Gallo Pinto? That doesn't sound too inviting!
Posted on 09/15/2011 5:52:49 PM PDT by Former MSM Viewer
Costa Rica sounds awesome. Ecuador sounds exotic. Are they as good as they sound?
bump for some good info. i’ve always wanted to visit Costa Rica myself.
Of all the places I am familar with, Europe attracts me the most...France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria...beautiful country.
Ecuador has a lefty president and not many Americans.
Costa Rica is full of ecotourism types and probably would be fine.
However, why not come to the Philippines? Lots of Americans here, and although theft is common, most of the danger is in the south, not in Manila. And most folks speak some English...
I suggest Thailand... friendly to Americans, lots of Western Ex-Patriots... the Government has a long history of being an ally to the USA... Life is good ... and affordable...
Austin is hot and dry, big difference...
Costa Rica is beautiful, the fishing is GREAT, my brothers go down and spend several weeks every year in the green days (some rain) Oct/Nov. and the fishing days are long and the critters are colorful and interesting. Went with them twice, so far. They can fresh water or sea fish. And the flora is fabulous. The food is very spicy and flavorful, but not gut wrenchingly hot. There’s plenty of clean pure water, but of course you don’t drink it. American drinks are always available, as well as bottled American fruit drinks. And the coffee is great, demand grano de oro, otherwise you get the second class brand as they export the good stuff. THEIR house was reasonable, really open with nice guest house and not huge. It just depends on where you want to buy, they’re rural. There is a full staff that goes along with the property you buy.
And they don’t go in the high season Dec/May, because there’s no Superbowl coverage, and it gets crowded with foreigners. They can both speak Spanish, so communicate well with the natives, but the place gets FULL of people trying to converse in other languages which can get frustrating for guys that aren’t looking for the social life.
I loved it down there, but I’m American, all that beauty and jungle after awhile starts making me yearn for the wide open spaces, Duck & Loons Hamburgers, and my favorite Chinese buffet after awhile, and of course, sans the bug spray.
Ditto! I miss the US after a few minutes inside Mexico. The population of Calexico, Calif. is about as Latino as is Mexicali, BC, just across the border, but when you cross into Mexicali, the difference is huge. When you step into Mexicali and walk the rutted sidewalks beside pothole-filled streets filled with old American jalopies and haggle with vendadores trying to sell you trinkets, you realize that you have just entered the Third World.
I spent a good deal of time in Mexico City as a student, and have traveled widely in Mexico and South America since then, most recently about 15 years ago. You will not find me south of the Rio Grande ever again. It is too far from the Center of Western Civ, Washington D.C. We have a Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, the safeguards of Natural Law, assumptions woven into the citizenry in our innermost beings about right and wrong, what civilization looks like, being proactive — things you never would imagine..
South of the border, the laws are terrible, the police corrupt, the streets filthy, plumbing doesn’t work. That’s why THEY come HERE.
I probably sound cynical and curmudgeonly, but I am a strong Christian and conservative; it’s just how I see it.
Huskrrr — I’m with you. Have traveled all over the world, and no country comes close to the USA.
Great review...thank you.
The only “screwy” real estate laws I’m aware of allow squatters to occupy unattended land. Other than that, everything is titled and property transfers are quite orderly. Their legal system is based on Napoleonic Law, not British Common Law, so using a qualified Abagado (attorney) is highly recommended.
There are no qualifications required to dabble in real estate, so many people are real estate agents and developers, more than a few of which are scammers. As is true in every country, caveat emptor, amigo!
I’ve found Mexico (outside of Mexico City) to be more Christian and conservative than the United States. Have you visited Mexico within the last five years?
Austin is very hot and dry....
Check out these pics showing the effect of the heat and drought .
http://www.flickr.com//photos/texasparkswildlife/sets/72157627429641925/show/
I have traveled to Ecuador - it is high altitude in the capital, and feels dangerous. People are generally socialist and/or sleazy in business. Lots of poverty. OK for a visit but I would not want to live there, certainly would not want to try to make a living there.
Costa Rica I have no experience.
If you are looking at expatriation, suggest you check Panama and BVI as places to incorporate your company/trust, no matter where you live. Personally I think Cayman is nice but I bet it gets claustrophobic after a while.
I’d move to Panama in a heartbeat under the right circumstances.
The fast food places serve gallo pinto. With every meal you get it, usually. But the variations of sauces from family to family, over chicken, is where the variety comes in.
The fruit was amazing though! Whole different taste.
Ecuador is under a Venezuela like dictatorship. It’s a great country, but as with any liberal leadership, crime has skyrocketed and the anti-religios propaganda has now affected most institutions. Somewhat like the American schools systems in the 60’s. Except it is the Catholic institutions that are being bullied into submission. Costa rica is an amazing country, you just need more money. The city that you would be living in makes a difference of night and day.
Gallo Pinto? That doesn't sound too inviting!
Yeah, I have a cabin on a cove, now dry, at Canyon Lake, and the family has a farm in the Hill Country...when I went down home in August, the deer are in such bad shape, it makes you cry. We’re feeding them, but they have no green grass fodder, and all the dry grass fodder is gone. Really sad, even the racoons and squirrels are skinny and hang out at the feeders. We’re lucky at the farm to have a permanent spring in the creek that’s never gone dry.
BTTT
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