Category Archives: Costa Rica
Fat maven
Articles about the benefits of coconut oil have been catching my attention lately. It appears to be a panacea; however, when claims made by advocates seem miraculous, I get suspicious. Coconut oil is a saturated fat. I’d always heard, and … Continue reading
¡Boy oh boyero!
What’s a boyero? I wondered, when I saw a notice for the Día National del Boyeros, a festival held in San Antonio de Escazu, in the Central Valley. A boyero, it turns out, is a man who drives an oxcart. … Continue reading
Zapote, one church steeple at a time
I can’t remember what we had to pick up the first time we drove the two hours to the postal customs office, in Zapote. What I do remember is trying to find the agency. We’d learned the address: across from … Continue reading
What’s that smell?
One day last week, I got a whiff of something noxious nearby. The smell was not unlike ones I’ve sniffed driving through Pennsylvania farming country— fertilizer, maybe. A bitter, acrid smell invaded my senses. I felt it in my nose, … Continue reading
Crossing the border
For the myriad expats who have to cross the border every ninety days, here are several ways to get to Nicaragua from San Jose. Those who can afford the price may fly, at a cost of over five hundred dollars. … Continue reading
Incursions into the bureaucracy
Like most other incursions into the bureaucracy here, acquiring a driver’s license in Costa Rica can be an adventure. My first encounter with the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes, (MOPT), was not horrible, if you don’t count getting lost … Continue reading
Feed them and they will come
The hummingbird feeder on the tiny veranda in front of our house was empty when Jack and I sat down to chat. A solitary Rufous-tailed Hummingbird perched on the clothesline nearby. It flew in, chirping loudly, and hovered near the … Continue reading
The Big Box
When we made the decision to retire in Costa Rica, I did my homework. I researched the requirements for residency, and had the application process well in hand before leaving the States. The requirements are onerous, seemingly designed to induce … Continue reading
Costa Rica: A Good Place to Have a Pet
We’re waiting for the biopsy results on Buddha’s tumor. “It looked like a fatty mass,” said Laura, our new vet in Puriscal, “but we won’t know for about two weeks.” The tumor, about the size of a tennis ball, was … Continue reading
