Alajuela

These pictures are in the town of Alajuela which figures into Costa Rican history. You know I like old trunks, this one is in the museum in Alajuela. There was a time in the mid 1800's when an American mercinary, named William Walker, tried to take over Costa Rica and had almost succeeded.

But a young Costa Rican man named Juan Santamaria managed to torch the barracks where the mercinaries were . He was killed in the process of doing this but enough damage was done to turn the tide of the battle and the Costa Ricans won. This is a picture of a painting in the museum of him setting fire to the building. The man was nicknamed "hedgehog" because he had bushy hair and they have tried to show it in the painting. The main airport here is named after this young man and when you come to visit, you will come through the Juan Santamaria Airport.

An old cannon.

An old Spanish Colonial bench.

Another old Spanish Colonial bench, you know I like old furniture.

View from the museum building looking out on the square across the street.

Carved doors in the museum.

The cathedral facing the square across the street from the museum.

Another photo of the cathedral

Catheral interior of the painted, vaulted ceiling.

The pretty tiled floor in the Cathedral.