The long and winding road…..
It just seems to get longer and longer with the driving around San Jose. I’ve seen traffic, LOTS of traffic. California Interstates at rush hour traffic. Gridlock, not moving for an hour traffic. I don’t like it, but it was at least familiar. But the traffic in San Jose? Insanity. Pure, unadulterated insanity.
It’s not just the thousands of cars, buses, and other four wheeled vehicles of all shapes, sizes and vintages, the real insanity is the 2 wheeled transportation. Motorcycles, (I’m being generous with that description), mopeds, bicycles, and anything else that will move, are the real crazies….
In the middle of a tropical downpour, on the Pan American highway, I saw a 125 cc dirt bike, with 3 people, 4 suitcases, and at least a dozen garbage bags filled with who knows what, piled and bungee corded on all over the place. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, the whole contraption had a huge sheet of clear plastic covering everything, just barely off the pavement. Did I mention that it was passing cars and trucks, and weaving in and out of traffic? Too much for my poor brain…
Generally, the traffic in San Jose was the worst, and it really didn’t die down much at any time of the day. The highways, once away from San Jose, weren’t too bad, (except for the 2 wheelers), other than the passing habits of anybody that didn’t want to wait for a passing lane. I got used to it, even began to participate, after spending a few hours driving with these maniacs. I followed the semi’s, and at first, I didn’t mind following the trucks and passing when they passed. That was on the road to Tamarindo. Not too many hills, not too many curves. After leaving Tamarindo, however, the road to Nicoya was a little more twisty, That was when I first followed a semi around a blind curve going over a hill, passing another semi all the way. I decided that unless the truck I followed hit another semi, that was loaded heavier than he was, I could get back in my lane in time to miss most of the fireworks! What a way to travel……
Having said all this, I have to say that even with all the looneys, unsafe vehicles, and unsafe driving, I never saw an accident. Not even the remains of one on the side of the road. Oh, did I mention I put over 1600 miles on my rental car? And I never even saw an accident. No matter how bad it got, they were used to it, they adapted, and everybody survived. Incredible……..
Next time, lets go to Tamarindo…..
I asked the waitress, Maria, what the most typical Costa Rican food on the menu is. The thing most likely to be eaten in any given home. She pointed to the Arroz con Pollo. Chicken with rice. But this isn’t like anything I’ve had back in the US. The rice was cooked perfectly, then panfried with the chicken. Spices, tomatoes, peppers, onions, corn, peas, and a couple of things I couldn’t identify were all stirred up together, with a LOT of chicken. The french fries were freshly hand cut, and fried perfectly, crunchy on the outside, firm on the inside. This was a full meal, I assure you. No touristy dainty “try our food” small plates at this restaurant. Two could share this plate. It was on an oversized plate, and I couldn’t finish it. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m 6 feet 2 inches and 230 pounds. I don’t find a lot of meals I can’t finish, but after eating for 30 minutes, here I did. Everything was wonderful and I took my time. The setting, the smells, the food, the staff, everything combined to make this a memorable experience, and I will tell you one thing for sure. When I come back to Costa Rica, I’ll be staying here again!