Meaning to Life

The entrapment conspiracy theory or the triumph of corruption?

I refer purely and simply to the status of the humble street sign in the Costa Rican capital of San José. Quite frankly it is abysmal. It is so abysmal that only the blind would fail to notice such a glaring hindrance to making your way around this city. I am talking specifically of signs for identifying the name of the street although it was fairly apparent in moving around on occasion by car that directional signs were none too common either.

To keep it simple there are four observable facts.
1. The norm is that there are none. Zip nada, absolute desert.
2. When they do appear they are nearly always attached to buildings on the corners at intersections.
3. The majority of the few that exist are difficult to read.
4. Some are impossible to read.

The paucity of these signs in a large city that obviously has sufficient resources and has failed to do anything about it for so long leaves the visitor with only one entertaining outlet on the subject which is to ponder as to why? There is, after all, ample time to do so as you trudge between unmarked street corners trying to work out where exactly you are.

If it is intentional, why so? Is it that it is just not important to San Joseans, is entrapment part of the picture or even exclusion, is it to confuse an unidentified enemy as the British tried by removing all street signs in case the German army should have made it across the channel during the second world war or is it trying to encourage people to tap more into a directional sixth sense?

If it is not intentional then what? Regrettably after consultation with locals it seems that the most likely reason is misappropriation of budgets; plain and simple CORRUPTION.

The story amusingly also encompasses the way in which they identify addresses which traditionally, thereby indicating that this has been going on a long time, do not necessarily use the names of the streets either but a commonly identifiable landmark. The hostel which has been my home for some time was 525 meters east of “La Biblica” (an admittedly well known hospital in the area) and for greater exactitude the address can include “the yellow house on the right”. The amusement value runs further when it is learned that sometimes they continue to use landmarks that no longer exist. I heard of one especially amusing locator, admittedly not in San José, as being: 200 meters west of where Juan’s cow gave birth last year.

This might help to support the theory that they just don’t need them but the inefficiency or corruption theory sounds more likely when you consider that some kind of attempt at signing of streets has happened at whatever low key level at some point in the past. Furthermore almost like a testament to logic from another world if you make your way to the junction of Avenida 14 and Calle 7 you will encounter a scene that is a sight for directionally challenged sore eyes:

Unique street corner sign post AND street plaques

Just makes you want to ask again why though?

The occasional helpful street sign in San Jose, Costa Rica	When you get on top of it, so much clearer now, don't you think?
Nicely painted corner building with helpful street name plaque	So much better - with a nice new paint over job that is!