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Katie Layendecker ’25 Costa Rica J-Term Blog #2

Hola! And welcome back to what we are doing here in Costa Rica. This study tour focuses on art and music , and takes a deeper dive into the culture and history of Costa Rica, which is exactly what we got to do today.

Here's all of us on the bus ready to head to Sarchí. This is a very popular spot to buy well-made...

Here’s all of us on the bus ready to head to Sarchí. This is a very popular spot to buy well-made furniture, with traditions that date back generations. It’s also the home of a Ox Cart factory, a national symbol in Costa Rica due to its history with coffee beans.

Here's some of the beautiful art in this factory as well as an Ox Cart with the traditional paint...

 

Here's some of the beautiful art in this factory as well as an Ox Cart with the traditional paint...

 

Here's some of the beautiful art in this factory as well as an Ox Cart with the traditional paint...

Here’s some of the beautiful art in this factory as well as an Ox Cart with the traditional paintings. This factory will be 100 years old this May and has a water system that they used to produce electricity when they didn’t have any. Not too far away is the worlds biggest Ox Cart seen next.

And as you can see we were all smiles in Sarchí.

And as you can see we were all smiles in Sarchí!

Next, we took a visit to a contemporary art museum called Museo de Art Costarricense. Here we got...

Next, we took a visit to a contemporary art museum called Museo de Art Costarricense. Here we got to discuss the art, noting the different styles compared to what we saw this morning in Sarchí.

To end out the day, we went to a lovely restaurant where I got the chance to eat a arepa con queso, carne, y jamón.

To end out the day we went to a lovely restaurant where I got the chance to eat a arepa con queso...

The restaurant also had a wonderful open concept so we could take in the Costa Rican air. All in all, it was a wonderful day! So much more to come, and I cannot wait for what’s next!

— Katie Layendecker ’25

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