A different kind of traffic jam

While driving on the road from Santa Barbara to San Joaquín yesterday afternoon, traffic suddenly ground to a crawl – there were horses everywhere and they were oblivious to the cars sharing the road with them.  Occasionally, they would go to the side of the road so cars could pass by in one direction.  As my car was creeping along, a horse passed on the right hand side – rather startling!  Costa Rican horses are smaller than those commonly seen in the US and they prance and throw their legs out as they high step.  Watching them from the rear was interesting and comical – their legs don’t go straight up and down and look like they are flailing … from the rear perspective.  It seems that the horses go through a lot of unnecessary motions to get where they are going, but that’s the style here.  One of the horses – probably a donkey – in the “parade” was about waist high and being ridden by a woman whose feet nearly touched the ground.  It had no problem keeping up with the others, but it didn’t prance like them.  Passing by the main church in San Joaquín I saw a large number (hundreds) of horses, riders and spectators.  I don’t know what the event was and I was tempted to park and take some photos, but it was HOT and I wanted to get home.  Now, I wish I’d have stopped, of course.  These “surprises” are what makes Costa Rica fun and interesting.  (If you’re a horse person and looking for a ranch of your own, check out this property in San Rafael, Heredia.)

Costa Rica’s colorful trees

 
Photo of corteza amarillo taken March 29, 2008 in a park in San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia.  Note:  No leaves, just blossoms!  (Photo courtesy of Jose Valerio.)

Good Friday ghost town … Heredia

Normally a hustling bustling town filled with cars, buses and people, Heredia was dead quiet today.

Semana Santa procession schedule in San Joaquín de Flores, Heredia

San Joaquín, located 4 km. west of Heredia, is well-known for its Easter Processions, particularly the one on Friday morning.  Local residents practice during the weeks beforehand and arrive costumed and in character for the processions.  (Several other communities have processionals and many of them are covered on TV.)

Maundy Thursday, March 20

7:30 PM  Procession commemorating Jesus’ capture in the Garden of Gethsemane beginning at the church in Llorente (south of the main road going through San Joaquin)

Good Friday, March 21

9:00 AM  Procession of the Twelve Stations of the Cross beginning at the church in Llorente and processing to the central church (2 blocks north of the main street going through town)

3:00 PM  Crucifixion re-enactment at the central church

Saturday, March 22

4:00 PM  Procession of silence at the central church

7:00 PM  Easter vigil and burning of Judas in effigy at the central church

Easter Sunday, March 23

3:00 PM  Communion and procession commemorating the resurrection at the central church

Note: Saturday evening, often referred to as Judas Night, is a time when some young people participate in vandalism and violence.  Police are aware of this and their presence is more evident on this evening.