www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Lonely planet has a Costa Rican Spanish Phrase book with a two-way dictionary. It is a pocket size paperback and can be found at books-a-million. It has many phrases and deals with all subjects from banking, travel and even sex. I found it to be quite helpful. The phrase is in English and Spanish so even if you can not enunciate the words, they can read in Spanish what you are trying to say. I have been asked by many chica's to get them a book so they can communicate to other gringo's. The cost $8.99 U.S. . You can carry on a decent conversation , even if you both do not speak the same language.

Try a mobile down load called Google Translate. Works best on wifi but will work ok on 3g networks.
I have used it for voice and text translation. On voice you can type what you want or speak it. Then enter
conversation mode and she can type or speak to it and it translates. Best of all its free. Look at link below.


http://www.google.com/mobile/translate/

_________________
May the force be with you my CRT Jedi.

There's also a new iPhone app (Costa Rica Idioms) that gets good marks for the local slang. Gotta update my iOS before it'll take on mine though.

/dddick

BTW - for non-internet access I've been happy with the MSDict Viewer (the old Comptons?) which is a very good dictionary, Ultralingua and iTranslate

This post was information for some of the longtime crt that rarely go into the newbie section. A lot of guys have no intention of learning Spanish. This phrasebook could help them out. It has helped me pick up Quote non p4p Chicas and helped me navigate my way traveling in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

He's right about the apps it's better and faster tonhave a quick tap on your phone cuz it's usually with you ,and phrases don't help if you can't remember them . But also pulling out a iPhone or delis in the de Rey is not wise either.

Brother DanDDick mentioned these: http://www.ultralingua.com/
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/itransla ... 13403?mt=8
Let's don't forget pure translation machines like these: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss? ... &x=17&y=15 << accompanied by some warm eyes--the Chicas don't care how you try to communicate--it just builds a little something that you do try, that it's not totally mechanical--unless of course it is.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Google app - "Translate" available on andriod phones and iphones, its free. Type in a line and its translates instantly and you can also playback the translation. You could have a conversation with anyone in spanish without knowing much.