Alcoholism is a serious problem among some Costa Ricans and expats here. Unfortunately, as many ticos say, “We have a very deeply-rooted guaro (drinking) culture.” This really comes as little surprise since drinking establishments are found on what seems to be almost every street corner. The nation’s main beer company, […]
The Cost of Living in Costa Rica is 23 percent lower than in United States according to Numbeo A lot has been said about the cost of living in Costa Rica, and for the most part we can safely say that you can save money on services such as medical […]
About 10 years ago I wrote an article about allergies in Costa Rica and how to deal with them. When I moved here about 40 years ago I remember that I started to experience allergic reactions. I made an appoint to see a nose, ear and throat specialist called an […]
Lately, I have been writing articles about the good, bad, and ugly of popular retirement locations all around Costa Rica. I have lived here for almost 40 years and consider myself qualified to expound on this subject. The article below is an update of a previous blog about San Ramón. http://www.liveincostarica.com/blog/2015/02/future-retirees-should-know-about-san-ramons-strange-weather.html […]
I remember when I made my first trip to Grecia over 40 years ago. In those days it was really a slice of paradise. Since Grecia has become a haven for many retirees, I always make it a point to include a visit there during the Central Valley portion of […]
With authoritarianism and proto-fascism on the rise in so many corners of the world, it is heartening to see a country where citizens are still deeply committed to democratic principles. And now its people are in the midst of trying to redefine their politics for the twenty-first century. Over the […]
Over the years I have personally met with three of Costa Rica’s presidents to discuss different expatriate issues. Through the many contacts that I have established over the years I have had access to many of the country’s leaders. Since Costa Rica does not meddle in other country’s affairs, it […]
It’s not surprising that Costa Rica has received another feather in its cap. The country’s impeccable international reputation, natural wonders, unequaled weather, and friendly people have combined to put it a the top of retirement and relocation havens for foreigners. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the country known […]
When one thinks of minefields, the first thing that comes to mind are the world’s worn-torn zones where armed conflicts take place. Nobody would ever picture peaceful Costa Rica as having minefields since the country has not been at war since the late 1940s. In fact, on December 1, 1948, […]
Before I expound on the subject, it is impossible to compare the whole country of Costa Rica with the city of Medellín. It would definitely be an unfair comparison. A more realistic and objective way to do this is to compare Medellín with Costa Rica’s Central Valley in that they […]
