26 
THE PAN AMERICAN UNION 
off into the street if it is necessary, to allow two ladies to 
walk easily along the pavement next that same wall their own 
men will willingly give to you." 
MOTOR TRIPS FROM SAN JOSE 
In one s motor tours in the region of San Jose, the predomi¬ 
nance of the coffee plantations is noteworthy. Coffee is the 
ELEMENTARY PUBLIC SCHOOL, SAN JOSe 
country’s leading crop and many trees stand within a short 
distance of the capital. Unlike most countries that produce 
this commodity on a huge scale, Costa Rican estates, as a 
rule, are small. Most of them range from 10 to 80 acres and 
the cultivation of the crop is done by large numbers of land- 
owners rather than by the big corporation. In the highlands 
hereabout there is not the same need as in some other countries 
of nurturing the young trees by planting banana and other 
SAN JOSE 
27 
quick growth to protect them. As soon as the coffee is a few 
feet high it seems to be strong enough to care for itself, so 
far as temperature is concerned. The small farms, however, 
are well protected with high hedges of palmetto, cactus or 
other dowering shrubs; these rows serve to some extent as 
wind breaks, while the rays of the tropical sun are tempered 
by the altitude. 
All in all, the stranger on a trip outward from San Jose, 
whatever direction he takes, will be struck with the beauty of 
fields, streams, villages with red tile roofs, green foliage and 
if coffee lie in blossom, the whiteness of the plantations. 
BRIEF FACTS ABOUT SAN JOSE 
San Jose has two morning and two afternoon newspapers. 
LI Diario dc Costa Rica and La Tribuna are issued in the 
morning. La Prcnsa Libre and La Hora are published in the 
afternoon. La Tribuna carries a section in English. 
Idle National Lottery is a legalized institution. It operates 
for the benefit of local hospitals. 
Most everv foreign colony lias its club where visitors are 
J o J 
welcome. 
The leading hotels of San lose are: Gran Hotel Costa Rica, 
Gran Hotel Europa, Gran Hotel Continental, Gran Hotel 
Metropoli, Gran Hotel Rex, Pension Italiana Vicarioli. 
The National Tourist Board, which provides many courtesies 
to travelers, has its headquarters adjoining Gran Hotel Costa 
Rica. 
San Jose is well equipped with taxis and other motor cars 
for hire. The usual rate is $1.5° P er h° lir for on e to f° ur 
persons. English-speaking chauffeurs are available. 
