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Costa Rica: Lifestyle, Roads, and Storekeepers
By Jane Goodwin | May 24, 2007
Costa Rica is a lovely, diverse country, with a string of mountains and volcanoes running down the middle. Because the mountains are in the middle, those who live in Costa Rica experience life both at 12,000 feet and at sea level. In Costa Rica, there are at least a dozen different microclimates, and that’s a good thing, because Costa Rica also has a very diverse animal, insect, and bird population. Be sure you have plenty of bug repellent.
Expect to experience very wet and very dry seasons; from May to November there will be more rain than you’ve ever seen before, and very little the rest of the year. Live on the east side if you’re a rain lover; that part of Costa Rica gets up to 25 feet of rain a year!
All that rain has an effect on the roads, of course. Many roads in Costa Rica are really, really bad. Don’t even think about buying any vehicle that isn’t four-wheel-drive. On the bright side, the bus service is quite good. Bumpy, but good. Cheap, too; for just a few dollars, the drivers will take you almost anywhere within a thirty mile radius.
The cost of living in Costa Rica is low, too. A nice restaurant meal won’t cost nearly as much as it would in the States.
When it comes to shopping, though, “Caveat Emptor!”
Customer service in Costa Rica is often so poor as to be. . . . well, non-existent. I have read in many places that to an American, accustomed to excellent customer service, trying to deal with a business in Central America can be quite frustrating. It’s almost as though a business would rather have new customers daily than bother placating their old customers.
However. Rumor has it that the Office Depot in Uruca is the exception to that rule. The manager there, one Don Francisco Menjivar, has an excellent reputation for customer service. There are many instances on the internet where Don Menjivar is mentioned in a very positive light indeed.
Spoiled Americans, be also aware that few places in Costa Rica are air-conditioned. If you have a health problem and require air conditioning, your options for entertainment and shopping are more limited.
For those who are ready to embrace a new lifestyle with open arms, Costa Rica is inexpensive, diverse, colorful, and full of wonders.
Sphere ItTopics: Travel / Relocation, Culture, Lifestyle, Money and Taxes, Healthcare, Destinations |
June 30th, 2007 at 2:00 am
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