06: Costa Rica: Bites and Sights City Tour...

"I follow my hear and it leads me to the airport. Running to the airport gate is my cardio..."

(Bites and Sights Walking Tour in the rain)

Day 06: 24/06/25 (Tuesday)
Activity: San Jose City Tour
Hotel: Hotel Cultura Plaza San Jose, Costa Rica

We had Waffle, toast and scrambled eggs for breakfast in the hotel restaurant.

(Waffle with maple syrup and fruits)

(The early birds)

At 8.00 am, the four of us went for a self tour at the Walking Street and around the Central Park area. Visited the Metropolitana Cathedral located in front of the park. We made a full circle before we headed back to the hotel.

(Self walking tour around town)

(The Central Bank if Costa Rica)

(Central Park of San Jose)

(Metropopitana Cathedral opposite the park)

(The Culturo Plaza - central gathering place)

(San Jose Walking Street)

(Museo de los Ninos, formerly a central penitentiary)

On the way, we detoured to have coffee at one of the side walk cafe. Visited some souvenir shops before we walked back to the hotel.

(Vibrant display of flower bouquets)

(One of many murals on the wall)

(La Casa Del Zason, a Mexican style Cafe)

After freshened up we took the uber to visit Masjid Omar and Islamic Centre. The mosque is closed. We waited for a while but nobody came to pray.

(Masjid Omar and the Islamic Cenrre)

(The mosque was locked)

After snapping some pictures, we got the assistance of the owner of a convenience store nearby to call an Uber to send us to the Halal Pizza Restaurant. Unfortunately this halal restaurant is closed on Tuedays. We walked to Marellis Pizza just across the road and had vegetarian pizza for lunch instead.

(The Halal Pizza Restaurant was closed!)

(Waiting for our order of vegetarian pizza)

(Tasty and filling lunch)

(Extra pizza ready to go)

Later, we had to request an Uber to sent us back to the hotel. As we could not book a ride on-line, the driver charged us USD10 instead of USD6.

( Well covered up for the heavy rain

(Identifying the tropical fruits)

(Herbs with medicinal value)

This afternoon we joined a few other tourists for a 'Bites and Sights Food Walking Tour' led by Mr Oscar, our tour guide. The tour offers a vibrant 3-hour immersion into local flavors, culture, and city landmarks.

(The Borbon Market or Fruit Market)

(Fruit tasting in Borbon Market)

( Varieties of hot chilli peppers)

It was raining very heavily when we started the walking tour. The walk began at Mercado El Registro or Borbon Market and to Mercado Central where we sampled exotic fruits like pejibaye, guanábana, and cashew fruit, then explore the historic Central Market for local staples, herbal remedies, peppery ice cream, and caldosa corn chips .

(One of Costa Rica’s oldest ice cream shops).

(Varieties of food and desserts)

We had a cooking experience at a local Mr. Sloth Coffee Shop and learned to brew Café Chorreado, make sweet plantain empanadas, and taste tamal wrapped in banana leaf and Agua de Sapo with sugar‑cane, ginger and lemon.

(The famous Mr Sloth Coffee sShop)

(Mr Oscar's banana pancake demonstration

(Cooking our own pancakes)

(Sweet plantain empanadas)

(Sweet tasty banana pancakes)

(Vegeraruan Tamal wrapped in banana leaves)

There were a few cultural stops where we walked past major sites like the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Theatre, Morazán Park, Central Post & Telegraph Building, and finish the tour near Plaza de la Cultura.

(The National Theatre)

(Designed in a neoclassical/renaissance style)

(The front facade is decorated with statues)