If you want to hear why Costa Rica is a great place to live, you can visit one of the seemingly infinite real estate sites and hear all about the positives of Costa Rica. Just a few quotes, to get us going:

Real estate is booming in Costa Rica, one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations.

“Paradise. The climate and nature are beautiful. It’s also cheaper living and the people are friendly.”

“I came down here partly because of the economic aspect. In the United States utility bills are unbelievable; in Florida air conditioning is necessary but expensive. Nature is nice and I prefer the weather because I’m a hot weather person. C.R. is centrally located so you can travel to other countries in the region.”

Buying property in Costa Rica is a sound financial venture: the country’s stable government, solid return on investment, comparatively low prices, and protective real estate laws make Costa Rica an ideal location for real estate investment.

Continue reading 'Are You and Costa Rica a Good Match?'»

Remember the first President Bush? I do, and I remember his campaign promise, shouted loudly, ‘NO NEW TAXES!’ which he broke, which certainly didn’t help him in the election he lost to Bill Clinton (with an assist from Ross Perot). I don’t know anybody who enjoys paying taxes. A few people regard them as a necessary evil, while others regard them as an unnecessary evil. But let’s not get into all that, okay? Instead, let’s talk about traffic fines, in particular the ‘driving with an expired license’ situation.

While doing my morning ritual of reading the local media, I came across something I found staggering. Of an estimated 1.8 million drivers in Costa Rica, 400,000 (22%) have expired licenses. The fine is about $160. If every expired license was ticketed and the fine enforced, it would net $64 million dollars in revenue! Almost $13 per person living in the country!

I am reminded of the situation back in dear old California, and to be found in plenty of other states as well, where traffic fines have risen astronomically, not so much to prevent violations as to bring in much needed revenue. All those cute little cameras at intersections… wonderful.

Continue reading 'When is a Traffic Fine a Tax?'»

The amiable town of La Fortuna de San Carlos, usually called just ‘La Fortuna,’ owes its existence to the ever restless Arenal volcano in more than one way. On the 29th day of July in 1968, the volcano erupted in a very big way. For three consecutive days it disgorged gas, rock and ash, leaving the towns of Tabacon, San Luis and Pueblo Nuevo buried. Once the volcano had finished wreaking havoc, 87 people were dead. It was then that the town of La Fortuna came into being, the new center of the Arenal area. On the days when skies are reasonably clear, the volcano looms above the town, as if guarding or perhaps menacing it. But the volcano is La Fortuna’s reason to be.

Continue reading 'La Fortuna and Tabacon Hot Springs'»