Besides easy access to stunning beaches, a wonderful climate and the Pura Vida lifestyle, another great reason to live in Costa Rica is your proximity to Today’s Miracle, which today revolves around the avocation of birding, and colibri in particular.

Around 700 species of birds have been identified in Costa Rica, which puts the country right up there next to heaven for birders. And you don’t have to go to Corcovado National Park (although it is only less than 3 hours from centrally located Grecia) to enjoy a large variety of birds in your own backyard. Just a few of the Central Valley species that have been spotted in Grecia include the blue-crowned mot mot; yiguirro (the national bird, a rather drab colored robin with a call that sounds incredibly like,…. ‘yiguirro’);  oropendula (a large black bird with bright gold tail feathers, this bird makes a distinctive call while it does a sommersault on the branch it is sitting on – really!); and colibri, lots of colibri, which is the official name for a species of hummingbird native to Costa Rica, and the subject of Today’s Miracle.

In fact, there are over 50 species of hummingbirds in Costa Rica alone. Hummers are the smallest species of bird in the world and much is still not known about them. Biomechanic specialists study their flight for aerodynamic perspectives: the Giant Hummingbird’s wings beat at 8 to 10 beats per second, the wings of medium-sized hummingbirds beat about 20 to 25 beats per second and the smallest can reach 100 beats per second during courtship displays. Hummingbirds are also the only birds that can fly backwards.

They feed on nectar from flowers, which is easy to do with their specialized long beak that developed just for this purpose, but they also eat insects and spiders for protein. Although we usually see hummers zooming thru the landscape like Tie-fighters from StarWars, they do not spend all day flying, as the energy necessary would be prohibitive. The majority of their activity consists simply of sitting or perching. Hummingbirds feed in many small meals, consuming many small invertebrates and up to twelve times their own body weight in nectar each day. They spend an average of 10–15% of their time feeding and 75–80% sitting and digesting.

Recently, a colibri decided to make her nest outside on my deck in a gardenia bush. The bush is in a big planter, just under the patio eaves.

I discovered the nest in the last week of September. Mama had already made the nest, there was one egg laid and then a second one showed up a day later. The nest is tiny, shaped like a little cup and measures around 5cm (2”) tall and as wide. Sitting in a gardenia bush, you could easily mistake it for an old, spent flower.

Mama Colibri sat on the nest for about 3 weeks (hummingbird egg incubation is 14-23 days, depending), and then one day I discovered that the eggs had hatched and she was now feeding two little babies. At one to two days old they look like little worms – it’s almost hard to tell that they’re even birds! I brought some friends over to show them off, something Mama didn’t like too much as witnessed by her continual dive-bombing of us (colibri are known for being territorial).

With abundant flowers always in bloom here in Grecia, even in winter, there is no need to put out additional hummingbird feeders. I see them feeding off flowers even in the rain!

Day by day as the babies grow, I can watch the action from my desk while I work, and think about the miracle of diversity, the 50+ species of hummers that thrive here, and the little mother that decided to share the timeless cycle of life with me.

The little babies are preciosos (precious) and I am going to miss them when they take flight!

Some of these photos were taken by a friend using a Nikon digital SLR camera on a tripod with a timer.  The rest I took myself.  Be sure to bring your camera so that you, too, can enjoy yet another reason to live in Grecia, Costa Rica, and ponder all the wonderful miracles that happen here every day!

This Is REALLY Where It’s at!!

I hope I have your attention! I know the blog has faltered, and there is no excuse except that we have had some success of recent that has kept my writing hand stilled. But once I saw this new listing of only 4 lots left and, more importantly, the concept behind the community, I stopped everything, took out the old feather, and dipped it in the ink bottle (hope that comment didn’t lose some of our youngsters!). I was out Naranjo way, which is a quick 9 kilometers (about 7 miles) further up the road from Grecia, to look at lots in a gated community, which by my nature is not a turn on. But in this case, it was a REAL turn on because the concept they are reaching for is total self-subsistence to include medical, assisted living, power, water, AND FOOD!!

Grecia is and always has been a Mecca for an abundance of fresh vegetables at the local market, which is held weekly now on Friday and Saturday (previously only on Saturday), and this new concept of “growing your own” has really caught my eye. Up until last week, Cheryl had a very nice garden going with loads of strawberries, sweet potatoes, chiles, tomatoes, peppers, herbs of all kinds, and on and on. Unfortunately, we are starting all over because our gardener failed to dilute a pesticide, and it’s all gone now. Anyway, we have calciumed, peat mossed, and perlited the heck out of the soil and are ready to begin again, but THIS time we will do it inside and the gardener will not have a key!!

We plan to be the Grecia pioneers of the new system of Verti-Gro, which is illustrated in the pictures to show how you can produce 5 times as much in 1/6 the space and 1/3 the time. It gives you the capacity of growing tomatoes, grape tomatoes (my fav), string beans, strawberries, lettuce, cantaloupe, zucchini, and way more in a very small space and year round. Looking at the pictures, we can only have about one fourth the space for our garden, but still we are excited about the self-subsistence available in this system. And yes, they provide systems of different sizes based on your family size and land availability. And if you would like to buy one of the remaining four lots to build your dream house on, you get free veggies as part of the community. Call us at CostaRicaLandToday.com for more information.

Glenn Ekblom was our guide and knower of all things Verti-Gro and coincidentally has the dealership exclusive for Central and South America. And yes, he IS willing to help his customers get off the ground – pun intended!

The steps, as you can see in the pics, are to first start your seeds in plugs and then transfer them to the inside for the vertical growing and environmental control. They are growing lettuce in tables of red rock outside just as an experiment (yes, red rock only) and producing more than a hundred heads in a month’s time, so you can get the jest of production time, quality, and quantity.

A quick look at how the pots stack up on the poles illustrates how the volume of veggies is multiplied so many times as the veggies grow out of the four corners of each pot on each level. How cool is that?

The watering system is quite simple to operate through soaker hoses that have controls at one end of the greenhouse. It comes in two systems, the greenhouse and the watering/fertilizing system.

So when you purchase one of the lots in the community, you are set to go with all this already up and running. Or you can buy from any number of lots through CostaRicaLandToday.com and have your very own system installed in the local Grecia community.

Please call us at CostaRicaLandToday.com for any questions. Contact us if you would like a personal tour of this fantastic gardening system for your new or recently built home or if you would like to see your community get into a self-subsistence of vegetable growth!!

We Now Have “it” in Grecia, Costa Rica!

While I have said that I would not write anything more about “quickies” until that “right” time came, let the world know you read it here first! Ye bastions of finer cuisines may now bask in the glory of our very own McDonald’s Restaurant at the new mall, only 5 minutes from our house in El Cajon de Grecia. When we first explored the new mall, it had not been visible that we would have the Golden Arches, but alas, more and more stores are filling in the spaces, and one of them should give us more recognition on the world map of places where North Americans can survive without leaving the greater metroplex area of Grecia.

I shall no longer have to back away from the question that is always asked, “Do you have one of these at all or even close by?” I can now say that it is just five minutes from our house here in El Cajon. While there, we also noticed a Pizza Hut, a Taco Bell, and a KFC, so the temptations of being a junk food junkie are ever so close once again. Or should I say bastions of finer cuisines?

Please notice in the pictures that we are also going to have movie theaters at this mall very soon, which means we can catch a flick that’s only five minutes away from our house. How cool is that?  Remember the movies here are in English with Spanish subtitles so we see them just as you do.  Soon, El Cajon de Grecia will be said in the same breath as Dallas, Texas.

As always, our wish for you is Pura Vida!

Pet Care in Costa Rica

I am very happy to write this article on the quality of pet care available to you here in Grecia, El Cajon, and in fact all the surrounding areas as well. Since most of us here are “empty nesters”, almost all of us expats who live in Costa Rica are pet lovers of some sort – dogs, cats, birds, etc. And in most cases, we care about their health more than our own.

As in most cases, our own experience is the most telling, so I will start there. A year ago, on New Year’s Day, Truman – our eldest – began whimpering when walking and yelping painfully when trying to run or jump. Considering how much of a ball chaser he is, it was a painful situation for us as much as it was for him. We called César Seco by reference of our trusted friend Elaine, and in less than two hours he was here at the house examining Truman and in less than 5 minutes diagnosed him with Patellar Luxation, which is common to the breed of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. We began his treatment plan, and in less than two months Truman was walking, running, and chasing his ball again. He waits for help in getting up on couches, chairs, etc., but we feel like we have our dog back again. $24 later, our visit from our veterinarian on New Year’s Day was concluded. How often would that happen in the States and on New Year’s Day? My ventured guess is almost never.

Cheryl (my wife), being the self-admitted over-reactor, recently called César to check out a bump on Cooper’s back. Again he arrived at the house, did a thorough checkup, gave Cooper a shot, told Cheryl to rub some cortisone on the affected area, and four days later no bump.

If you feel your special pet might be a bit modest about allowing a male vet examine personal areas, you may request service from César’s beautiful wife, Alejandra, who is also a vet.

Again I say, fret not about the availability of good vet care here in Grecia, El Cajon, and the surrounding areas as we trust our most valued possessions to César’s care. I provide his business card here (click image to enlarge) to confidently refer him and for you to always know where to find his number. Nicer people you will not meet, and the home visit is just a huge bonus for you and your pet! Our pets always feel more comfortable in their home environment, and we don’t want to lug them around when they feel bad. And once you see him (or them), you will receive a follow-up phone call regarding the visit and an email from them every other month or so just checking in on you and your pet(s). Could you possibly ask for better service?

So there you go, and as always, our wish for you is Pura Vida!

Can You Buy Blue Jeans in Costa Rica?

We try to cover people, points of interest, cool things to do, and all the information that someone might want to find out if they were considering a move or even just a visit to Costa Rica. The most valuable information we can provide is that for which you, our readership, ask. Chances are someone else has the same question, so we want to encourage you to seek the information YOU want to know about Costa Rica. So please write to us at david@costaricalandtoday.com or drop a comment anywhere on the blog if you would like a certain topic covered or a specific question answered.

The “better” half of Don from Dallas (our soon-to-be neighbor) has questioned whether one could find blue jeans in Costa Rica, so we set out on our mission to find blue jeans in the new mall that just opened in Grecia and then in the MultiPlaza in Escazu. She, rather they, will be coming for a visit to Grecia in a couple of weeks, and Cheryl (my wife) has the assignment of showing Carol (the questioner) various places where she might take Don’s credit card to do “blue jean damage.”

We began our foray by seeking out recognizable brand names and were quite successful as you can see from the associated pictures. However, please know that Costa Rica is also a country where major brands seek to distribute seconds, overstocks, and outdates, so cheaper prices can be found throughout Grecia and, in fact, the entire country. We have a Raul Vega department store in Grecia that carries all major brands including the bargains I mentioned and now that we have the new mall, which is only 3-4 minutes from our house, we have most of the availability of all types of sports to very formal clothing and yes, blue jeans! We even have a Trek bicycle store in Grecia, which includes all the associated clothing, helmets, and specialty equipment for the ultra-enthusiasts.

Just a brag, but Victoria’s Secret has a manufacturing facility here in Costa Rica, so clothing for all occasions is available. I maintain hope for the sake of our male readership that they run into “out-of-stock” conditions frequently!

It’s almost not news anymore when we get a new fast food place in Grecia as we wrote an article on our new Burger King and Church’s (see previous post We Just Got Cityfied). But the new mall has added a Papa John’s pizza, KFC, and a few others that I cannot remember at this point, so I will leave the junk food posts alone until we see some golden arches.

A final note on the blue jean availability question: I have only worn blue jeans perhaps half a dozen times as shorts are the dress code of the day unless it gets a little chilly out at night. Most formal restaurants in Costa Rica accept shorts and a nice shirt, similar to dress codes in the nicer restaurants in Hawaii. The dress code police have not been allowed in the country to date, so “tranquilo” (relax)!

Until next post, Pura Vida!!

Life Is Good in Grecia!

Many investors are wondering these days whether the decline of real estate in the U.S. would affect property values in Costa Rica. With the global financial crisis hitting most real estate markets around the world, has Costa Rica real estate market been hit? Have the prices in Costa Rica fallen through the floor lately as they have in the States? The answer to both questions is a resounding “no”! Are there some huge bargains? YES!

Costa Rica real estate market is heating up! Costa Rica’s open investment and trade policies and political stability have encouraged real estate investors from all over the world to come here to invest (see Why Invest in Costa Rica Real Estate? for more details). Property values in the Central Valley have not tumbled as they have in the States. In fact, Costa Rica has continued to enjoy a steady increase in property values, which have doubled and in some cases tripled over the past decade. The Central Valley real estate, particularly, is thriving. While the investment opportunities in the States are narrowing by the second, Costa Rica land investment growth has been double digits. Property and land prices are skyrocketing in Costa Rica, and buyers are quickly catching on to this fact, trying to hold on tight to offers as prices soar even higher. Keeping in mind that foreigners are entitled to the same ownership rights as Costa Rican citizens, I’d say now is the right time to pick up a fine piece of property or purchase land to invest in Costa Rica real estate. You might also want to stop by and take a closer look at the beautiful, stress-free life you can have here in Grecia and the associated townships. Yes, we have a hospital, quality medical care, a brand new shopping mall, and state-of-the-art movie theaters (of course the movies are in English).

Costa Rica is still a bargain for land, housing and lifestyle. In terms of quality of life, cost of living, and year-round temperate climate, nothing comes close to Grecia. Life in Grecia is still far less expensive than life in the States, Canada, or Europe. Just remember that North American luxuries come at a considerable price, so try to stay close to the Costa Rican lifestyle and standards (see The Cost of Living in Costa Rica for more information). Remember also that goods imported from the U.S. are more expensive in Costa Rica, so for the most part, you’re better off using local brands.

A rule of thumb is that services and labor in Costa Rica are inexpensive, and hired help always proves to be a bargain. While the “style cut” for men is always $30+ and for women $50+ in the States, I can get a “style cut” in Grecia for only $6. While a maid in Dallas charges $60 for a 5-hour day, a maid in Grecia charges $11 for the same 5-hour day. Need a gardener? You can get one in Grecia for less than $2 an hour. In Dallas, a gardener charges $25 an hour.

Utilities and household expenses in Costa Rica – such as electricity, water, phone, and cable – cost only a fraction of the price you pay in the States. Would you like your water bill to be less than $10 in Grecia or more than $130 in Dallas? In Grecia, the year-round temperate climate also keeps electricity costs down as you don’t need to heat your home or use air conditioners. You also don’t need to cook with gas because most stoves are electric.

Cars and gasoline are the only exceptions. In Costa Rica, they are typically 20%-25% more expensive than they are in States. On the other hand, buses and taxicabs are very inexpensive, so you might want to try them for a change. Probably 20% of the people we know don’t even own a car. The public transportation system here is highly developed, with new buses with convenient early and late runtimes.

Now let’s talk about taxes! Costa Rica’s tax system is friendly to foreign residents, and it is way less complicated than that of the U.S., Canada, or European countries. Those who earn $800 or less working in Costa Rica are not required to pay income tax at all. Ticos and Foreigners earning over $800 in Costa Rica are required to pay income tax ranging from 10 to 15 percent of annual income. What’s really great about the Costa Rican tax system is that foreign residents living in Costa Rica are not taxed on income earned outside of the country. For homeowners, property taxes in Costa Rica also bear good news as they pale in comparison to those in the United States. Let me ask you this: would you like your property taxes to be $187 in Grecia or $7,800 in Dallas?

Want to see a doctor? $20 in Grecia gets you a one-hour visit, not just a 10-minute rush job. Medical care in Costa Rica is first-class and very inexpensive. The Costa Rican government is committed to offering Ticos and foreigners affordable access to one of the world’s best health care systems. Costa Rica is known for its first-rate medical services ranging from dental care and optical laser surgery to cosmetic surgery and life-extension treatments. Residents can get access to medical care through private insurance, subscription to the CCSS (Costa Rican Social Security), or a combination of both. Through INS (the National Insurance Institute), private medical insurance costs $50-$100 a month per person. Through the CAJA’s public service, insurance for a family (two adults and their under-18 dependants) costs $30-$70 a month.

Many Costa Rican doctors have been trained in North America or Europe, and almost every doctor in Costa Rica speaks English fluently, so you don’t have to worry about speaking Spanish. Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery and dental care in Costa Rica are at least 60% lower than those in the States, and all the materials used in surgical and dental procedures are FDA-approved and imported from the United States. On another note, if you want to see a vet, $24 in Grecia gets your vet to come to your house. In Dallas, you can’t see a vet for less than $60, and you certainly must drive to his place.

With a high standard (yet low cost) of living, world-class (yet inexpensive) medical care, a thriving real estate market, a foreigner-friendly government, an investment-friendly environment, social and political stability, and a tropical climate year round, Costa Rica offers a quality of life that is unparalleled. I have many times called it “Hawaii on a budget.” With the Baby Boomers seeking a place to retire with less money than they thought they would have, Costa Rica seems like the only logical choice (check Why Costa Rica? at CostaRicaLandToday.com for more reading). In Costa Rica, you will get more for your money as the U.S. dollar enjoys a much greater purchasing power here than it does back home (currently one U.S. dollar is worth 551 Costa Rican Colones). Remember that a couple can live in Costa Rica for about $1000 per month as long as they watch and budget. We know people here in Grecia that live comfortably and happily on that and sometimes less (Social Security) and enjoy a quality of life that is totally unattainable for the same amounts in the States. With that sum, they can also have cable TV, enjoy cultural activities, and occasionally dine out. Retirees can also live comfortably on their pensions.

As always, at CostaRicaLandToday, we can help you find your dream home, land for building, or just lots for your retirement investing or living in the Central Valley, specifically Grecia, San Isidro, San Miguel, San Ramon, San Luis, El Cajon, San Pedro, and Santa Rosa de Poas. Let us help you through this journey of living and investing in the polite culture of Costa Rica.

Remember that one of the main Costa Rican greetings for “hello” or a typical response to “how’s it going?” is “Pura Vida”, which loosely translates to “The good life.”

Our wish for you is Pura Vida!

We Lost a VERY Special Guy

Today we were awakened by a phone call from a friend who told us that we lost Charlie Owen last night due to an unexpected heart attack.

Since we have so many Charlies here in Grecia, he is known as the Charlie of “Charlie and Jeanetta” – his wife. This is a very special loss to me as Charlie and I had spent some time together even before we moved to Costa Rica. He had been stationed in Panama almost the same time my family lived there, so we got to talk about that and many other topics – including spirituality – as we were alone, and this is where I grew to love him as anyone who just knew him even for a short time would. He was the epitome of spirituality and he practiced the ways of the God of his understanding in all his days and told me frequently how he would cross the bridge on their property and spend countless time conversing with the “Man.”

Every single time I saw this man, I told him I wanted to grow up and be just like him. While I think he thought I was joking with him, I was NEVER joking. He was calm-spirited, always happy, and with this smile on his face that I shall always remember as it is very true that I still want to grow up and be just like him.

Jeanetta, his loving wife of almost 50 years, owns and runs the La Terrazza Bed and Breakfast, and while she is the proprietor of the B&B, Charlie was her man. Life here in Grecia will be different, but he is a memory of Grecia that none of us will ever forget.

I never want this posting to be called an “Obit” because I am the first to say that I celebrate the time I had with him, and I will always seek to have the peace, calm, and love of his fellow man that this guy had. Yes, he was my mentor in life, and I will always miss him. Look for his spirit though – it is the calming feeling, and you will know it when you feel it.

Rent, Buy, or Build?

I assume a question that is on the mind of those of you planning to come to Costa Rica and looking for a place to stay is whether it is best to rent a house in Costa Rica, buy an existing home and move into it, or buy a piece of land and build on it. Obviously, it all boils down to a personal preference.

For those of you who like to travel a lot (or those still undecided on whether to permanently live in Costa Rica and want to test waters first), rental apartments seem like a fine choice. Renting an apartment can buy you some time to see if Costa Rica is right for you. If you’re a frequent traveler, you might get weary of staying in five-star hotels. After all, you’re missing out on all the fun! You’re missing out on the true feeling and comfort of home and the casual, relaxed atmosphere that comes with being in Costa Rica. If you’re only visiting and staying in Costa Rica for a brief period of time, then rental apartments are probably for you.

Renting a house can be very cheap or very pricey depending on what you’re looking for, with rental costs ranging from as low as $200 per month for a small apartment to a whopping $3000+ per month for a larger, more luxurious house. In Costa Rica, a rental lease is legally valid for three years. However, some leases run from six months to a year, and some landlords rent month to month. Though an inconvenience, moving from one place to another can actually help you better explore Costa Rica in full to decide whether and where you want to stay and live. The Tico Times, Costa Rica’s leading English-language newspaper, can be a helpful resource in your search for the right house to rent.

When renting a house, remember to carefully examine its location, surroundings (to see if there are nearby supermarkets, shopping malls, restaurants, etc.), and the community around it (in case you want to spend a few evenings out). Check also if the apartment has all the basic amenities (most of them do). On the downside of renting, most landlords won’t agree to telephone services with international calling enabled, so you might need an international cell phone plan before you come to Costa Rica.

If you’re planning to retire to Costa Rica or live here permanently, then it’s a totally different story. Most of us, if not all, have been conditioned to own our homes, and indeed there is no better feeling than the security that comes with owning the property you’re living in. So if you’ve been to Costa Rica a few times or know that Costa Rica is right for you and want to call it home, then you should seriously consider owning a house, either through buying an existing home or buying a piece of land and building on it.

When Cheryl and I came to Costa Rica, we were looking for a quiet, quality lifestyle at an affordable price, hence our decision to move to Grecia (see Buy or Build in Costa Rica at CostaRicaLandToday.com to learn more about how we came to this decision). In short, the Central Valley, specifically Grecia, was perfect for us in every respect. In case you’re wondering, Cheryl and I decided to build our own custom-made home in Costa Rica. For us, it was definitely a better option than to buy an existing structure.

Most people would be more comfortable buying an existing home, but for Ticos (Costa Ricans), when a bigger (or newer) home is needed, it is built. It is NOT risky to build in Costa Rica, but you should be aware of real estate scams. Some guys might tell you that it costs $40 or $50 per square foot to build in Costa Rica. If you hear those numbers, run like the wind! Building prices are a LOT cheaper, and although I can’t give you a price per foot (as it all depends on your needs and requirements), my preference is to buy a piece of land in Costa Rica and build your house on it. But don’t take my word for it! What worked for me might not work for you. My advice is to visit Costa Rica and personally check and analyze the housing opportunities that avail themselves to you while you are here. It’s a personal decision, one that you should very carefully consider and think about from every angle.

Whether you decide to build your home from the ground up or buy an existing house, repair it, and move into it, we, at CostaRicaLandToday, can help. We can help you find your dream house, property, or land for building in the Central Valley, especially Grecia and the surrounding townships San Isidro, San Miguel, San Ramon, San Luis, El Cajon, San Pedro, and Santa Rosa de Poas.

If you want to build, you should keep in mind that the Costa Rican law requires any application for a construction permit to be presented by a licensed architect or engineer. At CostaRicaLandToday, we have talented architects and engineers who will plan your house based on your land and wishes and trustworthy builders who will provide you with a cost estimate for building the house based on your plans. Just contact us at CostaRicaLandToday.com, and we’ll jump in for help! Our wish for you is Pura Vida!

What’s for Dinner in Costa Rica?

If you’re traveling or plan to travel to Costa Rica for the first time, you’re probably curious about Costa Rican food. In today’s post, I will give you an idea about the Costa Rican food culture and the popular food and drinks you can enjoy in Costa Rica.

Most of the Costa Rican population is of Spanish or mixed heritage, a fact that influences the country’s food and cooking style. Simplicity is the key when it comes to Costa Rican food. Comida tipicas (native dishes) rely heavily on rice and beans, which are served countrywide in nearly every meal from breakfast to dinner.

Rice and black beans are the main ingredients in the national recipe Gallo Pinto, the traditional plate and the most popular breakfast meal in Costa Rica. It is rice and black beans fried in oil and mixed with onions and cilantro. Gallo Pinto served for lunch or dinner – alongside fried plantains, chunks of meat, and cabbage-and-tomato salad – is called Casado. It is the most typical meal that you can find in Costa Rica, and it’s a mix of a variety of foods that cover the majority of the food groups on one plate. Rice is also part of many other meals, including arroz con pollo (rice with chicken) and arroz con tuna (rice with tuna).

Beef is another food item on the menu and is prepared in much the same way as in the States. You will find beef and steaks inexpensive in Costa Rica. Other popular food items include pollo (chicken) and pescado (fish). Olla de Carne is another popular dish, which is a mix of meat and corn in a thick beef broth. You can find this dish in almost every “soda” in Costa Rica (equivalent to an American diner). If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try a traditional, though not the most delicious, dish in Costa Rica by ordering Mondongo (beef stomach soup). You will find shrimp and lobster almost everywhere, but since Costa Rica exports most of its seafood, they are very expensive.

For the health conscious, and those who shy away from large portions of meat and fried foods (the Costa Rican cuisine can be heavy on oil), you can still find fresh fruit and vegetables across the country. If you want to buy fresh food, you should go to the Saturday morning street markets (ferias de agricultor). Tropical fruits, including bananas, mangoes, papayas, pineapples, and melons, are all very popular in Costa Rica, and they are nothing like you’ve seen before. Costa Rica is famous for its banana exports, and plantains are a popular fruit in the Costa Rican cuisine and widely eaten as a snack. A plantain is in the banana family, but it is cooked and not eaten raw like the typical sweet banana. A fully ripened plantain is a cross between a sweet potato and a regular banana in texture. If you’re looking for raw food, you can try turtle eggs (Tortuga), a popular dish often served raw in a red Tabasco sauce.

Costa Rica is known for its coffee exports. However, going for a great cup of coffee in Costa Rica can be a little tricky. With the highest quality coffee usually reserved for exportation, cafes serve different qualities of coffee. My advice is to experiment. If the café you’re in serves weak and sugary coffee, go to another cafe a few blocks away and you will most likely find a stronger, tastier coffee. The finest drink you can have with Costa Rican food is called Horchata, a cinnamon-flavored cornmeal drink that is wildly popular throughout all of Central America.

This brings me to Costa Rican drinks! Costa Rica has no national drinks, but besides Horchata, other popular drinks include Chan, a slimy drink made of seeds; Linaza, a drink popularly used to cure indigestion; Fresco de Frutas, a fruit salad mixed with kola and water; Frescos, fruit smoothies made with water or milk; and Agua Dulce, water sweetened with sugar cane.

Eating in Costa Rica can be very healthy, and there is no reason to worry about any of the health problems that plague those who travel elsewhere in Central America. One thing to remember though is that some pesticides used in Costa Rica are forbidden elsewhere, so always wash fruit and vegetables in clear, running water. And remember to eat where the locals eat, as this usually means tasty and trustworthy food. Contrary to popular belief, flashy, expensive restaurants don’t always have the healthiest food.

One thing to notice about the Ticos is their healthy eating habits. Ticos do not eat in excess, and their meal proportions are much smaller than those we eat in the U.S. Ticos consider lunch as the main meal of the day, and they don’t eat heavy dinner.

For the most part, you will notice that your diet in Costa Rica relies heavily on traditional grains, light seasoning, and fresh vegetables and fruit. Costa Rican meals are delicious and reasonably priced, and the food definitely grows on you. You will also find many fine restaurants serving a wide range of international cuisines at reasonable prices.

Costa Rican food does the job! It is tasty and fills you up in an economical way. If you’re confused about any of this information or would simply like to know more about the Costa Rican food culture, just let us know at CostaRicaLandToday and we will fill you in with all the information you need to know. Till next post!

Pura Vida!

Summer Is upon Us!!

As the weather in the States gets colder and colder, here is this guy talking about the “summer”! Ahhh, but alas, it is true! Here in Grecia, or more broadly speaking in Costa Rica, the summer months are upon us. It is quite simple, but those of us from the States, Canada, or any “4-season country” can easily get confused as our summers coincide with your winters and vice versa. This is why we get the onslaught of tourists from now to about June, when the tropical rainstorms begin. At this time, mid-November, we begin to see about 5 days out of the week where we have no rain at all, and we begin to see the change in flowers as well. We see hibiscus, poinsettias (see Cheryl standing beside them), bougainvilleas, amaryllis, and the list is way too long to even begin, but our seasons are marked by the onset of new flora and the “turning off or on” of the rain.

Summer is obviously the tourist season, so those of you who are blessed to visit Costa Rica this season should be sure to notice the flowers, bushes, and trees. I still visit a “vivero” (nursery) at least once a week as they invariably have something new that I have never seen before, and I almost always buy one of something, or two, or three!

Most of the plants we have are from cuttings we get from friends, which are obviously free, but the purchases from the nurseries are almost that same price. No sense in listing the costs; again you must see for yourself when you visit. Plan at least a day to walk in and out of the nurseries and see the tropical plants that grow much larger than “Texas-sized.” And the growth cycle here is also unbelievable. We recently trimmed our rose bushes, which had reached 5-6 feet in one season. Obviously, they were a bit spindly, but they produced beautiful roses and will come back even stronger when the rains come again and we get a whole new set of flowers to enjoy.

So much for the flowers and the beautiful lush changes – this is really a place where you have to stop and smell the roses. What about the beautiful weather we have every single day? I mean absolutely gorgeous days and perfect temperatures here in Grecia. I know there are some out there in readership land that have heard of Maui, Hawaii, but for a comparison you must consider Grecia, Costa Rica. The temperatures, the lush tropical setting, and the polite culture of Grecia – they are all, in my mind, better than those of Maui. No, it’s not just because everything here is cheaper, but because the people of Grecia do not have the Hawaiian resentment. It’s too hard to describe Grecia and the “surroundabouts,” so I send each of you my most cordial invitation to visit our paradise and see for yourself.

Until next post! PURA VIDA!!