Sofia at El Mercado Central in San José, Costa Rica. — Sofia at El Mercado Central in San José, Costa Rica.

We are continuing our adventures in Costa Rica with Sofia Protti founder and designer at cueropapel&tijera who is taking us on a tour of her regular lunch spot in San José. This place happens to be El Mercado Central where you can find little sodas (eateries) and all kinds of colorful wares. A place you can really soak in some atmosphere, let's go?!!

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I went to El Mercado yesterday! It was nice to visit this time having in mind what things would be interesting to see and to know for other people. I enjoy food so much that El Mercado is like a party to me. Herbs, seafood, vegetables, lots of fruits, the smell of plantain leaves that are so usual at this time of the year to cook "tamales" our traditional Christmas meal... uh! It is wonderful!

I never get bored here, as there is always something new! A different kind of "chili" or a new fruit, or simply a little spot that has been there for years, that you haven't noticed before. As usual, what I did yesterday was to have Fresco de frutas, a frozen fruit juice made of chopped fruits (banana and papaya mostly) and syrup. This is so classic, and delicious. So after the walk you have to do to get to El Mercado, where you need to start your journey is Fresco de Frutas.

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After that, I wander around the market to see the handicrafts. You can find the traditonal market bags made out of "cabuya" (a natural fiber produced here), small leather bags, post cards, baskets, and "hamacas." The coffee shops are all over too.

My favorite picks are the "cabuya" bags because of their colors, the thread, and their long lasting quality. Every housewife in Costa Rica should have one, as all our grandmas did. It is so meaningful to me. Not only for the colors and shape, but for the memories I have going to the market with my grandma. Her bag was aged and had so much personality that I found it unique and special and also because of all the good stuff we put in it.

Leather handicrafts are also my favorites. I get so much inspiration here as I am always trying to reinterpret the traditional styles into my own modern version of it.

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Then I finally go back to Soda San Martin. The place where I get my fresco de frutas and my soup. This place was stablished in 1953, and it is well known for the typical local food. Their specialty is the Olla de Carne, a meat soup with a lot of vegetables, but today I was craving the Seafood soup!

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Tell us a bit about your country and your work...

What I love the most about my home place is our style. We are easy going, friendly, full of opportunities, education, and progressing forward is a chance that everyone has.

One thing I would like to see improved is our ambition (in a good sense). Costa Rica is such a good place to live that we easily get into a "comfort zone" that makes us lose our competitiveness. We lack ambition and a sense of empowerment, which I admire in other countries. I studied Industrial Design at the University, but leather has been a part of my life since I was a little girl. My grandpa who was a leather craftsman supported our family by creating leather bookbinding and other crafts. I loved being at his workshop playing or "working" with little pieces of leather during my free time. I decided to switch from my design career to my grandpa's passion.

When he got sick, I realized that the only thing I could do to keep him "alive" was to do what he loved.

I did not start the business thinking it was going to be my grandpa´s business forever, and by the time I felt strong and clear about what I wanted to do, I decided to take the best of his work and make my own version of it. So that´s how I founded CueroPapel&Tijera* in 2008. (*leather paper & scissors)

Costa Rica's essence is easy to infuse into my products. For inspiration, I visit local spots for coffee, talk to people, and I take lots of pictures of every flower I find, the sky, greens in the views, rain, and everything that resembles our country. So I AM Costa Rica and translating this feeling to my designs is something I do through texture, color, and simplicity. A very Costa Rican saying, Pura Vida, means an agreement of life to me! We say "Pura Vida" intead of saying "hi" or "ok." "Pura Vida," is our phrase for everything. We even say it in place of "thanks!"

So, this is exactly who we are: "Pure Life."

(Follow Sofia on Instagram (@sofiaprotti) to see more of this pure and colorful Costa Rican life.)

What is one thing you recommend to do in Costa Rica to experience this Pura Vida?

My recommendation would be to see a sunset with a cup of coffee. Trust me our coffee is the best. The air is so perfect and the light is gold. Birds sing and you can have tamales with coffee, which is pretty close to glory I guess.

SOFIA'S FAVORITES FOR SAN JOSE:

Lunch spot:
Soda San Martin in El Mercado Central

Coffee:
Sofia's daily favorite coffee "1820." The name refers to the year Costa Rica started exporting coffee beans. Coffee production used to be the country's main economic activity (it is now tourism), and still remains the biggest export.

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Sharing always goes both ways, giving and taking. Thank you Alla and Mu-Hsien for taking the time and showing interest in my small unique homeland, Costa Rica. I hope others can also join this giving and taking experience, from which I have already learned so much.

Always welcome to Pura Vida land!
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Sofia
OTSP Neighbor Profile : Cuero Papel & Tijera

Thank you global neighbor Sofia for taking us to lunch and sharing your Pura Vida way of thinking and working... I think we are definitely inspired to pay closer attention to nature's kaleidoscope and be open to the inspiration it sends our way! (Photos: via Sofia) ~ Sofia helps us infuse our life with vibrant colors and simple and pure Costa Rican sensibility through her modern yet rich in history artisan leather bags and accessories.

{ Alla's Picks }

Cueropapelytijera -  Case Goggles / Glasses Case Sun glass case

{ Mu-Hsien's Picks }

Cueropapeljtijera - Paseo Bag / Tote Bag

Cueropapelytijera -  Folk Tote Bag / Tote Bag

Cueropapelytijera -  Basic Handbag / Shoulder Bag

• • • LESSONS LEARNED #44 • • •

Inspiration is all around us,
you just have to look through a fresh pair of eyes to see it.

Get everyday adventure ideas @LiveLikeYoureTraveling

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Take Us to Lunch : City of Dreams, Bogotá with Azulina Ceramics

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IDEA113: See the Best *Sights* in Costa Rica

Lunch time in Bogotá via Melissa Moriarty of Azulina Ceramics. (Masa)

One of my favorite things to do if I'm visiting friends in another country is to spend a day with them just doing what they normally would on a regular day. I believe the scientific jargon for this is: "observing the locals in their natural habitat". This, I think, is truly the best way to take it slow and really soak in the atmosphere. I found, I always end up uncovering the true essence of a place better then running around from one touristic landmark to another. And what could be more "normal" then having lunch at someone's regular haunt?

Well today we have a fabulous Global Neighbor Melissa Moriarty, founder of Azulina Ceramics, who is taking us to lunch with her... in Bogotá!!!

Melissa is bringing us to Masa, a place where she likes to eat, located in Bogotá's "Zona G" (Zona Gourmet). This area, we hear, is the place to be for not only the best restaurants in town, but also to sample the world. International cuisine is a trend on the rise among the world curious Bogotanos.

Tell us about Masa.

Masa is just the greatest. It is a cafe and bakery located in the Chapinero neighborhood of Bogotá, which is the hip place to be. It has a big family-style table in the entrance and a sunny, outdoor patio. My favorite thing about Masa, besides having Bogotá's best pain au chocolat, is that they are turning themselves into a friendly, neighborhood spot. Patrons are allowed to bring their dogs onto the patio and they offer bike locks for those who show up on two wheels. They are thinking of the little things. And believe it or not, that is a first.

What about you Melissa, originally from Houston, Texas, you've lived in DC, Boston, Chicago, Spain and Honduras! What has brought you to come settle in Colombia?

I first visited in 2011 when I joined my uncle on a business trip to Medellin. I fell in love with the energy of Colombia and its people almost immediately. There is just something in the air: there is this good, positive, exciting energy. It is so contagious I get giddy talking about it.

Everyone is involved and committed to making Colombia a better place to live, work and raise children, and as a result new, innovative services are popping up daily. The energy is almost palpable. I am so excited for what's to come.

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Melissa's description made me think about my former home, THE place for incredible energy. NYC that is. In fact, Silvana Villegas, the owner of Masa has studied and worked in NY before moving back to Bogotá to open this restaurant with her sister. Silvana has brought back a bit of Manhattan to Bogotá with a 'make your own' salad bar, not something you see everyday in Colombia. Together with french pastries, world inspired breads, fresh juices and omelettes, it's a brand new way of looking at lunch in Bogotá, traditionally a heavier, rice and beans kind of a meal.

Has your perception of Colombia changed now that you've been living in Bogotá for a while?

No, but the realities of living in a country with old-fashioned, bureaucratic systems makes for some additional hurdles and frustration. I'm lucky in that my company, Azulina Ceramics, is a U.S. Corporation and I deal with all legal and accounting standards according to U.S. laws. However, I have lots of ideas and aspirations to start different businesses and social initiatives here so it won't be long until I am dealing with those 'hurdles'. But you know what? There is so much opportunity here because there are still so many problems to solve and so many people willing to join in on your cause. I love that about Colombia.

What was most surprising thing you discovered about your new home or something you did not expect?

I've found that Colombians are exceptionally well educated and hard-working, in all things and in all levels of society. I could not be happier to be working with my team in El Carmen de Viboral. From the women artisans to the business development team, everyone works their butts off and makes the impossible possible. I had a misconceived notion that doing business would be difficult for cultural reasons or perhaps because I thought people might be stuck in their ways, but I have been so surprised by how open everyone is to collaborate.

(Photo: Jay Marroquin) — (Photo: Jay Marroquin)

What makes you feel at home here? Do you speak Spanish?

My friends, boyfriend and boyfriend's family make me feel so happy and at home here. Colombians are generally very warm and welcoming, so it has been easy to meet and make amazing, lifelong friends. And frankly, with that, I could live anywhere. The rest is just material.

As for Spanish, I can speak like a native. I don't look like I can, so I use it as my secret weapon. Ha!

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{ Melissa's yummy lunch, scrambled eggs with mushrooms and ham,
pain au chocolat and coffee in Azulina's "everyday mug" from the Flora Collection. }

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What is another insider tip (besides lunch at Masa!) you want to give to us planning to visit?

If you are heading to Bogotá download these Apps: Uber and Tappsi. The city is going through some growing pains so their public transport isn't yet easy to navigate and use, especially for a tourist, so I recommend you use Tappsi or Uber to order taxis. Cabs are super cheap, like $5 max to go practically anywhere. I use either Tappsi or Uber at least 4 times per week. Yay technology.

• • •
{ Masa's Mythic Pain au Chocolat looking ever so scrumptious on
hand painted canape plate from Azulina's Lima collection. }

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MELISSA'S FAVORITES FOR BOGOTA:

Lunch spot:
M asa (Cll 70 # 4-83 Bogotá D.C.) and a second restaurant is planned to open in the near future.

Getting Around:
Taking a cab is an inexpensive and quick way to get around in Bogotá.
• Uber - Is a taxi booking app available in 22 countries, you can request a ride, be picked up in minutes and pay using your phone.
• Tappsi - A Bogotá based company servicing Latin America.

Thanks Alla and Mu-Hsien for the opportunity to share a bit about the world's greatest hidden treasure: Colombia.

Con Mucho Amor,
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Melissa of Azulina Ceramics
(Photos via Melissa)

Thank you Melissa for taking us to lunch and sharing about your new home and also introducing us to Silvana's Masa. You ladies are true global neighbors bringing a bit of New York and Paris to Bogotá and exporting a bit of Colombia to the world! We love that you help bring us all closer together! And we are even more curious now about the city that's making it all possible, Bogotá. ~ Bring a little piece of Colombia into your home and head over to Azulina.com for beautiful hand painted ceramics!