About sporto505

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

Citizen Of:

United States

Dual Citizen Of:

Ireland

Some Forum Posts:

Costa Rica: Eliminate obamacare. Expand Medicare:

The idea of coverage for all is good. The only way to get people out of ER's is to provide them an alternative. Then one does not have to sit in a waiting room for 3 hours to get a cutoff finger tip sewn up. But the implementation of the idea is the problem. Keeping the profit motive in the Health Insurance Industry, the Pharma big money industry and the Doctors/Hospitals demands for big bucks is the problem. Yes, it is the US and capitalism is mostly a good thing. BUT, shouldn't healthcare be an exception to the profit and $$$ motive? Why not just expand Medicare to cover everyone. Eliminate the profit motive in coverage and limit what drugs/doctors/hospitals can charge for everyone covered by that system. Wealthy republicans and democrats and independents can all spend their big bucks outside the system if they want. but everyone will have cheaper reliable accessible care because it will be the law. Limit some of the outrageous costs for drugs, speciality physicians, hospital admissions. The US is screwed up now because of politics and the accepted notion that greed is good for everything and everyone. There, hows that for a bland, non- critical, non-judgmental statement? :0) And no, I am not selling real estate in CR or anywhere else.

Costa Rica: General Dentist Recommendation:

I live in Santa Ana, west side of San Jose. I need a dentist to reseat a crown. The dentist will want to sell me a new one. So I need one that is reasonable. any recommendations for the Lindora, Santa Ana, Escazu, or Sabanna area?

Costa Rica: Transporting non-narcotic prescription from the United States:

I can speak of my own experience. unless your packing a weapon or contraband in the suitcase, the luggage should sail thru customs. no problems. if you want to be super cautious, peel the labels off the plastic bottles. then they are yours no?

Costa Rica: Driving in CR, versus a bus!!!:

I would have no hesitation renting a car. But make sure you have a smart phone w/ the Waze app. that will get you most places and back. except perhaps on the Nicoya peninsula. my waze got lost there, along w/ me. Unless your getting off road I'm not sure you need a 4x4, although all the vets of CR say that. I think thats cause they live in areas where they go off road. I have traveled to Arenal, various areas of Guanacaste , Puriscal, all over the central valley, and never had an issue. I drive a little nissan sedan.

Costa Rica: IL admits to 'exaggrerated sales pitch':

Jackietrehorn: what do you know about the cost of living in Ecuador? Have you lived there recently? I am looking at Cuenca as my next locale to live in for a while. I recently began reading it's Expat Exchange after reading a fellow's blog re: the inexpensive cost of living there , at least compared to living here in San Jose area. Are your comments based on actual experience there? If so, how recently? thanks.

Costa Rica: Pets from US to CR:

FYI, the rabies and USDA timing is a bit tricky. Rabies Shot must be more than 30 days from flight. USDA approval must be less than 10 days from flight. if your local vet is not familiar w/ procedure go to vet in Petsmart or equivalent.

Costa Rica: Poison Toads , very sick or dead dogs:

Late last Friday night my 3 yr old mutt ran into a toad. I had let her off leash since it was already after 1am. to dark for me to see until back in casa and she threw up. got her down stairs and her legs gave out. just by chance a friend had told me just one week earlier about her dogs experience w/ a toad, but it was daylight so she knew what it was. so I was pouring milk in its clenched mouth. convulsions and spasms !! drove to Vet in Lindora closed! got instructions to escazu 24/7 vet hosp. closed too !!!! got a vet in Santa Ana named Anna to meet me at her clinic. by this time 2 hours post toad exposure. my dog in very bad shape. Anna told me 30% chance of survival due to time lag. a dozen shots and three IV bags later waited to see if she would survive. ( TTL ) she did. but was blind for next 18 hours. still weak but quickly getting stronger each day. These toads come out mostly at night. especially in rainy season. extreme caution from now on. just FYI newcomers.

Costa Rica: Best way to explore CR:

Hola Michael. do not listen to your family or friends. I to began making plans to relocate to CR when I was married. it was a very short marriage so it was go alone or don't go. my brother and friends said i was nuts for taking off alone. but i am fine. and I love it here. I can only recommend what I know. I started by buying rosetta stone online for $275 @ best buy. I still use it but am taking spanish lessons here. the lesson help the most. start those w/ a local in Miami and also use rosetta or pimsluer ILuvCR recommended. Apply your self. start going out of your way to talk to everyone in your neighborhood. Hearing the words when they speak fast was / is my problem. rent a room for a week or so. Don't make permanent plans until you get down here and see each place / casa for your self. I drive like a taxi driver, so the traffic is not an issue to me. Others hate it. If your the latter, hire a driver or use the buses. There is an app you can get on the bus system here that will help you. if your going to drive, get Waze app. it is 98% accurate and a great help. I could not find anywhere without it. if you want to use a driver, I have a friend who is trustworthy and a taxi driver I can reccomend w/o qualification. he will wait for you at the airport and take you to your hotel if you want. he is very good and very reliable/honest. He will drive you all over to show you the various towns etc, and will probably agree to a flat rate per day if you use him for something like that. Safe Travels amigo.

Costa Rica: Misconception #4::

lets all play nice and be professional. we all make mistakes. we all says things we should not and regret doing so later. my mom told me until she was blue in the face, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all". r. I think I finally learned that lesson about age 50 and I am still trying to get it right. its even more important now when the internet keeps your printed words in existence forever :0)

Costa Rica: Bus Line to Nicaragua Website:

I need to do a border run soon. Panama sounds too much of a hassle. Does anyone know the website for the Bus Line that drives up to Nicaragua? and if possible, where the terminal is located in the San Jose area? Thank you.!

Date Joined:

2/4/2015

Total Posts:

75

Posts/Day:

0.09