In 2004 my family and I decided to make our first trip to Costa Rica as a “research” mission to see if the Central America country would be a good candidate to purchase a vacation and/or retirement home. I had met Gerardo Gonzalez-Porras back in the Florida (part owner of Pure Life Development), and being Tico he had told many stories about but would never embellish too much, wanting each … [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...]
Fast Food in Costa Rica – Junk Food & Poster Child for Ad Pollution
02/09/2011 by 3 Comments
I can not remember when the first US fast food joint opened up in Costa Rica, but when it did, I first thought, "Well, there goes a country." And since that time (I/m thinking around 1982 and a McDonalds) the tiny Central American country has been overrun with American’s fast food joints. Cruising San Jose, and driving the main drag in Jaco, and even in San Jose Airport , I swear nowadays, … [Read more...]
Cell Phone Service In Costa Rica – PrePaid SIM, Types of Phones
02/04/2011 by 53 Comments
A couple of years ago we wrote about cell phones in Costa Rica and since that time, things have changed. About 2-4 times a week we get questions on whether or not someone personal phone will work in Costa Rica. So this is all about common questions and answers on Costa Rica cells phones. I HAVE A BLAB BLAB PHONE, CAN I USE IT IN COSTA RICA? One of the first things you have to remember, … [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...]
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...]
Costa Rica’s Non Smoking Policies and Laws
11/13/2010 by 3 Comments
If you smoke, you may have problems in Costa Rica. Back in May, 2009 the government imposed a tax hike on cigarettes which pretty much outraged smokers when the price jumped about 30%, then it followed with a year later the countries first international say “No” To Smoking Day. A few days later thousands of school children in Cartago gathered to unite against smoking at “Fello” Meza Stadium – … [Read more...]
Tropical Storm Tomas Pounds Costa Rica – Roads Closed Bridges Out
11/06/2010 by Leave a Comment
Tropical Storm Tomas pounded Costa Rica with strong winds and heavy rains that triggered hundreds of landslides, power outages, and road closers all over Costa Rica. The storm hit the Quepos area very hard. The country’s National Emergency Commission said in an e-mailed statement, torrential rains have left Costa Rica in emergency status; mudslide in Escazu (suburb of San Jose) killed 20 people … [Read more...]
Costa Rica Jewish Community – Schools & Synagogues
10/18/2010 by 21 Comments
Costa Rica may well be Israel’s best friend among the states of the world, unswerving in its friendship since 1948 and the only state to maintain its embassy in Jerusalem. A green and eco-friendly land, approximately twice the size of Israel, Costa Rica lies some ten degrees above the equator, between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, rising from tropical beaches through rain forests to … [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...]
General Traveling Tips to Costa Rica
08/23/2010 by 4 Comments
We get emails all the time about traveling in Costa Rica, so we thought it might be a good ideal to point out some of our top 20 tips about a vacation and/or maybe retiring in Costa Rica. One thing you must understand is the culture and society; manners and respect play an important role and sometimes a simple misunderstanding can become a big deal. Costa Ricans by nature do not like … [Read more...]
Stalking in Costa Rica – Stop Violent Predators Against Women
Recently we received the above video that was on a website, Stalking in Costa Rica. The video was very disturbing in parts. The sender asked us for our help in spreading the word on this violent crime on women, and cyber awareness to this one particular grave situation in a hope to bring justice against this violent predator who was first talked about in Rip Off Report a few years … [Read more...]