San José’s (Costa Rica) principal Catholic cathedral was built in 1871. Though rather plain from the outside, the large neoclassical church features a mix of stained-glass works, and assorted sculptures and bas-reliefs. It also has a wonderfully restored 19th-century pipe organ. A well-tended little garden surrounds the church and features a massive marble statue of Pope Juan Paul II
The national theater in San Jose is one of the most beautiful buildings in Costa Rica with great importance to the cultural and historical aspect of the country. It opened in 1897, representing Costa Rica’s high degree of fine art and is a grand display of neo-classical architecture.
The culture and history is mirrored in the architecture of the republic of Costa Rica. The pre-Columbian influence, and a colourful blend of Mesoamerican, Central American and Spanish architecture is seen. These historical buildings are perfectly complimented with the new age contemporary architecture in Costa Rica.
Below is a modern Hilton hotel very close to a traditionally designed building in San Jose. Right in the front of the hotel is Plaza Juan Mora Fernandez. Juan Mora Fernández was Costa Rica’s first elected head of state in 1825. He is remembered for instituting land reform, and he followed a progressive course.
Costa Rica’s capital, San José, is in the Central Valley. It has world-class museums, parks, hotels, theaters, and historic buildings. It’s an extensive plain, guarded by majestic volcanoes and green hills, honoring the natural richness that exists throughout the national territory. Striking clouds enhance the landscape surrounding San José.
Costa Rica is a rugged, rain-forested Central American country with coastlines on the Caribbean and Pacific. Though its capital, San Jose, is home to cultural institutions like the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum, Costa Rica is known for its beaches, volcanoes, and biodiversity. Roughly a quarter of its area is made up of protected jungle, teeming with wildlife including spider monkeys and quetzal birds.
The Costa Rican flag has five stripes – the one in the middle with the red stripe twice as big as the blue and white. Blue stands for the Costa Rican sky that works like a shield. White symbolizes peace. Red shows the heroism and energy for the Costa Ricans when it comes to defend their principles (like democracy).
Will be sharing postcard images from a December 2022 trip to Costa Rica using the colors of their flag.
Unique, ornate, and varying arch designs captured during a stroll in Pacific Heights, San Francisco.
Though only there for a week, captured some interesting aspects of San Francisco.
Ornate entrances with traditional pillars common among the homes in Pacific Heights, San Francisco.
It was a joy to capture the grand doors, the moldings, the touches of gold leaf, the entry gates, the clipped boxwood, the exquisiteness of them all in Pacific Heights, San Francisco.
As you walk along the Pacific Heights neighborhood, the facades vary from classic Victorians to European revival to newer Contemporary exteriors.
Strolling through the Pacific Heights, San Francisco, neighborhood lined with beautiful old homes, one is inspired by the architecture and the design of ornate entrances.
The main attractions of Pacific Heights, San Francisco, are the stunning mansions and historic buildings. Pacific Heights was first developed as a neighborhood in the 1870s with a series of small Victorian homes. Many of these were lost during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and were later replaced with period homes. Even today, the neighborhood is characterized by its wealth of Victorian-style architecture.
Here are two historic homes that look similar but have different porch entrances.
Alcatraz Island is a small island in San Francisco Bay, 1.25 miles offshore from San Francisco, California. The island was developed in the mid-19th century with facilities for a lighthouse, a military fortification, and a military prison. Here are views of Alcatraz from Pacific Heights.
Grassy hilltop parks, Lafayette and Alta Plaza, in Pacific Heights, San Francisco, with benches provide sweeping views of the city and dramatic cloud formations.
Pacific Heights is a posh residential enclave known for its architecturally significant homes in San Francisco. A pair of grassy hilltop parks, Lafayette and Alta Plaza, and the Lyon Street Stairs provide sweeping views of the bay.
Colors on the boats and harbor at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco add to contrast to the clouds in the sky
Spectacular clouds over the bay viewed from San Francisco …..
A boat leaves Fisherman’s Wharf for a cruise around the bay in San Francisco and one returns after the trip
Posting some images from a short trip to San Francisco. The ever present sea lions and birds on the wharf with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. The sea lions camped out in PIER 39’s West Marina have been endearingly coined The PIER’s “Sea Lebrities!”
As we get ready for a quick trip to San Francisco, couldn’t resist capturing the sunrise glow from the Charlotte airport terminal early in the morning.
We end our series of images from India with a spectacular sighting on October 25, 2022 of a partial solar eclipse at sunset in Kayavarohan, Gujarat, India. The moon passed in front of the sun causing a partial solar eclipse, the last solar eclipse of 2022.
Photos by Ravi 