Interesting facts about Costa Rica

Here are some things that I have not included yet that I think you might find quite interesting:

·In Costa Rica, they do not have addresses. They give directions such as the following to get to places: Go straight until you see the big mango tree, then take a left. Go 50

Just chillin
meters and turn left at the green house (even though the green house was painted two years ago to a completely different color). Yeah, it is always fun, especially in Español. Also when they are taking about a place that is farther away, they will use a landmark and say St. Clare School, 50 meters west of HyperMás(which is their WalMart). A little difficult.

·When you use a bathroom in Costa Rica, you cannot flush the toilet paper down the

Un chicitito taking a dip

toilet....their systems cannot take the paper. Where do you put the use toilet paper you may ask? Well, you put it in the garbage in the bathroom silly! Yes, that is correct....you put USED toilet paper in the garbage in the bathroom and it just sit there until it get full enough to empty.

·They do not use clothes dryers (or an actual washing machine at my house--all done by hand). So all of the clothes we buy that are used to getting shrunk back into shape in the dryer are just kinda loose and not fitting so well at this point.

·To cut the lawn, you may think a lawn mower woudl be a quick fix, but in Costa Rica they get down on all fours and chop the grass with a machete. Their lawns are definitely small enough to do this but it is just a curious site to see someone chopping grass with a huge knife, then picking it up and putting it into a garbage bag.

That is all I can think of for now. I know there are more, but those are the major ones. More to come though I am sure......

written by

Kristin Kyllo on June 20, 2007 from Tres Rios, Costa Rica

from the travel blog: Kiki's adventures in Costa Rica

Send a Compliment

Great Post. Puerto Viejo is where I live and I just love that little shack.

That whole toilet paper scam is just gross. I think there are many reasons for this.

1) The pipes they use for drainage can be whatever size was cheapest or in stock. So there is a good chance it is not adequate.

2) I have looked at locals ideas of septic tanks and fields. There is great room for improvement.

3) They don't know anymore why they are doing this and in many places there is sufficient drainage, they don't realize it.

The other Toilet Paper issue is that there is none in public washrooms. People steal it. So you bring your own. I learned that from my tico boyfriend.

written by Colin Brownlee on June 20, 2007

I like the two bucket maneuver that they use in Southeast Asia a lot better. Once you get used to the drip drying (and only eating meals with your right hand), it's all smooth sailing.

Better still are the ones with the hose and spray nozzle!

written by

Jason Kester on June 20, 2007

kristin! sorry i haven't commented on your blog yet, i don't have internet at home so i have to try to sneakily do it at work :) i miss you and it sounds like you are having the experience of a lifetime, i'm jealous. ps, congrats on passing your tests! oh, and shawn just accepted a teaching job at bloomington elementary school! love you and miss you!

written by Erin on June 21, 2007

comment on this...