People often ask me, “why Grecia?” I considered many factors before choosing Grecia as my new hometown in Costa Rica. Originally, my sights were set on Dominical in the Southern Pacific region of Costa Rica, but before the tour back in April, I changed my mind about Dominical for a number of reasons. It doesn’t get as humid in Grecia as in Dominical, which is a beach town (most beach towns tend to get a little humid). Yet the main reason I selected Grecia is its proximity to the San Jose International Airport. It’s only 35 minutes away from the airport and an hour from San Jose, the capital city, meaning it is close enough to drive in and visit major shopping malls, museums, upscale restaurants (if that’s your thing), major private and public hospitals, and your attorney or tax consultant. Grecia also has a large public hospital, which they call CAJA.
Grecia has a small-town USA feel to it, which I enjoy. You can walk just about anywhere in the town center, which is about 15 minutes from my house. There are exceptional shopping and entertainment opportunities as well. The region is fertile and known for its sugarcane and coffee plantations. Grecia’s farmer’s market, or feria, is one of the best in the Central Valley, offering lots of inexpensive fruits and vegetables. It is open on Fridays and Saturdays, but I’m told that the best time to go is when it first opens on Fridays at noon because that’s when you get the freshest of fresh produce. The feria has just about everything: fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish, freshly baked breads, freshly cut flowers, and even sodas (I’ll discuss sodas in an upcoming blog—they’re not something you drink).
There are also many great restaurants where you can get lots of food for your money. Just the other day I visited Casa Nostra, a remodeled restaurant, and ordered the chicken with rice and a salad for lunch. It was so delicious that I bought an extra serving to take back to the La Terraza Guest House B&B, where I was temporarily staying. Grecia also has a number of coffee shops, Italian restaurants, and even a Papa John’s pizza restaurant.
Grecia’s magnificent mountain views, climate, and low crime rate are other factors that fascinated me. Grecia has 5 ridges that lead to the top of the Poas Volcano. I live about 5 miles as the crow flies from the Poas Volcano. All of the ridges have spectacular million-dollar views of San Jose and the Central Valley. With its great climate (people refer to its “perpetual spring-like weather”) and average 70+ degrees every day, Grecia is Pura Vida.
(Written Before Covid – 19 Outbreak)
