Central Valley | De la Pura Vida

Expat Interview: Tiger Baby

Sep 11, 2016 | Expat Memoirs |

Tiger tells us about her 7 years in Costa Rica, her 4 husbands, and her 20 years in Japan and traveling the world as a dancer, Alaska pipeline welder, personal trainer, translator, and home health nurse.

Good Living: San Isidro de Heredia, Costa Rica

Aug 14, 2016 | Costa Rica Tips, Tricks, and FAQs |

I follow a creepy ad on Craigslist and find a home in the unlikeliest of places, in a tiny isolated mountain town in Costa Rica.

A Clear Day at Poas Volcano

Apr 24, 2013 | Expat Memoirs |

300 meters above the active crater of Poas Volcano on a clear day: breathtaking. I think I figured out the magic formula to see it without clouds!

The Best Way to See San Jose, Costa Rica

Mar 27, 2013 | Expat Memoirs |

I’ve been hatin’ on downtown San Jose since I first saw it, so I decided to take a popular walking tour to see if my mind could be changed.

3 Ways to Say No in Costa Rica Without Actually Saying “No”

Feb 12, 2013 | Costa Rica Tips, Tricks, and FAQs, Expat Memoirs |

How do you say no in Costa Rica? Well, it’s not “no” because that is considered outright rude. Instead of saying “no,” you have to get creative and come up with different excuses to get out of the situation.

Success! I crashed the country club

Feb 4, 2013 | Expat Memoirs |

I did it. I crashed the Costa Rica country club, I played tennis for 3 hours, I made some new friends, and I didn’t get caught. I can’t wait to do it again!

Gyno Groupons, Crashing Country Clubs

Jan 31, 2013 | Expat Memoirs |

So we have this thing here in Costa Rica called Yuplón (Jewp-lahn) and it’s just like Groupon in the States. Well, almost like Groupon. The big difference is that in addition to normal deals, Yuplón also sells medical treatments. Last week, they advertised a women’s checkup for $50. Gyno exam, pap smear, blood work, consultation with a nutritionist, boob ultrasound and mammogram if you need it. My friend Stacey and I bought it. We figured it was too good of a deal to pass up, but that it also might be better to take advantage of it together in...