Gumbo was visiting Alfaro Castro Hermanos, a historic factory in Sarchi that manufactures traditional Costa Rican ox carts. Congratulations to George G, who recognized where Gumbo was.
Sarchi is a center for hand-crafted items, like furniture and carts. The ox cart factory Alfaro Castro Hermanos still uses its traditional tools, which are powered entirely by a waterwheel (no electricity). Many of the tools still used have been at worked crafting carts for a century, including saws, drills, anvils, etc.
When the wagon wheels start taking shape it’s a good clue that you’re in a cart factory.
After touring the factory, we got to see several artists decoratively painting items, these primarily being souvenirs. It’s this beautifully hand-decorating that makes these carts so unique.
The ox cart factory has evolved into a very tourist oriented place, primarily consisting of a gigantic gift shop that sells a large variety of Costa Rican souvenirs, but also with a cafe. There are also a number of beautiful ox carts and related paintings displayed around the grounds of the complex that make it worth exploring.
There are several interesting decorative wheels on display…
Most interesting and beautiful are the traditional ox carts which are elaborately decorated….
We actually saw several red carts similar to the ones shown below on the still being used on highways in the mountains, loaded with sacks of coffee beans, pulled by a pair of oxen.
The attached gift shop sells an interesting variety of souvenirs which were reasonably priced. We picked up a few gift items for some friends back home.
My last photo, taken before driving back to San Jose (in slow rush hour traffic), might have made a good “One Clue Mystery” photo. I’m sure there is no other men’s washroom like this anywhere else in the world.
