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Domingo Embrujada

Domingo Embrujada A new adventure - (44) more edit 2009-04-19 - rec# 50

Domingo Embrujada Last March a new mural was created to commemorate the Ox Cart drivers here in Costa Rica. I've never seen it, didn't even really know where it was. So thought it was time for another adventure. I got what I thought was a map to the place, looked at a few pics, so I'd have a chance to tell when I got there and took off. Andrea wanted to go with me, so we took the bus. First to San Jose, then Escazu, then, using the map, we started to walk. Of course, in the wrong direction. The map had no orientation and I used the "help" from the bus driver in finding the direction. Then I started asking questions and was pointed in the opposite direction. So, I followed the new directions and then asked the next person I cam across. He agreed with the last guy, so with more confidence we continued along this new path. Once we got to the church we had to go up, what looked by the map about 4 blocks to a turn and that should be it. Well, the UP part was correct. We hiked, in the sun, for about a kilometer and a half. Asking as we went along, always being told it was further up the hill. Finally we found the turn in the road and then the church. As I read the map the monument should be two blocks past the church. As it turned out, this was "Witch Sunday" in Escazu, and the center of the festivities was in San Antonio, which was where we were. So we were met with a parade and lots of kids playing futbol. I wanted to see the wall so we continued. About four blocks later I asked a guy where this "El Boyio" was on the map and he said just across the street. He was correct, the problem was that the map I had was to a restaurant "El Boyio". Great... Thinking that we still might be in the right place, and feeling tired and hungry I suggested heading down toward the food tents. They were just behind the futbol field. As we dropped down onto the field Andrea said, "Isn't THAT the wall?" Yep...it was. We had walked past it, well OVER it. It was just under the sidewalk we had come along as we passed the church. So out comes the camera (which was quite well behaved today!). Just as I finished my shooting the parade began, so more photo opportunities. After a break, and some food I wanted to go in the church. I love churches. The dancing dolls were set up on the steps in front of the church (imagine in the US the church supporting dancing devils and witches in front of the church!). More photos and then into the church. We didn't walk down that long hill. Instead were smart and caught the bus. It took us all the way back to San Jose, and was, I think, the bus we got off so we could take that long walk. Such is the adventure of Costa Rica!