www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This kills me. If I ever saw a "vote for sale" situation, this is it!
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AFX News Unlimited, Forbes On-line.

SAN JOSE (XFN-ASIA) - Taiwan cut 70 mln usd in aid to Costa Rica in reaction to San Jose's switching diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China.

Taiwan's embassy informed Costa Rica on Thursday that it was ending cooperation programs in the wake of President Oscar Arias's decision the day earlier to establish relations with Beijing after four decades of siding with Taipei in the longstanding dispute between the two.

Taiwan had committed 35 mln usd to the construction of a 30 kilometer stretch of road in tourism-heavy northern Costa Rica.

It had also offered 15 mln usd to construct a building at the Calderon Guardia Hospital after it was burned down four years ago.

Taiwan was also supporting farm production programs and had offered a fleet of vehicles for Costa Rica's police as well.

Arias said Thursday that Taiwan's aid to his country was too little to justify maintaining relations with Taipei instead of Beijing, which continues to battle for global recognition as the true government of China.

'I have been critical of Taiwan in the sense that if they have diplomatic relations with fewer than 30 countries, they should be more generous,' Arias said.

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Just a squirrel tryin' to get a nut,
Carpe Diem!

Val

What an example el Presidente is setting the RFMs are bound to go up

I honestly think the handout thing is just natural and in the culture and not something to be ashamed of in CR. A European or American would be embarassed asking for handouts all the time but from the healthy street beggar outside of the DR on up all the way to the president the Ticos have no shame. But thats why their country has no roads (someone esle like Taiwan has to pay for that and then they dont even build it after receiveing the funding), has no money and has no self respect (the have muy pride and machoism but they do not have self respect), because they really do not like hard honest work(three words the Ticos dont know the meaning of). On the other hand you have to respect that its their "culture" and it would not be CR without their carefree attitude,AND they do have a hell of a lot more fun than us and get laid alot more so whos getting over on who.
Also if they were hard working responsible and industrious there would not be many hot ticas in the gulch trolling for gringo cash.
So not complaining , CR is fine just how it is.

Very true, which reminds of of a quote from Jo Stuart

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- must not waste chalk.

all very good comments. I don't blame Taiwan for pulling the funding. Taiwan is not a super rich country to begin with. I have been doing business in CR for 4 years, and I have come to the conclusion that Ticos ALWAYS want something for nothing. Whether it is at a Hotel, Taxi, car rental, parking lot, you name it, Ticos will try and screw you out of something. Then if you get upset, they think you are over reacting. I have not seen this behavior in any other Central or South American country. This is not a Latin thing, it is a Tico thing. I have often thought about posting a commentary about Costa Rica, but I have feared that it would create too much negative feedback by my fellow Gringos that think they know CR cause they have been to HDR 4 times. I have been to CR every month for the past 4 years (mongering and business) , and not until about 1 year ago did I understand the true CR. I probably would not have opened my comapny in CR if I had known. The company will be fine. My problem is the frustration I feel every visit at dealing with Ticos. Anyway, I am rambling--sorry

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Having done business in CR, Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Guatemala, Nicaragua, most of Europe, and the US, I would have to say that EVERYONE wants things for nothing. Everyone will try to screw you, and everyone wants a special deal.

Some are upfront about it, and some are not. Some say yes to your face while doing the opposite behind your back.

Most places try to screw the foreigner. It's part of human nature. In Europe it's screw the american, in the US, it's screw the Latin or European, in Egypt it's screw the westerner...

Ticos are by no stretch the worst, but they're not the best either. I've only been to HDR 4 times, but have been to CR many more than that. I have found ticos hard to deal with, and also don't blame Taiwan. Although I think Taiwan gets a raw deal anyway...

The "think that you're over-reacting" is a very strong trait in Ticos, but not unique...

just my $0.02

QBF....i'll beat you got your best deals in canada

If you're talking about mongering in North America, Phuck yeah.

Just look at Montreal and Toronto.

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- must not waste chalk.

If you must monger in NA, nothing touches Montreal...

2nd would probably be Quebec, then Toronto...

After that, buy a flight to LA, and monger for a weekend... it's cheaper.


Although I must say, I have found a few descent deals in NY and Miami, but they are FEW AND FAR BETWEEN...