Doin' Costa Rica: Pura Vida is BULLSH*T- whoops!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Pura Vida is BULLSH*T- whoops!

Costa Rica is Pura Vida and Pura Vida is Costa Rica.
"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I shall die before I wake...

I was probably murdered and drowned in Arenal Lake."

I can't even count how many death threats I've received for this video:

Nice t-shirt dumbass.

And truthfully, I understand. Saying ANYTHING negative, in public, about Costa Rica borders on sacrilege. I may as well wear a t-shirt that says, 'Mohammed SUCKS!' in Afghanistan. Same difference.

Most detractors are offended by the title, which again, I understand, as it is a tad offensive. I chose the title purely for 'key words' and obviously I chose correctly based on the number of hits it gets, but I was hoping when the video was watched the title would be seen for what it IS- total hyperbole. Obviously, I guessed wrong on that one.

I guessed wrong because many Ticos don't really understand what I'm saying in the video, being that in many cases, their English is about as good as my Spanish. So, they see the title and just assume I'm talking shit....

In case I wasn't CLEAR, I love Costa Rica and I love the phrase, 'Pura Vida'... BUT, I stand by what I said in the video, the phrase is often misused and in my mind has been somewhat bastardized in recent years....but the 'true' meaning of 'Pura Vida' is a beautiful thing. Oh, but I do apologize for not saying it correctly, learning Spanish has been my Achilles heel since I got here 7 years ago. (Making a video about that as we speak).

I also apologize for the t-shirt I'm wearing in that video... even the guys from 'Queer Eye....' were thinking, WTF? sorry.

If you're ONE of the MANY people who want to see I never make another video about Costa Rica again, I have 2 favors to ask.... before you 'off' me, watch our other 200+ videos FIRST to get some perspective and second, leave D'Angelo alone, he didn't approve of the title either.

Other than that, "Pura 'fuckin' Vida"

TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!

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Cy Bolinger · 692 weeks ago

My wife and I have resided in CR for almost four years and we do not like the country at all. It is grossly overrated and as you say nobody has the cohones to really tell the truth, i.e., saying ANYTHING NEGATIVE is taboo. Simply put: We are leaving. Pura Vida!

1 reply · active 692 weeks ago

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michael alan · 692 weeks ago

I feel bad you haven't had the experience I've had. Costa Rica has its problems like ALL countries.... Costa Rica's problem is they promote themselves a certain way and it's not really true.... and they do NOT like to discuss 'skeletons in the closet' they really do have their head in the sand on many serious issues). That said, I just love the country, the land, the rainforest, the beaches, the wildlife, the area that IS Costa Rica.... the people don't really do it for me..... but then again, I felt the same in the US.... good luck!

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FOREST · 692 weeks ago

Cy, I would be interested in hearing specifics from you as to what turned you off. Have you been living on the coast or the highlands? We are currently living in Cebu, Philippines, but are ready to sell our condo here and move to Escazu or Arenas. I am familiar with CR from past visits, and think it has to be an improvement over The Philippines though Cebu is the best place in these islands. There are some really good things about here, two of them being the great way an older person is respected, the other is the low price of most things, especially services. Every less developed country has its problems. As far as I can tell, CR is doing a better job of solving them than many others. Our condo, overlooking the city in the green hills, will soon be for sale. Want to see it? Forest

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Cy Bolinger · 692 weeks ago

Forest: We are totally disenchanted with CR. We live close to the Pacific coast (Jaco) and have lived all over the Central Valley). Specifically, there is NO recourse in this country for expats. NONE! This includes ALL goods and services. Most of the thousands of lawyers (needed for just about EVERY transaction) are either stupid and give out poor advice and take plenty of your money, or, are smart and take more of your money and do far less than promised. The majority are out and out corrupt. The CR health system is a joke, totally broke and almost dead in the water. If you move to CR, like it or not, you MUST pay into the CAJA (public health system) and then hire a priest or preacher to pray for your soul in case you become ill. (We have a friend who has been in Alajuela public hospital, CAJA, for 10 weeks flat on his back, several infections in his body, inferior antibiotics being prescribed, needing surgery which is not not being done because of the anesthesiologist's strike --just waiting to die. This is NOT an isolated case. We hear horror stories like this on at least a monthly basis. There is NO police response (ANOTHER SAD JOKE) so the crime wave is getting worse and murders and armed robberies and home invasions are increasing annually with NO remedy on the part of the government in sight. Don't leave the Phillipines to live in Costa Rica. You are enjoying a beautiful island country and doing well on much lower prices. Prices in CR are almost as high as in the U.S. and going up almost weekly (13 percent sales tax, due to increase soon). Escazu is a mecca for American expats due to a very large mall there with American big box stores and restaurants with very high prices, coupled with a high import tax. Yes, there is more respect for older people here. The country is in extremes, either very wet or DRY. The tropical weather here is less than ideal, but like the Phillipines, warm and temperate. The government in CR is incredibly corrupt, more like Mexico used to be before the cartels took over. The CR banking system is pretty good. If you need more info, let me know. Cy

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michael alan · 692 weeks ago

This being my blog, I feel the need to respond. First, lawyers are lawyers pretty much the world over... the lawyer statements above apply to the US as well....and like the US,you need to get 'referred'- not just pick one at random. As far as the Caja, most expats go to PRIVATE hospitals (doctors) which are just as modern as any in the States and much CHEAPER,,one of the reasons Medical Tourism is flourishing here, again, like the States. I would agree that owning a home here is more difficult than traveling here. You need to be on your game,, have a dog, trusted neighbors... and actually, Atenas, which you mentioned is nice. Esacazu is like a nice suburb in the States but expats that live there typically like living like they're living in the States,, they want what they want when they want it and most have 'money'. Food can be cheap here....just got know. where to go. I eat dinner for $3.00. I'm not discounting what Cy is staying,,,,obviously based on his opinions and experiences here.... but mine and a lot of my friends are vastly different.... so like EVERYTHING,,there's 2 or 3 sides to every story.

1 reply · active 692 weeks ago

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Cy Bolinger · 692 weeks ago

Michael. Our CR experiences indicate that there are parts of your commentary that are not in any shape or form like what we have experienced. Maybe we are just American old fogies and are too hard to please. That will change very shortly. We have lived in CR for 5 years and haven't yet had a $3.00 good or bad dinner. Please tell me where you ate for $3.00??? Was it a plate of bland beans and rice only and not a casada? People who are residents of CR and do not live "under the radar" and have either " permanent" or "Cond Restringida" cedulas DO expect to use the CAJA since have to pay for it's use and it's usless-ness!. That being said, there are many people, even property owners, who live in CR full time and lie about their CR status. We have friends and associates who keep phony corporations and never leave the country every 3 months, many of whom have been in CR 8-10+ years. Their lawyers stay retained to keep their "Migration" statements PENDING thus enabling living here for years on end . As residents, we do live in CR on a permanent basis and do not go back and forth to the U.S. , so, we've given living in CR a pretty good attempt. You're correct. These people living here without status mostly use PRIVATE medical facilities because they HAVE TO and cannot legally belong to the CAJA. Also, we find that most expats do have money. Nobody is broke. Thanks for allowing the truth to be told about Costa Rica without the usual glossing over that is so prevalent here on the internet.