All Entries in the "Expat Living" Category
Speculation About The Money
The exchange rate for buying Costa Rica currency dipped below 500 colones relative to the United States dollar over the weekend, and apart from a brief period last month is a level not seen since February of 2006. The situation is puzzling for many expatriates who live on a fixed income in dollars from Social [...]
Costa Rica is the Other American Dream
A recent article in the daily Al Dia reports that Costa Rica represents an alternative to the American Dream idealized by the United States in the twentieth century. The largest group of immigrants come from neighboring Nicaragua, followed by Colombia and over 14,000 United States citizens who are legal residents. The figure does not include [...]
Banco de Costa Rica to Accept Caja Payments
According to Al Dia the Banco de Costa Rica is now accepting payments to the national heath care and social security system for individual contributors. In the past the bank had only accepted payments from employers who are required to pay the 32% payroll tax, similar to FICA in the United States. Individuals enrolled independently [...]
Celebration of Costa Rica Independence
Today mark’s the 189th anniversary of Independence from Spain throughout Mexico and Central America. While Mexico fought a war for five years the the act of independence for Costa Rica was a peaceful event. Costa Rica did not have an opportunity to throw out a foreign power until solider of fortune William Walker brought an [...]
After the Rain Pot Holes and Land Slides
This year the rainy season has been particularly heavy and anyone driving should be careful to avoid pot holes and places where the road has been washed out. Fortunately there is a new GPS system available in Costa Rica that tracks the positions of these major road hazards and can plot a course around them. According to the video [...]
Artist Mocks Transit Police New Law in Debate
Music artist Banton produced a video complete with dancing police officers waving around cash in an apparent mockery of the typical traffic stop in Costa Rica. At the moment the legislature has taken up the reform of last year’s new transit law in an effort to appease voters who are upset about high traffic fines. [...]
ICE 3G Data Cards Now Available
The good news is that those waiting to connect a laptop to mobile Internet in Costa Rica can now order a new connection. According to ICE at least 10,000 new data cards are now available for Kolbi 3G Internet, which allows laptop or desktop computers to access the Internet via the cell phone network. The [...]
Expat Escaped Wild Bill Cortez in Jaco
Living in a foreign country has a tendency to draw expatriates together, especially in business relationships that have an element of friendship. Of course when an expat friend cuts and dyes his hair to match your appearance and gets increasingly involved in business affairs a person has to be careful. Keep in mind that many details can come [...]
Enforcement of New Immigration Law Difficult for Expats in Costa Rica
A new immigration law has taken effect and while all the provisions have yet to be enforced there are plenty of sad expat stories floating around Costa Rica. Among the nasty surprises are Perpetual Tourists who only get 30 day tourist visas in place of the customary 90 days visas. Deportation is also being ordered [...]
Expat Group to Put Cap on Crime
A group founded by expatriates in the southern Pacific zone of Costa Rica has become a political advocate for public security in Costa Rica. CAP, which stands for “Crime Awareness and Prevention” and describes itself as a non-profit group of community members is organizing a petition to present before President Laura Chinchilla and the legislative [...]
