The Multiplaza has a new department store!

The Multiplaza is growing!  Over the past year we have watched the progress of growth as the largest shopping mall in San Jose has proceeded to grow even larger.  This double decker has added a new three level wing in addition to a large new parking deck.  We heard from a friend that it was now open so we decided it was time to go and check it out. 

WOW!  The mall was already huge and offered a large variety of specialty stores, a large theater (in Spanish of course) and a food court filled with American fast food chains but there were no large department stores like we have in the states.  Well they have now filled that void with the newest addition of Siman!  Clothing, Cosmetics, Shoes, Furniture, Housewares, Electronics......all in one great big department store!  And it is so beautiful!  Shiny and bright with relaxing music in the background it is a shoppers wonderland!

 

  

  

  

  

 
 

The lines you see on the photo

to the left are streams of water falling from the 

ceiling waterfall that falls three levels 

to a pool on the bottom floor!

It brings the Pura Vida feeling inside

to give you that relaxed cool feeling.

We browsed around, compared prices (not bad!),  got touchy feely with some shoes and purses, were greeted with big smiles by the make up artists in cosmetics and enjoyed the delicious smells coming from the perfume department.  Siman is located in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua and this is their first store in Costa Rica.  For more about this great store visit www.siman.com

We walked through the new wing of the mall to check out what new stores were added.  Oh My!  What a nice selection!  They have added 86 new stores and a nice new Food Court that includes a McDonalds, Inca Grill and several other interesting dining choices.  There is even a tot playground located under one of the escalators!  A new desert experience in the old food court called Rice 'n' Smile where you can get every flavor of rice pudding that you ever dreamed of plus a few more lured us in and I could not resist and tried the tiramisu along with a big cup of Costa Rican coffee!

The shopping experience is enhanced for parents

with their children in tow by

offering a train ride through the mall!

The Multiplaza is a great place to shop and dine

and the new  Autopistas del Sol

makes it a pleasant and quick drive to get there! 

                                                                                

Multiplaza Mall, is located in Guachipelín de Escazú, on the Santa Ana Freeway, adjacent to the Hotel Real Intercontinental Plaza Roble Corporate Center.

It was an exciting shopping day and made living in Costa del Sol even more desirable 

knowing that with the new shorter drive we can and enjoy a shopping in the newly improved Multiplaza and the Siman Department Store! 

Autopistas del Sol underestimates amount of traffic on the new Caldea Highway

It appears that the Autopistas del Sol, the company that built and is operating the new Caldera Highway underestimated the number of vehicles that would be traveling this road.   According to an article in the Tico Times today "From Thursday, Jan. 28 through Jan. 31 – the road's first four day's in operation – an average of 22,897 vehicles traveled the route per day, well above the projected 2,000."  WOW!  that is more than 20,000 per day....or 80,000 in the four day history used.  With tolls being approximately $3.55 to travel from San Jose to the Coast that is that means they have already collected approximately $280,000 more than anticipated during this time frame.  Looks like they are well ahead of their budget!
Of course these numbers are just an estimated example not knowing how far each car traveled on the highway and how many toll booths the wenet through.

I find it very interesting that the original projection was only 2000 vehicles when this highway comes out of such a large city with an estimated population of 1,200,000.  Granted only a portion of that population owns a vehicle and would travel this route but that seems to me to be a VERY low estimate.


It appears that the CNC is putting some interesting requirements on this company to get things in order within a limited time frame or be fined, however, the $5000 is not very painful when you are already collecting $78,000 more per day than anticipated.


Realistically, the only time we have heard of the highway being backed up was the first weekend that it opened which is understandable that many people traveled the highway to simply see it for the first time after waiting 30 something years for it to be ready.  Our personal travels on this amazing new road have been most pleasant, enjoyable and appreciated and all of our friends that have used it have been very happy with the shorter time for travel.


Maybe they could determine what is considered rush hour traffic time and not collect the toll during those hours to allow for a smoother flow of traffic through the toll areas.  There is also an express card I believe that can be purchased in advance that would expedite your time through the toll with the swipe of a card.  Hopefully more people will utilize that service.

Hopefully they will get things worked out to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Read the full article below from the Tico Times:
 

Bottlenecking on new Caldera highway prompts rethink

By Mike McDonald Tico Times Staff | mmcdonald@ticotimes.net

Costa Rica's National Concessions Council (CNC) could modify the toll system on the new San José-Caldera highway, but said they will need one month to study the route's traffic. Due to opening weekend excitement and last minute beach trips before school starts, tens of thousands of cars have traveled the new road in the past two weeks, causing long back-ups at toll booths. The CNC has decided to wait until the thrill calms to measure how many cars will actually use the toll way under normal conditions. To relieve congestion, the CNC suggested that Autopistas del Sol, the Spanish company contracted to build and operate the highway, raise tolls during rush hour to discourage transit at peak times in the morning and the evening. The government institution also requested that Autopistas del Sol devise a plan to expedite toll payments and prevent bottleneck clogs during high-traffic times such as Semana Santa (Easter holy week) and national holidays. Drivers have also complained about the amount of time that it takes toll booth operators to return change. From Thursday, Jan. 28 through Jan. 31 – the road's first four day's in operation – an average of 22,897 vehicles traveled the route per day, well above the projected 2,000. During the four day period, drivers reported waiting for hours at toll booths. The CNC expects Autopistas del Sol to submit new plans by the first week of March, which the concessions council will then evaluate for approval. If rejected, Autopistas del Sol will have five days to revise its plan provided the scheme does not require new construction. If the company decides to build more toll booths, it will have three months to build them. If congestion persists, the CNC will grant drivers free reign of the road and Autopistas del Sol will be fined $5,000 per day for not complying with modifications and deadlines. Drivers will be notified 15 days before any changes take place.

Our road trip on the new Autopista del Sol!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010
After reading several articles that the new highway would be opening today we decided to take a road trip and check out this new highway that runs from San Jose to the Central Pacific Coast and is appropriately named the Autopista del Sol which means Highway to the Sun.  We could also make a shopping trip to the Price Mart for some needed staples.  This new road will make traveling so much better for people going both directions.  It is suppose to cut the driving time in half so going to San Jose will not be such a rush to try to get back over the mountain before dark when the fog sometimes sets in and makes it most difficult to maneuver the present two lane road that is full of twists and turns.

And so we set off on our journey!

One of my favorite things about road trips is enjoying the beautiful Costa Rica landscape that is filled with lush tropical vegetation and it all blooms at different times of the year.  You never know what vibrant and beautiful colors you will enjoy but you can be sure there will be some.  This trip it was YELLOW!  And I was particularly delighted because I fell in love with this tree the first time I saw it and have never seen it again since this same time last year!  Enjoy this pics that I took and then we will resume with the "Highway Road Trip"!

We came upon our policia friends in their usual spot and smiled and waved as they raised their radar gun to the car behind us.   It was pleasing to see that the cocodilos  had drawn a big crowd for the day!

One quick pit stop before heading on the highway and we were blessed with another visual of COW trees!  You never know what you might see in this most creative country!

So onto the ramp we went headed toward Orotina and soon approached the first of four toll stations.  We paid the troll their 480 colones (well the sweet girl collecting the money was not a troll at all!  she was a sweet thing with a big smile!) ...passed through the gate and were on our way!  We had to dodge a large odd looking piece of plastic in the road but from the looks of things the car behind us drove right on over it.....wonder how long he carried that around?

In just a few minutes we approached the place where we normally would exit the highway and head up through Orotina and the mountain.......and that is exactly what we had to do!   
WHAT?!  Why are these barracades still here?  We are suppose to be able to travel this road today!  The President said so!.....

I was so distraught that I failed to take a picture of those horrible things that look like giant Lego blocks!  But then again we have been in this country for a while so no worries.....maybe it will be open manana or maybe even this afternoon on our return trip from San Jose.  Feeling adventurous, we decided to take the alternate road through Puriscal and check out the new bridge that had been replaced since the recent suspension bridge and broken its cable and fell into the river.

And so we proceeded with the scenic route and enjoyed the fruit stands, the interesting new bridge, moto riders, flowers, cows, nostalgic old buildings and beautiful mountain scenery along the way.  At one point we had a wonderful view of the Autopista del Sol from our mountaintop road and if you look closely you can see a lone traveler on the highway.....How did HE get on there?!

 

After a fun shopping spree at Price Mart, which I will share with you in another post, we headed out to begin our journey back to the beautiful Pacific Coast and hopefully on the Autopista del Sol.

As we approached the first toll station from the San Jose side the barricades were still there also and as we were crossing the bridge to take us back to the road we had come on we noticed a flurry of activity!  What could it be?  There were policia everywhere, people standing on the bridge looking out at the highway,  many television or radio trucks with tall towers and what appeared to be a celebration type banner being held across the new highway and several bystanders.  

Oh we thought....it is the inauguration ceremony for the grand opening!  So we went and found the perfect place to watch!

 

We parked and I jumped out with my camera to take a few pics and I was standing right beside the news crew that appeared to just be waiting so I asked them what time the event was to start.  He admitted to me that he on spoke pequeno English and that it would be tomorrow.  I thought now why would everyone be standing out here now for something that would happen tomorrow?  No no no...he said...the people protest the highway.  Well it seems there is some political agenda's and some angry homeowners that do not feel they should pay a toll to use a portion of the road they have already been using for many years.  They also seemed to have issues with safety and lack of sidewalks on the highway!  HUH?  There was also talk about the emergency vehicles like ambulances and police having to go through the toll both and not having an express pass lane.  You should go back the old way and maybe it will be open manana.  Ohhhhhh!  Manana!  Now that I understand!  You see when things don't happen when they are suppose to in Costa Rica you are always told "Maybe Tomorrow". 

 

So off we went on our return home the same way we had come......until we came to the fork in the road and decided to try another road that we had never traveled and would come out somewhere just south of our home in Costa del Sol in Parrita.  We came to a another fork in the road that one way it seemed was the right way but had a sign saying "No Hay Paso".

The other way just did not look right so we decided to go a little way up what appeared to be the right way but did not get far.....the road was gone!...fell in!......   OK we got it... DETOUR.

So off we went and settled in to enjoy the cows, buses, flowers, beautiful mountain vistas, a gorgeous sunset and many, many people walking down this deserted road except for the occasional passing of another bus, truck, car, motorcycle, ATV or bicycle.
As you know Costa Rica is known for its many unpaved roads and for the most part this road is one of them.  It was not long before we experienced the narrowing dirt & gravel road with our peanut butter, toilet paper and Bounce (no pun intended) began to bounce all around the back of the truck.   And many times along the way the song "The Long and Winding Road" popped into my mind!

 

 

 

Oh My!  Did I mention the breathtaking mountain sunset?

I think the beach has some serious competition up there in the mountains!