www.CostaRicaTicas.com

you cannot leave cuz there's too many drugs in you system and you would be convicted of drug smuggling???

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I know nothing, nothing!

I think a big part of it is whether you're married, and what you have going (or don't have going) if you're single, in your community, city, and country. If you're married, that's one thing. And if single, if you have interaction with family, friends, and have employment and at least some love and sex, then the negatives of living in a third-world country, including the language issue, may be too much. Instead, regular trips may suffice, especially if you're retired or can manipulate your work schedule. But if family is distant in miles or you lack close ties, and your friends live on the other side of town (and their wives stopped liking you when you divorced their friend), or you've had it with colleagues and gringas defining your worth, then a move might be what the doctor ordered.

The hardships and irritations are real when you move. They simply don't have it together in the third-world in ways you're used to, nor do they have the same consumer products. Lines tend to be long, there is the gringo "rip" factor, and TV and movies are mostly in another language, not to mention everyday speech. Comfort is a tad more illusive in general, even in better neighborhoods, apartments and houses.

BUT....if you want to be around unspoiled, non-pro Latinas, or have easy access to superior p4p, there's simply no way to duplicate that here. I live in a community (S. Florida) that's 70% Latina, but it's not the same. Yes, it's better than Butte, Montana, but it's closer to Butte than it is to Rio.

Since I need to live in the States for some years yet, I decided to import. My brasilera, who I met a year ago, got her visa and is joining me this coming week. I'm very psyched. But I'll still make weekend trips and likely some longer stays since she has family there. She can take the bus from Rio, 7 hours into Minas Gerais to see family, while I get a room at the Arpoador. When I finally retire, I can see living 6 months here and 6 months there.

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"Don't never trust a woman, till she's dead and deep....One day she'll say she loves you, next day she'll throw you on the street."

"...and if men didn't have this unquenchable desire to have sex with women, then they wouldn't have anything to do with women at all. I certainly wouldn't..."

so is the ripoff the gringo really there all the time or are you guys overconcerned about it? i am asking with all the sincerity that i can.. not accusing not taking a side.. is it the little things like you pay $1 for an orange and your novia pays $.25?? are those the type of things that irrate after a while...????? just asking please do not take offense at my questions...i have timeshare weeks so my vacations i like to take 3-5 weeks when i go but like i said i'm easy to please like the weather, not a big consumer, and few beers, few girls, pretty well done for 3-5 days....i was in tamarindo for 3 wks liked it.. jaco a week that was cool stayed at vistalinda for 3-4 wks with the lads and that was fun...simple desires.. like a computer terminal or wifi.. then i just relax....but healthcare is a big concern......nothing major now but like to take of test and stuff..

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I know nothing, nothing!

That's one example yeah... It shows up everywhere everyday though. Mechanics, plumbers, electricians, all that sort of thing, unless you have tico friends to do the negotiations for you, they'll just double the price by default.

Hell, if you get into a car accident, INS will in a lot of cases assign fault to you regardless of who's fault it was, just because you're gringo and "can afford it". Police will respond slower to theft reports and things like that...

If you want to live here full time the best thing to do is hire a tica consultant/assistant/translator (and no, not one of your HDR novias) full time to help you handle shit without getting ripped off. Well worth the expense imo.

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heredia porn king

r there people that do that or do you just find a friend?

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I know nothing, nothing!

There are people who perform that service. Some advertise in the Tico Times others are found through word of mouth in the gringo community.

I personally think they are only useful when you are a complete newbie or you are contemplating a major purchase such as real estate (both purchasing & renting)or purchase of used car.

For major appliances you can shop at such places as Hypermas, where the price is fixed and prominently displayed, appliance stores just as Verdugo, Gollo, Hogar Feliz, etc. where you can negotiate your own deal by playing them off against one another.

Food purchased at the chain super markets are displayed on the shelf and are scanned by computer at checkout. The ferias such as Pavas, Hatillo, Escazu, etc. the vendors display the price so you pay the same as a Tico.

Other things such as car repair, home repairmen, computer technician, etc. are word of mouth recommendation.

Basically if you have lived here for any length of time you have learned how to avoid being 'gringoized".

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Everything ID said is right on. Actually, if you live here and do not speak the language you can expect to be 'taken' much more than if you speak spanish. I have seen many Gringos that also "just accept the price" offered. One of the biggest culprits in 'taking' gringos is the Ticos who are supposedly 'helping you to not be taken'. Have seen this many times, especially with helping to find a place to live (buying or renting)

Actually, probably the biggest culprit though is the Costa Rican government itself. All parks, museums, etc. have a Tico price and an extrano price. With the government doing it , why should we not expect the public to at least attempt to do the same?

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Not exactly. Residents get the same price as a Tico when they show there cedula. Really not much different when I lived in Florida and could get special resident pricing at Disney theme parks by showing my Florida DL at certain times of the year.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID,

sorry I did not say extranos that do not have a cedula, OK extranos that do not have residency have to pay the up charge! Is that better???????
I really think most other people knew what I was referring to.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Actually if you can think on your feet, you can sometimes still pay the local rate. I visited Poas in July and the chica at the booth asked if I lived here. Well I do rent a place so I said yeah... No cedula required, and in we went at Tico rates!

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

shite, i'm beginning to understand greengo, wait a minute, one more toke and i'll totally understand him....

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I know nothing, nothing!

Actually I think about 90% of the board lost you when you said extranos.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Gee, Mr Correctness, I am SOOOO sorry I did not say "All foreigners who do not have a Costa Rican cedula". Do not know what we would do without you to make sure we all word everything exactly correct. enough said!! Thinks for pointing out my careless mistake.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

i really would like you all to play nice.. i like your opinions and am not concerned about trivial mistakes (most knew what you meant) and getting something like this in front of people like me that are on the verge of moving on down is really helpful..before a few drinks and then memories fade and sometimes even speech fades.. so thanks for all the input and input more... please...

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I know nothing, nothing!

bump

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I know nothing, nothing!