Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Costa Rica - Day 2

Not much to say about day 2, I guess it hasn't all sank in. It is amazing the similiarities of this country to ours, but we also have stark differences.

Differences

  • Sales Tax is in the price of the product. If the product costs 850 Colons, it rings up as 850 Colons.
  • Few, if any, guard rails and street signs.
  • Coffee, or CafĂ©, is fresh here, so it tastes much better.
  • Smaller portions of food.

Similarities

  • French Fries.
  • KFC, McDonalds, Taco Bell, Subway, Quiznoes, and many, many more American franchises.
  • Bums, Slums, and thugs.
  • Car alarms are still annoying.

Monday, January 07, 2008

Costa Rica - Day 1

Traveling to Costa Rica.

Observation #1 - I hate US Air. My trip started in Charlotte on US Air to Ft. Lauderdale. I thought that I had paid for my ticket, but I think the advertisers paid even more. First, there are several commercials on the TV that shows you the safety features of the plane. Then during the movie they show you commericial. Flip down your tray and there is a big ad plastered all over it. Then during the flight they paused the movie so the flight attendant could tell us about the latest credit card offer. On my second flight from Ft. Lauderdale to San Jose on American, I didn't see a single ad for anything.

Observation #2 - Driving in New York city is nothing compared to San Jose. That taxi driver was incredible, I don't know if his driving was good, or so bad that it seemed could. He was weaving, and bobbing, and weaving, and braking, and missing cars, trucks, motorcyles, and pedistrians by mere inches. It was like watching a car chase in a movie.

Observation #3 - Capitalism is awesome. In Costa Rica, they have only one government run phone company. That means no competition. So their rates are outragous. $1.03 per minute on the cell phone to back home, and $2 a minute on the hotel phone.

Observation $4 - I'm tired. So I think it's bed time.