BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please

Subject: BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please
From: GUEST,Kay-T
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 06:30 PM

Hi all,

Do any mudcatters have any knowledge of what Costa Rica is like to live in ?

I have been looking on-line and the houses look cheap and lovely, and I was thinking of going for a holiday to check it out.

All advice welcome !

(I am a European, Spanish and English speaking ).

Kay - T

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please
From: Amos
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 07:45 PM

You must go check it out. I am looking forward to your report. Everyone I know who has been there, about three people, love it.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 08:14 PM

All I know about Costa Rica is that its constitution says it can't have any regular army.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please
From: mack/misophist
Date: 30 Oct 03 - 09:49 PM

Over the years I have seen at least 3 magazine articles about the advantages of Costa Rica. It's supposed to be the best Latin country for a gringo to move to. Prosperous, stable, and beautiful.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 10:07 AM

Hmmm. Sounding better and better for a retired cop.......we've just about had it with the local Cop Shop.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 12:35 PM

It does have one of the highest standards of living amongst
Central American countries, and is very stable politically.
It, as noted, has no army, but it does have a police force,
and crime is low compared to many other countries there
(but don't assume no crime at all; you will see the
standard security features, lots of locks and bars and
gates, etc.).

It's a very pretty country, with mountainous rainforests
in a country straddling both Caribbean and Pacific beaches.
San Jose (the capital) is in the centre of the country;
I haven't had a chance (yet) to go outside of San Jose
(I was there for work). I'm told there's good watersports
and diving on both coasts.

Enjoy your stay, and bring extra clothes. You might decide
to stay.

Cheers,

                              -- Arne Langsetmo

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please
From: AliUK
Date: 31 Oct 03 - 02:39 PM

Well, here in Brazil its´s as good. Stable economy and a good dollar=real ratio. My mum and dad moved here because their Pound went further and they get to lie around on the beach all day. 3 bedroom apartment close to the beach costs around $10,000.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please
From: GUEST,Winniemih
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 01:05 PM

Oh, I am soooo envious! I spent 2 1/2 months in Costa Rica last winter- after travelling through four other Central American countries- and I wish I was going back soon. I travelled to many parts of Costa Rica during my stay there, some of which was as a student of the langusge school CPI, which has 3 campuses in different places.
    The central valley, where San Jose is located, is very fertile and has a mild climate; in the winter (Dec. through March, which the Ticos refer to as "verano"-summer) it is dry, sunny and temperate,usually in the 70's. I put on a sweater only in the evening. I stayed in a suburb of San Jose, San Joaquin de Flores, very quiet and lovely. The feria (market)in Heredia and other towns on Saturdays are unbelievable for the variety of produce.. the farmers sell directly to the buyers, and the costs are kept low because of this.
    I also went to the Carribean coast, to Puerto Viejo and Tortugueras, which is more rainy all year round, I was told, but lovely for the wildlife and terrain. Many of the people in this area are of African-Carribean heritage, and have suffered from a long history of oppression,, I read that they were not given the vote until 1948 or thereabouts (same time as women). This is a more economically depressed area.
    I travelled for about a month along the Pacific coast, from Guanacaste in the north to the south near Panama. Guanacaste in the winter is very hot and dry,a big cattle raising area; beach areas very popular with tourists, and much resort type development along the most lovely beach areas.Corcovado National Park in the extreme south of the country is hot and humid, a jungle area that is an amazing wildlife reserve. My favorite area on the Pacific coast is near Uvita, a small village south of Manuel Antonio National Park, but even there the good land is being bought up by Americans and Europeans.
   I spent a week volunteering at a ranch in the mountains between San Jose and Quepos (on the Pacific coast). This ranch is run by 2 Americans, ex PeaceCorp volunteers, who speak fluent Spanish and are involved in the life of their village. It serves to teach sustainable building and farming practices, and provides employment and training to some of the local people who otherwise would have to leave their village to find work. This is a prevailing theme all over Central America, sadly, and even Costa Rica is affected by a disturbing level of unemployment and internal displacement.
    The people of Costa Rica ("Ticos") are gracious, friendly, and helpful. I had no trouble travelling about by public transportation with my limited Spanish. I do have some dreams of returning in the future for a longer period of time.
    Kay-T, if you would like to PM me, I could possibly give you more specific information. Good luck on your travels.

Subject: RE: BS: Costa Rica..mudcat advice please
From: GUEST,winniemih
Date: 01 Nov 03 - 01:08 PM

I just realized, I must have lost my cookie, for the above message posted as "guest". I'll fix that so you can PM me.