Costa Rica Hello Again: San José and the Museo del Oro (Museum of the Gold)
–My Costa Rican Adventure
Day 3 in my series Costa Rica Hello Again found us with Frank and his family on the way to San José and the Museo del Oro. They had family business to attend to and since I had been curious about seeing the capital, I asked if we could tag along. His beautiful wife Marielle agreed and we off! On the way we of course had to stop to eat but not before the very important Cortessa Tree sighting below…
My beloved Cortessa Tree on the right in full bloom with the fabulous mountains in the background!
Breakfast was at a favorites of ours, Mi Cafecito which is where the coffee in the region is processed as well as a restaurant. We dig the vibe and the food, but most importantly it’s where Sly gets his injection of coffee both his stash to take home and the ritual of it being brewed:
Downtown San José
It took about 3 hours to get to San José, there was MAD traffic as we entered the city of Alajuela in San José province. The traffic only got worse the closer we inched toward the capital, I mean we had to have sat in the same area for at least an hour. We were on the clock as Frank’s family had an appointment. Then it got pushed back making us have to reshape our plans and timeframe.
By the time we arrived downtown the first thing we see and smell is a bakery! Of course we had to go in to sample Costa Rican pastry! The Tres Leches cake we had was some of the best I’ve ever had and it was HUGE but we were up to the task…
I am telling you, this Tres Leches cake was off da chain! Oh man, we just devoured it!
We headed from there to Museo del Oro but it was closed and didn’t open till 1:00. So we ended up wandering down the main strip taking in the sights:
I had read once to either skip the city altogether, or just hang for a day. Being from a bustling city walking in downtown was no different than any other busy metropolitan area. People were whizzing by off to their various destinations. However, I would like to return one day to see the other cultural buildings of importance and perhaps take in some entertainment.
Museo del Oro
WOW. We could’ve stayed in there much longer, but time wasn’t on our side and neither was the souvenir shop! Of all the days to be closed for inventory THAT was the day! It wouldn’t have been so bad but while we were waiting outside for it to open, a woman told me there were some wonderful bracelets for sale. Since I love jewelry, I was chomping at the bit, but alas, they were closed for inventory! As you heard in the video above, I did my share of whining about it.
But anywho, Museo del Oro is amazing, there’s so much to see. They have an interactive exhibit which explores some of the lore of the indigenous but we didn’t really have time to see the whole thing. We did however, take in an informative documentary on the indigenous tribes and the challenges they are facing in Costa Rica: the Maleku, Huetar, Bri Bri, Cabecar, Brunka, Ngabe, Bröran and the Chorotega.
Below are a sample of the artifacts on display:
Tripod Ceramic Vessel with animal masks or faces. conjecture is these were used for rituals or burial offerings.
Armadillo shaped pot. In Mesoamerican cultures, armadillos symbolized fertility, the Underworld and musical instruments. Also seen as symbols of abundance and were incorporated into dances and rituals for agricultural fertility.
Turkey shape pot. 800-1500 AD. The stepped and fretted patterns seen on this type of pot appear throughout Mesoamerica and are associated with the figure of Quetzakoatl (“feathered serpent” is a prominent deity in Mesoamerican cultures, particularly the Aztec and Toltec civilizations).
Tripod Vessel with Anthropomorphic Crocodiles, 400-700 CE. Possibly used as a ‘chocolate pot’ or for other liquids.
Human Figures. In addition to representations of fauna, human figures–both male and female–including specialists, shamans, healers, musicians and chanters were also commonly depicted.
They had a vital role in the everyday life of the communities as social and political leaders and mediators in rituals and celebrations.
Frogs and Toads. Toads and frogs are known in indigenous mythology as assistant undertakers, protectors of the remains of the dead, and chanters that predict tempests and weather changes. They are also associated with rituals of shamanic transformation and fertility.
Pendant of a human figure with a bird mask. South Pacific 700-1550 AD.
The human figure in this object wears bird-like attire and a mask with a curved, extended beak.
The use of articulations present in this piece is particular of the metallurgy of Costa Rica
“[…]gold pieces, eagles, small alligators, toads, spiders, medals, discs, and other handiworks, which they made by emptying molten gold into crucibles.” (Manuel Maria Peralta, 1883). Manuel Maria de Peralta y Alfaro was a Costa Rican diplomat and historian.
Dates back to the period between 300-400 BC to 1550 AD.
Features a 2-headed human figure which is a common motif in Costa Rican archaeology, possibly symbolizing duality or a shamanic figure.
Jaguar figure dating from 300-400 BC to 1550 AD. Possibly a pendant or ornament. Jaguars represent a powerful symbol representation of authority and power. Also believed to be an animal that could transform and regenerate–its appearance was thought to be an omen of important events. Jaguars were also associated with rain and fertility.
Stay tuned for Part lV!
Links
Bio Thermales Hot Springs +506-8862-0926 (English & Spanish)
Frank Herrera Frank Tours CR Aguas Zarcas Whatsapp: +506-8377-6663 (he is fluent in English!)
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