A tip (also called a gratuity) has always been a special thanks to a server for good service. Such payments and their size are a matter of social custom and etiquette and usually are around 10% plus of the total bill. Tipping varies among cultures and by service industry. In Costa Rica, those that provide services in restaurants and bars or unskilled labor make less than $2/hr (more like $1/hr … [Read more...]
Apple – ICE – iPhones – Costa Rica’s Newest Monopoly?
05/22/2011 by 3 Comments
Beginning this week the new Apple, iPhone G4 will start selling in Costa Rica. Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) the state’s telephone, and Internet monopoly, officially became the NEW monopoly distributor and exclusive seller for Apple's new iPhone G4s. Retailers who have iPhones for sale in Costa Rica, unless it is an ICE authorized agent, are not authorized by Apple to sell … [Read more...]
Uranium Weapons Banned in Costa Rica – No Free Trade Zone
04/29/2011 by 2 Comments
This week Costa Rica got a lot of world-wide attention with three hot news stories. A Costa Rican court sentenced former president Miguel Angel Rodriguez to five years in prison Wednesday after finding him guilty of taking bribes from French telecoms giant Alcatel. Alcatel is no stranger to kickbacks, in Dec, 2010, US Securities and Exchange Commission nailed them with 137 million U.S. … [Read more...]
Demand for High Tech Phones and Service in Costa Rica – ICE
02/28/2011 by 1 Comment
Last week (Feb 21th) something unspeakable in this day of age happened, around 800,000 Costa Rican's cell phone users suddenly found themselves without service. And at the same time we received a landslide of emails wondering, if this could be the beginning of the end for Instituto Costaricense de Electricidad (ICE)? An interesting question. ICE has been under threat since the signing … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Fire Department – Lack of Funds
01/29/2011 by 2 Comments
When it comes to fires, search and rescue, protecting life and property and when disasters strikes there is no public and volunteer respectable service as a cities or nations Fire Departments. So when Costa Rica's Finance minister, Fernando Herrero Acosta proposed a new tax plan this week to allocates a percentage of tax money for Education, social programs, security and justice for a total of 68 … [Read more...]
Tobias Bolaños International Airport Security – Pavas, Costa Rica
01/06/2011 by 2 Comments
Most tourist think that Costa Rica has just two international airports, Juan Santamaria International Airport and Liberia's, Daniel Oduber Quiros International Airport - thats not so. Tobias Bolaños International Airport in Pavas, San Jose is getting known as a private hub for the rich and famous, main airport for various activities of the industry and for its domestic and international small … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Private Investigator – Hiring, Wages, Free Trade
12/14/2010 by 2 Comments
If you think being a Private Investigator is how Hollywood has glorified it, think again. Most PIs will tell you, nowadays it's more leg work and lonely surveillance. The days of the Sam Spades and Philip Marlows may be over in the US, but not necessary in Costa Rica. With the industry now growing at a rapid rate, and the need for corporations and legal firms to use private investigators, the … [Read more...]
Road Conditions in Costa Rica – Mudslides, Construction, Closed Bridges
11/11/2010 by Leave a Comment
When you vacation in Costa Rica, you will most likely rent a car when you arrive in San Jose. The highway system in the capital city of San Jose is comprised of modern multi-lane freeways that look very much like freeways in other large cities around the world. Road conditions in Costa Rica can change very quickly during heavy rains, etc especially in the rural countryside. During Tropical … [Read more...]
Poaching of Costa Rica Sea Turtle Eggs – Turtle Poll
10/05/2010 by 39 Comments
If you are over 50, have traveled a lot or lived in Mexico or Central America, particularly the coastal areas, you ate turtle. Sea Turtle is an awesome tasting seafood, whose bright-red, bloody meat would turn angel white just seconds after hitting a fry pan that was lightly seasoned in olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic. Turtle meat and eggs are a delicacy and a way of life in many countries, … [Read more...]
Traffic Cameras To Be Installed in San Jose
09/25/2010 by Leave a Comment
This week, I had to laugh when I learned that sometime before the end of this year the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) are expecting to put in cameras to control traffic and ticket offending drivers in various parts of San Jose. The areas targeted for this is Parque La Paz, the autopista General Cañas and the autopista Florencio del Castillo and other "unnamed" locations. Cesar Quirós, … [Read more...]
Limon’s Redevelopment – Stalemate Between Union and Government
09/12/2010 by 3 Comments
If you love historical redevelopment, it is so easy to see how Limon would be the perfect candidate, and at the same time become a world-class port bringing in billions to Costa Rica. Its shipyards with historical railroad equipment, the downtown look of Caribbean/New Orleans, with its Victorian homes flaunting long balconies and colorful façades add old-world charm . And not counting a gateway … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Sportfishing Vessel Attacked Off Garza – Tourists Threatened
08/07/2010 by 3 Comments
Helicopter drops explosive devices as Venezuela tuna seiner threatens tourists; tenth attack in past two years ... GARZA, Costa Rica and FT. LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA --- A U.S. based world fisheries conservation association is demanding disciplinary action after the attack by a commercial Venezuelan tuna purse seining vessel and its helicopter on a sportfishing boat off the coast of … [Read more...]
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