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Costa Rica Living - Top ten things we do NOT like about living in Costa Rica.
Scott Oliver

Yes! There are some 'frustrations' that one should become accustomed to when living in Costa Rica....

There are thousands of pages on this website talking about Costa Rica and even though you can find tips and traps about certain many aspects of life here, I don't want you to accuse me of never mentioning the negative side of Costa Rica living...

When I say 'you' - I am referring to people who are more accustomed to the way of life found in the developed world countries like the UK, USA and Canada...

A number of different friends and business associates gave me their pet 'peeves' about living in Costa Rica... Very often, something we consider to be a wonderful 'plus' about living here like the perfect climate for example, also brings with it some negatives...

What We Generally Don't Like About Costa Rica:

General Noise Level: Ticos have a much higher tolerance for noise than we do. We do have spring-like weather all year round and when you have your windows open for most of the day and night you will hear more noise from outside than you would normally do back home with all your windows shut tight to protect you from the cold or the heat.

Dogs Barking: Although many dogs are the much loved family pet, a big percentage of dogs are the home security system and as such, may be left on a short chain to bark away the day and night in conditions that some of us animal lovers do not like... This alone can be enough to force someone to move.

Firecrackers and Fireworks: It's much better than it used to be but on religious days and other holidays it can get quite noisy. On New Year's Eve the fireworks and firecrackers started at one nanosecond past midnight and went on for two hours. For a country that doesn't have an Army, they certainly seem to like the noises that an Army would make...

Music from houses, bars & restaurants: Since it never gets below 65 degrees at night in the Central valley area... If someone is partying hard with their music blaring and all their doors and windows are left open - You can hear their music from a LONG way away! And odds are they will NOT be playing your favorite music...

Car Horns: Car horns are a form of communication in Costa Rica and are used to convey a variety of complex messages that you and I will never understand. If in doubt - Honk!

Driving Habits: Many Ticos do not like to use their indicators when they are turning so one should be careful. A Tico driver will often hold a limp left hand out of the window and do a strange, lazy circular wave which does indeed mean that they are going to turn, you just don't know whether that means they will turn left or right!

Burning Garden Refuse & Garbage is common even in suburban areas. This may acceptable in the middle of nowhere but when you have guests with asthma and the next door neighbor's gardener starts burning, it can create quite a panicky situation.

Trucks: I am not sure exactly what happens when these enormous trucks are barreling downhill and they use the engine to brake, there is this thunderous and deafening noise that really, really deeply disturbs me.

Confrontation: The Costa Rica people are very polite and NON confrontational, but there are occasions when you would like them to be a bit more confrontational and forthright with their opinions.

Sex Tourists: It's truly amazing how ridiculous a fat 60 something tourist looks when he takes his 19 year old prostitute to the mall to buy her a 'gift.

?????
Peace
PIDD

I guess it's in the eyes of the beholder...I'm envious when I see this little bit of heaven!

What is truly amazing is just how beautiful and natural it looks when the fat tourist is 50 something!

Ciaociao

One of one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen is the sight of two frail looking 75 yr old+ gentlemen taking two chicas up the Del Rey elevator with smiles on their faces. The crowd was cheering them on. I can only hope that I can duplicate their inspirational performance if I reach that age

It's only ridiculous when the 19 year old prostitute is fat

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

I shudder to think what it will be like when gringos like Mr. Oliver start leading the charge to "improve" the quality of life in CR to the level of "developed countries" like the UK, USA & Canada.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

Mr. Oliver complains about noise, more than anything else. Dogs barking, firecrackers, music, car horns and trucks jake braking.

It seems he expanded on one reason (noise) so he could treat us to the zinger about "ridiculous" mongers at the end of his little tantrum. One has to wonder if Mr. Oliver, limp and useless penis in tow, is sitting at the HDR and passing judgement along with gas. Otherwise, how would he know what a sex tourist looks like? Yeah, yeah...he mentioned the mall. You guys buying that?

Mr. oliver dislikes noise, burning garbage and the tico's unwillingness to be confrontational

. Oh, and guys who are getting laid while he obviously is not.


I believe Mr. Oliver is probably an anti-prostitution activist in old fart's clothing.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

YO Young and Old:

Yeah right. When some of you young hombres see ugly old Circus going up the DR elevator with two 19 y.o. chicas....slap yourself and wake up or don't have another dirnk. If you still see what you think you saw then call security......it's a stick-up.

YO PIDD:
How about a 19 y.o. gringo going up the elevator with Lucy before she retired. I don't know about 19 but I've seen her with some dudes that had not been shaving very long. Talk about wanting to be a fly on the wall. Geezzzz

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

The first 9 "pet peeves" listed seem pretty factual (except perhaps that whole "ticos not being confrontational" thing) based on time I've spent in San Jose, while number 10 is simply an opinion/observation. I live in South Florida and I guarantee you that you see more 60+ year old men with beautiful women 21-30 out in public here than you ever would in any San Jose mall. Whether it looks "ridiculous" or not, trust me, most of the guys I know think "Damn, that's one lucky son of a bitch" to themselves when they see that.

Bottom line: There are people out there who think interracial couples look ridiculous, think that two gay guys holding hands looks ridiculous, think that midgets look ridiculous, think that morbidly obese people look ridiculous, and on and on. More power to anyone who isn't afraid to do something publicly just because some miserable douchebag might think that it looks "ridiculous."

Zombo wrote:

"Bottom line: There are people out there who think interracial couples look ridiculous, think that two gay guys holding hands looks ridiculous, think that midgets look ridiculous, think that morbidly obese people look ridiculous, and on and on. More power to anyone who isn't afraid to do something publicly just because some miserable douchebag might think that it looks "ridiculous."

YO Zombo:

DITTO to that.

It's whatever floats your boat. Old Circus has dome a number of bizarre things in CR as well as a number of countries. To be frank, it's the thrill of doing the unexpected, not politically correct, pulling their chains and literally exposing some of those tight spun alarmists to something they don't get to experience often. Of course as long as it's not damaging, unhealthy or includes minors or other species. Well, there was that romp with an alienness from another galaxy....but that's another story.

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

What looks ridiculous to me is Scott Oliver selling his high risk overpriced real estate to unsuspecting retired gringos who he talks into moving to CR with words of dreams and bullshit.

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

That's the only one I agree.

And what's the big phucking deal with older men going out with a younger tica of legal age ? In CR culture tons of older ticos have young wives and misstresses Scott should start thinking like a Tico and enjoy life.

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- must not waste chalk.

DITTO!!!!

Yo Scott,

What's the commision rate from the developers,restaurants and Tour operators you suggest under the guise of being a "Respectable" real estate man?

Damn: And we were planning on going to the mall today.
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

Zombo-
All I know is that I'm proud to walk down the street with my younger, black, fat, midget girlfriend