In the July 2003 issue:

San Pedro, Where something is always going on...

Meet Claire Pinnock, ILISA's Director of Corporate Marketing

It's a girl!

Links to previous issues:

April 2003

January 2003

October 2002

July 2002

April 2002

San Pedro, Costa Rica - "Where something is always going on."

ILISA is located in San Pedro, which is about 10 minutes east of San José by bus or taxi. This suburb of San Jose is Costa Rica's center for education and entertainment. Home to the countries largest public university, it is no wonder why there are so many restaurants, cafés and bars in this area. Here is just a taste of the sites, sounds and activities you can find in and around San Pedro:

Universities:

The Universidad de Costa Rica is Costa Rica's largest public institution of higher learning. Founded in 1950, today this university is providing over 31,100 Costa Rican students with higher education in fields varying from administration to architecture to medicine. There are two main library's on the campus as well as numerous restaurants and cafeterias. Lots of ILISA students go running or walking on it's tree lined campus.

Restaurants, Cafés and Nightlife:

A popular restaurant and bar for Univeristy students is Caccio's Restaurant, located 3 blocks north of the Fuji. Here you can enjoy a great slice of pizza and a Costa Rican cerveza (beer) "Imperial" (Costa Rican's national beer) for under $3.00US. This place is quite busy in the evenings as many students come here to wind down after a hard day of studying.

For a great pizza in a family type restaurant, you can try Pomodoro's Pizza, located 1 block north of the San Pedro Church. Here you can sample some special Italian styled pizza's with your friends or family in a dynamic atmosphere.

If you are looking for a great cup of cappuccino or Costa Rican coffee you have to check out the café Galeria La Tortuguita, 2-1/2 blocks north of the Fuji. This owner of this café, Juan Carlos Delgado is a graduate of the Universidad de Costa Rica and through his education and travels has invested in this European style café and restaurant. This is definitely the place to go for the best cup of coffee in Costa Rica.

The aptly named Restaurante Vegetariano, located 2 blocks north of the Church of San Pedro, offers excellent vegetarian meals and snacks. In addition to an ever-changing plate of the day, you will find a wide variety of sandwiches, pastas, soups, salads and other vegetarian fare. They also offer delicious juices.

If you are looking for a drink and great bocas after a day of class, head to Omar Khayam, found 2 blocks north of the Fuji. You can count on a cold beer or a shot of Costa Rica's famous guaro. You won't go wrong selecting any of the more than 20 offerings of bocas.

Former ILISA student Theo Peeters runs the nightspot Jazz Café, located next to the Banco Popular. It's famed for offering live music ranging from Jazz to Latin tunes.

San Pedro also offers a variety of sodas, fast food restaurants, internet cafés and bars for nearly every taste.

Shopping: In addition to the variety of book, music and clothing shops in downtown San Pedro, there is also the famous Mall San Pedro located nearby. Here you can find just about anything you are looking for, including shops, a movie theater, a disco and a food court.

There is also another mall in the process of being built nearby, the American Outlet Mall. This modern shopping center promises to be another great source for shopping here in Costa Rica.

This is just a taste of what can experience here in San Pedro. you'll have to come and visit these places and discover the rest of the great entertainment, shopping and education facilities here in San Pedro!