BackpackerMom

1. Costa Ricans call themselves Ticos
   

2. Costa Rica was voted as the third best country to live on earth.
   

3. In Costa Rica there are two seasons: The wet season and the not-so wet season
   

4. You can make a collect call (110) from any phone and it’s practically free and almost everyone accepts it.
   
5. You can drink the water here!
   

6. Cash is king, so always, ALWAYS ask for a cash discount!
   

7. One out of every four women is pregnant, yet the population growth is less than 1%.
    8. Costa Rica is the number one country in all of Latin America who imports the most amounts of pesticides for their produce.
   

9. Costa Rica is not at all cheap.
   

10. The saying for the roads goes like this:  There is a few pieces of road on the holes–meaning, get a 4 by 4 if you want to drive on the holes (Costa Rica calls its highways).

11. You do need some spanish to get around Costa Rica.
   

12. If you make an appointment–ALWAYS–be prepared to wait anywhere between 30 minutes to a few days.  They are always late!
   

13. The weather here is truly ideal.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
    1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

TIN JO
221-7605
257-3622

In my opinion a restaurant that says they specialize in Thai food, Indian Cuisine, Chinese food, Indonesian Style cooking and Japanese, has a lot to live up to. We can narrow it down a bit, because with all these options to choose from the chef has forgotten which spice goes where and opted to simply omit all spices.

For the price tag, the food could not only be more flavorful, but more plentiful.

My husband and I took our toddler to this exquisitely decorated restaurant that all of the foreigners, who live in Costa Rica, constantly rave about. They all claim to it to be the best all around. Maybe so, but from the expensive seat that I was in, I could safely say my food at home is more tasty, and I’m by far a expereimental cook.

Also, with the elegant ambiance, this is not a recommended hang out for families with very loud children, i.e. my son. After he finished entertaining himself with the crayons they offer, and had a few nibbles of the bland food, he was raring to go. Gratefully, we were ready for a quick escape as well.

My recommendation, if you’re going to spend the cash, check out it’s next door neighbor–Don Wang.

DON WANG–Authentic Chinese Food
506-233-6484
223-5925

One thing about eating Chinese food outside the country you’re used to it, is that it tastes totally different. The Chinese are the most adaptable people in the world (I think) and their food reflects their adaptations to their environment. The food here is on borderline of Costa Rican food, which is not at all American Style Chinese Food.
This restaurant not only offers my kind of Chinese cuisine, but also authentic food found in China. They specialize in Dim Sum and other yummy entrees.

This is my husband’s and my favorite restaurant in Costa Rica, we’ve been here half a dozen times (at least) this may not seem like a lot, by I have a strict rule of not returning to the same place twice, because there are just too many places to try why go back to where you’ve already been. But, this place deserves a return trip.

Plus, we get a great bonus–my husband’s kung fu school gives us a 10% discount which is always a great perk and enough to get me to go back!

So if you’re hanging out in San Jose for more than a couple of hours, check out this place in the heart of San Jose Center.

What do you do on a lonely evening in Costa Rica? Go to the fair!!! But with lots and lots of caution.

Chances are there will be a local fair in some little town along the way to your destination. Unless, of course, you are traveling during holiday season or on some obscure catholic saint day, you will find one in every town. And even though you might think there’s tons of stuff to do while traveling, don’t overlook this little treasure trove of local blending.
But like I said, be very wary of the rides and the food.

This is the typical ride, it will have at least one major component missing. Since I have a toddler, it’s difficult to avoid a ride, so getting him on a baby ride isn’t as dangerous as an adult ride.

The average rollercoaster, freefalling amusement ride is well over 15 years donated to these countries from the US fairgrounds of lost and forgotten rides. The owners, being businessmen, reap in big tax benefits by their generosity failing to mention the real state of the ride.

However, the excitement in the air, extra loud music, and bright lights will keep any aged kid stimulated!

Note: I wouldn’t recommend the food for kids. Normally the people serving it serve the food with the same hands they take the money, clean their noses, wipe their sweaty brows and clean the counters.

In the four years that I’ve lived in Costa Rica I have seen it go from a super-safe place to watching my back everywhere I go. The poverty level has skyrocketed due to all the foreign investors flocking to this paradise and buying out the land which the average Costa Rican cannot afford. Aside from the nonstop car theft and break-ins people are now becoming assaulted on the streets as well. But don’t despair, if you follow these basic rules you can truly enjoy yourself and keep all of your belongings.

1. When you first arrive take an airport taxi, they are safe and run by the government.
2. Don’t go to San Jose after sun down.
3. Don’t stray off the main streets of San Jose.
4. Take as little on you as possible: just enough money for the day, hold tight to your camera, leave your passports and major credit cards at home if not needed, and don’t display your jewelry for the world to see.
5. Work only with certified tour groups.
6. Watch for suspicious characters. (This one seems obvious, but one thing about Costa Rica is that its still very new to the crime scene, ironically the thieves are quite obvious and can be spotted from afar.)
7. If renting a car, ALWAYS, lock it. If you can get access to one with an alarm or a club–DO SO! Hijackings are becoming popular here as well, drive with your doors locked (especially at nights) don’t get out of the car if stopped, don’t help cars that looked distressed, and start beeping if you feel you’re in danger.
8. When taking money out of ATM’s avoid dark alleys and try to take it out during a busy time of the day.
9. Now that Costa Rica has disconnected itself from the US dollar (before it was regulated by the government and only banks could make change) a whole string of money-changers have come out of the woodwork and an insane amount of counterfeit bills as well. Stay with the banks, if you feel one bank is giving you too low of a rate, go to another one.
10. Don’t leave your belongings out of your site. Again, this one is obvious, but how often do we hang our backpacks/purses on the backs of our chairs while dining? I’ve seen customers of nice restaurants bump into seats accidentally and next thing you know, he’s off enjoying your things.

FOR INDEPTH REVIEWS, LIFE ABROAD AND OTHER STUFF!

1. Every Tuesday and Thursday my husband goes to Kung Fu class and comes home after 10 P.M.– I cherish these nights because I get to go to sleep the same time as my son.
2. Living in Costa Rica allows me the luxury of hiring help for the house. I have a nanny and a cleaning lady.
3. I desperately want a second kid–but we’re broke–BECAUSE I HAVE A NANNY AND A CLEANING LADY!
4. I hate to cook, yet I do it. But the thing I hate most is washing the dishes afterwards, so I always make sure to do my marathon cooking the night before my cleaning lady comes over.
5. I hate plantains and red meat, thankfully my nanny doesn’t!
6. I need to eat out at a restaurant at least once a week.
7. I look forward to Saturday nights which is Pizza night, becuase it’s the one night I’m sure my son will eat enough for the week.
8. I teach Pilates and am a personal trainer for a little extra money, yet there are weeks that I will go without exercising.
9. I never won anything in my life!
10. My car is a 1992 Hyndia–should I say more?

(Even if it is only to the corner market, and even if I do live in tropical, exotic Costa Rica.)

To get out of the house before my 2-year-old determinedly achieves making my head and/or my husband’s into a flat-board for his diving expertise.
2. To avoid hearing my son demand I draw his hand on any random surface, AGAIN!
3. To see new places and teach him something other than “do you need to go pee-pee/ca-ca?”
4. To wear him out so he can develop a big hole in his belly and finally eat without me ripping my hair out or crying for him to take just one teensy-weensy morsel of the food I’ve slaved over for hours so he can have some ‘spice’ in his life, because god-forbid if a toddler eats something with less than eight words in the title. And, of course, the reason for his NOT eating is because ‘y cooking is too boring’for him and I have to cook up extravagant concoctions of mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, pasta, and meats!
5. To wear him out completely on someone else’s turf so he can sleep like a ‘baby’.

6. For me to see something other than my four walls which have become miraculously, and too quickly, covered in chalk, crayons and marker. (My husband and I are totally opposed to this, but if we say no the full-on temper tantrum awaiting us is by far more taxing than the hours of scrubbing the walls clean.)
7. To know that there is a world out there with real people other than Barney, Mickey, Clifford, Dora…
8. To interact with real, live people and kids who will be great distractions for my son as he attempts another round of climbing our shoulders via stepping all over my body and face, or having us fly him around like an airplane. (He only weighs 30 pounds!)
9. To have a reason to take a shower (other than because I am too stinky even for myself) and throw on clothes bought in trendy stores than my glorified robes and PJ sets. Besides, I’ve realized dressing up for any reason at all when my little man joins me is fruitless. He manages to leave footprints, paint prints, food prints on me no matter how hard I try to run from him.
10. To dress up ‘the-light-of-my-life’ (my son) in the numerous designer outfits my family and friends eagerly bestow upon us. They actually think my life is as exotic as the country I live in!

First and foremost who in Costa Rica doesn’t have a kid! And if they don’t, there’s one on the way. It’s contagious. Even us, ex-pats, are multiplying like bunnies down here. My husband and I have made a sport out of counting the amount of pregnant women we see on the street within an hour. On average I’d say eight to ten. So you can understand how great Ticos (friendly acronym Costa Ricans use for themselves) are with kids.

I’m one of those people who never noticed babies, puppies or other supposedly-cute living things. But that’s so unlike the people who inhabit this country. Women and girls will cross highways and roaring crossways to coo, ahh and pick up your child. Even older men will sneak in a quick game of peek-a-boo. However, the most shocking contradiction is the local teens. Being that I was an extremely self-absorbed, self-centered teen myself, seeing these punked-out adolescents with spikes for bracelets, ripped jeans and hunched over backs breakout of heated, passionate, revolutionary conversations to gawk and tickle my son and to tell me how absolutely cute he is always leaves me a bit skeptical. But after this has happened over and over again, I’ve come to believe the genuineness of this culture’s adoration and patience of little people.

So bring your kids to a place where their egos will be pampered, their whims will be granted while you glow with gratitude that some countries still have the time to take out and appreciate the true joys of life.

SARCHI–IS IT WORTH THE TRIP?

Sarchi is a tiny town about one hour outside of San Jose, more or less on the way to no major attraction. So why the hype?

Sarchi is known for a few reasons:
1. The majority of Costa Rican artists sell their work here, primarily woodwork and furniture.
2. The Oxcart (called Carretas) is one of the only true traditional artworks of Costa Rica and at one point was used in the villages as the Ox would transport milk, products, and anything else. The tradition has practically faded into history but the the Oxcarts are still a huge part of Costa Rica’s souvenier sales.
3. The oldest Oxcart factory, which is now a huge store as well, is located here. And when the artists are working you can check them paint away.

So these sound like three good reasons to visit Sarchi. Maybe, but let’s get real. When I travel, I’m usually on a time restraint, unless of course you have all the time in the world then it’s a whole different ballgame. But let’s say you don’t have unlimited time, then why waste an entire day on a town that is not much to see (it looks exactly like all the other little towns), visit stores that are not at all accessible by foot, check out souveniers that you can purchase in any corner of Costa Rica for not much of a discount.

Ironically, tourist company horde their clients over to this town, actually they have deals with one or two of the stores where they reap in the rewards while foreigners spend their hard earned money. And the unknowing tourists end up precious time when they could be enjoying a full day exploring the rare beauties of Costa Rica, like volcanoes, beaches or jungles.

If you do make it here, the Oxcart Factory (Fabrica de Carretas Chaverri) is one of the biggest stores here and besides checking out their workshops they usually have some free fruit in thier beautiful backyard.

However, I can let you in on a couple of secrets:
If you cross the street you will find stores with the exact same stuff at much more reasonable prices, and on top of that you can ask for a cash discount and they’ll gladly give it to you. Also, a tiny bit down the road is a huge white mall with more woodwork and oxcarts and other trinkets than you’ll ever need to see in your life and again at much better prices.

And the biggest secret of them all:
The restaurant attached to factory also called Chaverri–Fabrica de Carretas is without a doubt the biggest rip off. They offer meager buffets for $9 plus 13% tax plus 10% tip. That is an extremely expensive lunch. If you walk less than 50 feet from the Oxcart store you will find a Soda (local restaurants) that are less than half the price, delicious homemade food with fresh fruit juices, wonderful service and a cozy table. They don’t charge the tax or tip so leave an amount of your choice.

Note: The Sodas are located in every single crevice of Costa Rica and usually serve the same food at much much better prices.