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I thought I would begin this adventure by explaining the ways a person can enter El Salvador legally and how they can extend their stay. To begin with, the best source I've found on this is the following sites:

http://sansalvador.usembassy.gov/salvadoran-residence.html
http://www.rree.gob.sv/site/visas_informacion.html

It gives all the details, so you don't have to look much further. But I'll try to condense it based on what I'm doing. I was originally moving to another country and we have changed our minds. So I had very little time to switch many things regarding our move. What I have learned is that anyone can fly into El Salvador from the U.S. with a valid passport with at least 6 months left on it. You can pay $10 at the airport and gain a 30 day tourist visa.

If you want a longer stay, you can apply for an extended stay (90 days) by going to the Foreign Department of the Main Office of Immigration, Ministry of Govern to obtain a longer stay permit.

So Monday I arrive in El Salvador with my dog...a 50 pound boxer. I thought I'd share what I've learned about shipping our dog. I am leaving from California, so you may want to check with your local division, but here are the steps for bringing our dog.

My husband checked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure what I had found on the internet was true.

1. Rabies and vaccinations must be up to date.

2. You must obtain a certificate of health for the animal, no sooner than 10 days before you arrive.

3. Once you get that health certificate you do the following:

4. You take it immediately to your local USDA office to verify that the certificate documents are according to standards, showing the animal has no contagious diseases. Here is the web site, explaining exactly what is required:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/regulations/vs/iregs/animals/animal_el_salvado...

For Los Angeles, this is the contact number and address:

APHIS 310 725-1970,

Why El Salvador?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp5R-xGYSWc&feature=related

The average temperature for Costa Rica lies between 71 and 81 degrees, the average temperature for Nicaragua is 85 degrees, and the average temperature for El Salvador is from 64 to 72 degrees. So it is a bit more temperate than countries further south.

Banking is much easier in El Salvador than many Central American countries, because they share many banks that also exist inside the U.S. A few of them: HSBC, Banco Agricola Commercial. El Salvador now uses the dollar for its monetary system, so retirees can benefit from no exchange rates when transferring money.

There seems to be a class of people who have bottomed out in decency and etiquette, or much of anything else that demonstrates a quality person of high moral fiber. They live in some of these Central American forums on the internet, gossiping about other people's lives, experiencing some form of bizarre pleasure by living through osmosis, examining the lives of their "victims." They are people who do not even know the "victims" or the impact they could have on their lives, through spreading unfounded claims against these people. They exist as internet "bullies" in groups of others who share the same core weaknesses, most likely because of some void in their lives, or adolescent boredom.

here. I see that Jorge Giraldez is promoting nicaraguan real estate here but mostly he promotes himself.

Motorcycle Angel
       Here is my latest example of why I love the Costa Rican people.
       In the two years I have lived on the Caribbean side of Costa Rica, I’ve driven the four hour drive to San Jose eight to ten times. I lived in San Jose for about six weeks once and I bought my car there, too. Yet driving in San Jose still un nerves me. And I still get lost. Almost every time I go to San Jose, I get lost. But it’s OK. That is how I learn.
       Recently I went into the city to pick up my daughter, Chelsea, at the airport. I know the drill. I’ve done it many times before and all went well. After the airport, I had no trouble finding our hotel. It was my third time there. I got lost on the way, last time. I’ve made the hour drive across town and out of San Jose to the highway toward the Caribbean many times. That was a piece of cake - at least I thought so.

Whether you are visiting or live in Costa Rica, most people spend at least some time in the capital city of San Jose in the Central Valley area.

Many visit the San Jose downtown sites and are then looking for nearby places to visit for half or full-day trips. Most popularly mentioned ideas based on their relatively close geographic proximity to San Jose can still be several hours in travel time due to Costa Rica's terrain, roads and traffic. Examples: Poás Volcano is 1.5 hours away, Arenal Volcano is 4 hours away, La Paz Waterfall is 1.5 hours, etc., etc.

A closer and no less interesting destination is San Jose's neighboring city ... Cartago.

So me and the wife are planning on opening up a new BBQ restaurant down on the main highway, because I love bbq and they have no clue how to do it here.. so at least if no one comes I'll gain a few pounds..

anyway speaking to a friend of mine I asked if he knew anyone who had some equipment for sale and he did. so down to a really nice beach side bar to meet woody the owner of woody's bar... how cool the name... anyway I bought a piece from him and afterwards we sat and talked and he kept twisting my arm to have another drink with him.  the sob.. anyway I liked him a lot and we talked for a hour or so.

Some of you have been following my Costa Rica Travel Journals: http://www.travelexperiencecostarica.com

Well, I have started a new blog that I thought you might be interested in. It is not about Costa Rica, it is about my getting back to Costa Rica. It is called, “Life on the Edge - Testing the Power of Intention”
http://testingthepower.blogspot.com

I don't know if I wrote about this before but I have been trying to put in a block company on my land here. I bought this property because it is zoned for commerical use.  well this property has been untouched for 70 years, by that I mean a home is on it and the gounds are neat and cut like a golf course for that long, but no commerical building has ever been on it.  well the lady across the street from me didn't like the idea that I was buidling something on this land, that along with the fact she doesn't like gringos.  

I was getting things rolling really good, then she had the mayor of the town that is over us, which she is having a affair with,  come and order me to stop.. well lawyers were called and back and forth in the end, the mayor's  term was up and a new one, which this one she wasn't having a affair with, yet....  takes over.