We all hate going to the doctor. We all hate getting sick. We kick and scream and drag our feet all the way to the doctor’s office. The truth is that it’s usually an unpleasant experience.
What if a hospital was actually hospitable? This is no longer a dream. For many who can’t afford proper medical care in their home countries, Costa Rica is a medical haven. San Jose is home to many excellent private medical centers that cater to foreign patients, but one star that shines particularly bright is Hospital Hotel La Catolica.
At La Catolica patients can actually enjoy their stay without wondering what that weird stain on the wall is or whether the food is actually Read more
We pulled up to a strip mall in La Fortuna, and saw this tiny, unassuming restaurant. We walked in and our group of 4 occupied half the seating. It’s that tiny. New York Grill & Pizza owners, John and Priscilla, treat each customer as a guest in their home and only give the best service possible. Coming from Sicilian family, John decided to learn how to make his childhood favorites, along with some American classics. Now he’s serving them up at a bargain price.
As we sat at the counter looking over the menu, every item kept bringing up the same thought “No way, they have that? I haven’t had that in forever!” However, I had heard a lot about Read more
The tropical sun combined with the often overwhelming humidity of Panama make doing anything without air-conditioning quite difficult. After a hot and sweaty week in the city an escape to cool off is an absolute necessity. Now most city-dwellers tend to head to the islands or beaches during their time off and while the ocean is a fantastic place to chill down, I’ve got another equally if not cooler option. An easy 2 hour bus ride from the city, El Valle de Anton is a nice little valley nestled in the mountains of the Coclé Province. The high elevation and persistent breeze gives this small, sleepy mountain town a very cool temperature most of the time, which is the perfect Read more
Want to meet a bunch of like-minded South American explorers, get blitzed and have a chance to win some prizes too? The South American Explorers club’s bi-monthly pub quiz takes place at the Turtle’s Head Pub located in Quito’s La Mariscal the first and third Wednesday of every month.
Miss Starbucks? Now you don’t have to. Starbucks has announced their plans to expand further into Central America by opening a Starbucks coffee shop in Costa Rica. There are already six other shops in Central America and over 500 in Latin America.
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 Read more
“Hey man where did you get those sweet shades?” I seem to be asked that question almost as often as I get sunburned in Panama, which is on a regular basis. As cheap, nice sunglasses are on the “To-Do” list of most travelers to Central America, Mexico or any country less expensive than their own, I found a gem of a place that I must share with you. Whether you are a traveler just passing through the Isthmus or a resident trying to protect your retinas while looking cool, sunglasses are an important part of your world. While seeing sunglasses salesman on the sides of the road selling their merchandise to drivers is common, these men will never give you Read more
Finding solid medical coverage should be the Expat’s top priority when assessing overseas living costs…. Reducing these medical costs is one of the beauties of overseas living and with the right Expat medical plan you will reduce your medical costs.
Well, there aren’t that many options. You can either fly into Liberia or San Jose.
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 Read more
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 Read more
San Salvador is nightlife central for locals and expats alike. Amidst the plethora of nightclubs, bars and restaurants, La Luna shines as a totally unique hangout.
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 Read more
Facebook
Twitter
