The National Theatre of Costa Rica

Our first full day in Costa Rica saw us have a city tour of San José. It's not the most picturesque capital city in the world, but neither is it as bad as some of the guidebooks make out.

The highlight was definitely the National Theatre, opened in 1897 after a performing artist on a world tour in the early 1890s refused to perform in Costa Rica as she felt there were no places grand enough for her.

It is a beautiful building outside and inside, and one about which the Costa Ricans are justifiably proud. My holiday had begun.