Eating pizza in San Vito
Trip Start
Dec 17, 2006
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4
8
Trip End
Jan 17, 2007
San Vito,
Costa Rica
Sunday, December 31, 2006
So we headed to San Vito for two reasons: one, because it is in the mountains and a welcome break from the heat of the beach, and two, for the Wilson Botanical Gardens. What we didn't realize was that San Vito held the greatest wonder of all: really decent pizza.
San Vito was founded by Italian immigrants, and, according the the Lonely Planet, Italian can still be heard spoken by it's residents. Not sure who they were eavesdropping on, we only heard Spanish.
We stayed in the Hotel Rino, in a room with a great balcony (meaning it had not only a nice view but had a tall enough barrier to keep the Aerial Daredevil from flinging herself off at the first sight of a dog walking by). We had our free breakfast (so it was kind of like a bunkbed & breakfast, not a hotel) and walked up to the cemetery
Cemetary in San Vito
. Much like in New Orleans, Costa Ricans are buried in above ground vaults which are tiled with anything from your standard public bathroom 3" x 3" white tile to very elaborate and beautiful mosaics. After looking around the cemetery (we left when some family members came to, um, visit), we caught the bus to the Wilson Botanical Gardens. It was an $8 entrance fee, and maybe you are thinking, "Hmmm, $8 to see some plants? But I was saving that money to spend on some guacamole in Manuel Antonio!", but honestly, the gardens are not to be missed. There are an incredible number of tropical plants and trees, but there is also a grove of fir trees which gave a little scent of home. The authenticity was somewhat compromised by the plate-sized butterflies and neon green parrots, but we just pretended they were crows and it was just like being in Northern Michigan.
The jungle area at the very back of the gardens is amazing, all these paths through the thick green-ness, with epiphytes and orchids and these cool red bulby things that Phil named syrup sticks. Obviously, if you take the time to read the placards with the plant names, it'll take a little longer to see everything, since there are so many plants with names. There are also a healthy representation of tropical bugs, all of which bit me.
We decided to walk the 6 km back to town which was great, not only because it was a scenic downhill amble, but also because Libby almost stepped on a severed rooster head that was hanging out in front of a bus stop
Getting artistic at the Garden
. Now that was funny. We ate dinner at Liliana's and had a very satisfying green olive pizza. The night was somewhat marred by Ani doing a running header into a chair and developing quite a goose egg on her forehead, but that also prompted me to learn,"You think she looks bad? You should see the other guy" in Spanish.
We followed up dinner at Panaderia Flor, where we bought about $10 worth of cakes and other pastries to sooth Anikah's hurt head. Ok, so she didn't eat everything, but we just finished what she couldn't. Really. And then we went the next day and bought more for the bus ride to San Jose. Oh, Panaderia Flor, how you tempt me....
Comments
OH TOO Funny!!
So Libby almost stepped on a roosters head? You know I can almost imagine it. Poor Ani - give her an extra hug and kiss for me... although I heard she doesn't like olives? This was really a travelog that I could picture in my wee little imagination.. Keep it up - I still miss you but not as much! love us