Costa Rica Fun Facts

In Costa Rica, it is not uncommon to give coffee to babies (in their bottle, with milk) and to young children.

McDonald's, Burger King and all the others have HOME DELIVERY in Costa Rica! This is not a good thing if you are on a diet.

Ticos are short statured people in general. Therefore, chairs, couches etc are built about 6-8 inches (sometimes more) lower than furniture say from the USA. If you are tall, you will find that the act of just getting up is an effort.

Cigarettes are only about $1.20 per pack. Another thing to place under the 'not good' category.

Naming conventions are very different here. Children take their father's name, but add their mother's maiden name to their full name. So when you see a name on a business card like Carlos Jose Gomez Guzman, this persons name is Carlos Gomez and the Guzman is his mom's maiden name. Often this is abbreviated as an initial thus: Carlos Jose Gomez G. or even more commonly, Carlos Gomez G.

Costa Rican women do not take their husband's last name. The woman uses her full maiden name for life. No changing of national ID cards, drivers licenses, etc. She also adds her mother's maiden name.

Rarely now, women WILL use the old Spanish naming convention and add a "de " and her husband's name. Thus, Maria Gomez when she marries Carlos de la Torre, will become Maria Gomez de La Torre.

If you should die while here, you are buried here on the same day you die... no embalming... nada. They just plant you! Everyone looks to see your obituary on TV several times per day!

There are few street signs in Costa Rica and even fewer addresses. Read that as almost none. Just about all addresses are in terms of a well-known building or landmark; often the local Catholic Church, cemetery, or another fixed location. But just to keep things interesting, some addresses are phrased in terms of building that may have burned down 20 years ago! Also, when you see an address that says 200M west of something, that normally means 2 blocks and NOT a true 200 meters.

Instead of saying "my other half", Ticos often refer to their significant other as their "media naranja" or the other half of their orange.

Front doors of commercial establishments almost always open IN. This is against every fire code in the USA, but here, perhaps because they have never had a tragedy in which hundreds died because the door could not be opened inwards, there is no such law. As you have become "programmed" to Pull when entering and Push when leaving, plan to feel silly as you tug or push in the wrong direction.

Milk, eggs, and many other items that you have been trained all your life to refrigerate, are available off the shelf (un-refrigerated) at almost every super market. (Yes, I know.)

At 7 AM every morning, most if not all Costa Rica radio stations broadcast the exact same program. It begins with the Costa Rican National Anthem and provides the government and other authorized entities a way to send messages or information nation wide.

The meter in a taxicab is know as the Maria... apparently a loose reference to the Virgin Mary.

Guaro is the local alcoholic liquor of choice. The beverage is inexpensive and is made from sugar cane. Costa Rica also produces a fine coffee liquor - straight from the coffee bean.

Costa Rica is the only country that does not have an army. It was abolished in 1949.

A "ladies night" in Costa Rica means absolutely free rum or vodka drinks for the women. (Sorry guys!)

*Some information taken directly from the site www.therealcostarica.com/other/oddsandends.html

Costa Rica Fun Facts