Don Mateo

Is it hot enough for you? Can we blame this blazing heat on the little boy? You know– El Niño? The first year I lived in Costa Rica we had a major El Niño effect. It rained sporadically September through November, and I remember thinking that the long rainy season […]

Years ago I was walking down a street of the city with my Tico friend Edwin. He was in his 30s, married with two young sons. He was a college grad, an excellent poker player and had a good job in sales. On two occasions along the same block, I […]

The next presidential election in Costa Rica is still a couple years away, and if it is anything like the 2022 election, where there were 27 candidates, we can expect a lot of small parties and single-issue candidates. Most candidates running on a platform that stresses one issue, such as […]

For a brief couple of years back in the 90s, I was a single man living in Costa Rica. Recently divorced, still in my 30s, in excellent physical condition, I was ready to live the dream as an eligible bachelor in Costa Rica! Daily, I rode my bicycle the few […]

After more than three decades living in Costa Rica, I still think back to my life stateside, and how it would have compared to now had I never left. There are pluses and minuses; Financially I probably would have been better off staying up there. But in terms of mental […]

It is an odd feeling to return to a town or an area where you had once spent time, only to find that a certain personal landmark– a tree, a house, a restaurant– is no longer there. There was once a large multi-winged wood frame house, similar to those the […]

Anyone who has spent significant time in Costa Rica has a rip-off story to tell. From a credit card used without authorization to an overcharge when filling the gas tank, every few minutes a new victim counts his or her losses. Swindlers abound in Costa Rica, separating the innocent from […]

When is a dictator not a dictator? Is it when he secures over 80% of the vote, or when his party dominates the congress with overwhelming public support, without the need to jail or remove opponents from the ballot? This is the case with Nayib Bukele, El Salvador’s president, who […]

A friend of mine bought a farm in a remote area of Costa Rica. The nearest village was a few kilometers away, and the nearest town for supplies was a half-hour drive. He traveled frequently, so he hired a local man to oversee the property. The caretaker, who I will […]

The first Sunday in February is the traditional Costa Rica election day. This year, the elections are mainly for alcaldes (mayors) and their supporting casts. The next presidential election is still two years off, but when it arrives, it too will be the first Sunday in February. Until recently, the […]