CowParade in San José – a moooooving experience (couldn’t resist saying that – groan)

          
Following in the footsteps (hoof prints?) of 57 other cities around the world, San José now features more than 100 large fiberglass cows in the heart of the city.  Cows standing on their hind legs, happily grazing or lying down depict humorous as well as serious themes in various locations downtown.  The cows first made their appearance in March and since then have attracted a great deal of attention, especially with children.  The bovine beauties will move on to greener pastures in August when they are auctioned off and a portion of the proceeds given to charity.  (Large scale lawn art, anyone?)  CowParade began in Zurich and Chicago quickly followed suit (in honor of Mrs. O’ Leary’s cow?).  Costa Rica’s CowParade is the first in Central America and is well worth a leisurely stroll in the parks in San José.  Bring the kids!  (This land – with 2 homes – in Dota has plenty of room for cows, horses, dogs, goats, ducks, chickens and YOU!)  

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.)

Resurrection and final procession

Once the resurrection re-enactment is completed, bells ring and there is a final procession including priests in colorful robes, marchers and floats adorned with beautiful floral arrangements.  Children on the floats throw flowers to the crowd of bystanders.  Thus ends another Semana Santa in Costa Rica. 

Good Friday Procession