San Jose Costa Rica

Compared with other Central American capitals, San Jose is more cosmopolitan, even North American in character. There are department stores and shopping malls and fast food restaurants. It takes a day or two to get the real tico feel of the city. Perhaps the first sign of being in Costa Rica is the friendliness of the people. Asking someone the way will often result in a smile and a genuine attempt to help you out. The city was founded in 1737, but little remains of the colonial era. Until the Teatro Nacional was built in the 1890s, San Jose was not a notable city. Today the capital boasts several excellent museums, good restaurants and a fine climate, which are San Jose's main attractions. Costa Rica's road system radiates from San Jose and the capital is a good base from which to visit the rest of the country. The city stands at 1150 meters in a wide and fertile valley called the Meseta Central. Inhabitants of San Jose are called josiffinos.

The city center is arranged in a grid. The streets are numbered in a logical fashion, street addresses rely on it. Avenidas (Av, or Avs) run cast to west and calles run north to south. Avenidas south of Av Central have even numbers (Av 2, Av 4), while avenidas north of Av Central have odd numbers. Calles west of Calle Central have even numbers while calles east of Calle Central have odd numbers.

Street addresses are given by the nearest street intersection. The average temperature is usually 19 to 20 degrees centigrade. The rainy season starts from May first week. San Jose is served by Juan Santamaría Airport. There are so many museums in and around San Jose.

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