What Do the Real Costa Ricans do To Celebrate The New Year?

The Real Costa Ricans head to the beach to celebrate New Years.  They go by car, by bus, and even by horse.  They stay in the expensive hotels, modest hotels, family owned beach houses, and even in tents.   The beaches all over Costa Rica belong to the all people of Costa Rica.  So go to a popular beach on New Year's eve and you may see tents pitched under palm trees. With homemade barbecue grills set up and the smell of roasted pork is in the air.  And Costa Ricans love to drink their beer with pork.  The local beer is called Imperial.  For a reason it is given the name Imperial.  Yes, you guessed it, because the Costa Ricans say even the royal families of the world love Costa Rica's beer!  And it's gaiety and party time with the music of the Latin beat in the air and both young and old dancing salsa and meringue.

In the central valley of  San Jose and Alajuela for those who choose to stay home, it's  fireworks!   From a mountainside villa one can see the midnight sky light  up with hundreds of colorful fireworks.

Yes,  it's family time as people travel long distances to be with their relatives, often whom they see only once a year.  It's roasted pork, home made tamales,  and Costa Rica's Imperial Beer.

Yes, Costa Ricans make New Year's Resolutions.  Could it be that one of the resolutions is to be more aware of time and get to appointments and etc. on time.  Don't think so.

But hey, life in Costa Rica is "Pura Vida" so why rock the boat in a place that "life is good"

Blue Moon Over Costa Rica, A Very Happy New Year!

[caption id="attachment_3439" align="aligncenter" width="269" caption="Blue Moon over Costa Rica with partial Eclipse!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3440" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="New York City, New Year's Eve 2009, The BIG BALL"][/caption]

Costa Rica has something celestial to ring in the New Year.  It's the Blue Moon.  But is it really blue?  No it isn't.  The name it seems comes from folkloric tales from times past.  When two full moons occurred in the same calendar month, meaning something rare, special, or even absurd, but not impossible.     And this month of December 2009 had two full moons, the first on December 2nd and the second on December 31st.  A New Year's Blue Moon!

The rest of the world shares this Blue Moon celebration with Costa Rica.  And even better is a partial moon eclipse!   In Costa Rica it's  called a Lunar Eclipse. The moon has moved into the earth's shadow causing a portion of the moon the be darkened.

In Costa Rica we call these Blue Moon beams tropical moon beams, because it's light shines on beautiful tropical landscapes of flowers, colorful birds, and sandy white beaches surrounded by rain forest, volcanoes, and lush waterfalls.

Quite different from the city of New York where millions will view the Big  Ball when it falls at the strike of twelve midnight.  New Yorkers may see the ball but may not see the gorgeous blue moon due to cloudy skies.  What a shame if they miss the moon.  A Big Ball made of three hundred new Waterford crystals cannot take the place of experiencing  the celestial moon beams.

So Happy New Year to one and all.  To all Creatures Great and Small!   The  Blue Moon rings in the New Year with reminding us to accomplish the rare, the special,  or even  absurd, but not the impossible.

Tips on Living and Retiring in Costa Rica

[caption id="attachment_3429" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="One of many species of Costa Rican Orchids"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3430" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Friendly smile at Costa Rica's  Farmer's Market"][/caption]

Are you thinking of making a move to Costa Rica?  Perhaps to work or even to retire?

But are not sure if you can afford to do so?

I can offer you great tips to help you determine if this is the right move for you.

Cost of Living:  What is less expensive in Costa Rica than in USA or Canada?

No heating and cooling needed in your home.  (unless you live on the beach, then you may want air conditioning.)

Real Estate taxes on your home are less

Health Care is very good and cost much less.  Dental care and also medications are much less in Costa Rica

Fresh vegetables and fruits at the local week end farmers markets are really cheap.

Public transportation such as public buses are very good and very inexpensive

Home phones and cell phones and basic Internet service are cheaper in Costa Rica

Cable or satellite service about same as  US

9.  Domestic help is much less in Costa Rica- around $2 per hour.

What cost more in Costa Rica?

cars- the gov of Costa Rica slaps a tax on all imported cars which is a lot of money!
Expect to pay 50-75% more for the same car that you buy in the US.  Mechanics who repair your car are expensive and car parts which are all imported are expensive.
Gasoline is around $3.50 a gallon.

Apartments and houses (to north American standards)  expect to pay at least $700 and up per month for a 2 bedroom apartment in a safe secure neighborhood.

A week end at the beach?  In an nice 3 star hotel with good food expect to pay around $75-$100 per day per person.

It is what ever life style you choose that dictates how much money you spend every month.  If you want to live the lifestyle like you are now having in USA, then you will of course spend more money each month.  If you want to live a more simple life...slow down..smell the roses.  Well then you will spend less money.

If you are interested in learning more about  "The Real Costa Rica"  please order our video:    Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular from  page one of costaricalean.com   You will hear  the testimonials of three North American who work in Costa Rica and also those who retired  in Costa Rica.   Plus see this beautiful country up close!   So go to the top of page one where you can view a two minute trailer of the video.     And order you own copy today!

Please tell me one reason why you would choose Costa Rica to retire?   1.  The weather is gorgeous and the Costa Rican people are warm, helpful, and friendly

Do I need to Speak Spanish?  No..BUT  it opens up the true Costa Rican culture to you and if you can talk to the locals...well  you can participate in the community gossip line (ha!)

So if you want to know a lot more about the Real Costa Rica, then take a moment and order our video!

The Leatherback Sea Turtles of Costa Rica, Largest Sea Turtle on Earth!

 

[caption id="attachment_3404" align="aligncenter" width="218" caption="Map Las Baulas National Marine Park, Guanacaste,  Costa Rica"][/caption]

SPEAK FOR THESE CREATURES WHICH CAN NOT SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

The leatherback sea turtle is the world’s largest sea turtle and is in danger of becoming extinct. In Costa Rica, it nests on the beaches of Tortuguero National Park during  the months of March through May.  One can go with a park ranger at night to see these turtles nesting but you may not take photos  because the light disturbs the turtles.    These turtles have survived for over one hundred million years but now are considered endangered and are under protection because their numbers are decreasing around the world.  The Leatherback sea turtle can be found in every ocean in the world except the Arctic Ocean and and Antarctic  Ocean.

If you are vacationing in Costa Rica during the months of February through May you have a great chance to see Leatherback sea turtle  nesting in the southern Caribbean coastlines of Costa Rica.  Especially in a protected area called Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Reserve on the very southern tip of Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coastline.

Also the Leatherback sea turtle  nests on the Northwestern Pacific beaches of Costa Rica in large number in Las Baulas National Park during the months of November through April.
This area is especially popular with tourists because  it is near by the popular tourist town of Tamarindo where tourist from all over world come to enjoy the sunshine and the warm Pacific Ocean.

There are many reasons that the Leatherback sea turtle is endangered.  1.  Eggs are stolen from the nesting sites for consumption by the locals.  They claim the eggs are  aphrodisiacs.
Killed in fishing lines and struck by boats.  3. Coastal developments damage and destroy nesting sites.  Examples of this is homes and condos being built along the beach, bringing  large numbers of people who interfere with the turtles nesting rituals.
4. Global Warming which warms the temperatures of the oceans is affecting the food supply of the leatherback.  Also,  large amounts of plastics are  being dumped into  the oceans by boats and the leatherback sea turtle  thinks it is good to eat, but it is very harmful to the turtles digestive system.

It is estimated that only one in one thousand hatchlings survive to adulthood.

How can We  help Protect the Leatherback Sea Turtle? By joining the efforts of The World Wildlife Fund  which works with fisheries around the world to decrease the numbers being caught.  Also local communities ban together and protect critical nesting sites.  We see this in Tortuguero, Costa Rica on the Northwest Caribbean Coast and  also in the Northwestern Beaches of Guanacaste where the Costa Rica government has established the Las Baulas National Park to work with the locals to protect these turtles and also to give tourist an opportunity to learn about the world’s largest marine turtle.

Tourism to Costa Rica has brought a large number of dollars into the country and  part of this money  has been used wisely by the Costa Rican government to help develop these National Parks and Wildlife Refuges.    Costa Rica Learn strives to provide those of you thinking of a vacation in Costa Rica with on going helpful travel tips and other valuable information on travel to Costa Rica.  Our information  is categorized on page one of our web page.  so please check out these categories to find information on your  topic of interest.

It is difficult to realize just how large the leatherback sea turtle is by looking at the photo below.  They can grow to a shell length  of 1.7 meters and weight up to 900 kg (approx 2,000 lb). Indeed the largest sea turtle on earth!

Learn more about Las Baulas National Marine Park at  www.costarica-nationalparks.com/lasbaulasnational marinepark.html

[caption id="attachment_3392" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Endangered Leatherback Sea Turtle,  Costa Rica"][/caption]

Vacationing in Costa this Winter? Planning to Rent a Car?

If  you are planning to rent a car on your vacation to Costa Rica,  I invite you to go to my categories-on page one - and click on   RENT A CAR IN COSTA RICA .  It is located  towards the bottom of the category list.   Here you can find the articles I have written on "Tips on Renting a Car in Costa Rica"   Also read my article on  "Renting a Car in Costa Rica-Saving Time and Money"  All of this is invaluable information that will be very helpful to you.

I highly recommend you reserve your car from your home country.  Don't wait until you get to Costa Rica.   If you are planning to drive outside the central valley of San Jose and Alajuela I recommend that you rent a 4x4 vehicle.  Because some of the roads in the outlying areas are not in great shape.  You may encounter potholes and unpaved roads.

If you want to rent a minivan I recommend Toyota Rental Agency.

For all other types of vehicles there are many agencies located near the two international airports of Costa Rica.  Juan Santa Maria International near San Jose, the capital city and also Liberia International located in the northern part of Costa Rica  (in Guanacaste).

Car rental prices are quite high in Costa Rica  ( you can compare prices on the Internet) and gasoline is expensive, around $3.50 a gallon.  (In Costa Rica it is sold by the liter).  You can save a lot of money by getting the collision part of the insurance before you leave your home country through you major credit card.  I write extensively about this on my blog article under the category "Rent a Car In Costa Rica"   Please refer to that article.

People often ask me.  Should I rent a car on my vacation in Costa Rica?  And I say yes.  It is a very good way to travel at your own pace and see a lot of countryside you would not see otherwise.

The major tourist destinations in Costa Rica are easily accessible by car and most of the roads are good  (some few sections in the outlying areas have potholes).  The care rental company should provide you with a road map which is easy to follow  If you get confused in the small towns which do not have good road signs-just stop and ask.  Costa Ricans are very friendly and helpful and usually speak enough English to help you out.

Read my article on safety tips when renting a car which is located also under the category "Renting a Car in Costa Rica"

I hope this is very helpful information for you.  Please go to contact us if you are in need of further help with your efforts to rent a car on your vacation to Costa Rica.  We have organized costaricalearn so that you can search by category. So you can read about the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica simply by clicking on the category you are interested in.  Plus read about the history, culture, food, and many other aspects of Costa Rica by selecting the category.

Happy reading!  From costaricalearn.com

We now have a Costa rica Travel Video for sale: " Costa Rica, A Travel Adventure Spectacular"

Our full 58 minute DVD video , Costa Rica, A Travel Adventure Spectacular , which has been in production for a year, is now for sale.  Orders can be placed via Pay Pal.   Pay Pal, an Ebay company, is the largest provider of online transactions on the Internet. It is also one of the safest ways to pay for anything online.

The video is $24.95 and shipping is free world wide. We ship using United States Postal Service First Class mail which is about 3 - 5 days within the United States.  To order just click on the "Add To Cart" button below where you can make payment via Pay Pal. If you would like to watch the trailer for the video, just click the play button below.

About the Video

"Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular" video,  If you are thinking of coming to Costa Rica on vacation then this Costa Rica travel video is for you .  In our video you will Visit the National Parks and Wildlife Reserves of this nature lover' s paradise. See the active Poas Volcano and Arenal Volcano, and the famous Tortuguero canals of the Caribbean, the largest concentration of wildlife in Costa Rica. Zip line through the jungle, high above the rain forest canopy. Experience the culture and history of Costa Rica- folkloric oxcart parades, tiny mountainside villages, coffee plantations, plus interviews with expats from North American living here who love the eternal spring weather and "pure life" in Costa Rica. And much more!

A Supernatural Adventure to Costa Rica's Arenal Volcano National Park, A Great Family Vacation!

Want to take a supernatural adventure to Costa Rica? Well, Arenal Volcano National Park is the perfect destination for that great family vacation. Something for everyone.  Because it is an active volcano and performs daily by spurting lava and red hot rocks out its summit, and making huffing and puffing noises and small explosions. There is plenty of out door adventure activities to choose including two of the best zip line tours in Costa Rica. The beautiful Lake Arenal is located on Arenal Volcano's north face and you can rent a boat and go fishing or simply cruise around the lake and see all the marine birds that gather on the lake. Early morning is the best time to see the birds and wildlife such as howler monkeys. It is a great destination for a family vacation. The kids will be enchanted with the volcano and can take a dip in one of the many hot springs which come directly out of the base of the volcano. Horseback riding is what kids love and they can ride to a hugh beautiful waterfall, seeing howler monkeys along the way. Lets take a hike around the volcano with Ryan creator of "Super Natural Adventures, Kids. And what an adventure at Arenal Volcano National Park, the perfect destination for a wonderful vacation for all the family!

Move Over Kris Allen and Adam Lambert, Costa Rica has Talent!

For  all of us fans of "American Idol" who are  rushing out to buy the first albums of this last seasons winners Adam Lambert and Kris Allen,  stand up and take notice!  Costa Rica has Talent!

A young many named Eduardo Aguirre took the  first runner up title of "Latin American Idol" in last Thursday nights finals.  With his soft romantic lyrics and clean cut boyish good looks he swooned millions of fans but was not quite able to beat the winner, a young woman named Martha Heredia,  who is from the Dominican Republic.

Eduardo is from the small Costa Rican town of Esparza where hundreds of his fans gathered in the municipal park last Thursday night to express their support and watch the finals on a large screen TV.

How is Global Warming Affecting Costa Rica?

[caption id="attachment_3292" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Could this beautiful frog become extinct?"][/caption]

The participants at the United Nations climate change conference now in progress in Copenhagen, Denmark  are world leaders hoping to formulate a plan to protect our planet by  combating  global  warming.

How is this “run-a-way climate change” affecting Costa Rica?  How is this global warming affecting Costa Rica? Scientist are saying that Coastal residents of Costa Rica could face a significant sea level increase possibly up to  three to  six feet which would inundate many of the existing beach properties which hold concessions in the maritime zones.  And the  port city of Puntarenas could be under water.

This information is from two scientist who have been studying sea level measurements and sea temperatures taken over the past one hundred and thirty years.  They are Martin Vermeer of Helsinki University of Technology, Finland and Stefan Rahmstorf of Potsham Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany. Mr. Rahmstorf  states “ Since 1990 sea levels have been rising at .13 of an inch , twice as fast as the average over the 20th century" .  "If this rates remains constant the sea levels would rise 13 inches in the 21st century."    "But, the warmer the earth temperatures, the faster the sea levels rise due to the melting of the ice in the Antarctica and in Greenland."

Costa Rica is affected in another way by global warming.  Costa Rica has a very large population of frogs, and  several species have contacted a fungus which has killed them.  Scientist speculate that global warming is the reason for this fungus.  One example is the beautiful golden toad which lived in the rain forest of Monteverde.  Today this  golden toads today cannot be found anywhere in Costa Rica.  And other species of frogs in Costa Rica are in danger of contacting this fungus.

What can Costa Rica do to combat global warming?   Scientist state  the most important thing is to preserve its valuable rain forest.  And Costa Rica has made great strides in accomplishing this.  Twenty per cent of its land surface is set aside for protection and conservation in the form of National Parks and Wildlife Reserves. But Costa Rica wants to do more.  The working farmer  needs to clear more land for pastures for his cattle, meaning he has to cut down trees.  This farmer would be willing not to cut trees  but what can he do to make money to take care of his family?  There has to be some type of monetary compensation to this farmer to preserve these valuable  trees which will absorb carbon dioxide from our atmosphere thus reducing  green house gases which contribute to global warming.  These are the kinds of ideas and proposals circulating in the Conference on Climate Change today in Copenhagen.

The Dry Season is just Beginning in Costa Rica

Dry Season Costa Rica is now beginning and it’s a great time to take a vacation to Costa Rica.

The dry season in Costa Rica is considered to be the middle of December through March. This is a lovely time to visit Costa Rica.  The rain has stopped and the flowers are all in bloom because the sun shines all day long.  From around five thirty in the morning until five thirty in the afternoon, a full twelve hours.

It’s a great time to visit the beaches.  The water is warm and the skies are blue.

More tourist are in Costa Rica during these months and there is gaiety in the air, with a lot of activity in the best tourist destinations.

Also the dry season is when Costa Rica holds it’s best festivals.  The annual oxcart parade in the old town of San Antonio de Escazu, the first week of March is a “don’t miss festival”.  Also the horse parade or “tope in Alajuela” is held  around the first week of March with one thousand horses participating and the riders dress their best.
So if you are visiting at this time be sure to stop by Alajuela for this opportunity to see the Andalusian horses.

Many small towns have week end festivities such as bull fights and rodeos. In Costa Rica the bull is let loose in the ring and young men actually get into the ring with the bull.  The bull chases the young men around the ring.  Most of the time it’s a comical affair but occasionally the bull actually does harm to the participate.  That is why a ambulance is stationed just outside the bull ring.

The weather in December, January, and February is cool and breezy but by March is is getting very warm and by April it is actually hot, but then the rains come and cool everything off.

Will the Real Rosemary Rein Please Stand Up.

[caption id="attachment_3275" align="aligncenter" width="283" caption="Rosemary"][/caption]

WILL THE REAL ROSEMARY REIN PLEASE STAND UP?

Continuing my series on artist and writers in Costa Rica I would like to highlight Rosemary Rein.

Rosemary is a resident of Costa Rica, along with her husband Barry. Rosemary read a book about Costa Rica and told Barry, “We have to move to Costa Rica, so they followed their dream and did exactly that,  settling in Escazu, a suburb of San Jose, where they live happily with their three dogs.

Rosemary says that they have been extremely happy in Costa Rica.  They love the weather, the warm hospitality of the people, and the more simple lifestyle than they lead back in New York.

So Barry and Rosemary, accustomed to being very active, opened a cafe in Escazu.  After running it for  several years, they  got the itch to try something else.  Which led them to the purchase of a Bed & Breakfast Hotel at Lake Arenal.   After awhile they said, “We came here to retire,  didn’t we?”  So they took some time off and traveled to Argentina which they dearly loved.

In their leisure time, Rosemary and Barry love trekking into the Costa Rica rain forests and jungles. One day Rosemary with her great imagination said to Barry, “The  skills needed to survive  in the jungle are the same skills needed to survive  and thrive in the business world as a leader and a team.  So Rosemary created “Go Wild, Go Great! The Leader/Team Journey From Now to Wow.  What is this?  It is Rosemary’s own unique training seminars on how to improve Customer Service and Sales Performance.  Find out all about it at www.gowildgogreat.com

If that was not enough, Rosemary has also co-authored a book. “The Blueprint for Success”  14  hot ideas for improving your leadership skills, customer service skills, and living a healthier and happy life.  Read all about it on her web site www.gowildgogreat.com.

You may also read Rosemary’s blog at www.rosemaryrein.typepad.com
She  writes fun filled stories about everyday life in Costa Rica.

Rosemary and her husband Barry are feathered in our video "Costa Rica A Travel Adventure Spectacular". They talk about their life in Costa Rica, why they  choose Costa Rica and why they love it.

Rosemary holds a Ph.D in Human Resource Development.

The Colorful Oxcart, Costa Rica's "National Symbol of Labor"

The Christmas season in Costa Rica is welcomed each year by the Entrada de Santos y Boyeros (the entrance of saints and oxcarts drivers)  to the city of San Jose.   Approximately two hundred colorful hand painted oxcarts with their bueyes (team of oxen)  participate.  Each oxcart carries a santo (saint) made  of wood as a symbol of blessings to the oxcart, oxen, and the driver. This parade, a powerful symbol of Costa Rica's rural heritage,  is a traditional Christmas holiday event and attended by thousands of Costa Ricans as well as tourist from around the world.
Oxcarts once were the principal means of transportation, starting around 1840,  carrying coffee from the central valley over the mountains to the Pacific port of Puntarenas, and today is Costa Rica's  “National Labor Symbol” portraying  Costa Rica’s peaceful traditions and the arduous labor of it’s people and the simplicity and aspirations of rural Costa Ricans.

The colorful painted designs on the oxcarts we see today was the inspiration of an Italian artist who immigrated to Costa Rica.  His paintings on the oxcart’s wheels quickly caught on and today the colorful geometric designs are hand painted on all the oxcarts, with no two designs exactly alike.

If you are traveling to Costa Rica be sure to visit the small hillside village of Sarchi.  Stop by the Fabrica de Carrettas Sarchi (oxcart factory) and see how the Chaverri family has continued the tradition of oxcart painting.  You can purchase you own miniature oxcart to take home.

Also the first week of March, the hillside town of San Antonio de Escazu  hosts its own folkloric  "Oxcart Parade"  for the blessing of the oxen.  Be sure not to miss it if you are in Costa Rica this time of the year and bring your camera! There is typical Costa Rican food, marimba music to compliment the beautiful oxcarts and their boyeros.

[caption id="attachment_3260" align="alignleft" width="299" caption="Around 1850 in San Jose"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3261" align="alignleft" width="224" caption="oxcart wheel "][/caption]

Thanks for reading costaricalearn.com We strive to being you interesting articles related to Costa Rica's history, culture, and traditions.