Coming from the ancient UK, celebrations of San Isidro’s 100th anniversary felt very novel, we’re only talking about a couple of generations here!

That was brought home when the matriarch of one of the founding families sang at the Music School’s centenary concert; a charming elderly lady who sang in remarkably sweet voice, an especially touching tribute.

Although first settled around 1869, Don Patrocinio Barrantes is credited with founding San Isidro in August 1910. A much respected figure from Santa Maria de Dota in the mountains, others were inspired to follow ‘Don Patro’ who named the (to be) city San Isidro de El General. The names of those founding families are still prominent around the community.

‘Cabalgatas’ – a horse riding parade – are a feature of any celebration in Costa Rica; fabulous horses, always colourful and fun. 100 riders set off from Santa Maria de Dota to follow the route of the ‘pioneers’ while nearly 300 riders from the local community rode to welcome them and form a huge cavalcade into town.

Don’t you just love the stiletto-heeled boots of this rider – that’s what I love about Costa Rican women – the endeavour might be serious but there’s ALWAYS glamour!

The farmer’s market car park was a huge melee of exhausted horses and riders at the end of the day – I reckon 50% sporting a can of beer, good thing ‘drunk in charge of a horse’ isn’t on the statute, some got back thanks to the horse and not the rider!

The highlight for us was a concert in the Cathedral presented by ‘Jovenes Cantantes’ (Young Singers), a foundation established to develop and promote opera singing in Costa Rica. We were hugely blessed these lovely people came down from San Jose to join the celebrations – 16 solos or duets from popular operas, the singing was absolutely superb.

Some of we expats, lucky to get the front row, had tears in our eyes… mostly in admiration of such talent, but also some nostalgia reflecting on the abundance of ‘culture’ we’ve left behind.

Each of these wonderful singers could take the stage in Covent Gardens in London… Oh! How I miss that bit of Britain, but we all resolved to get to San Jose for good music more often! Thank you Jovenes Cantantes for such a joy in our little bit of the ‘jungle’.

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