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!

Costa Rica ~ A Trip to San Jose!

 

  

   

Playa Bejuco is on the Pacific side just below Jaco so when a trip is needed back to San Jose it takes about 2 1/2 to 3 hours.  An early rising and on the road to begin the trip up and over the mountain which is traveled over a 2 lane very crooked road with lots crazy drivers that love to pass. There is always lots of traffic and since this is the primary road from San Jose to the coast it includes lots of tour and transfer buses and large tractor trailer rigs.  The scenery of course is beautiful with all of the planned and wild flora that includes rain trees, palm trees, tropical fruit trees and a vast array of flowering plants.
You also want to always keep a keen eye for the possible siting of a beautiful bird, sloth or iguana.  And there are many many "perros" (dogs) hanging out everywhere you go!
There is always plenty of interesting people to look at along the road as they go about their daily life routines which typically can include walking, riding their bicycles or motorcycles to their destination.  There are so many traveling in this manner that driving calls for extra caution to prevent running over these pedestrians who sometimes will be just sitting on the shoulders of the road.   The roadside fruit and vegetable stands are open and ready for a busy day and the open air "tipico" restaurants are busy serving breakfast.  We pass through several towns along the way that always seem to have something new to take in.
On this particular morning trip we decide to have breakfast at one of our favorite restaurants on very top of the mountain La Casita del Cafe.  It is a small casual place with open air dining and beautiful views of the mountains all the way back to the Pacific Ocean.  The menu consists primarily of the typical food and frothy fruity drinks and of course hot Costa Rican Coffee and Imperial Beer. 



   
After enjoying our relaxing breakfast of Gallo pinto and eggs with fried plantains we thanked the parking lot guard for watching our car and headed on out to begin our descent down the other side of the mountain.   As I mentioned before there is always something new to see and when passing this beautiful wall of blooming flowers we had to stop and take in this beautiful cemetery in Atenas.  Atenas is known to have the most perfect climate in the world.  And of course it is very common to find the live/work situation in Costa Rica with homes above the storefronts below.  We were excited to sneak a peek at the progress of the new highway being built from San Jose out to the coast that will eliminate the need to travel the steep and crooked mountain road!  It should also shorten the drive considerably also.  And capturing a photo of one of the many interesting bridges is a must!

 
   
   
The interesting park above includes a statue of Jesus and overlooks the Power Plant for this area.  We of course have passed this many times and decided to stop and grab a photo.  You will find religious parks similar to these in many areas of the country.  Of course my theory is that it is a place to stop and pray before you start your journey over the mountain!
Arriving in the metro area of San Jose is always exciting.  We missed our turn and had to turn off the highway to go back and ended up in the driveway of what appeared to be a horse training stable.  This beautiful horse was pranced right up to our car!  Look the famous arches of Micky D's!  complete with an Auto-Mac and Mac Cafe!  It is not unusual to see a beautiful modern building on one side of the road and across the street a tin roofed building with laundry hanging on the railing!  And of course we had to go to the Hiper mas which is the equivalent to Walmart in the states.  There is also a Price Mart which fulfills my Costco addiction.  Fresh cut flowers are abundant and it is not unusual to find them being sold on the roadside out of buckets.  Small wagons selling a variety of fruits and vegetables are seen on many corners.  One of my favorites is the Aqua Pipa Fria which is cold coconut water usually served with a straw in a coconut or sometimes in a baggie!  Drinking coconut water has many benefits.  Coconut Water is naturally low in carbs, 99% fat free and low in sugars.  "It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It's the fluid of life, so to speak."
   
   
   
After our errands were run we decided we better eat before we started back over the mountain, so we went back to a restaurant bar overlooking the airport runway to eat a late lunch and watch the airplanes arriving and departing.   It was a fun experience and I got one of my favorites....whole fried fish!  The owner had a nice collection of old airplanes that had some interesting things painted on them.  It seemed like a popular place with the Ticos to bring their families to eat and watch the planes.

 
 
   
And then back on the road again...always trying to leave early enough to get over the mountain before dark, but being the rainy season it is not likely to beat the rain.  And as usual as we got on the road the downpour began!  It seems that Costa Rica is experiencing a drought this season and the rain did not last long this time.  It cleared up and we snaked back and forth on the winding road lined with beautiful palm trees and amazing flowering trees with the many signs reminding us of the Pura Vida lifestyle that can be lived in this amazing tropical rain forest.

And we made it back to the Pacific coast just in time to enjoy another beautiful Costa Rican Sunset!