Day 40 – Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Drink of the Day – Speedy Gonzalez

Morning came very quickly for us. We had a 5:30 wakeup call so we could dress, eat, and be ready to go by 7:00.

After the last minute port change we were still able to take our scheduled “Costa Rica Highlights” tour. We boarded a bus at 7:15 and began our travels along the Pan American Highway. Our first stop was in San Ramon to visit the town square and Cathedral de San Ramon. As has been the case in most of the churches we have visited, it was beautiful.

As we traveled toward San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, we passed through many rustic towns. Once at our destination we visited Teatro Nacional which is a magnificent opera house filled with over a century of history. The opera house was dark and a bit dated. The ceilings and walls however were covered with detailed paintings and intricate moldings that were quite lovely.

Just across the courtyard from the opera house we visited the National Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. We spent a short time looking at many gold and stone artifacts from the Pre-Columbian time. There were many beautiful pieces that we would have loved to have had. But we already have too much stuff to pack.

A highlight of the day was having lunch at a privately owned coffee plantation. We were all served a traditional Costa Rican lunch in an outside pavilion while being serenaded by two musicians playing polkas with a Central American twist. After lunch we were free to walk around the gardens. We all wished we had more time to wander and look at the unique flowers and plants.






As we headed back to the ship we did have a chance to souvenir shop in the town of Sarchi. This resulted in an extra pound or so added to our luggage. After boarding the bus we were informed that due to a major accident on the highway, we would be forced to return to the ship by way of a lesser thoroughfare, the narrow 2-lane Balboa Road. This was a little slower and at times exciting with the S-curves through the mountains. It was also more scenic and worth the delay. We did not get back to the ship until after 6:00 PM, just in time for sailing.

Though we had hoped to be back at the port early enough to do a little shopping we had to pass on that but did see and hear some of the celebration for Carnavale which was starting in Puntarenas that evening. Back to the ship for showers and sipping on the balcony while we watched the coast disappear into darkness.

Tomorrow – thank goodness, is a sea day.