… where we caught a bus from the port to the interior towns of Grecia and Sarchi. With temperatures in the 90s expected in Puntarenas, the 4000 foot altitude of these towns made the weather very comfortable. Grecia was voted the “cleanest city in Central America” and is also known for its used car lots, originally established to bring money earned in the US back to Costa Rica. We stopped to see a remarkable structure, a metal church constructed about 1897 to replace earlier wooden churches which had been destroyed.
The church was still beautifully decorated for Christmas.
Leaving Grecia behind, we headed up some very winding roads to the town of Sarchi, home of the Eloy Alfaro Factory for traditional Costa Rican ox cart construction. This factory uses only a waterwheel to power its many machines. From the humble ox cart beginnings with solid wooden wheels, the design evolved to include wheels made of 16 precisely cut pie wedges, held in place with metal hubs and rims. Providing the finishing touches are the incredible painted designs covering almost the entire surface of each cart.
Not all of the ox carts are painted – a few are carved instead. Artisans paint the highly stylized designs. For $4000-5000 you can order a custom-made cart. The wheels are guaranteed for 50 years or 100,000 miles …
The water-powered central drive shaft. Frank with a huge wheel for scale. Which leads to our next stop …
… the Guiness Book of Records largest ox cart in the world!
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