... in response to Re: Re: Re: Hi from Costa Rica, posted by pablo on Apr 29, 2003Hi,
Well that is opening a can of worms on that subject.
Basically is sucks down here. It is great for anybody who has been complaining about the US. They can come down, have their adventure, then go back to the US and appreciate the US again.
My wife wanted to live in Latin America but I couldn't really operate my business in Colombia so we sort of compromised and took off for Costa Rica. Now she really appreciates the US, and I wouldn't have to twist her arm much to move back there. Colombia is a much better country then Costa Rica overall. The education level is higher, the services better, the food better, roads etc, etc, etc. On all points except the political situation, Colombia is better. But it is funny, the Costa Rican (Ticos) think they are God's gift to Latin America. It is all marketing in a nutshell. Costa Rica boasts about it's high literacy rate, great record on saving the environment, large middle class and economical tourist services. It is mostly all bullsheeet. They are cutting down the rainforest in huge hunks because of the country's poor police and ineffective methods of protecting the park lands. The kids go to school only half day because of their bankrupt school system. Most of the people are really poor and many still don't have clean water to drink, and the tourist services and hotels are for the most part as expensive as Hawaii. (Unless of course you want to sleep in a dirty cabina with cockroaches and centapedes) We already take out 100s of tourists a month on our boat, and I would say over 90% will not return to Costa Rica. (And I ask them)
So what happened? They have some really good marketing people down here who sell the dream Costa Rica to the rest of the world. It's all about snapshots... You can take a small snapshot of almost anything and make it look great. But the rest of the place is a dump, most of the people are culturally dishonest, lie, and steal. Honesty and values are not really appreciated. Many people come on down to Costa Rica and think the people are sooo friendly. Well most visitors don't speak much spanish and equate a smile to sincere friendliness. My wife of course can understand latin Americans motives because she is from down here. We joke good naturedly with our customers sometimes when they are talking about how friendly the Ticos are. My wife asks them after the comment, well how much did that friendly person in the soda charge you for your lunch? The answer is always the same...10.00. The Ticos gouge the tourists every chance they get. They used to try to overcharge us at the grocery store when they saw my white butt. Now we buy directly from the trucks wholesale.
Overall though I like the Tico people. It is the gringos down here that cause most of the grief in this country. From what I have experienced and heard, the vast majority of gringos in Costa Rica have run away from something in the US. They are criminals, have run away from bad divorces and child support, or the IRS, and most have substance abuse problems. Not exactly the kind of people you want to go out and make friends with.
The Gov't claims that it is "investor friendly". What a crock of mierda that is. Starting a business down here is a major pain in the backside. If my wife wasn't business saavy and from down here, I would have already been chewed up, spit out, and be back sailing on SD harbor. It has been a fight every step of the way. The Gov't Beaurocricy is thick, ignorant, and slow moving. If you don't offer chorizos, you get nothing done.
But of course there are a couple of good points. We rent a beautiful house with pool on a cliff overlooking the ocean for 500.00 per month. Of course the whole town loses electicity, telephone, and water for sometimes days and weeks on end, but we take a bath in the pool, have candles flashlights and a cell phone. You haven't heard from me in so long because it took 2 1/2 months to get my internet connection right. The labor down here is lazy but also inexpensive. An electrician makes about 300.00 per month so boat crews are economical. The other business owners in the country are all suffering seriously from the regional affliction called "shrinking brain disease." So if you show up with your brain in tact, you will make money in the tourist trade. Our business in CR is 3 months old and already equals my business in San Diego of 18 years.
So if you don't mind living in a dirty, poor, corrupt little country filled with mostly Gringo losers and dishonest ticos, come on down.
This review is not designed for the purpose on peddling a book on "retiring in paradise" It is reality and is the general opinion down here. It is the way it really is. If business wasn't so darned good, we would already be gone.
Now to keep this post just a little on subject. There are some really pretty girls in this country. Not even close to Colombia, but there are nice girls. Of course you will have to support her entire extended family, but she may be worth it.
If any of you guys want to drop by with your Colombian wives or girlfriends, e-mail me and I can help you find an inexpensive nice place to stay. Of course the Ticos hate Colombians so they will treat your wife or girlfriend like a prostitute or criminal when you are trying to get her a simple tourist visa, but if you still want to come down, we will welcome you aboard our boat for a great afternoon.
Wayne
