Wednesday, April 7, 2021

COSTA RICA


I'd have to say, Costa Rica was by far one of my most different vacations I'd had. It was far more insolated then I would normally be. Most of the trip was in the deep rainforest  of Manual Antonio, Arenal, and Monteeverde. The only thing in the area most times WAS the hotel. Your pretty isolated in the rainforest. So it was good to have a guide. We did however spend some time in Cartago. I loved the random fruit stands. This one above was in Manual Antonio. So frickin fresh and flavorful. I think during this pandemic I could easily quarantine here. These are two sights we saw in Cartago.
Las Ruinas de la Parroquia was a pretty cool thing to see. It is now the ruins of a church that was built in 1575 as a shrine to St James the Apostle. It was destroyed by the 1841 earthquake, rebuilt a few years later if I recall, and then destroyed again in the 1910 earthquake. Today only it's outer walls remain, but the inside now houses a pretty garden, a good spot to see birds, stroll and people watch. Legend has it that the ghost of several priest wander the grounds. 


While I'm not religious by any means, I'm fascinated by church architecture. the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Los Angeles is a Roman Catholic church in classic Byzantine style, located in Cartago. It was built  in 1639.  Yet again, it was partially destroyed by an earthquake and series of aftershocks that followed kept it crumbling and incomplete. In 1912 , it got a new architect and took 12 years to finally complete it. Each August over 2 million pilgrims make a spiritual journey to the basilica, many on their knees, coming from various parts of Costa Rica.  The interior was very intriguing, I was especially drawn to the elaborate design of the ceiling and little skylights
I often wonder how our guide Benico is doing. I often think of him. He really gave us a bang for our buck. Even cooked us a great dinner one night.
The Market he took us to,  to get provisions for dinner.

 This was one of the stands. Look at all that goodness. The man could cook. And some of you may recall he looked damn fine in a speedo. You may also recall how I told him it was customary in American culture that the tour guide had to carry around the youngest of the group. He didn't buy it, but he was  a very good sport putting up with my shenanigans.

Ah good times. 

44 comments:

  1. Beautiful architecture, and a fascinating place, I'm sure! Jx

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  2. Love churches. They are eerie and beautiful. And, I must say, based on those pics of the men and your guide in your previous post? I think I might have misplaced my passport and insisted one of them marry me. :) Thanks for sharing. Kizzes.

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    1. Oh...don't get me started on the men......

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  3. Youngest Son worked for several months
    in Costa Rica - computer stuff.
    Loverly pictures and buildings.
    xoxo :-)

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    1. After being in the rainforest for almost two weeks it was nice to see some civilization again.

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  4. I have always liked your trips, because you never seem to go to the "usual" spot people go. It's always like, not obscure, but places you never seem to hear people saying they go. That church is amazing.

    And how could we forget Benico? Yes, I remember that black speedo when I saw it.

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  5. i just bet he did give you more bang for your buck!

    love the fruit stands!

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    1. Ms Moorecock....your terrible Muriel.

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    2. Or...was it the other way around?

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  6. Oh yes. Costa Rica! I would have loved to have gone with you. I never could get William to go there. He was not much for tropical locales. I loved you post when you featured them. Love seeing more of your pictures. I think Costa Rica must be very inspiring & divine. Truly a magical place to go on a memorable pilgrimage.

    I'm liking this memory lane.

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    1. I could totally see you wearing your turbans and caftans whiffing in the breeze there! I don't think pictures can even do it justice Agnes.

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    2. Why, yes...you know me! I would probably wear that too.

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  7. As a outdoorsy person, Id love Costa Rica.

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  8. This was one of my favorite trips you featured. It's not a place I know many go. And what's not to like about being in a jungely rainforest? Huge bugs? These places are so cool. Beautiful old ruins of the church. I wonder why we don't utilize old buildings like this instead of tearing them down? And the basilica is gorgeous...that wood work ceiling?!?!?!

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    1. YES...we saw more then a couple VERY BIG BUGS. Almost looked alien like. YIKES.

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  9. We both love Costa Rica. This post was a much needed lift to the ass today! On our way to the Caribbean side of Costa Rica years ago, we stopped in Cartago for lunch & checked to see what there was to see in the area. We really enjoyed the old church ruins. The ruins are very well maintained. Damaged several times and is the only example of Roman-influenced architecture left in Costa Rica.

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  10. Great pictures! I really love that market and fresh fruit stand. I can just imagine it's taste.

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  11. Could you just imagine living there? I could most definitely live in a tropical locale. The basilica is ornately beautiful. What more does one need, just stunning architecture. There is nothing to do, but soak in the majestic details.

    I can't wait to see what's up next.

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  12. I've never been to Costa Rica and these are views I've never seen shared before. Thanks! I had no idea so much damage had been done over the centuries as a result of earthquakes. Should have guessed!

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    1. Wait till you see the other pictures I have in a few posts.....

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  13. When 45 came into office, I looked at Costa Rica as a place to migrate for the long haul if needed.

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    1. Shit you should have called me...I would have went with you toots.

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  14. Now, this is a trip I have got to make. In my bucket list since forever.
    I know somebody who retired and went to live there. Has never looked back. Also, I can speak Spanish. So yeah.

    XOXO

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    1. Mine too Sixpense...just bit the bullet and we went! LOVE IT! And the mens....ahhhhhhhhh.

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  15. Costa Rica looks very beautiful, but I hear there are a LOT of snakes there.

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    1. I didn't see any. But there could have been one near me neatly camouflaged and I probably didn't even know. I did see however some HUGE ass bugs.

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  16. What a beautiful place, and that fruit stand could put any produce section in my neck of the woods to shame.

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  17. Anywhere I can be almost naked is ok in my book! Great shots. I have already learned from these post when this gig with the pandemic is up, I soooo need to travel more. Not counting the US, but aboard.

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  18. Wow! Simply stunning interior in that basilica. But with your sinful self, Im only surprised you wanted to risk these religious institutions. I mean, haven't the earthquakes done enough damage already???

    One day I hope I will learn what went on with Benico.

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  19. Excellent travels and memories. Basilica looks very impressive from the outside, but sure didn't expect the interior with wooden ceiling, in a moorish style with wood. Amazing. And I sure wouldn't pass up practicing music in those ruins.

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  20. What a beautiful place!
    It looks so colourful and warm. It's blinking freezing here!

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  21. I love the garden in the ruined church. The interior roof of the Basilica de Nostra Senora de los Angeles reminds me of the Palatine chapel in Palermo....another place to visit on your European tour. Cello Josh is right about the Moorish influence, brought over by the Spaniards

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    1. Sometimes when more then one style merges, the result, as in this case can be breathtaking.

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  22. What’s sites. It’s amazing what you will find in these little corners of the world. I would love to be able to travel. Alas, I’ll live vicariously through you.

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  23. More travelogue, and I love it!

    I am like you; I don't particularly care for what goes on in churches but I love the buildings.

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  24. It's amazing, isn't it? The technology and craftsmanship enabled them to build gigantic structures that (largely) still stand to day. Meanwhile, with all our chemical and engineering "knowhow" we can't keep something for much more than 50-60 years - then we deem it time to raze.

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    1. And half the time we don't even do that. We have empty office complexes and strip malls sitting empty, while we rip up more land and build a new one next to it!!!! Something is wrong on some many levels in the US.

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  25. Pretty place, and fresh fruits!

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  26. I enjoyed all your picture from your past post too. And still you won't divulge if you got naked with Benico!!!! That fruit does look amazing!

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  27. The interior of that church is very beautiful.

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  28. I got horribly sick in Costa Rica, but I still want to go back there some time.

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  29. Earthquakes and churches, just like pie a la mode.

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  30. what nice places!

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!