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[quote=”johnnyh”]Hi Scott. I find myself a lonely voice with this promotional video in that it’s way too sugary and cute, and it’s turning my stomach. As usual these days, the lack of creativity of applying older well known songs to commercials by advertising agencies and the overdone computer manipulation is overwhelming. I wish a more aggressive campaign had been chosen, but again, I’m probably of a minority opinion.[/quote]
Sorry Guys, but I disagree with you totally! It’s about time ICT got a catchy, fun and attractive ad campaign. This ad will go viral and that is the point in todays tech age. Living here for a very long time, this video and the animals we see every day, make me love this ad and I believe it will do very, very well for the tourism industry.
Bob[quote=”sprite”]
Costa Rica does not maintain an army. If you like the concept of soldiers where you live, maybe you should go back the States. I think Americans will be seeing a lot more uniforms on their streets soon.[/quote]Obviously there is no hope for an attitude adjustment for people like “Sprite”! He is wrong on all fronts. Costa Rica does have an army to back it up, it is called the United States of America and if it weren’t for the knowledge that the USA would stand along side Costa Rica when needed, Costa Rica today would be called Nicaragua. Wise up Sprite, people like you belong it a gated community called a Zoo!
[quote=”sprite”]A gated community is one which is relatively secured and segregated from the surrounding social structure. But I refer more to the gated mindset than the gated physical barrier. Segregation from the community is, by definition, a rejection and repudiation of that community. It marks the resident as an outsider.
A gated community is a statement by the residents to the surrounding, outside community. The essence of the social contract is based on trust and fair distribution of community wealth. This contract is broken by the gated statement “I have more than the rest of you and I do not trust the rest of you and I feel the need to be guarded and have my property protected from you.” Anyone who thinks about this for even a moment must see the insult.
A gated community is also physical evidence of an income gap within a society and that is never healthy. Gated communities are a sign of an infection in the society.[/quote]
WOW SPRITE::::: You really do have a warped idea of gated communities,Gringos and Ticos alike. Just found this thread and can’t believe the great divide here and the ignorance. I am going to keep this very short but we have lived here for over 18 years now, have lived in various areas of the country and guess what, there are more gated communities throughout this country than in most other countries. And by the way, a very high percentage of them are inhabited Tico or Latino residents. Also, not to mention, the millions of homes with bars on them (mostly out of the gated communities but found in both.) We are fortunate enough to enjoy both the ex pat and the Tico/Latino communities and we wouldn’t change a thing! Hope you get a better attitude soon. Good Luck.
[quote=”Scott”]New rates published today in La Nacion… The new approved average kW/h prices are listed under the ‘PRECIO PROMEDIO APROBADO’ column:[/quote]
For those of you who live in the San Jose metro area and have your power supplied by CNFL rather than ICE, you can save substantial money by converting your meter to a time of day type meter (tarifa residencial horaria). It costs you nothing other than a little time to stop by the local CNFL office and put in an application. Your rates are much less in the night and evening hours so it is well worth your time. Rates vary during Peak Hours (10AM-12:30PM and 5:30PM-8PM), Low Hours (6AM-10AM and 12:30PM–5:30PM) and Night Hours (8PM-6AM). Night rates are as low as C21 per hour Los hours C50, and peak hours as low as C121 per hour. Be sure to stop at your nearest CNFL office and start saving.
[quote=”Scott”]There is a store opposite the Alta Hotel (on the old road between Escazu and Santa Ana) that offers hand painted sinks.
I bought one for my vacation home with a quetzal on it which you can see at: [ https://www.welovecostarica.com/members/2222.cfm ]
Scott[/quote]
Scott is correct. The store across from Hotel Alta is the one that actually makes and paints these sinks, vases, lamps, etc. If you find them elsewhere, they originally came from this source.
[quote=”pebo1″]Looking at coming to live in CR next 2 or 3 months and most interested in one of these autos.
Appreciate any info for any that are familiar or own these cars.
I believe there are new car dealers also in San Jose. I also understand new cars will carry approx 25% duty on similar N. American prices. Tips or points appreciated.
Looking for comments thanks.[/quote]
We own a 2006 Kia Sorento, diesel, automatic, 4 x 4 since new (4 years now). It has been a great car with excellent power and acceleration. Yesterday while in San Jose, we went to the Expomovil 2010 Auto shown in Belen. Most of the dealers were represented however I was mainly interested in the new Kia Sorento since the 2010 models have a completely new design after many years of the same design. The new design both exterior and interior are a nice fresh change. Talking with a salesman who I had met previously at the Kia dealer, Gallagher Vindas (tel: 506-8391-4152), he wrote up a contract purchase price for a new “2011” ready in July for $39,000. This is an automatic, gasoline, 7 passenger 4 x 4 with many standard extras. Now, something new for 2010 and 2011, the standard 5 passenger is not 4 x 4 while the 7 passenger is. I don’t understand why they would do this but that is what he said. The 5 passenger without 4 x 4 can be had for around $35,000. Diesel seems to cost considerably more this year and due to the similarities in fuel costs, I felt the gasoline was best. I will either be selling my 2006 outright or trading it in to the dealer. Hope this helps somewhat.
Bob & Ione[quote=”Johnhw2″][quote=”Ione”][quote=”jdocop”]Ione, you seem to know whereof you speak, so let me ask this: What is the quickest way to get to the airport, from the new highway? Get off at LaGarita, as you mentioned? (We had business in Santa Ana yesterday, and got there by turning right immediately after the airport, and working our way down…..then, we picked up the new highway just about 1 km from the business offices we had gone to visit……….that was actually quite easy, so now if I can just figure out how to get to the airport, knowing that reversing this route won’t work, ’cause you can’t make a left turn at the airport coming up from Santa Ana…………[/quote]
JD,
I am a little bit confused as to your directions or routes.
As I mentioned earlier, the Coyol airport exit is still under construction. You could still use this exit but you need to know how to weave your way through Ciruelas and Coyol to get the backside route to the airport. I would still suggest getting off in LaGarita and that should put you within 20 minutes of the airport. If you are going to Santa Ana, of course that is the best exit for there. The distance and traffic between the Santa Ana exit and the airport is not worth using that route to access the airport.
Don’t know if this helps or not. Obviously this is complicated by the irregular routes necessary to traverse the San Jose area.[/quote]I take it the Coyol exit is between the La garita and Santa Ana exits on the new toll way. I know the Santa Ana exit and the back way to the airport past the panasonic plant. I am familiar with la Garita, but not where the exit might be located but that is ok, however Coyol is a new location to me. Sounds like a place I might not have seen since my last trip was november when the toll road ended near Cuidad Colon as I headed west from santa ana. Anything notable about Coyol?[/quote]
No, nothing special however it is one of the largest and newest free trade zone industrial area in the county.
[quote=”jdocop”]Ione, you seem to know whereof you speak, so let me ask this: What is the quickest way to get to the airport, from the new highway? Get off at LaGarita, as you mentioned? (We had business in Santa Ana yesterday, and got there by turning right immediately after the airport, and working our way down…..then, we picked up the new highway just about 1 km from the business offices we had gone to visit……….that was actually quite easy, so now if I can just figure out how to get to the airport, knowing that reversing this route won’t work, ’cause you can’t make a left turn at the airport coming up from Santa Ana…………[/quote]
JD,
I am a little bit confused as to your directions or routes.
As I mentioned earlier, the Coyol airport exit is still under construction. You could still use this exit but you need to know how to weave your way through Ciruelas and Coyol to get the backside route to the airport. I would still suggest getting off in LaGarita and that should put you within 20 minutes of the airport. If you are going to Santa Ana, of course that is the best exit for there. The distance and traffic between the Santa Ana exit and the airport is not worth using that route to access the airport.
Don’t know if this helps or not. Obviously this is complicated by the irregular routes necessary to traverse the San Jose area.[quote=”wspeed1195″]it’s the santa ana Belen exit.
it’s 9 km from the new highway.
which,as posted is the exit for the pizza hut and rosti pollo.[/quote]I have no idea why you would drive back 10 minutes to San Jose, turn right and drive another 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic, to get to this new highway?????? Have you ever been in the Lindora area traffic???? Hello????
Winthin less time than that you could be further down the road getting on in LaGarita for the time being. Once the new Coyol entrance is open, it will then be the best route.
Just because you know how to get to the new highway doesn’t mean it is any where near the closest or best route.At this time I don’t believe there is an easy access from the Airport. It will most likely be several months before this new access is constructed. Signage and directions are limited and most likely experience of driving in San Jose and the Santa Ana area is what is going to get you there. If you take the Firestone-Bridgestone exit you will have to weave your way through to the Santa Ana entrance of the new highway. It would be shorter to go to La Garita and find the new entrance for that community.
[quote=”rcpoppell”]I traveled the new highway on Monday making my way from Orotina to the airport. I saved time on the new highway and enjoyed the straight across route afforded by the bridges. I traveled at 9am and there was no traffic.
I took the Coyol exit and wound up dinking and dunking into the airport on the minor blacktop that comes in by the cargo areas.
Apparently I should have used an exit further along and come in through Santa Ana.
Can anyone describe the best approach to the airport in this case?[/quote]Living in both Dominical and the La Guacima areas we regularly travel the new highway now. The future airport exit will be at the Coyol-Ciruelas-Siquiares exit which now has a fairly large roundabout. From this exit there is a new roadway (currently unfinished due to lack of expropriations) which will connect with the General Canas (Airport) highway. It is expected to be at least several months before this roadway is usable. It should make the distance from the Airport to the Caldera Highway about 10 minutes. From the Coyol-Ciruelas-Siquiares roundabout it is about 20 minutes to Orotina, 1 hour to Jaco, less than 2 hours to Quepos and 2 1/2 hours to Dominical. The final 5 kilometers of roadway just North of Dominical is in its final stages of construction and should be completed within several months. What previously took close to 4 hours to drive is now a very comfortable and easy 2 1/2 hour drive!
Hope this helps future travelers from the airport to the beautiful Southern zone.
Bob& Ione[quote=”Scott”]We have a few incredibly conscientious VIP Members who have lived here for years who have repeatedly tried
to file and, failed to pay this tax and, according to the Director General of the Francisco Gamboa so far
in Costa Rica, only fourteen (14) people have successfully paid this new luxury tax.14!
That’s 14 out of an estimated 10,000 properties meaning only 0.14% have paid…
And they’re expecting the people behind the remaining 9,986 properties (myself included) to conclude their filings and payments over the next four weeks when a huge percentage of the country is on vacation?
Not going to happen ….[/quote]
It is truly amazing how government figures can change. First of all they said that 12,000 properties would be affected. Now they are down to 10,000 properties. Then they state that 600 people have filed and paid the tax. Now we hear 14 people. This is just the beginning of one big screw up. Shades of the good old US of A.
Bob[quote=”costaricafinca”]Well, the Tico Time has posted the announced delaying the payment until Jan 15th 2010, the [url=http://www.ticotimes.net/topstory.htm]Updated Tax Information[/url] on their website, and hopefully it can be accessed other than today.
Here too, is link to some of the documents for the [url=http://www.ccobb.net/hacienda/]Hacienda[/url] mentioned in the Tico Times article, that has been accumulated by Chris Cobb, also mentioned in the Tico Times article.[/quote]Now there is an unsubstantiated rumor that there may be a new law coming out. It was not stated in the Tico times article
http://www.ticotimes.net/topstory.htm but is being circulated as of this time via email. Although Hacienda may have made a few administrative changes in the law, I wouldn’t be surprised if an additional court challenge is presented prior to the new Jan 15th deadline. The issues of the requirement to file on line, being your own appraiser and the legality of the excessive fines need to be resolved.
Bob[quote=”costaricafinca”]Bob, you have done good job on behalf of every property owner in Costa Rica. Whether or not all your hard work is successful, at least you tried.
Many thanks.
Make sure you post this information [i]’elsewhere’.[/i][/quote]Thanks Costaricafinca for the nice comments. I’m sure we will be reading more about this soon.
Bob[quote=”Scott”]Agreed 100%!
I’m all in favour of reasonable measures that might help alleviate the plight of some of the less fortunate people in Costa Rica but – if I understand how this works correctly – since the monies collected will benefit primarily Nicaraguans, I would have preferred that my taxes help Costa Ricans and, from what I hear from my Tico friends, they would prefer that too…
This measure can only increase the amount of anti-Nica sentiment in the country.
No offence meant to our Nicaraguan immigrants (legal or illegal) but if I want to donate money and help them I can do that in Nicaragua but, if I invest in Costa Rica real estate, those property taxes should benefit Costa Rica and the Ticos…
Lastly, the new tax is most definitely absurdly complicated.
Scott[/quote]
Scott,
I have been waiting to see how many more and what type of replies this blog is receiving. I can’t agree with you more about helping the Costa Ricans and also how absurdly complicated the law is.[b]I am dissappointed in the amount of replies indicating what problems foreigners or Tico’s alike are having in trying to open bank accounts, file documentation or just what is frustrating them regarding this law. [/b] As I said previously, some of our San Jose friends are running back and forth between their banks and Hacienda more than 7 times and still don’t have the bank account issue resolved. Now, out of desparation they hired some accountant to do it for them. I am looking for peoples experience in this matter and these experiences should help in any legal challenge that may come about it the future. If anyone can send me this, I would appreciate it.
Bob Klenz
