The day started extra special, with massages for both of us. Between the strain of being in the chair for 8.5 hours of dental surgery and driving home through a cloud forest after dark on Sunday, my shoulders and neck were aching. I asked about a massage at the club and yes, they did massages.....at $20 an hour!!!! So....I made an appointment for myself, but Mom said she would pass. She sat outside the open air massage room and apparently rethought that decision! When I told her it was one of the best massages I had ever had, she decided she would partake after all! We left the club both feeling GREAT!
Mom had been in contact with a former student from Jourdanton who was Costa Rican and had returned to San Jose after her graduation from JHS. We had one failed attempt to meet her, but Mom remembered her so fondly that we just made the decision that this would be a good way to spend her final day in Costa Rica. We were right!
We met Maria Antonieta (or Antonieta as she is called) at a beautiful old hotel in downtown Costa Rica called Gran Hotel Costa Rica. It is right across from the National Theatre of Cost Rica and meeting her there enabled us to see two of the more architecturally unique and beautiful buildings in San Jose.
This downtown area is bustling, very similar to the downtown of any major city and it was something that we hadn't experienced yet on this trip.
Antonieta arrived, as happy to see Mom as Mom was to see her, the bond they had 30 years ago still strong. Antonieta had brought her husband and son, both named Roman and both very interesting men.
They suggested a Chinese restaurant near the downtown area, and we headed out.
We learned a lot about Antonieta and her family at lunch......her husband, charming and successful, her son, smart, funny and interesting, and her daughter, Sofia, who couldn't join us because she was working, but is evidently as special as the rest of the family. We could have had dinner anywhere and had a great time, just because of the company, however, we happened to be eating at an EXCELLENT Chinese food restaurant.
Antonieta and Roman were obviously beloved patrons of the restaurant and the chef, who was from Macau, came out and said hello. It is hard to decide what was best about lunch, but the fried calamari dish and a shrimp stuffed pepper were great and both something that we don't usually get at home. It was just an amazing lunch.
After lunch, Antonieta invited us to see the town where she was raised and meet her family. It was an offer we didn't even consider refusing.
After a stop at Antonieta's home in Moravia to consolidate vehicles, we set out for Coronado. There in the city central, is the only gothic cathedral in Central America. It is a beautiful church and stands out not only because of its beauty but because of the uniqueness of its architecture. Inside were traditional Costa Rican confessionals and beautiful monuments. The young Roman was not only patient with us, he did a great job of telling us the history of many parts of the church.
After leaving the church, Antonieta took us up into the cloud forest a bit to a town called Nubes (which means cloud by the way) where she was raised. We even got to see the 3 classroom school she attended for most of her education. Heading back down a bit, back into Coronado, we stopped by her mother's home and got to meet several members of her family and see their lovely home. There was a family bakery adjacent to Antonieta's mother's home that her brother now runs.....where we picked up some goodies to go with coffee for later. The family was so warm and welcoming we again felt special and loved.
Aside from the sights we were seeing, we were learning a lot about the Barboza family and their heritage. Some of the more interesting stories were about an uncle who runs a sustainable farm that is so famous that people come from all over the world to see it. Cait and I really hope to get a chance to visit it later in the trip. Also really fascinating to me was the size of the family.....and yet how they still remain close. Antonieta is one of 11 kids....but her mother is one of 24!!!! The home we visited today sits among several other family homes on a beautiful piece of hilly property with a view of the mountains.....and Antonieta and Roman both fondly remembered family get togethers and parties there. It was such a nice glimpse into a sweet family's life.
After leaving the family home, we drove back to Antonieta's home and were invited inside for coffee and pastries. Their home was so warm and inviting....and filled with amazing pieces of art! Apparently the elder Roman has quite an eye for new talent and has a beautiful collection of pieces, both sculpture and paintings. The younger Roman took the time to tell us the history of some of the pieces and show us some things that we might have missed without his help. Again, it would have been a great visit without coffee and treats, but the baked goods we brought from the family bakery were delicious and the coffee was just what we needed before our drive home.
Saying goodbye was like leaving old friends.....and somehow we know we will meet this wonderful family again.
We returned to Cariari to have a quiet night before putting Mom on the plane at 1 in the morning. Funny enough, she is leaving on the same plane that Aunt Joyce will be arriving on.......so we are trading one sister for another tonight And Aunt Joyce's arrival is just the first of what will be the arrival of 6 new participants in our "We Three See" story!!!!!! I have a feeling this is the calm before the storm.
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