How's living in Costa Rica?

Question

I've never been there but my boyfriend did some years ago and he actually fell in love with the place. still... i don't know.

Costa Rica looks like a great place for a holiday but what about common facilities? i mean, i'm italian and, for example, lately i'm taking ballet classes(ok, that's terrible example). what if i move to costa rica? would there still be places like my dance school?

i'm soory if my question is a bit confused but it reflects my ideas on the country... so how "european" costa rica is?

because from what my boy said to me (and keeps saying) costa rica is all about wildlife and nature and no civilization.. i could like that but i think i might need some cultural centre sometimes..

if you read everything i wrote, you probably are a very patien person. So be patient with my messy ideas about Costa Rica.

Thank you all:)

Answer 1

Well Costa Rica is a great place, and yes there is alot of nature, but there is cities too. If you like the city you'll like to go to San Jose, and then visit other places like Cartago, Guanacaste, Turrialva and alot more...

Answer 2

Costa Rica is not as wild as you boyfriend tell, maybe he went to Liberia Airport (LIR) but San Jose is a medium size city. I thing Costa Rican Society is getting too americanized, because sometimes you feel as if you were in the states. You will find a lot of american fast food restaurants, american are very usual to see at San Jose main boulevard. You can't expect road with names and a very organized place. Ticos city planning just begin the last 3 decades, so, roads are a complete mess. Even though, Costa Rica is a beautiful place!!! Nature is amazing and beaches unbelievable. Enjoy this place, and please tace care with nature, I see a lot of tourists throwing trash at National Parks

Answer 3

TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT.  Most people that go to Costa Rica fall in love with it.  And you do have some misconceptions about it, especially the part of "no civilization."  There are many cultural things to do there.  Just as one example: visit the Teatro Nacional in San Jose which will have ballet, opera, singing or music and dancing in general.  And yes, Costa Rica ALSO has wildlife and nature.

Answer 4

You have some good questions & justifiably so~ Your boyfriend is right Costa Rica is a little rough around the edges for those that enjoy the 'primpy' lifestyles. However, Costa Rica is really growing & becoming quite diversified as well. More & more people discovering the little lost paradise have inflicted necessary change upon the quaint little country. TICO people are amazing...very kind, helpful & accomdating as well. You may hear 'talk' about theft in CR...this is true ONLY because the country has a culture filled with individuals who stuggle economically, they have very little (campared to our spoiled society) and live very well with very little. So obviously travelrs who 'flaunt' items/posessions; such as jewelry, unattended purses,cell phones,cameras etc are 'asking' for such items to disappear. Simply be considerat & not feed the temptation of those who never had such high dollar things as well as tempting those who only see $$$ signs if they can grab such item & sell so as to have the $$. Crime is NOT as prevelant there as some try to infer.

If you love Nature & captivating beauty among both Floa/Fauna & amazing avian species as well as critters galore...you will enjoy discovering beautiful Costa Rica. You may see some of my other postings in Yahoo answers, they include information you may find helpful. Good luck, happy travels if you do decide to go!

Answer 5

Well girl, you are going to have to realize that living in a foreign country is going to be a culture shock.

I live here now, i moved here from Canada In May 2007. since then I have been home twice. There are things in Costa Rica that you will have to get used to. Things do NOT happen fast. If you are living in a small community there are not too many facilities close by for regular activities like dancing. To get a cell phone in my area (I live in La Fortuna de San Carlos) I have to go to Ciudad Quesada de San Carlos for this and most other "Major" shopping/ needs. It is possible but it takes time and Patience. If he is planning a permanent move there are A LOT of things you need to know.

If you are not a resident (and you can not become a resident unless you own a business here) you have to leave the country every three months to get your passport re-stamped.

Come here for a vacation and find the spot that feels right for you. I am getting antsy and I want to move to a different area of the country to keep things interesting. I LOVE NATURE and that is a big part of Costa Rica for me.

Do what feels right. Try it out, but be prepared for the worst and hope for the best!

Answer 6

Costa Rica was a great place been little over run Many Italians have retired there some Americans outside the main city not much of what you mentioned But why not go there yourself and see how you like it

Answer 7

Costa Rica has everything any average "European" city would have but it would be mainly concentrated in and around San Jose which has about 1.5 million inhabitants living in this city.

And the prices would be about one third less!

VIVA LA PURA VIDA!