The Sodas!

Sodas are typical little Costa Rican cafes/restaurants where the locals eat. Here you can save a lot of money because the food is cheaper (not tourist prices) and very good. If you order the casado you get a lot of  food for around $6.  The plate comes with rice and beans, fried plantains, salad of chopped cabbage and tomato, tortillas, and a choice of meat.Instead of soft drinks, juices made of fresh papaya, pineapple or other fresh seasonal fruit are offered. Delicious!
The sodas we've been to had jars of pickled vegetables you could add to your order.

 This was the first soda we visited, in Santa Cruz.

 See the little stools for customers to be seated outside? Behind the red car.

  The proud owner!



 A great soda in downtown Santa Elena.

Another proud owner!

Local dogs love the sodas. 

You can feel them brushing against your feet

 as they wander around looking for scraps and handouts.