www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I go back in forth for the past 20 years, here's my emphasis.

People; Costa Rican's are definitely more friendly and more willing to help you out if you need it. "Convo" friendly individuals. I guess you can include the people involved in crime as well, the bad part is that they could usually get away with it. 50%-50%.

Cost; Cheaper then the USA. A decent home in a nice neighborhood costs less than $200,000 right? I haven't checked real estate in a while. Food is getting pricey though. Also, you'd have to take the bus, taxi or on foot. For someone starting out, i don't recommend to drive.

Laws; Laws? what are laws in CR? :p, nah really they're aren't that bad. You could usually speed down the highways and don't get caught haha. Don't have sex with minors! They take that seriously. Just don't hurt anybody, don't steal, and have ID on you all the time and you're set.

Reg. Ticas and Working: The Ticas are great women. However, like any other place, there are ones that are just interested in your wealth. Working? People usually retire in CR. Don't work in CR IMO. The pay is dirty. My cousin spends 6 days a week, almost 11 hours a day and get pays $350 a month working for Intel company. What doctors and lawyers make is a joke. Not as much as in the states, dramatically.

Does the thrill LAST: I'm sure that after a while you get used to it like any other place. Mongering, the beaches, the beautiful sight-seeing, the best part of it is the relaxation. I don't think that would ever get old to me.

Costa Rica just lacks some of the quality "goods" that the USA has. Like theme parks, gooood food, a city well organized, safety, a more aggressive police (although that has downsides too).
My $0.02

People are generally very nice and helpful. but they are always looking for someone to steal from or to squeeze out a Gringo price over a Tico price. Just be aware and not too trusting.

Costs are less in some areas but if you want a nice new car, you will pay through the nose for all of it: price of car, insurance, operating expense, annual registration fees and maintenance. With respect to housing, my daughter and her husband paid a whole lot less in north Texas for a home than you can buy here for an equivalent house in an equivalent neighborhood. It all depends on what you are willing to give up.

Laws: Traffic laws are only suggestions. People are not bad drivers they are dangerous, wreckless and totally unaware of what we would consider common driver courtesy. The only things I have ever seen a so-called traffic cops do are pull over people for not having a seat-belt, a marchmo (tax sticker on window) or Reteve (vehicle inspection sticker on window).

Criminal laws are virtually non-existent as is police response. I had my the license plates taken off my car last December and went to the local police station, they told me to go to OIJ, I went to OIJ and they told me to go to the local police station.

Theft is not against the law and it rivals soccer for the #1 spot as the national sport. Fraud is also virtually legally as there is little to stop it.

Regular Ticas are lovely as long as everything goes their way. They are very possessive, jealous and can be brava. But that is women everywhere. One thing they will do that Gringa’s won’t they will stay with you if you are injured. They will nurse you and take care of you. Very loving and genuine caring.

Working here will earn you pennies. If you make $3 or $4 an hour, you are highly paid. I have known medical doctors to drive a cab to make ends meet. Some teachers at American schools do fairly well. But unless you own a successful business you are probably not going to do very well financially.

You have to be realistic and really know what you want and WHY you want to live here. I personally like it a lot but my situation is different than most.

DiegoC wrote, "Laws: Traffic laws are only suggestions. People are not bad drivers they are dangerous, wreckless and totally unaware of what we would consider common driver courtesy. The only things I have ever seen a so-called traffic cops do are pull over people for not having a seat-belt, a marchmo (tax sticker on window) or Reteve (vehicle inspection sticker on window)."

You left out the crime of DWW, driving while white, where the very corrupt fuerza publica pull you over (for no reason whatsoever) get you to empty your pockets and choose an amount close to what you have shown them.

Why the corrupt government here does not make an example of some like Singapore did to stop corruption, boggles the mind?

does anyone else see the humour in us complaining about DWG??? i'm sorry but being white and the cops in us doing that to all the races in us.. i just find it very funny for the shoe to be on the other foot....

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I know nothing, nothing!

From reading these threads I see that DWW is a real issue. I haven’t experienced it because I rarely drive. Of course that being said, the next time I do drive certainly the traffic cops will pull me over.

I noted yesterday on the circunvalación between Zapote and the Pista to Escazu, the traffic cops were stopping lots of cars and not all pieces of junk. New cars with Tico looking drivers. Who knows? No one has ever accused any government of being logical or rational.

I do own a car and drive as do 6 of my neighbors. All of us are gringos and we have not been stopped for the supposed offense of DWW.

The most likely reason they were stopping cars on the circunvalacion is that they were violating the day restriction. Yesterday being Friday cars with a placa ending in 9 or 0 were not allowed on the circunvalacion.

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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

Good point. I never thought of that. They were really out in force.

now you understand how some people feel in the US, driving in their own country

"why did you pull me over officer?"..

"you fit the description.."

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Tudo bem!