I haven't felt totally safe while being there but perhaps it was more for the fact that it was my first solo travel rather than a city itself.

I know the feeling. This past spring I took my first international trip by myself - coincidentally, it was to Costa Rica as well. I think a lot of it had to do with the language factor. I'm not 100% fluent, so there was some worry about whether or not I would be able to communicate effectively enough if I had any problems. But I manged to survive, so that's good.

Did you ever go to Ram Luna restaurant ?

No, I'm not familiar with it. I did look it up though and might have to give it a try next time I'm in the country. When I travel to Costa Rica, I spend most of my time in the mountains, south of San Jose. So, Ram Luna will probably go on my list of places to eat.

I work with coffee farmers in the Tarrazu region - actually, a sub-region of Tarrazu called Llano Bonito. I've only been to a few restaurants in the city. There was a really great cafe in Heredia (northern part of San Jose) - Kawah Cafe. It's a small place, but they have excellent food and they serve some of the best coffee you'll find in Costa Rica. It's like a quaint but modern-looking gourmet shop.

My experiences in Costa Rica have been great so far. The people in the farming communities are really nice and welcoming. I mean, it helps that I want to buy their coffee, but they're just normal folks putting in some hard work and trying to make sure their children are taken care of. We're not all that different.

If you have a few minutes, this was an account from my most recent trip: How to Set Your Rental Car on Fire. It's a two-part post, so don't forget to read the dramatic conclusion!

Do you have any plans to go back? Or was it just a one-time visit?