outtatime21 wrote:
First of all, I apologize for posting about Don Fernando in the Hotels section. That was my fault. I just wasn't paying attention.
Secondly, I am sorry for gushing, but now that I am here with my good friends, I am just Enamored of Costa Rica, and I can't help posting about it.
2 days ago, my friend took me to Soda Tapia. He told me, "It's not Really a Soda anymore. It's too big for that. But that doesn't change the fact that it's a damn fine place to eat."
He was on the money about that one. Apparently, Soda Tapia got its start about 50 years ago, and it looks like it is frozen in time, about 50 years ago. Everything on the menu is good, and cheap. The sandwiches are outstanding. When the prices start to look a little too high, don't worry... The sandwich that sells for 7000 Colones is Gigantor! Seriously... It will feed you for 3 days.
Soda Tapia is cool, and it sits right on Pista 1, so it's a great place to "Fuel Up" prior to leaving San José for Arenal, Jaco, or whatever.
I learned a couple of things that day:
1) The stuff that I heard about Ticos never being on time and constantly making excuses with "Pura Vida" is a bunch of hooey. My friend explained this to me... "Most of the guys that come to Costa Rica are sold that line, and they buy it... Hook, line, and sinker. It's a consequence of starting out in downtown, in the 'Gringo Gulch,' and never breaking away from that culture." His drivers always show up 5 minutes early, and say, "Whenever you are ready, sir."
2) Even though Tapia is too big to really be considered a soda... It still is, in fact, pretty much like a soda. It's a sort of community cafeteria. Even if you don't want to, you will still be dragged into the "family." My friend, Jerry, knows a lot of the workers at Tapia on a first-name basis, so I was talking with all of them within 5 minutes of sitting down. What I didn't expect was all of the other customers coming up to me and trying to start a conversation...
"Where are you from? Oh! You're Jerry's friend? We Love Jerry! You don't have a girlfriend? This is my niece. She's 19 years old, and she's a good girl. Pretty, clean, religious. She'll make a Fine Wife!"
I just looked at Jerry and said, "Jeez! We've only been here for 10 minutes, and Mama is already planning the wedding!"
Careful outtatime...don't get married before spending a three day weekend @Cocal!