Description

We decided to take a break from the national dish casado -- rice, black beans, fried bananas, shredded cabbage, and egg. After all, we had had gallo pinto for breakfast, a fry up of yesterday’s casado.

We noticed an attractive restaurant next to the football field, which looked quite airy. A high, pointed ceiling with two revolving fans assured a breath of fresh air -- the ceiling was high enough, that is, not to put you in the line of the draft at each revolution of the blades. The restaurant is open on two sides, only a railing separates it from the football field. It is surrounded by green-leafed bushes, some young palm trees, and banana shoots. Above the entrance there is a veranda -- diners look out over the street and can just catch a glimpse of the ocean.

Soft background music welcomed us. Near the entrance a bull’s skull with fierce looking horns guarded a display of bottles, all truly Spanish wines. We did not try them, as we intended to go for a walk in the afternoon.

There were just enough people to enhance the atmosphere. Most of them were Americans and a few from Europe, judging from the languages they spoke.

It was not very difficult to make a choice. We had already set our mind on paella. It took about twenty minutes to prepare. It contained big shrimp, shellfish, octopus, and chicken. The taste was deliciously salty -- it tasted of the sea. We finished our meal with black Costa Rican coffee and I added "coffee" to my what-to-buy-in-Costa Rica list.