My presentation went very well at the International Living Conference in Jacó, er Herradura. Los Suenos lives up to its name… oh my, it is severely swanky! Except the coffee served in the conference was pathetic, which is a disgrace in Costa Rica. The "snacks" were equally pathetic. But if looks are everything, this place is the top.
The conference was designed for expat wannabes: people looking to retire outside their country of origin – mostly the U.S. – so real estate developers were well-represented. I must say, some of the developments were breathtaking. Prices were from $129K for a house on a spit of land near the ocean… on UP, shall we say.
Oddly, the central valley where I live was not at all represented… Only beach property. Who wants to live in that heat? Besides tica teri? And, ok, everyone else in the world?
Speaking of which, I’d like to be back at the beach at this moment. It is damn cold where I am, like in the 60’s. Two days ago, I was walking on the beach sweating my butt off (I wish). Today I have on a heavy wool sweater, long pants and thick socks. And my feet are still cold. Next year, we are having a fireplace!
Here’s my Power Point presentation, mostly pictures while I talked pretty much non-stop in the background. Which is why, afterwards, one of the attendees took hold of my arms and asked, "Are you for real?" He was laughing, so I guess that was sort of a compliment…
Hello,
I wonder if anyone would be kind enough to give their view on crime in San Jose. We are seriously considering moving to Costa Rica which has many of the things we are looking for. However we both want to make sure that our wives and families are safe walking around the shops during the day. All I see is posts about how someone has to be paid to watch your car in the car parks and how xriminals are breaking into homes. We would plan to live in Escazu where we have seen some homes we like and we are planning to visit in December this year.
Any comments would be grat
Hi John,
At this particular moment, I am not interested in participating in that discussion. I’m sick of the topic, but I certainly understand your desire to know.
For a discussion on crime in Costa Rica, I would recommend joining the Costa Rica Living Group discussion board (groups.yahoo.com/group/CostaRicaLiving/) and asking there. There are almost 4,000 members of that board and you will get a pretty good picture.
This isn’t really a discussion board… this has never really come up before, but we’ll see where it goes. I also recommend:
Read ticotimes.net, amcostarica.com everyday.
Click on the Crime category in my categories column on the left, read the posts and all the comments.
Visit http://www.therealcostarica.com. Visit other blogs (right hand column here) and, if they don’t have a crime category, ask those bloggers their perspective.
I feel safe in my fortress in Escazú. I am confident that all anyone wants is my stuff. I am willing to trade the break-in anxiety to not have to live in the U.S. and to be able to live affordably. I don’t think I am any safer in the U.S., the same day we had an attempted break-in, my friend in Key West was successfully robbed – cleaned out.
I so abhor the policies and escalating police state there that I will live almost anywhere else. If Ron Paul wins in ’08, I might change my tune…
If I thought my family was in danger, I would move from Costa Rica, so clearly I don’t think my family is in danger.
I feel perfectly safe walking around in downtown San José. I take the “developing nation – downtown Manhattan/Wash DC/Los Angeles precautions”: hold on to my purse, don’t wear expensive jewelry (actually, I don’t wear any), keep your wallet in your front pocket.
That’s my two cents. Good luck with your info gathering and your decision!
Just incredible photos you have there. Paints a good picture of life in Costa Rica.
Maybe you would like to join my surf photo team :)?
It was great having you here. You are the best houseguest I have EVER had. Please come again and stay longer next time. I didn’t have enough time to pick your brain! Thanks for the Carbonite.com tip for backing up my computer.
Can’t wait for your book to come out. TicaTeri
Loved staying with you – that was really fun! You are the best hostess, too – I didn’t feel like I was in the way and felt totally welcome. Thank you! Kinda like private couch-surfing…. working on the book now. Soon!!!!