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[quote=”Johneee”]How many men have found good women companions while here??
Johneee[/quote]
I found mine to be as good here as she was in the States. I don’t think many of us came here with Tica chicas and sex on our minds.
If you think that’s what you want to do you had better think long and hard. Hispanics do not look at things the way Americanos do nor do they think like us.
It took me a year of stress and frustration to realize the difference while losing 50 pounds in the process.
If you need to diet, try it.[quote=”MDesabrais”]Another area of interests is San Marcos de Terrazu. I understand that coffee farming in this area uses a lot of fertilizer and pesticides which may have caused contamination in ground water? Does anyone have info on this area?
Mike D[/quote]
After reading your inquiry I did an quick internet search regarding the contamination. The inquiry was “[b]San Marcos de Tarrazu costa rica fertilizer and pesticides[/b]”
I found no references to contaminated ground water but found that much is being done to assist the local cooperative to more sustainable growing practices.
If you can provide a web site where you encountered your information I will look into it further.[quote=”MDesabrais”]Does anyone have info on the Potenciana Mountains region or know where I can find it? Any info about San Ignacio would be appreciated. I know that previously the area was hard to get to, but has recently developed more infrastructure?
[/quote]
San Ignacio is about 16 kilometros south of San Jose. If you use Google Earth use the Ruler tool and draw a line south of san Jose to 15.5k and you will see San Ignacio.The elevation is not high being about the same as San Jose at 3500 feet. This past weekend we were near there in Tabarcia which is 2800 feet and HOT.
If you want a cooler climate look to the central mountain chain.
San Marcos would be more your speed temperature wise at 5000 feet elevation and 30k south southeast. It is not in the central mountains but is much higher than San Ignacio.
I don’t know anything about the use of chemicals but wouldn’t doubt your information. I suggest you look further for more information regarding this issue.
[quote=”DavidCMurray”]those of us who live in Costa Rica are so scattered around the country [/quote]
David’s right. I think more and more of us are opting for the Pura Vida life and avoiding the American Gettos that prevailed previously.[quote=”DavidCMurray”]Think of it this way . . . The more the U.S. spends on moated embassies and luxury accommodations for embassy employees the less is available to kill people with. Where, after all, is the money better spent, making people comfortable or dead?[/quote]
In my opinion you are “dead wrong” on this one. In order to finance war the U.S. is willing to spend what should go to the poorer elements of society.
Why would you think that embassy employees are different than any other government employees. Look at the pay that is allocated to Congress for indecision and bickering. You can bet that they all live in accomodations at least as nice as Scotts.
[quote=”davek”]Point taken, I am just not happy about all of the fees.
Thanks David[/quote]
David is right. If you spend any time at all in Costa Rica you will face fees.
This is particularly true if you intend to apply for residency.
Document fees for birth cert., marriage cert., police report, etc. plus authentification of each document in the state in which it exists and this is solely to get the documents ready in the States. Then you have the authentification of the local consulate – $40.00 each document.
When you get to Costa Rica you will have to have each document translated at 8 cents per word and get fingerprinted for an Interpol chack [b](surprise, this one is free)[/b] obtain stamps through Casa Amarillo for the translations.
Now the documents are ready for presentation to Migracion with another fee.
No, you aren’t finished yet. If and when you finally are approved for your residency they nail you again for what looks to me to be about 22% of your monthly income before you can get your official ID (the cedula).
Everything comes at a cost just like it does in the States. THe tax rate on most things you buy in Costa Rica (except fresh food) is a minimum of 13%.
All in all I don’t think you will find any complaints here about the price we pay for the priviledge of living in Costa Rica[quote=”davek”]Waggoner,
Can you tell me if there is a limit on the amount you can withdraw from ATM’s and how they work? I assume I enter how much I want in American and then it asks me if I want dollars or colones?? Is it still 550 Colones to $1.00 US. I don’t think I will be as lucky as you have been with the fees so I don’t want to have to pay a bunch of fees if I can only take out $200.00 worth of currency each time. That is the usual limit where I am from.[/quote]My bank sets the limit at &1,000 per day. I experienced one time that I couldn’t withdraw what I asked for but that could be for any of a number of reasons.
You are given the option of dollars or colones before you enter the amount. The options in colones go up to 50,000 and an option for “other amount”.
Somewhat of a word of warning: I have had the ATM dispense 5,000 colone bills rather than the normal 10,000 at times. That is a big wad of bills.
The loal banks were running around 547 per dollar as of Saturday, my bank was 552.
You can check current exchange rates at the local banks at:
http://indicadoreseconomicos.bccr.fi.cr/IndicadoresEconomicos/Cuadros/frmConsultaTCVentanilla.aspx[quote=”DavidCMurray”]All right, waggoner, I gotta know . . . What U.S. bank do you use?[/quote]
That had to come up didn’t it.
Formerly, Union Bank of California just rebranded as [b]Union Bank[/b].My comment is not a recommendation for the bank. Simply a statement on how I see our account being handled.
We have been customers of the bank for about ten years and I do know that I have seen the charges in the past but I noticed that they suddenly stopped the charges about a year ago.
[quote=”davek”]Should I rely on using my debit card or should I use American dollars or exchange American for Colones.[/quote]
While I have lived in Costa Rica for more than two years I still do my banking in the U.S..
I use my debit card at any ATM to withdraw in colones and get a better exchange rate than the local banks.:o
I have not figured out why but I don’t incur ATM charges unless they are included in the exchange rate which would not make sense.:?
I’m afraid to ask the bank why no ATM charges for fear that they may discover that they have made an error.:D[quote=”noel2560″]
wow your not too bitter eh man hater, men cheat cause they are married to a bitch that quits having sex because they need romance….blah blah blah men need pussy![/quote]Now there’s a statement that sounds like the pot calling the kettle black. 😆
What do you tell you women? “If you’ll just lay down and shut up I’ll be done in a minute.”:twisted:[quote=”DonDiego”]I promise you I will be childlike, immature, unfaithful to my government, girlfriend, and church, but true to myself while I party my ass off, read, write, swim, bicycle, and motor around this huge island full of authentic people[/quote]AUthentically shallow!
This has devolved into a guy against the girls’ discussion but let me express a different opinion from the male side of the equation.
If you gals have been single long enough and spent some time in the bars and night clubs you have seen a few like Diego before in other guises and with different names in the States and possibly in Costa Rica. You remember, the guys at the bar, conspicuously grabbing their crotches every thirty seconds or so and bragging about their masculine accomplishments and how many women they have had?
At age 28 and after the required seven years and I found myself divorced with children involved in the split. I was at loose ends but a married friend of mine introduced me to the local bar where we would grab a corner table three or four nights a week and have a beer then he was off to his wife and family while I would remain alone at the bar for a couple more beers before I would call it a night.
I have always been a people watcher and sitting at the corner table allowed me a view of the goings on in the place. At first a couple of girls who knew my friend would join us on occasion to pass the time in conversation. Each night when my friend would go home the girls, being single, remained a while longer. While I watched the machos at the bar work the girls at the bar the conversation continued with my new found companions. One of the girls was employed and the other was a college student and a while later they would leave for home and I would stay for another beer or two before calling it a night.
After a few nights of this I found that the girls were also watchers and the conversation began to turn to the antics of the machos at the bar.
At first a girl friend or two of theirs would join us for a while and leave to join other friends or to dance. After about a week I noticed that all of the girls were spending more and more time at my table. The table in the corner sat four comfortably but within a month it was common for there to be seven girls seated and others standing around the table. No matter what topic began our conversations it always turned to the antics of the machos at the bar for a time. The girls knew nearly every customer in the bar and would accurately predict the moves of the machos and the reactions of the girls around them to a good deal of laughter and banter.
Some of the girls that hung around the machos would occasionally join us at the table in the corner but were always the first to drift back to the machos at the bar. What I found was that the machos attracted the girls who were new to the bar or girls who were shallower minded.
Over the course of several months and continuing until I moved on I had the opportunity to either take each of the girls home or visit them at their homes. Many times I was invited in to continue an ongoing conversation with a final nightcap. I will not deny that there were occasions for sex, there were, but the opportunity to enjoy the company and conversation of an intelligent woman is something to be recommended.
So, Diego, watch the quiet guy at the corner table. He may be far luckier than you are. After ten single years I married one of those young ladies 30 years ago and still enjoy the benefit of [b]intelligent[/b] conversation as well as the sex.
[quote=”lavemder”]Do you think that it is safer to live in a gated community?
Do you need security system or iron bars on windows, doors
if you live in a gated community?[/quote]We live on a one acre property without a gate and no bars on the windows or doors.
We were robbed of some small items the first month we were here. My wife likes to care for animals and dogs started showing up that needed a home and vet care. They number four now from 30 to 85 pounds.
Would you like to visit and find out what real security is?
[quote=”MDesabrais”]The things attracting us to CR are the low profile government, low taxes, great climate, healthy unprocessed food, friendly natives (we can learn from their stress free lifestyle), great scenery and seemingly affordable housing for such a paradise. Oh did I mention low cost and quality healthcare?Mike[/quote]
There is one thing you need to bring along above anything else…PATIENCE. Everything here is done in “Tico Time”. The average Tico, although friendly and helpful, has no concept of customer service. Everything takes time.
I am (was) a [b]type A Leo[/b] but I have learned the concept of patience here.
We spoke no Spanish when we arrived permanently in December 2007. Another thing is trying to find anything here. Directions are given by landmark and the landmark may have disappeared 50 years ago but every Tico knows where it was. There are very few street signs to guide you.
We have a Tico family living with us and they have provided our education in getting around in Costa Rica.[quote=”Jeanne”]What is holding me back is the fact that I do not speak the language. and because I think all those who come to the States should speak the local language, I will not be moving to Costa Rica full time but enjoying the country as a warm weather get-away from cold, damp, Maryland winters.[/quote]
Ah, but the sense of adventure.
My wife and I came for a ten day visit in 2006 to see what Costa Rica was like and what was possible. By the time we left we had contracted for our home near Ciudad Colon.
We spoke no Spanish that would be helpful but the beauty of the country and the friendliness and helpfulness of the people took me back to my youth in a rural setting where everyone helped everyone.
Fear is why others do not move to Costa Rica. Fear of change, fear of being unable to communicate, fear of anything and everything.
My wife talked me into this and I find that I am enjoying Costa Rica thoroughly. The longer you wait the more of your life passes you by without the wonder that is COSTA RICA[quote=”msflsunshine”]I am planning to come to Costa Rica for an extended time and hopefully apply for residency (currently have US drivers license) but not planning to drive or own a car. However, I might on occasion want to rent one while there. Will I need a CR drivers license or will I be able to use my US one to rent?[/quote]
If you plan on staying more than 90 days it is advisable to apply for the CR license.
All it requires is a medical form at a cost of about $12.00 and the license fee of $10.00.
It took less than an hour at COSEVI to obtain my license.
