Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Current cost of a pound of chicken breast-$4.50
How does a road get fixed in Costa Rica? Not like it does in the states. In America, a pothole would cause great consternation. Phone calls would be placed to councilmen, complaints made to the city board, until it gets repaired. It would never occur to fix it ourselves—we pay a lot of taxes and want to see that money used in an appropriate way.
It’s different here. In Costa Rica, there is not a huge revenue of tax dollars to fix anything. Therefore, neighbors will get together and dump some dirt in a pothole until the authorities come around and fix it. They will even tie a white plastic bag to the top to alert oncoming traffic of the hazard.
But there is also Plan B. A plan that is the most effective and the Costa Ricans seem to welcome with open arms.
When a new project comes to town, there is a lot of excitement. Not only the possibility of jobs, but also the hope that it will improve the infrastructure in the area. This is exactly what is happening to the sleepy, dusty town of Potrero.
Rumor has it that a big developer is paving the roads. And rumors run wild in Costa Rica. Last year there was one that the Americans were going to invade because we wanted to steal their water. I tried to figure the logisitcs of that one, and I imagined one long bucket brigade stretching from California all the way to Costa Rica. Don’t get me wrong, Costa Rica water is really incredible, but it seemed like an awful lot of work to go through. I get thirsty just thinking about it.
However, the roads are getting fixed and I doubt the municipality has anything to do with it since they have really nice concrete gutters on the side—something I’ve never seen the Costa Rica government do. The gutters are so lovely, I want to hang out in one, prop my feet up, and read the paper.
I have mixed emotions about this. I love how this beach town has a sleepy vibe. How a dirt road will always be synonymous with adventure and exploration. But I also like progress, and it would be nice to drive on my scooter without ingesting a mouthful of dirt.
Things are really moving and shaking down here in Costa Rica. There’s a new sheriff in town and he wants a smooth ride to his development. If only he could do that for the rest of the country.
Oh man… fixing a road in Costa Rica… where to begin?
Let;s just say that it took decades to get a decent road down to Southern Costa Rica… and Zancudo still is dirt/gravel.. even though it was paid for a long time ago. 🙂
You’ll never hear this from the Costa Rican tourist board:
“Come for the wildlife, stay for the roads”
I see you got your first amazon download on your new book! If only I had a kindle. I will find a way! Can’t wait to read it! Maybe hubby will let me download to his blackberry playbook. Congrats!
Thanks!! The paperback will be out shortly. It was a lot of fun writing it, now people can get a taste of what it is like to live here. The review was so nice and thoughtful. I can only hope others can see the humor in all the shananingans I got myself into.
Always a fun read. Reminded me of the road to Dominical.
Yes, the domical road. After that ride, your brain is rattled like a pair of dice behind a diner.
Oh please do go hang out in your new gutter! That would be a classic image. Only those of us who have seen the mammoth concrete canyons would appreciate a North American style gutter. Progress is a mixed blessing isn’t it!
New concrete gutters, how that puts a smile on my face.
It makes me think of American roads, if only just a taste.
(I have a lot of free time)