Costa Rica Blogger: Recent Comments

Comment on CAPTURED! Suspects in Multiple Panama Murders

james immke — 2010-07-30T18:10:39Z

Great Job Don, Whenever my friends in America want to know about Panama I refer them to the guide Thanks for making these parasites of life Done with murder...

Comment on How To Get a Costa Rica Driver’s License

Capt Steve Curtis — 2010-07-30T16:44:27Z

Hey Bill I just started reading your blog and it's great! Straight honest and to the point you don't beat around the bush just tell it like it is. And I agree, those that appreciate Costa Rica and love to live here shouldn't be criticized by locals. I think they get a bad rep because they do talk negatively of those who truly just want to contribute to their society.
Either way great info. Look forwards to reading more.

Comment on Cost Rica is a poor, filthy, non eco-sanctuary that’s full of run away crime

Bill Clanton — 2010-07-24T23:42:03Z

Susan,

As I like to point out, Costa Rica isn't Utopia; but I have yet to be informed where such a place really exists.

It is the overwhelmingly good people, environment, different way of life, etc., etc., etc ... that make Costa Rica unique. It is now my home as well the new home of many, many others who simply find this is what they're looking for.

Thank you for sharing your own "REAL, Honest, Unbiased" Costa Rica experiences.

-Bill

Comment on Costa Rica Police, Crime Fighting and Security are Not Often Considered Synonymous

Bill Clanton — 2010-07-24T23:31:35Z

Yes to everything ... with patience and costs.

See related blog posts Costa Rica Firearm Ownership and Discussion Forum and Buying or Importing a Car in Costa Rica - Do Your Homework!

Also, be sure to scroll through the other topics here at Costa Rica Blogger. You may find many of the answers you seek

-Bill

Comment on Cost Rica is a poor, filthy, non eco-sanctuary that’s full of run away crime

Susan — 2010-07-24T20:59:33Z

Our first trip to CR was a nightmare, but I can't blame Costa Rica for my family so we went back. That trip, I was stopped for a traffic infraction and yes lost the $40 from my wallet when the officer requested it (so believe me I've been there)

The second trip we were robbed and no we didn't bother to report it, a camcorder and my Rosetta Stone discs ( you'd think they know the language by now (jk) were taken. What was taken were things and things can be replaced.

We now own a condo and will do the same things to it that we have at home, better locks and safes for the most vunerable of belongings. We do that to deter theft here, we will do no less there. Eventually we plan to live there full time.

I wouldn't trade the parrots that perch on the roof and crane their necks to look in or the howler monkeys that start calling every morning at 4:30 for anything but they're only part of the puzzle

So why Costa Rica? Maybe its the guy who translated our order at the pizza place, or when I bought a file at the hardware store that nobody laughed when I tried to explain what I needed.. most likely it was our newest neighbor who came over to clear brush and refused to accept payment.... it's the people

Comment on Costa Rica Police, Crime Fighting and Security are Not Often Considered Synonymous

Louis — 2010-07-18T14:39:07Z

Can I bring or ship my shotgun and handgun ito CR if I plan to live there?
Also can I bring my car and motorcycle in?
Thanks

Comment on 7,000 U.S. Marines Landing on the Beaches of Costa Rica

Stephen — 2010-07-15T03:01:25Z

I may be re-thinking my move there .....

Comment on 7,000 U.S. Marines Landing on the Beaches of Costa Rica

Erin — 2010-07-15T02:59:39Z

yikes!!!

Comment on 7,000 U.S. Marines Landing on the Beaches of Costa Rica

Eddy Hardie — 2010-07-14T15:14:00Z

Recent diplomatic spat between China and Costa Rica

July 14, 2010

The barb-trading centered on efforts by a Chinese construction firm to obtain visas for Chinese laborers in Costa Rica. The episode prompted criticism from the Costa Rican ambassador to Beijing and caused the company, Chinafecc Central America S.A., to abandon a condominium project in the Central American country.

Exporting labor is a key element of China’s overseas push in places like Africa and Latin America, though there are signs it has started to encounter resistance, especially as countries work to shore up domestic employment amid the shaky global economy.

In Costa Rica, the election of a new government in February brought policy changes making it harder for Chinese laborers to obtain work visas. Disagreements over the visa issue precipitated claims of attempted bribery of Costa Rican embassy officials in Beijing as well as accusations by Costa Rican ambassador to Beijing of heavy-handedness by a Chinese commerce attaché, according to Costa Rica’s La Nación newspaper...

[content break]

...China’s influence in Latin America, like in much of the developing world, has grown in recent years, particularly as Beijing has cultivated closer ties with the region’s natural resource providers such as Venezuela.

Costa Rica was a longtime ally of Taiwan before switching ties to China in 2007, in a coup for Beijing. Latin America has long been a battleground in so-called “checkbook diplomacy” between China and Taiwan, and the China-Costa Rica relationship was beset by some controversy from early on. Documents released in 2008 revealed that Beijing secretly agreed to use $300 million of its foreign exchange reserves to buy Costa Rican government debt as part of the deal.

China quickly became a big economic influence in Costa Rica. The U.S. government reported China had invested $130 million in infrastructure projects alone in Costa Rica in 2008—a considerable sum to receive for a country that reported GDP that year of around $30 billion.

Part of Costa Rica’s decision to break its allegiance with Taiwan was a plan for China to fund and build a new 35,000-seat national stadium at a cost of roughly $80 million...

[content break]

...Chinafecc Central America is a subsidiary of the Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group, which is responsible for building the new national stadium. It has assured Costa Rica that the diplomatic tussle would not delay the stadium’s completion.

full story

Comment on 7,000 U.S. Marines Landing on the Beaches of Costa Rica

Deb Klipper — 2010-07-13T21:55:06Z

All good to know. Have previously been disturbed about US military presence here, figure it can't be good. Fact: Costa Rica has a drug trafficking problem. Also large increase in crime. Connect the dots. Fuerza Publica can't find a petty ladrone in our neighborhood who stole $3000 of my husbands quality power and yard tools, much less handle the quantity and professional methods of drug trafficking. So, someone needs to step in and help. I would love to wave a magic wand and all the drug users in the world would decide to stop using, buying and supporting thugs and terrorists. Where there is demand there will always be supply. A lot of demand from N. Americans so it makes sense N. America would step in to help. After processing all the info. out there, tossing out the sensational articles, I have to agree there is no other choice at this point in the drug business. Why can't everyone just drink wine?