[ecotonecons]

While in Costa Rica two years ago my wife and kids and I arrived in Quepos late in the evening in a taxi from San Jose.
We had a small plastic case with our passports & $500 cash in it. As we unloaded our things it fell onto the floor of the cab unnoticed.
We ripped our hotel room and luggage apart that night looking for that which we could not have possibly lost – to no avail.
The next morning as I was on the phone to the Canadian embassy the cab driver drove up and returned our case intact. He drove all the way from San Jose to do so. We gave him a great tip and could not believe our good fortune (or stupidity).
Just thought we needed a positive story on this thread.
Maybe there is not much of a market for Canadian passports on the black market…
We definitely love Costa Rica!

[ecotonecons]

Perhaps you could elaborate on what you mean when you say the Panamanians are “used to americans”, what does this mean?

Also, some might say that the Costa Ricans live within their means by finishing highways and other infrastructure developments as they have the funds to do so.

The mortgage lending crisis in the US right now should demonstrate pretty clearly how excessive borrowing/lending can turn out.

I think you should find a more credible online dictionary as well.

[ecotonecons]

The problem soflodoug – is that you are not in the US – , you can’t expect to safely have whatever belongings you want wherever you want them. I would suggest this is not possible in all areas of the US or Canada for that matter.
In a country such as Costa Rica, I would say sitting in coffee shop surfing the net on your $2000+ laptop sipping a latte is rubbing a fair percentage of the local populations nose in it pretty good.
Costa Rican citizens don’t pay the type of taxes that would support the policing services provided in the US and Canada. Is that not part of the reason why people travel there because it is inexpensive?

For the record, I did not pick up any latent US hatred in the posts preceding yours.

[ecotonecons]

Thank you for all the great suggestions!

[ecotonecons]

Prohibition of substances (or beliefs) throughout history has never worked successfully.
Perhaps the answer is to determine why so many people are drawn to these things in the first place and deal with those issues.
While I am not in agreement with everything happening in Vancouver with respect to drug use harm reduction, it is pretty obvious by now that the heavy handed method does not seem to be working in the US.
Perhaps the money spent on fighting the US drug war could be directed into programs which reduce the underlying causes of drug use and actually have a far greater impact overall?

[ecotonecons]

good beer anyway!

[ecotonecons]

Check out Puerto Viejo on the caribbean side. There has been an interesting mix of locals and visitors in this area when we have visited.

[ecotonecons]

Thanks for the links, I had not seen those ones. I did find one contractor in Brazil that constructs ‘in the tree’ tree houses. http://www.casanaarvore.com/ , there are some really great pictures.
There are some large trees on our land which have really big diameter (over 10 feet), not buttressed at the bottom, are kind of white in colour, and look like upside down broccoli as the upper branches really spread out at the top. I think it is a Sabo (spelling?) tree. Does anyone know about this particular trees strength, rot resistance, or suitability for supporting such structures?

Thank you,

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