- Downtown San José has street vendors galore, selling everything from fruit (I got to sample the avocados before I bought them!) to veggies (bell peppers, onions, green beans, and more) to socks, earbuds, and pirated DVDs.
- Casado = typical Costa Rican food. Usually includes rice/beans (pinto) and some sort of meat protein, and possibly a salad.
- Soda = a local eatery. I think this may have to do with the classic “soda fountain” idea.
- Street entertainers aren’t relegated to pedestrian walkways and sidewalks. If you’re in a car at a stop light, you might get a juggling show, routine timed perfectly with the red light.
- When braking suddenly, it’s common to turn your hazard lights on momentarily.
- After an accident (even fender benders) cars do NOT move until an official arrives and checks it out.
- Be prepared to encounter traffic (from the above accidents). Especially when on any roads through the forest as they are often 1-2 lanes max.
- Motorcyclists are fearless/stupid. You’ll see them on the other side of the road to pass traffic, sometimes narrowly missing oncoming traffic. The law requires that there is a helmet on your head, so oftentimes they rest them atop their head, like a helmet-hat, rather than head protection.
- Gas stations have attendants that pump your gas and provide full service (check your oil, tires) with the price of your gas. Classic! I did not see windshield squeegees though – I either could have missed them, or they’re useless with the usual rain.
- A green traffic light will begin to blink as a warning that it will turn yellow. Yellow means slow down and red still means stop (like in the US).
- Pedestrians are not likely to strictly follow crosswalk signs. If traffic is stopped for a moment it’s as good a time as any to cross.
- AmPm convenience stores are everywhere and they’re more like mini grocery stores. You can get everything from full heads of hydroponic lettuce to boxed caviar. They even have fresh baked-to-order individual pizzas and seating with televisions.
- There aren’t really addresses here, so much as directions based on landmarks. It’s common to say that you’d live “100 meters north of (insert landmark here – McDonald’s, the Bank, etc.).” Sample addresses of real places we went: “Paralela a la Autopista Próspero Fernández – primera salida después del peaje.” or “400 metros Oeste de La PACO.”
- …so the lines at the post office are long (and slow)! There are PO boxes and you can pick-up your mail there.
Lol your Dad will have a nightmare time if he had to deal with those directions.
Funny I used to give same kind of directions such as the green house by… great memory lane
I definitely thought of that! Hehehe
Appreciate lots, the glimpses of local life, i.e. driving customs and food merchants. Keep those great anectdotes and photos coming, please, whenever you can!
Glad you’re enjoying them!