Like the last time I ventured alone into the disturbing netherworld of Costa Rican bureaucracies, by the end of this adventure (trying to get Morgan his driver's permit) I got back home wanting to cry, then choke something, with just a smidge of incredulity thrown in. Not incredulous that seeking The Final Stamp is so frustrating. That's a given, I accept that. Incredulous that I got sucked so easily into the vortex, led by the invisible (to me) ring in my nose through all manner of hoops until I was sure . . . → Read More About The Power of Paper: el parte dos
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We renewed our driver's licenses last week. We both dreaded the event. Costa Rica is not known for its efficiency… In fact, remember 27 January – almost three weeks ago – when we were headed back to migración for a stamp? ONE stamp? Had everything we needed because we had already been to the correct office and gotten a list of what forms we needed? Praying for short lines? My post on that trip (not yet up because I'm suffering P.T.S.D.) is titled "I . . . → Read More About Too Easy The photos are finally online – see the previous post at the bottom for the slide show. By the way, if the slide show slows everything down, please let me know. I can always just post a link to it online. Thank you. Our drive to Mastatal so soon after the six days of Alma’s downpour was eye-opening. You hear about landslides but it’s like hearing about floods. You know they are devastating because you hear they are, you see pictures, news reports… but it wasn’t until Wilma flooded Key West, till it . . . → Read More About Rancho Photos and About That Mud Next time you are driving in Costa Rica and a little annoyed, picture driving in India: Thank you, Wolfie!
Last week, I was whining sharing about the roads here. I got some nerve! My Key West friend Marina just returned from India… she says: Darling, You ain’t seen nuthin’ til you do India. Bumper-to-bumper cars, buses, taxis, trucks, bicycles, motor scooters, motorcycles, tuk-tuks, elephants, cows, donkeys, horses, camels – and then, all the same with carts, small, medium and large, and even pedestrians – all weaving in and out of every available little opening, 4 vehicles abreast, no lines, no lights, no regulations, no enforcement. And that’s in . . . → Read More About Road Perspective Costa Rica’s roads are in deplorable condition. I may have mentioned this. During rainy season the potholes they fixed last rainy season open up again. My brother, a criminal defense lawyer in KY, likes to point out how getting people off is his job security, seeing as how most of them will kill again. Funny, haha. Well, that seems to be the attitude on fixing the roads around here. I saw a team the other day: a truck with asphalt, a guy following along behind pushing a wheelbarrow and several other . . . → Read More About No Wonder They Are Broke So Mom takes off to do a little exploring. She’s been dying to see Ciudad Colon [see-ooo-DAHD co-LONE... only she says see-YOU-dahd... makes me nuts]. She drives over there, looks around, loves it (she loves everything) and heads back. You have to drive through Santa Ana*on the way to Ciudad Colon, and back. On the way back, she’s not exactly sure she’s headed to Santa Ana. She pulls over to a bus stop and asks the old man sitting there, "Santa Ana?" and points vigorously with her finger in the assumed direction. The old man brightens up and says, . . . → Read More About Do You Know The Way To Santa Ana? Last month, Manrique wrote a comment on a post and I loved getting it. Write more, Manrique! So valuable to hear perceptions from his side of the fence: Hi Saratica! First please excuse my english if I don’t write it perfectly (I read it more than I write it). I am a Tico (34 years old, live in Heredia, work in Santa Ana, (1 hr drive each day for 20 km) and has recently been fascinated by all the expats blogs and travelogues. There is really an "underground" expat culture going on of which most . . . → Read More About Comments from a Tico Reader! 4 August 2007
 9 comments - (Comments are closed)  CAFTA or TLC, CR: Bureaucracy, CR: Cost of Living, Driving, Expat, Living-InYou’d think we’d have learned our lesson. You’d think we’d have put it together by now that freight trains in Costa Rica don’t sound like those cute train whistles or Thomas. Or even real freight trains. They sound unremarkably like 18 wheelers. EXACTLY like 18 wheelers. And such an unremarkable sound, you can’t find a .wav online… not like you can train horns! Monday morning, Day One, and we’ve departed for whitewater rafting at 7am. Been driving 30 minutes, now in San Pedro in front of the University. We missed a sign and . . . → Read More About Freight Train № 2 |
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