Author Archive for expatcostarica
Pursuit of Corrupt Transit Cop Causes University Riot
The police do not usually chase other police, however that’s exactly what happened Monday afternoon as officers of the Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) and Fuerza Publica attempted to arrest a transit officer on charges of corruption.
Kolbi 3G Cellular Internet Service No Substitute for ADSL
The new mobile Internet service is called “Kolbi Banda Ancha”, and while no substitute for Acelera ADSL service it’s worth looking into if you need Internet on the go. It could also eventually represent the future of broadband Internet service in Costa Rica. The system uses the 3G cellular telephone network, but you do not [...]
Should the Mayor of San Jose be Allowed to Live in Escazu?
One could argue that the plush suburb isn’t that far from San Jose, but in many respects Escazu is worlds apart from the national capital. At issue are proceedings before the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE) that would strip the mayor, Johnny Araya of office because he resides outside the voting district he was elected to [...]
President Says Costa Rica Must Evolve and Accept Homosexuality
Unfortunately for the gay rights advocates Oscar Arias waited until the last weeks of his administration to come out so strongly on this point. So in his final days as a lame duck don Oscar is asking sovereign nations to disband their military, and his own officially catholic state to adopt legal measures in favor [...]
Pandemic Sweeps Costa Rican Congress
More than twenty legislative representatives were unable to report to work on Monday morning as the result of a mysterious pandemic that left one third of the legislative body unable to represent the nation.
Landlord Tears Out Heart of Tierra Dominicana
This week the corner at the heart of the infamous “Tierra Dominicana” or Dominican Zone in San Jose was leveled by the landlord. A backhoe made short work of a building that has since at least 1963 been a social center for a community of Dominicans in Costa Rica.
English Language Media Blindsided by New Residency Law
The new law took effect on March 1st, and it’s clear that the English language news sources have failed to educate us. Apparently the only way you could begin to understand the scope of changes would have been to read all 268 articles of Spanish legal text published in La Gaceta for yourself. Perhaps the [...]
American Living in Costa Rica Discovers Public Health Care
I am a United States citizen and would have never thought it was possible to walk into a hospital emergency room and receive treatment at no cost had I not come to live in Costa Rica. The first time I went to a “Caja” or publicly funded social security Hospital in Costa Rica was after [...]
Semana Santa Holiday Activities in San Jose
This week is Semana Santa or Holy Week, which in Costa Rican culture is perhaps just about as big as Christmas. The end of the week will be marked by traditional celebrations shared among the worldwide Catholic culture, and while some big ones will be held in San Jose just about every town in the [...]
Semana Santa Alcohol Prohibition
If you have survived the Costa Rican holiday of Semana Santa before you know that the sale of alcohol will prohibited on Thursday and Friday in order that the “predominately Catholic population can enjoy the holiday in peace”.
