Apparently this new store will be opened in downtown San Jose. It’s hard to imagine that this novelty will be anything but warmly welcomed by Costa Ricans and those of us who miss our Venti White Chocolate Latte or Peppermint Mocha Latte. Starbucks already buys coffee from Costa Rica so it’s only natural that they would open a store here eventually.

When is the much awaited date? May 2012. Starbucks has close to 11, 000 stores in the US and over 6, 000 international locations. In my opinion, this coffee industry giant will continue to grow and probably continue to add locations in the future. As exciting as this is, I don’t think I’ll visit this new shop more than once. Why? Mostly because I live four hours away but also, unlike the United States, you can find good coffee anywhere in Costa Rica and you don’t have to pay $5 bucks to get it.  One of my favorite places to get coffee in San Jose is actually El Tostador. This place has really good quality hot and iced coffee. So if you’re not a Starbucks fan you still have plenty of options in San Jose and all around the country to get a great cup of coffee.

On a positive note, since the opening of their first international store in Tokyo 16 years ago, Starbucks has prided themselves on adapting to and honoring the culture of each place that they expand to. It won’t be long before you can get your Grande, skinny caramel macchiato, just the way you like it. Get ready Costa Rica! It’s time to start learning Starbucks lingo!

Excited about Starbucks? Let us know. Know of another great coffee house? Please tell us.

The Mecca of cheap sunglasses in Panama City is located in the most unlikely of locations, the bus terminal.  A small kiosk near the stairs and main large entrance to the terminal exists an amazing selection of only the coolest shades.  At a no haggle price of 2 pair for $5, don’t be surprised if you find yourself walking away from the kiosk thinking, “what am I going to do with 4 pair of sunglasses?”  The selection seems to change on a regular basis, so every visit presents a new opportunity to purchase protection for your eyes.  From Ray-Bans of every color to Aviators of every shape and size, a purchase from this kiosk will guarantee you look a little cooler next time you’re out in the sun!

Usually I am home for short stints but as I had not been back for the holidays for over 9 years, I promised Thanksgiving and Xmas with the family. This extended stay had me reassessing my health care needs and I found myself on the web seeking out new coverage. My criteria were as follows: maximum coverage for temporary to extended stays in the US, full coverage abroad, full indemnity of hazardous sports, low cost (of course) and any dental plan thrown in would be just gravy. My search through the databases of about 20 expat insurance websites led me through plans that provided cheap per annum premiums (about $1000/year) for overseas plans, but throw in any length of stay in the US and  premiums took a hike of about 250%.

 I finally stumbled upon a unique little plan by the people at Seven Corners. 7C’s Reside Prime plan delivers maximum coverage and flexibility to any world citizen who will spend no more than 6 months out of the year in the US. Basic indemnity will provide you with full coverage while overseas. With Full coverage you will pay nothing out of pocket, once your deductible has been met, for any illness, operation, amputation, etc. while outside the US. Further, Reside Prime will provide, once the deductible has been met, 80% of the first 5k spent and 100% thereafter, for any expense while in the US. The all important catch, though, is that YOU RESIDE NO MORE THAN SIX MONTHS OF THE YEAR IN THE US. Just thought I’d drill that in. They will check your passport’s visas and will want proof of your time outside the US before paying out any claim.

If you will definitely be residing the majority of your time overseas, Seven Corner’s Reside Prime is ideal.

Of interest to overseas residents is coverage for emergency evacuation. Should you be stuck in a place without adequate medical facilities, you will be airlifted to the nearest hospital for treatment. Also, Seven Corners will provide travel expenses and lodging for anyone you specify to assist you during a medical emergency. Another perk is the emergency dental. Fall and lose a tooth, you’ll get a new one right away (gravy).  

A base plan for adults 25-46 is about $1100 per annum.

Reside Prime is a long term solution for overseas residents and their medical needs. Reside Prime can be renewed every year until the age of 75. You cannot be denied ever for renewal as long as you keep your plan active. Payment for the plan is flexible as well. If you can’t fork out your base premium all at once, RP allows users to opt for semi-annual, quarterly or monthly payment plans for a slight incremental fee. And Reside Prime is a sound bet. Underwritten by Lloyds of London, a solid UK financial institution, Reside Prime is guaranteed to be here for years to come.

I love Reside Prime’s plan for it’s strength, flexibility and it’s price tag. But for a bit more, you can strengthen the plan with a few add ons. I chose dental (provides annual coverage for dental exams and surgery), hazardous sports (covers you for diving, surfing, skiing, etc.) and a hospital rider (boosts your daily maximum for hospital stays while outside the USA).  Also offered is term life insurance, good for those with dependents. When all was said and done my plan came out to be $1840 per annum ($2060 paying quarterly). For what it has to offer, my Reside Prime is valued at $113/month.

Reside Prime does have a few drawbacks. I didn’t say it was perfect, just comparatively better, in my opinion, to other plans on the market. RP offers no prescription coverage and will limit your coverage for pre-existing and congenital conditions. I suggest you look closely at this plan and see if it is the one for you. It sure was for me.

Check out Reside Prime here:  https://www.sevencorners.com/insurance/resideprime/

Juan Santamaria Aiport (SJO) is commonly known as the San Jose airport even though it’s actually located in Alajuela. Traffic through this airport is not bad and getting from the plane, through immigration, baggage claim and customs hardly ever takes more than a half an hour.

The airport is not small but not large by any means either. There are many duty free shops and restaurants like Burger King, Schotlkys, Papa John’s and Cinnabon. Café Britt also has souvenir shops at the airport which often offer discounts for bulk purchases. If you need to rent a vehicle you can do that too and exchange currency also. Usually I recommend you only change about $20 here and change the rest in the bank where you’ll get a better rate. The truth is that SJO is your typical airport.

Once you make your way out you come to this lobby with a large glass window. On either side are doors that lead outside. Large crowds of people wait pressed up against the large window, waiting to catch a glimpse of their expected guest. Outside orange cabs belong to the airport. These are super expensive but safe. Still further outside red cabs will offer a slightly cheaper ride, also safe.

Daniel Oduber Airport in Liberia (LIR), Guanacaste is completely different and like nothing I’ve ever seen. This airport is small. Usually one flight lands or departs at a time. Driving past it I never realized how small it truly is. There is a modern-looking structure that deceives you into thinking this isn’t a tiny airport. Upon a closer look you’ll notice the modern part of this airport is not yet open, even though it appears completely finished. Next to this modern structure is what appears to be the hangar where the wright brothers must’ve kept their first prototype. There are never a whole lot of people there and it doesn’t take long to get through security and on the plane. Here you actually have to walk on the runway up to the plane and board via steps, just like the president boards Air Force One in all the movies.

Once you’ve been through immigration, baggage claim and customs you step out into the crowd and find your way to your host, a red cab or a local bus that pulls right up to the exit.

Usually SJO is cheaper due to more airlines flying there but Jet Blue started offering direct flights from JFK to LIR at a cheap price back in November. Even from January 22 to 31 you can still fly one-way from JFK to LIR or vice versa for $139. In February you can find flights for as little as $155 one-way and as much as $710 one –way.

Share your experiences at Costa Rican airports in our comments section.

Another favorite is the amazing Larco Museum. Galleries here are organized in chronological order to give a detailed overview of the progression of Peru’s history. In these exhibits are collections of gold, silver, jewels, ceramic sculptures and artifacts and most importantly, the storage area. In storage you can see 45,000 pieces catalogued and kept in storage. Visiting the storage is literally overwhelming. There is so much to see that you can’t see everything. That’s why you have to keep coming back in hopes that one day you’ll have seen everything.

Last but by no means least is a good ol’ bike tour. Bike tours of Lima offer a variety of invigorating tours to help you discover or rediscover Lima’s charm. The bay tour will take you out to Barranco, Chorrillos and finally Miraflores all with a breathtaking ocean view. The Urban tour takes you through the field of Olives in San Isidro and back to Miraflores. The downtown tour, ties up two of my top three into one which is just a wonderful way to come full circle and complete the Lima experience. These tours tend to be around 4 hours long but don’t let that scare you, there’s plenty of breaks to take pictures, drink water or eat a snack. Lunch or snacks at a local joint is included in the bike tour. You can also rent a bike for $15 for one day or $55 per week to get around on your own if you want.

Don’t see your favorite Lima activities? Share them with us! Leave a comment!

There is no shortage of things to do in Lima. Often when we find ourselves in such an enormous city, there’s so much to do that there is nothing to do. I’ve narrowed it down to my top three.
A classic must see is the Plaza the Armas. The Cathedral sits impressively on one side of the plaza while the Palacio de Gobierno sits on another. The best time to visit Plaza the Armas is noon. Sit and watch the changing of the guard, people watch, take a tour of the cathedral and then head down Jiron de la Union. Walk down this pedestrian walkway lined with quaint little shops, restaurants and cafes. Window shop, eat lunch or have some coffee. Spend a relaxing afternoon in Old Lima.
Another favorite is the amazing Larco Museum. Galleries here are organized in chronological order to give a detailed overview of the progression of Peru’s history. In these exhibits are collections of gold, silver, jewels, ceramic sculptures and artifacts and most importantly, the storage area. In storage you can see 45,000 pieces catalogued and kept in storage. Visiting the storage is literally overwhelming. There is so much to see that you can’t see everything. That’s why you have to keep coming back in hopes that one day you’ll have seen everything.
Last but by no means least is a good ol’ bike tour. Bike tours of Lima offers a variety of invigorating tours to help you discover or rediscover Lima’s charm. The bay tour will take you out to Barranco, Chorrillos and finally Miraflores all with a breathtaking ocean view. The Urban tour takes you through the field of Olives in San Isidro and back to Miraflores. The downtown tour, ties up two of my top three into one which is just a wonderful way to come full circle and complete the Lima experience. These tours tend to be around 4 hours long but don’t let that scare you, there’s plenty of brakes to take pictures, drink water or eat a snack. Lunch or snacks at a local joint is included in the bike tour. You can also rent a bike for $15 for one day or $55 per week to get around on your own if you want.
Don’t see your favorite Lima activities? Share them with us! Leave a comment!

La Luna is built on the idea of showcasing Salvadorian artist and promoting art in its many forms. The restaurant is always changing as new art exhibitions are brought in. There’s live music every night, from classical music to salsa, jazz, and even folk music. Musicians come from all over the country and even all over Central America. Sometimes there’s poetry readings and even workshops to encourage local art. An upcoming event is the one man theatre act featuring Mexican artist Ermis Cruz.

The charm of La Luna isn’t just their dedication to local art but the great food also. Along with the bar food staples like nachos and cheese platters there are some really interesting offerings. The plato de bocas mixtas has an assortment on cheeses, olives, quail eggs, tomato, cucumber, hearts of palm, and bread sticks. The kicker here is the quail eggs; they make this appetizer totally tasty.

Some other really cool options include the Sopa Azteca which is like a spicy tortilla soup. Another favorite is a Luna creation called the Zangolote, a hot chicken sandwich with avocado, beans and cheese. The atmosphere in this place is perfect for a fun night out with friends or even a night to make new friends. The music, the art and the food come together to celebrate Salvadorian art.

Open for twenty years now, an evening at La Luna is fun and even educational in a way. The truth is that La Luna never disappoints. If you want a fun night out on the town, head right to the moon, La Luna is Buenos Aires, San Salvador.

Know of another great hangout in El Salvador? Leave a comment.

The Zoo is totally dedicated to conservation of natural wildlife native to Belize. All of the animals are native to Belize and have either been rescued from captivity or donated to the zoo. These animals include jaguars, red macaws, coatis, monkeys, storks, and even a tapir, the zoo’s biggest star. Every year in April kids are invited to sing happy birthday to April the Tapir as she eats her “birthday cake”.

Local schools are encouraged to bring groups of students for day trips. Guided by a professional the kids are taught about the different animals and conservation of local wildlife. During the summer anyone between 12-17 years of age is invited to stay overnight for five days at Conservation Camp. Lead by the education staff, these children learn and spend time with the animals as they participate in many exciting activities.

If you really want to make a trip of it you can stay at the Jungle Lodge. The Castle Lodge is dormitory style, mostly used for large groups on overnight trips or camp. The cabins are better for small groups or families. Rates range from $30-$82 US. During your stay you can add other fun activities like bird watching or canoeing down Sibun River. Personally I can’t pass up the opportunity to go canoeing.

For those who really want to make a difference internships are available. Interns are very involved in all aspects of the zoo from guiding tour groups to conservation and vet assistant work. Sounds like fun right? Check out the requirements here.

Share you Belize Zoo experience in our comments section.

Every morning started with a big plate of gallo pinto and a fresh homemade tortilla. There were some variables; sometimes there was cheese, egg or sour cream but never all of these. Every time was a slightly different experience but still hearty and tasty.

Gallo Pinto is usually prepared by frying boiled red beans with onions and garlic. As the beans fry, add some rice and combine well. This may seem a little heavy for breakfast but it keeps you satisfied all morning.

Lunch seems to be the biggest meal of the day. This usually consists of a combination of rice, beans, meat and a vegetable.  Dinner was a lighter meal, sometimes we just had beans, cheese and tortillas.
A classic Nicaraguan meal is Indio Viejo. This was my favorite dish we had while we stayed with this family. Meat is cooked slowly with garlic, bell peppers and onions until it shreds easily. Then it is mixed with cooked masa (same kind you would make tortillas out of) and it kind of turns into this thick meaty paste. We had it over white rice. It was the best thing we had in Ticuantepe.

Other typical meals include Baho (Vaho), Nacatamales and Quesillo. Another favorite is Vigoron because who doesn’t like chicharrones. The boiled yucca, cabbage salad and a lime wedge served are the perfect complement for crunchy, greasy, meaty chicharrones. Vigoron is more like street food and the plantain leaf it’s usually served on is the perfect to-go vessel.

Last but not least, dessert. My favorite dessert ever is Tres Leches. This is a white cake with vanilla smothered in a mixture of condensed milk, evaporated milk, cream and a touch of rum. The airy cake with a tall drink of sweetness is rich and light at the same time. This dessert takes a few simple ingredients and elevates them to something luxurious. For a classic Tres Leches recipe, click here.

This is only a taste of Nicaraguan cuisine. Want to share your Nicaraguan favorites? Please leave a comment!

Since Argentina is so long and narrow the weather actually varies greatly from one end to the other. As a rule the north is hot, the south is cold and the middle is mild. If you’re thinking on terms of moving , most people will have an easier time adjusting to the weather in Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Mendoza and that whole middle belt. The weather is quite similar to what it is back in North Carolina. Nice summers (end of November to beginning of March) between 80s and 90s. Chilly winters between 40s and 50s (end of May to beginning of August). Spring  (August to November) and fall (March-May) are the best weather ever and definitely the best time to visit. The weather is great and the sights are lovely.

If you really like heat you can move to Salta and the northern region but most of us just like to visit in the winter. In the summer it stays above 100 degrees for weeks at a time. In the winter it gets down to really comfortable temperatures in the low 60’s at its coldest.

If you’re a regular Eskimo then the southernmost town of Ushuaia will make you feel at home. The weather is pretty much always cold. Even in the summer temperatures are still chilly compared to the rest of Argentina with temperatures in the high 60s.

Whether you’re moving or just coming for a visit and planning to travel around, the best thing to do is bring a little bit of everything. Bring clothes that you can layer. That way you can layer on more clothes or simply layer them off as you need to.

Want to check the weather right now? Click here.

Have advice you want to share? Leave a comment!