CostaRicaBlogger's blog

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 what is that jar of spicy vegetable dressing on the table of many Costa Rica restaurants?

It's called "Chilera" !

Chilera or Vinagre Chilera is a staple in Costa Rican cuisine that consists of a mix of hot chile peppers, onions, carrots, green beans and ...cauliflower mixed with vinegar (usually fermented banana vinegar).

Chilera is used to spice up many Costa Rican dishes -- just add a few drops to your food.

If really you're REALLY bold, try a few of the fiery vegetables like Junior! [pictured below]

Another morning taking my son to school, another Costa Rica school bus crash.

Unfortunately, this is a daily occurrence in Costa Rica where too many private school bus drivers run the roads in a reckless manner - unchecked.

In the following situation the school bus driver illegally passed a stopped vehicle on the right in a busy intersection. The vehicle the school bus was passing without regard for safety was stopped for a reason ... they were trying to allow a taxi to pass in front of them through an extremely busy intersection.

The following pictures are the result of this school bus drivers actions: 

And who said the U.S.A. doesn't care about Central America?!

According to Government Security News, the U.S. State Department plans to give a dozen "Body Orifice Security Scanners," also known as B.O.S.S. chairs, to the Government of El Salvador to X-ray inspect its prisoners for weapons and other metal objects hidden in their anal or vaginal cavities.

Need to know more?  Read the full story here:  www.gsnmagazine.com/cms/features/news-analysis/2487.html

No Skype in Costa Rica or Anywhere Else?

When Skype voice over-the-internet system was offered in Costa Rica, it was a welcome alternative to ICE’s monopoly on phone services. For a flat rate, Costa Ricans could call just about anywhere for a fraction of the cost … now that may change due to a legal spat over a licensing agreement.....[....]

originally posted on www.CostaRicaBlogger.com 8/4/2008, See full article at  TicoTimes.com, August 4, 2009

A July 2009 non-scientific poll by online English speaking forum Costa Rica Central Valley Living resulted in the following for the question "Where do you actually live?"

Crocodile makes a lunge for German tourist

This morning I discovered my wallet missing from my previous days’ pants pocket here in Costa Rica.

A search of the house, car, etc. turned-up nothing. Gone was all my Costa Rica identification, local debit cards, U.S. credit cards … most everything important except for my passport (which remains at home).

In between canceling local bank cards and going to my local Banco Costa Rica to obtain a new Costa Rica Cedula (National Identification) and C.R. drivers license I called a friend to see if they could visit the Moravia, Costa Rica café I had sat in the previous night – just in case my wallet had fell out of my pocket at the restaurant and an honest customer or employee had turned it in. A stretch on many different levels.