Christmas in San José
Part of the Costa Rican
tradition of Christmas
are three major events,
one of which has been
cancelled for a second
year in a row, while the
other two will be host
to thousands: the Zapote
Fair that kicks off at
noon today, and the
annual "Tope" which is
on for tomorrow.
The Zapote Fair this
year sports a new "redondel"
(bull ring), a permanent
structure that sits
thousands, different
that the makeshift bull
ring of the past that
had always been a
concern of authorities
and the main reason for
the cancellation of last
year's event.
This year, organizers
say that there will be
more action, more music,
more entertainment, lots
of food and mega bars to
enjoy the evenings. The
fair continues into the
first week of January.
Tomorrow, the streets of
downtown San José -
Paseo Colon and Avenida
Segunda - will be
overtaken by horses and
their riders in the
annual tope.
Some 200.000 are
expected to line the
route to see the show
that is wholesome family
entertainment.
The tope will leave the
Sabana park in the west,
move along Paseo Colon,
avoiding passing in
front of the Hospital de
Niños and San Juan de
Dios, briefly moving
along Avenida 1, and
then back onto Avenida
Segunda, to the Paseo de
los Estudiantes and
ending at the plaza
González Víquez.
The tope will kick off
at 1:00pm and will be in
honour of the folklorist
Lencho Salazar.
The Cruz Roja will have
more than 10 control
points to attend any
type of emergency and
850 officers of the
Fuerza Pública (police),
150 officers of the
Policía Municipal and
100 of the Tránsito will
be on hand to maintain
public order.
More than 700 horses and
their riders will take
part in the event, each
paying a ¢8.000 colones
entry fee. |
|
