You Gotta Love San Jose

Sunday February 7: Yesterday was my first day on my own in San Jose.

It was also the best day I've had since arriving in Costa Rica.

In fact, it's been a long time since I have enjoyed a day as much as I did yesterday.

For starters I love San Jose. What's not to love about the city?

Surviving Buses And Taxis

It is a charming old Latin city with appropriate hustle & bustle, many large and well enjoyed open public spaces.

And the population does not appear so engrossed in their own affairs that they are oblivious to what is around them.

It might be that being aware of what is happening around oneself is a critical San Jose survival tactic.

In addition to the motorcycles, private vehicles and trucks, there are a lot of buses and taxi cabs racing around this city. And race they do.

Bus service inside of San Jose as well as to and from it from neighbouring towns and cities is provided by several private sector companies.

So like taxi cabs everywhere, including here in San Jose, they literally race to pick up the next fare and complete their trips as soon as possible so that they can squeeze in a few more fares.

If pedestrians are not immediately potential fares they...or more correctly we...are little more than obstacles to the maniac flow of San Jose traffic.

Noisy Political Warfare

In case the International media has not picked it up, there is a presidential election going on in Costa Rica...today.

I don't know if Costa Ricans are passionate about politics...or love making noise...or both.

All day yesterday, last night and starting early today cars, SUVs and small trucks wearing the colours of main political parties have joined the motor race around town.

The vehicles however also have supporters fervently waving flags to show their party loyalty. And since the drivers need the use of both hands to steer from time to time, instead of a flag, they blast on their horns non-stop.

Think downtown Toronto when there is a major soccer match being played, but with the supporters of 4-5 teams driving around, waving flags and blasting their horns. And then add in the Blue Jays winning a world series or the Maple Leafs making the playoffs.

Last night, I walked past the headquarters of one of the candidates. Seems his campaign slogan is something like, 'not the worst'. In any event it was quite a scene.

As vehicles bearing the colours of the other parties passed his headquarters, they waved their flags more vigorously, shouted louder and blew the horns non-stop. h

His band of supporters responded in kind by waving their blue and red flags,...as did a group of green party (yes..the same one but the incumbent here...this time with female leader) stationed across the road.

Periodically all traffic of every kind and colour would stop completely while the blue & red supporters ran onto the road and gave flags, t-shirts and hats to eager passengers in cars and buses alike.

All of this noise had the ancillary effect of setting off the alarms of other non-politically aligned vehicles that were innocently parked in the vicinity.

As I write this, a new source of noise has joined the San Jose Election Day Symphony.

The gringos (Americans) in residence here, of which there are many, are as engaged in watching the Superbowl on TV as the Costa Ricans are in their election noise-making.

Monday February 8: Last night ended with a round of fireworks...sounded like the city was under attack.

Today the country has a new president...Laura Chinchilla, first female to hold the office and a protege...some say puppet...of the outgoing president.

Ah....Latin American politics...gotta love them eh?