Why Take a Walking Tour of San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose, Costa Rica is a stop-over for many tourists usually flying in or out of Costa Rica. And while visitors are usually most excited about the beaches and jungles of Costa Rica, they should be excited about a day of urban fun as well, and a walking tour is a great option.

Guide books do a terrible job of reviewing this city. It's not a cultural mecca like London or NYC, but it is a cultural center with many sites to see and activities to do. And the best part is you gain insight into the people and cultural ideals that built the country and persist throughout. San Jose, therefore can answer many questions you'll have along the way as you enjoy your exotic vacation.

I'm biased being the owner of Barrio Bird Walking Tours, but it is my goal to connect tourists and expats to the beauty that is in San Jose. And I want it to be affordable to all. That's why our tours start at $10. If you take a walking tour these are the advantages:

• Do not have to worry about your safety or getting lost (there are no street addresses)
• Tours are a max of 8 so you will have an intimate group, be able to hear and ask questions
• Get advice on how to spend the rest of your day
• 10% discount on lunch at some of the best restaurants downtown 
• Contribute to the revitalization of Central America's cultural hub, San Jose

So, if anything, get out of your hotel or hostel and take a knowledgeable walk around San Jose. If you live here, stop avoiding the city and learn where all the attractions are at. Can't wait to meet you!

Stacey
Owner
Barrio Bird Walking Tours
RSVP: call 8926-9867 or email BarrioBird@gmail.com

French Alliance Offers Collection of Activities for Oct.

The French Alliance is a special gem in Barrio Amon, San Jose, and always open to tourists. Set in an old victorian style home, the alliance strives to connect Costa Ricans and visitors to the best of french culture, and also inclusion of work by Costa Rican artists. Here's a sample of what is going on this month:

Compañía: Eduardo Mata
A series of 15 oil paintings, this collection takes a look at people. From the artist, "Who are they to me? Who are they to themselves? Who am I to them? and Who am I to myself?" This is on display until Wed. Oct. 13.

Das weisse Band: La Cinta Blanca
A French/German film telling the story of strange events for a group of children in the months prior to WWI. Showing is free at the French Alliance on Fri. Oct. 8th at 6:00 p.m. Will be shown in French with Spanish subtitles.

European Film Festival
Running the 25th of Oct. to the 31st, 6 European films will be shown at Cine Magaly. If you have not been inside this theater, it's a must, as it's beautiful with some art deco architectural influence. Entrance is free, times are not yet available.

Baroque Musical Performance: Grupo de Música Antigua UNA
It is unclear if this will be a choral or orchestra performance. Either way it's free! 7:30, Oct. 28th

Eduardo Mata

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Japan meets Costa Rica in a Flurry of Art

Music, dancing and art were wound together, and topped with latin and asian eye candy last night at the opening of  'Zentica'.The Costa Rica Musuem of Art brought the two cultures of Japon and Costa Rica into the same space at Casa del Cuño, at the newly remodeled, La Aduana.


40 pieces, 20 Costa Rican and 20 Japanese, include sculptures, jewelry, paintings, videos and more. It is very interesting to see the differences between the artwork of the two nations. Overall, the Costa Rican pieces seem to work more with pastel colors, blending images, and taboo topics. The Japanese pieces were simple, yet bold, using solid colors, and almost alway integrating or dipicting natural elements such as birds, flowers,  wood, etc. It's all worth checking out yourself. 


Guests were entertained by a number of live art performances. Artist Kazunobu Yanagi, painted while a band played an electric rock/meditation type of chant. Later, 4 women performed live dance as they simultaneously did larger than life oragami folding. 

Costa Rican artist, Fabio Herrara shows us his 'office'. I think this is a great dipiction of San Jose.

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Inside a Secret Mansion in Downtown San Jose

It's impossible to walk by this architectural marvel, crumbling right before your eyes, and not want to know it's story, to rescue it, to see it live again. This beautiful and mysterious building is Casa Jiménez. Built in 1905 it was designed by it's original owner, lawyer and diplomat Manuel Francisco Jiménez Ortiz. It is one of the only remaining Art Nouveau style buildings in the city, and it's a feature on our walking tours. 


The building is currently under disputed ownership, or rather it's stuck in court. It is on the Ministry of Culture's protected Heritage list and therefore its architectural integrity must be maintained in remodeling, but at this point, it simply needs to be saved.


Barrio Bird did have the chance to sneak inside and snap some photos. Here is a look inside the torn apart building, as well as a photo of it's original glory. 

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

Video of the Real San Jose, Costa Rica

We spend most of our time trying to promote all the good cultural, architectural and historic moments happening in San Jose. But we also have walking tours to help tourists and expats alike see the real gems of San Jose. Attached is a video to give you an idea of this very unique way to see the beauty of the city. If you've been scared or annoyed by it until now, it's the perfect time to change.

San Jose, Costa Rica Walking Tour

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867.

A humble view of the mountains from Barrio Aranjez, San Jose the urban jungle

Paseo de los/las Damas-Downtown Keeps Getting Better

I've been championing the revitalization efforts of San Jose for the past year, happy to show people its hidden beauty. Here is a summary of this past Sunday's article in PROA, highlighting all that has been completed on Paseo de los Damas (Parque Morazan to La Aduana), and the few things we'll see over the next two years. 


To see all of these details in person, and hear more in-depth stories about the buildings/artists/history I recommend taking our Bird's Nest tour for only $15.


Complete to date:
Sidewalks, public art installments, restoration of the old police station, Edificio Metallico, Parque Morazan & La Aduana. 


To come: 
Construction of new legislative assembly building and president's house. Also a cafe and visitor's center located inside old train cars outside of the Atlantic Train Station. There is also a conversation about a pedestrian bridge that would connect the Paseo at La Aduana, providing easy access to Barrio Escalante. So in a few years with more development of the Barrio Escalante Urban plan it would be a beautiful and easy walk from Mall San Pedro all the way to the National Theater. 


The aim of all of these projects is to return this sector of downtown to it's prior status of elegance and political  power center for all josefinos (San Jose-ans) to enjoy.

Downtown Architecture & Urban Planning Update

There are several new and exciting developments to report on downtown. 


Outside Complete: I wrote a few months ago about the building that is across the from La Marinita. The outside is basically complete. This building now really stands out as a must see in downtown. Plans for the building aren't firm, but a possible bar/restaurant might open on the bottom with some residential space on top. 

New Paint: The Girl's School on Ave. 4 has been undergoing much renovation and it appears a new paint job will soon be under way.  This particular corner boasts one of my favorite views in the city on a clear day. You can look down at Iglesia de la Soledad and get beautiful mountain views in all directions. 

Ugly Fence: This historic home sits on Ave. 7. Almost 100 years old, it is of Victorian influence and was built by a Spanish merchant. It's architecture represents much of what was found throughout Barrio Amon in the early 20th century. Unfortunately, a taller gate has been added with razor wire on top for security, really detracting from the original beauty of the home. We'll see what else develops at this home. 

325 New Trees!! I also previously wrote about Barrio Escalante's new Urban Plan. A first step towards completing this plan was the planting of 325 new trees throughout the neighborhood. A variety of species were added to serve as homes to birds and butterflies, provide a variety of color with different blossoms, and to hopefully create the first carbon neutral neighborhood in the country. Is there a carbon neutral neighborhood in your country?? The species of trees planted include; palo verde, árbol de fuego, cortés negro, choreque, roble sabana, guachipelín, dama, manzanita y palmera real. I can't wait to take a new stroll through this neighborhood. Maybe we'll do a plant/architecture tour!

Barrio Bird offers walking tours of San Jose. If you are a visitor or have lived here for some time, there is always a new way to see the city. View tours or make a reservation by emailing barriobird@gmail.com or calling 8926-9867

Festivals: Video, Orchids, Queens & Guitars --San Jose, Costa Rica

San Jose is Queen (seriously, there is queen's fun included) of festivals this time of year. These festivals are either free or relatively low cost and fun for families, dates, or relaxing after fun at the beach. Enjoy!


Festival de Video Joven La 240. This free festival began on Sunday and runs all week showing video shorts by central american youth in the open-air theater at CENAC (old Fanal). 60 works will be shown today thru Fri. at 7 p.m. and the festival will end Saturday with an awards ceremony at El Lobo Estepario, which is a bar themed after a movie theater and one of my downtown favorites. 


National Orchid Expo. Love orchids and great urban architecture? Visit the National Orchid Expo this weekend inside the newly opened, Old Aduana this 16th - 18th. Hours are Fri. and Sat. 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Admission is 2,000 c general and 1,000 c old folks and kids--celebrate those discounts!


The Queen's Rock 'n' Roll Birthday Party. While not downtown, we can't pass up a rock n roll party for the Queen of England (and several other places) at the British Ambassador's residence, just north of Plaza Los Laureles in Escazu. All sorts of British food and drinks will be served as well as raffles for air travel and resort stays. Prizes for best costume. Sat. April 17, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Proceeds to benefit local schools in need. 2,500 c is general admission at the gate, under 12 1,000 c. Looking forward to rocking purple nail polish at this one. 


Guitar Festival. The 3rd annual guitar festival at University Veritas will be this coming April 22nd - 25th every night at 7 p.m. inside the Auditoria Roberto Sasso Sasso. Tickets are 4,000 c general, 3,000 c students, 5,000 c closing show. Thurs. is classical, Fri. is Flamenco & Latin Jazz, Sat. is classical and world, Sun. is Latin. 

Videos and Horses are Today's Events in San Jose, Costa Rica

This morning you can catch the International Horse Parade. It begins in La Sabana at 11 a.m., and makes its way to Parque La Merced. My recommendation is to stand somewhere near the end and at some point make a stop into La Iglesia Merced. It was recently remodeled, of neogothical style and very unique to architecture in downtown San Jose. 


This evening at 7 p.m. you can take a look at what young central american videographers are up to at the Festival de Video Joven La 240. This festival will run all week and show the video works in the open-air theater at CENAC (old Fanal). 60 works will be shown today thru Fri. and the festival will end with an awards ceremony at El Lobo Estepario, which is a bar themed after a movie theater and one of my downtown favorites. 

Barrio Bird loves Bird Art in San Jose, Costa Rica

I was very excited to open the paper this morning and see my friend & artist, Esteban Gomez. His first exhibit showcases his work on the topic of nature, specifically BIRDS! Please take the opportunity to see his work and if you want to speak the artist first-hand I'm sure I can facilitate.