ABOUT THE LIVING LIFE IN COSTA RICA BLOG

I (Vicki Skinner - aka "THE Sarong Goddess") created this blog in 2007 to share DETAILED Finds•Lists•Info•Events•Experiences to help bring more EASE to people living in, visiting or thinking of moving to Costa Rica since DETAILS are NOT easy to find!
I’m NOT an expert (an "expert" 2 ME knows 101%-NOT me). I believe in sharin info•helping where I can! And with over 2,200 entries, so some things might be out of date, so if you find old info PLEASE help each other by getting the updated info & sharing it with me to revise. At least you have some basic info to get you started.
VOLUNTEER TO HELP:
Better yet - do you have extra time on your hands & looking for a volunteer project? Since this blog is a labor of love & RARELY does anyone share a donation (even though MANY have said how much it's helped them), I could REALLY use help updating info. Spanish speakers ESPECIALLY welcome since my VicLish can be somewhat limited at times!!

DONATE:
Has my blog helped in any way? Helped find something•brought more EASE? More exposure or business?
I welcome you to show YOUR appreciation for my efforts!
ANY size DONATION is APPRECIATED!
(see below other ways to show your appreciation)
The easiest way is with PAYPAL - Attn: LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com
(you do NOT need to have a PayPal account to do this - just a credit or debit card)
ADD INFORMATION:
Do YOU have/know of a Business•Event•News•Place•Things 4 Sale•Rent to add? Email:
LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

OTHER WAYS TO SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION FOR THIS BLOG

• APPLE LAPTOP - Do you have a Laptop you're not using? Mine recently broke so I'm using a lender. Must be new enough to run current Skypes & have an SDCard slot.
• Amazon.com or GoDaddy.com Credit•Gift Certificate (attn: SarongGoddess@gmail.com)
• Something else to share?? A gift certificate or invite for your business? I'm open!! (at times I'll add other things here that I'm seeking)

Friday, August 7, 2009

TAXI DRIVERS AROUND COSTA RICA - VICKI's LIST OF ENGLISH SPEAKING LEGAL RED TAXIS

For the updated list of ENGLISH SPEAKING TAXI DRIVERS go to
http://LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2010/03/taxi-drivers-english-speaking-costa.html




VICKI's LIST OF ENGLISH SPEAKING LEGAL RED TAXI DRIVERS

This list is CURRENTLY predominately for the Escazu area (but we're starting a list for other areas around Costa Rica so if you have someone to add, info on what to do is below). Their level of English is of varying levels so do yourself a favor & speak SLOWLY (challenging for me to do as I get SOOOO EXCITED!!). Some don't speak English but they are often available & or just GOOD/trustworthy people!


I ONLY use LEGAL RED TAXI's & Tourism Vans as they are the ONLY ones that are insured to carry paying passengers plus, if the cops pull them over (& they DO), you're stuck in the middle of no where as the driver can NOT go on!!!

ALWAYS MAKE SURE THE DRIVER TURNS THE MARIA•METER ON (it starts at 570-colones though it reads 570.0 which can be VERY misleading!!!)

HOURS: The hours indicated are the TYPICAL hours they work BUT almost ALL can be flexible by advanced appointment. They can drive you wherever you want to go but you may want to hire ones that have experience/knowledge of an area.


ESCAZU
DISPATCHES:
TAXI'S ESCAZU
2-289-0826 / 2-289-0026 - HOURS: 24/7 now. (if I'm just going around Escazu area, I call them & usually Dispatch [below]. They're located in Centro Escazu by the church)



DO YOU HAVE A LEGAL DRIVER TO ADD?
We're constantly enhancing/add to this list (we'd like names for English-speaking drivers THROUGHOUT Costa Rica!!) so if you have a LEGAL RED taxi driver or LEGAL Tourism Van (ONLY - PERIOD!!!) to add, please email us at: CostaRicaResourceGuide@gmail.com
Please provide the following info in this order:
Name:
Phone Number/Email Address/Website:
Level of English/any comments:
Days/Hours:
Location:



AIRPORT GREETS•RETURNS to/from the Escazu (San Rafael) area
Greet - $30+. Returns - $25+ (plus tip)
FYI - Hiring a Red Taxi to pick you up at the airport or return you is more expensive than Airport Taxi's because they spend time waiting for you (time is $$) as well as Greet you with a sign with YOUR name on it, plus they have to pay for parking which ain't cheap at SJO. They also legally can NOT pick up anyone that's not their customer at the airport [they deadhead] so they loose money there.
Airport Taxi's are cheaper [around $18 I believe] but my experience is FEW speak English let alone know a lot about areas.



PLEASE TELL EVERYONE “Vicki” referred ya!!!

# # #

AIRPORTS and AIRLINE INFO - SJO - Juan SantaMaria Airport - San Jose, Costa Rica - old

For the latest updated information on all things AIRLINES, AIRPORT in Costa Rica - go to:
.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

HUGE Changes in new Transit/Driving Laws in Costa Rica 9/23/09 - EDUCATE YOURSELF!





This was shared with me per Amy/cstrcstamyst. She's been SOOOO CONSIDERATE as to translate the new laws into English which you can purchase at http://NewLeyDeTransito.com

I understand her concerns - especially light of the potential problems for more pressure for bribes but I VERY MUCH agree with some of the new laws (I've had NUMEROUS friends, lovers & family DIE from IDIOT drivers which is prolific in CR hence I can't see owning a car here!! I live in the MOST convenient area so I can walk, bus (ok - rarely) or my preferred - taxi which is pretty cheap & SANER!!).

THANX Amy for helping to educate us & make OUR lives easier!!!! I think this is WELL worth the investment if you drive or intend on driving in Costa Rica!!

##########################



Amy Stivers (Shorty) here. Most of you know, I rarely send a mass email. Today is different, as I’m sending you some information on the new changes to the Ley de Transito that will be very very important to you as of September 23rd, 2009. On that date, a sweeping change in the Transit Law takes effect, and all of us need to be prepared. I’ve lived here over 15 years, and this might be the most dramatic change in law that Costa Rica’s attempted in a long while.

Although COSEVI (Consejo de Seguridad Vial) is obligated by law to inform all residents of the new changes, thoroughly enough for everyone to have a full understanding, nothing has been distributed to the English speaking population that lets this sector know what they’re really in for. Following are some highlights which should get your attention:

* 400 new Transito Officers will hit the streets in September 23rd, a 50% increase over the=2 0800 already on the roadways.
* All drivers’ licenses will be computerized, and accredited 50 points. When you commit an infraction, you’re issued a $$ fine, but also you get points deducted. The new system is so strict, that running a stop sign only twice can leave you with a suspended license for TWO YEARS. Transito Officials will be communicating to Cosevi central via radio and computer every time someone gets pulled over. It’s expected that citations will be issued following transit accidents as well. A simple fender bender could end up with serious fines issued, and possibly loss of license if you have more than one such situation.
* Parents and people who transport children under 12 must have safety seats, and the areas where a child may be seated will be restricted. No more children in the front seat, and no booster seats in the middle area of the back seat, no infant seats in the middle. Does your car support the new regulations? Many par ents are finding that NO, their car won’t be legal to transport all their kids any more. Not complying can get a parent’s license suspended for TWO YEARS, with the first infraction.
* You’ll be required to carry a number of new devices in your car at all times, and use reflective vests and triangles any time you perform roadway maintenance, or risk half your license points on the first infraction. Even bicyclists will have to carry new devices, so even if you don’t drive, you really need to inform yourself.
* There’s going to be a host of new infractions possible for everyone, including not yielding to a pedestrian in the crosswalk, which will cost you half your license points with one citation. It will take at least one year and possibly up to four years to recover those license points, if you do not commit any new infractions AT ALL.
* Foreigners who don’t get a National driver’s license within 90 days of last entry will be fined c68,100 colones now. If you drive a car or motorcycle and haven’t gotten your CR license yet, now is the time to plan it.

Needless to say, common sense and first-world driving experience will NOT get you through the new changes without risking some serious fines, and even suspension of your license. Costa Rica has never before REQUIRED any type of training or education to issue their licenses, and now with this law, Costa Rica’s President and Minister of Transport aim to rectify the ignorance, make everyone learn very fast, at the risk of very high fines and of easily losing your license. All Costa Ricans are rapidly re-educating themselves, as should the rest of us. Please inform yourself now, and get prepared so that you are not one of those who falls through the cracks come September.

Many people are voicing concerns that so many new officers, so many new infractions, and so much at stake is the perfe ct storm for having Transito Officers running rampant with the solicitation & nbsp;of bribes, and committing abuses. This is a valid concern, and provisions are in place with the new law for appeals an complaints, without all the previous legal legwork that used to be required. We all need to be prepared to know how to appeal citations, how to report abuse by officers, buses, and taxis, and how to pay citations an d renew our licenses.

In cooperation with InsideCostaRica.com, I’ve compiled an ebook in English with all this information for use by the English speaking residents here in Costa Rica, as well as those who are researching and planning moving to Costa Rica. You may find it for sale at http://www.InsideCostaRica.com or at http://www.newleydetransito.com for $9.95. Subsequent editions will likely be released as the inevitable legal challenges to the law mount, and adaptations to the law are constructed. There is 50 pages if explanation and illustration of the new changes, new devices, explanation o f the new system, statistics, driving times, and more. Also included is an Annex with the complete Reforma de Ley de Transito translated into English, followed by the complete original document in Spanish. Please inform yourself, and get prepared.

It’s called “Shorty’s Guide to the New Ley de Transito 2009”, and in addition, InsideCostaRica.com will be running weekly articles with overviews of different aspects of the new law. InsideCostaRica is a free daily English newsletter and site for Costa Rica, with free daily newsletter emails. You may sign up for the free newsletter with the link towards the top rig ht of the home page, and keep up with the situation.

Thank you to all of you for taking the time to read this. I have not put you on a mailing list of any kind, and won't be sending any other emails besides this one. I hope everyone gets themselves informed and prepared for September, so that you suffer no surprises on the roadways.

Happy Motoring!

Amy (Shorty)
http://NewLeyDeTransito.com
cstrcstamyst@aim.com

(tell her Vicki referred ya!!)