Many foreigners who move here know little about Costa Rica’s history or national symbols. Below I have listed the country’s national symbols and the dates that they were officially proclaimed as part of the country’s heritage. The country’s blue, red and white flag became a symbol on September 29, 1849 […]
In 2018 the publication rated Costa Rica as the best place to retire. Just because the country is ranked third this year instead of first is really no big deal. But the fact that Panama is ranked ahead of us, is absolutely ridiculous. If Panama was better I would certainly […]
During the 1980s I visited San Ramón for the first time and was not impressed with the place. A lot has changed since then making the town a more desirable and user-friendly place for expat retirees. However, I still consider it to be the ‘backwater” of the Central Valley. In […]
In order to promote more tourism, the Costa Rican government finally created and will finance a nation lifeguard (guardavidas or salvavidas in Spanish) service. Until now the country’s lifeguards were supported by private donations and organizations. Costa Rica has many pristine beaches but some have large waves and a strong […]
In episode 7 of season 32 of the Simpsons the family embarks on an adventure to Costa Rica. They learn first hand the meaning of national moto , pura vida which means pure life — kind of a state of mind and living. Without a doubt this episode is excellent […]
This unique area is located approximately two hours from the center of San José. There are some incredible scenery along the way since the road passes by old homes, coffee fields, verdant pastures and spectacular mountains. La Zona de Los Santos is located at a perfect elevation for producing high-quality […]
Once in a while I like to give tips about healthy living in Costa Rica. Tamales are a very popular dish during Christmas festivities in Costa Rica. Ticos love to tamalear or eat tamales and Tamaleadas are gatherings where tamales are consumed. On the average, Costa Ricans put on about […]
As I have stated repeatedly in many of my past blogs and columns, “It is very important to stay active while living in Costa Rica.” In the Central Valley there are virtually hundreds of activities from which to choose for staying busy and happy. Some of the venues are even […]
Like many cities around the world, anyone can now rent a bicycle in San José. Soon rent-a-bikes will also be available in the cities of Alajuela, Cartago and Heredia. OMNI is the company behind this venture. It currently has 600 rent-a-bikes and plans to add 400 more in coming months. […]
I have touched on this subject on numerous occasions but once again feel it is import to dispel misconceptions about crime here. The first thing to keep in bear in mind is that NO society is crime free. The good thing is that, as far as violent crime goes, Costa […]