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Iglesia De Palmares De Alajuela

Iglesia de Palmares de Alajuela Only all stone church in Costa Rica...and with a stain glass window dedicated to musicians (;>) - (38) more edit 2008-05-20 - rec# 102

Iglasia de Palmaraes de Alejuela The other day there was a small article in paper about the church in Palmares de Alejuela. Notably a large stained glass window featuring and dedicated to musicians. As so many of my adventures begin I to go the bus schedule and a map of the country. Where IS Palmares (not on any of my maps) and how do you get there (from Coca Cola). So armed with this vast amount of information I set out. Hell, at least it gets me out of the house. When I get off the bus at Coca Cola the first bus I run across has a large PALMARES sign on it. A very friendly woman on the bus assures me that it is Palmares de Alejuela (always a good question to ask) and I take my seat. The bus leaves in half an hour. Coca Cola is a bit of a dangerous place to be and also pan handlers alley. I've already been hit up twice and enjoy the haven the parked bus offers. We take off and head out of town, past the airport, up into the mountains, through some really beautiful scenery. An hour later I get off the bus in a small, very clean town. Palmares means "Palm trees", and the central park certainly reflects that fact. Facing the park (naturally) sits the church. The church is supposed to be the only all stone church in Costa Rica, and it is an imposing, heavy structure. I enter the church. My friend Sonja and I were in Grecia last week looking at the church. One of the notable things in the Grecia church was all the birds. The church was full of parrots and grackles making nests in the chandeliers. They were all over the place, in every corner of the church, nesting anyplace available. The church in Palmares was also full of birds. Not as many, but nests were being installed in the chandeliers. I don't think you'd ever see that in the US. I think more than any other church I've visited in Costa Rica, this church had the most spectacular "classical" stained glass windows. Including one that is dedicated to musicians. I've been told that this is the only one like it in the country. Naturally, I took lots of pics of it. Outside, in the gazebo musicians are featured prominently. Little cherubs with cymbals and trombones. You can just imagine the cacophony! It was nice to get out of the house and take this "blind trip". It was nice to get up in the hills and enjoy the fresh, clean air. It began to rain on the way home. By the time I arrived I was soaked. All and all a very nice day.