Don Mateo

Did you know that Costa Rica is the only country in the Americas with an official religion? Our national religion–no, it’s not fútbol or bureaucracy–is Catholicism, as defined by Article 75 of the Constitution of Costa Rica. From the smallest rural towns defined by a soccer field, a pulpería, and […]

I am sometimes accused of being overly negative and sarcastic in my writings about Costa Rica and my life here. Fair enough, though anyone who knows me could vouch that I can be equally negative and sarcastic about my home country of the United States. Having said that, here is […]

Anyone who doubts Costa Rica’s loyalty to government bureaucracy should take into consideration this fact: Costa Rica has two Vice Presidents. Our country of 5 million plus is one of only eight countries that includes the appendage of an additional veep, joining Guyana, Honduras, Laos, Libya, Peru, United Arab Emirates […]

Here’s a good trivia question: What are the only 3 countries in the world that do not use the metric system? Everybody knows the good ol’ hard headed USA is in there, but the other two? How about Liberia and Myanmar. If you knew the answer, take a bow. I […]

My Tico friend Tomas has decided that Costa Rica has enough residents. Tomas lived and worked under the table in New Jersey for over a decade and made enough money to return to his homeland and considerably upgrade his lifestyle. He never intended to make the US his permanent home. […]

On a recent trip to San Jose, I drove on part of the new ring road (outerbelt), a modern highway that significantly reduces the time needed to drive between points in the San Jose area. First proposed in the late 1950s and begun in 1979, it is just now nearing […]

For the past couple years in Costa Rica, there have been two types of people panhandling for money at busy intersections: Venezuelans, and everybody else. In the past 2 years there has been a steady stream of migrants escaping the ruinous policies of a country run by a half bright […]

My Tico brother-in-law recently shared an informational post on Facebook that highlighted the benefits of consuming crocodile meat. It contains Vitamin B12, a nutrient that helps keep your body’s blood and nerve cells healthy. It also contains Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, which help to reduce cholesterol levels, […]

By my second decade of living in Costa Rica, I had begun to ‘pay it forward’ with newcomers to Costa Rica. Just as I had once been a rookie and had sought the advice of long-time expats and worldly Ticos about life here, so it became my turn to assist […]

A child gone missing is every parent’s worst nightmare. Every year in Costa Rica, hundreds of adolescents and young adults between the ages of 12 and 17 are reported as missing. Some have unhappy endings, but thankfully the majority of cases are resolved with the person accounted for. Anyone who […]