cr/moon/cr-handbook.html.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/central_america/costa_rica/
http://www.costa-rica-guide.com/index.html
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/costarica/

I have to add Paco's link to my list (very good site!)
http://www.costarica.com/

and especially for DTA, the Frommer page with links to 9 different cultural attractions in SJ:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/sanjosecostarica/0042010029.html

I know that a lot of you have been to the mercado where they sell souvenirs under tents. Keep walking up Central about another 2 blocks and go to the national museme - very interesting - gives you a history of Costa Rica.
There is also a very interesting Art musume at the east end of Park Sabanna and don't forget the National Theater just across the plaza from the Gran Hotel Costa Rica.
Pura Vida!
LVSteve

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