A New Life In Costa Rica

Taking care of business

 Business is business...

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Yep, that kind has to be dealt with from time to time. To the best of our knowledge the two septic tanks for our over 20 yr old home have never been cleaned. Having been here for several years we figured it was time to take care of our business.

Awhile back we jotted down the number when we saw a black water truck. Yesterday I called them and got an appointment for this morning. These guys were at the house, did the deed, cleaned up and were gone in an hour. 

What's it cost to take care of your business? With these guys it was 15,000 colones, about $30 per cubic meter.  It cost us 60,000 colones ($120) to get rid of twenty plus years of well, stuff.

Tis the season for seafood

While in Puntarenas the other day we made a stop at the local fish market. We were pleasantly surprised by the variety of fish available and the prices. 

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Bill and I haven't really paid attention to the season or time of year when we've made previous visits to the fish market. In the future we'll remember December seems to have the most variety. We watched boats coming in loaded with mackeral, mahi mahi, snapper, corvina, lobster, shrimp and other varieties they described but I've forgotten.

We paid 7,000 colones for a kilo (2.2lbs) of shrimp and just under 3,000 colones per kilo for mahi-mahi. Unfortunately we didn't find the red snapper in any of the shops or we would've bought some of that as well.

Before my parents returned to their cruise ship we had lunch at a nearby seafood restaurant. It was the first time we've had a waiter bring the fresh fish plates to our table instead of a menu.

The fresh lobsters were 7,000 or 9,000 colones depending on size.  I believe both the red snapper and corvina were 7,000 colones and the shimp, six jumbos cost 6,000 colones. I tried the snapper and was not disappointed although I was a little surprise when it was served whole. The bigger surprise was that Callista LOVED my fish.

Looks like we will be purchasing some whole red snapper in the future to prepare at home. We cooked some of the mahi-mahi and shrimp last night for dinner. DELISIOUS and so much less expensive to eat in the comfort of our own home.

 

 

Price of a turkey dinner

Along with containers full of stuff, many expatriates from the United States bring along parts of their culture that couldn't be left behind. Thanksgiving is one of those things for many. It never ceases to amaze me when people are surprised this holiday isn't celebrated in Costa Rica. Why would it be?

Anyway, for the past few weeks I've watched people lament on the forums about the price of a Turkey and the difficulty they've been having trying to obtain one. While in Alajuela yesterday we looked for ourselves. We had no trouble finding plenty of Turkeys to go around. If you really want one.

At Automercado, an upscale grocery store catering to higher income locals and Expats we found Turkeys for 2,995 colones per kilo and Turkey breasts for 6,100 colones.

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Pricesmart, the local version of CostCo had their Butterball's priced at 14,495 colones each with a per kilo price listed at 2,415.83. It seems membership does have it's advantages.

A kilo being 2.2lbs and using a general exchange rate of 500 to 1  means a 12 to 14lb PriceSmart Butterball turkey runs about $29.00.

I did a quick check of online grocery stores where we used to live(Arizona) and where we most recently visited (Florida) and discovered Butterball turkeys run $0.59 a pound. That is without all the promos. Stateside this same bird would be under $10.

 

Got bananas?

We do! Many people have bananas growing on their property. We have a couple of plants that are creeping across the property line so we'll have them in the future but for now we buy them at a local fruit market.

Our banana consumption isn't what it was when we first moved here but we do still eat a bunch of them.

 

What would you pay where you live for this wheel barrel full of bananas?
 

 

Excuse me, HOW much did you say?

Many people dream of moving to Costa Rica for it's lower cost of living. The cost of living anywhere depends on who you are and your individual needs.

Here's one example of the price of life for me, a crafter. Recently, I made a baby blanket for a friend. I used yarn I purchased from an expatriate selling her stuff and moving back to the United States some time ago. I paid $1 a skein for the yarn. When we got home with the yarn months ago I looked it up on-line and discovered I had indeed gotten a deal as this particular type ran about $3 a skein. I was thrilled.

Bill and Callista liked the baby blanket so much they wanted me to make one for our new grandbaby due to arrive before the end of the year. We knew a local craft store had purchased the remaining yarn supply from the woman after her moving sale and had seen the same yarn on a recent visit marked 20% off.

The other day my daughter and I went into the store to purchase the yarn so I could start the project. We put eight rolls on the counter and were shocked when told the total, $46.00. I had to ask the cashier a couple of times what she said and was reminded it was a SALE PRICE.  I almost choked. I told the woman I wouldn't have money for groceries if I paid that for the yarn. We left the yarn on the counter and walked out. That's a hell of a mark up on second hand yarn. 

Needless to say our new grandbaby isn't getting a blanket with that yarn.