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[quote=”Scott”]Tomorrow’s WeLoveCostaRica.com newsletter will be sent out to exactly 24,965 people Frank… Last Friday’s went out to 25,105 people.
Scott
[/quote]Oh no, that’s terrible news Scott – a loss of 140 people in 4 days. Based only on the information given, and maintaining that same velocity, we will all be gone in just under 2 years! But where will we go? Forgive me Sprite, it appears that you have been right all along!!!
[quote=”VictoriaLST”]I heard that an American can fly to Cuba from CR and that the Cuban officials will kindly NOT stamp your passport when you arrive. True or CR myth?[/quote]
yes
[quote=”camby”]I know Costa Rica has cuban cigars, anyone know about rules taking them back to the US?
Honeymooned in Caymen’s 17 yrs ago and brought home 1 or 2 for my dad, put them wrapped up in suitcase-no huge box,etc…now with Patriot Act and all, not sure what people do…..anyone know?
Hate to take a cigar home and wind up water boarded in Turkmenistan…[/quote]
Like with anything else made in Cuba, it is against the law to bring to States. You can however, carefully remove the clear wrapper (if any) then remove the paper label (ring) and bada bing, they become “Nicaraguan cigars”!
If they are for a gift, have someone else pack the wrapper and rings, then reverse the process back in the States.
Truthfully, I find Cohibas to be quite harsh, but the MonteCristos and Romeo y Julietas are prime! And Scott is right, many of the cigars made with Cuban seed but grown elsewhere are just as good if not better – and they are LEGAL!
[quote=”yvesrealtor”]Any real good dermatologists in or near San Jose please? Does anyone know of one?[/quote]
Dra. Tania Soria Costales
2208 1302
2208 1342
8323 5759 (emergency)she is super. both my wife and I have been to her, as well as many friends. She in the office tower next to CIMA.
Hope it helps,
[quote=”maravilla”] you’re a wanker for not speaking spanish, but i hear it all the time when they ask me how come i can speak it and most of the other gringos can’t.[/quote]
I have no idea what a “wanker” is, but I do know that over 90% of the Ticos we come in contact with in Samara would prefer to speak and learn English,
Just like where you are Maravilla, they prefer that you learn Spanish so that YOU can get ahead in that community, here they understand that for them to get ahead in THIS community it is more important that THEY SPEAK ENGLISH!
I am not saying you are wrong, I am only saying that it is another case of LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
I definitely agree with you that when I travel elsewhere in CR (away from the coast) I wish I knew more Spanish!
But I have NEVER been made to feel uncomfortable by any Tico for not being conversant in their language; conversely, they have always tried to help and between my limited Spanish and “sign language” we have always managed to communicate,
Do I wish I knew the language and all 144 verb cases such as you – absolutely! But do you need it to live in CR and enjoy living in CR, I don’t think so – – it all depends on WHERE you live in CR![quote=”camby”]
True, would love more time and to really get into some “everyday’ areas to really get feel for country. Wife wanted to stay a little more touristy, so its give and take a bit. She is enthuased to see CR and I finally get to come…..did tell her to think about eating local, as its cheaper, likely better and get more cultural feel…..Noted to her the hotel and toursity areas will be more pricey..just like in teh states, likely, not as good nor interesting either..[/quote]Camby – just as with the difference in places to eat, you (she) will probably want to know about the grocery shopping opportunities. (Sorry, Maravilla but I am only trying to express the “range of opportunities”, not any recommendations)…..
Anyway, you should ask about when and where the local feria is held. It’s a local fruit and vegetable market and most areas have it once a week or so. It’s a great experience.
Then there are the local sodas (or pulperias, or abasticidors) that are your small family-operated neighborhood markets. That is where we do 75% of our routine weekly shopping.
There are also “chain stores” here, most of which you won’t be familiar with, like Pali, Super Compro, Max-Pali, Mas a Menos, Jumbo, etc. In Samara, our largest grocery is one of the smaller Pali markets, but 35 minutes away in Nicoya we can access a Super Compro or Maxi Pali. (Several of these chains are owned by WalMart.)
In Coco, you will want to make sure she sees the Auto Mercado – it is as nice as any grocery store in N.C., and you can find many U.S. brand products there that you can’t find elsewhere (at least not in Guanacaste) – but for a price!
Directly across from Auto Mercado is Luperon (one of our favorites!) It is a large store with great selection (and prices!)
Liberia hosts a large selection of other opportunities, most notably Jumbo (where do all those expats come from?). Also in Coco you will hear about Pippo’s. It is a great Italian deli and food supplier that is about 5-7 minutes SW of the Liberia Airport as you head toward Coco. Great selection of wine, deli meats, cheese, oils, pastas, etc.
Of course, in the central valley there are the giant Walmart Stores.
The great part about shopping here is the “adventure”. It is almost like a scavenger hunt. You start out with a list and a destination – – and before you return home you have been to maybe 2-3 sodas, one of the larger markets, the meat market, the bakery, the fish vendor, the veggie market, etc. etc. If everything on the list is checked off you feel like you have accomplished something!
You can make it a local adventure or a day trip. We often gather up our cold bag, a couple of friends and head out in the morning, often with no real itinerary. We’ll stop in Nicoya for a coffee and a great pastry, then on to Liberia, stopping at Pippo’s going or coming, head into Coco and hit Auto Mercado and Luperon, and of course stop along the way for a great lunch, possibly at Texas Bar BQ in Coco or one of the local restaurants in Belen or Santa Cruz. We’re often home by mid-late afternoon after filling our food basket, spending day with friends, seeing great scenery and always encountering a little bit of frustration along the way…..just to balance things out! Of course, also on the “plus side” are all the great Ticos and friendly smiles you encounter throughout the day!
Living here IS an adventure. It takes a while to figure it out and gear down to the right pace, but once you hit your stride, there is nothing else like it!
Sounds like you have been successful with BNCR on-line banking activity in the past, but in addition to removing the dashes, I have never been able to get anything done on BNCR web site without adding to zeroes (00) to the end of my cedula number.
Hope that helps.[quote=”DavidCMurray”]
There is a gym located in Fabrica, the entertainment complex outside town, and probably one or more others. It will have exercise equipment but I’m not sure if it would meet your needs for “rehab”.[/quote]David – like you, at least I know where in my town where the gym is located! They also have a feria each Friday, and in addition to the super veggies, there is a lady that sells super bagels and english muffins, that’s when I go to the gym!
[quote=”ddspell12″]Should I start my process for residency for Costa Rica in my home country at the Costa Rica consulate or wait to I arrive in Costa Rica to start the process?:)[/quote]
you should start in your home country because that is where most of the documents you need reside.
It would be well nigh impossible to collect certified copies of your birth certificate(s), marriage license (if app), police background check, proof of income letter, etc. from the states while you were living or staying here. Then after you get them (depending on which state they are issued in) you must get them notarized (yes, even the certified ones) by a notary of that state before you send them to the secretary of state’s office in that state to receive an “apostille” acknowledgement. Once you get them all back then you can bring them to Costa Rica and start the process on this end.
The remaining steps can be accomplished here – with great effort and even more patience![quote=”DavidCMurray”]In another discussion thread, costaricabill mentions paying for meals at restaurants that post their prices in dollars with U.S. dollars. Makes sense to me. But that is not typical of Costa Rica and if you confine your visit to such places, you will not only miss much of the richness of this wonderful country but also some of the poorness. To appreciate what you’d be getting into, you have to get out on the street.[/quote]
David – I am not promoting restaurants with $$ menus – conversely, I am only trying to make people aware of the “rip-off” that can occur at such places …… which unfortunately I have experienced in San Jose, Escazu, Santa Ana, Alueja, Heredia, La Garita, Puntarenasa, Nicoya, Tamagringo, Playa del Coco, LIberia, Playa Avellanas, La Fortuna, and yes, even here where I live in Playa Samara.
All I am saying is – keep a few USD $$ in your pocket or purse to avoid being ripped off!
Isn’t that one of the points of this forum??
no, no no no!
I have met and usually agree with costaricaricafinca, but not this time!
do not, repeat, do not go to las suenos if you have any illusions about seeing the real costa rica! For your wife to see that, you would have to buy there to make her believe she is “in Costa Rica”!
The truth is that if that is what you want you should cancel your trip, save your money and go to and move to Hilton Head!!![quote=”DavidCMurray”]So, Bill, do you eat there a lot?
[/quote]uh, no! But I know which restaurants here in our area have “dollar menus” and I make sure to carry $ when we go there.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]
While here, plan to spend colones. That way, there will never be any question about the exchange rate and your transactions will go more smoothly because no one will have to be calling the bank to get the current exchange rate information.[/quote]The only exception I can think of to David’s good advice is if you find yourself in a restaurant and their menu prices are quoted in dollars, then you are best advised to pay in dollars because they often have their own arbitrary exchange rate and it will always be in their favor.
I was in a nice SJO restaurant that quoted their prices in dollars. The exchange rate at that time was 498/1. The bill came and the total was shown in dollars. I converted the $ to colones at 500/1 and placed it on the little tray. The waiter picked it up and looked at it and told me that I needed more colones, so I asked him to convert it for me. He came back a minute or 2 later with the conversion …… and explained that they used a rate of 540/$1.00(USD) when exchanging colones to dollars!!! I questioned it and the manager came and told me that no law prohibited them from setting their own exchange rate. I asked him if I could exchange dollars to colones at that rate, and his response was “Oh, no. That rate is 460!)
