Hey guys, haven't posted on here in a while...just got back from Costa Rica (the Caribbean side). Took my metal detector, but didn't find any lost Spanish treasure on the beach...however, I DID get to go to the Museos del Banco Central in San Jose. Check it out! http://www.museosdelbancocentral.org/ENG/museo_de_numismatica/informacion_general.html Admission to their Museo de Numismatica (so many rare coins!) also got you into the Museo del Oro - otherwise known as the Pre-Columbian Gold Museum - and I have got to tell you all, I've never seen so much GOLD in my entire life! http://www.museosdelbancocentral.org/ENG/museo_del_oro/informacion_general.html All in all, it was a great trip. The wife and I literally had no money left over once we paid admission to the museum, otherwise I would have bought this great little book on Costa Rican counterstamps. It was a measly 1,400 Colones (about $3.00), but like I said, we had NO cash left...I might e-mail them to see if I can send them a M.O. and have it shipped to me...it really is a neat book, and I don't think I can get it here in the U.S., just at the museum gift shop! I managed to snag a 2006 500 Colones coin in BU condition, but I wasn't confident enough with my Spanish to stroll into a busy San Jose bank and ask for the shiniest example each of the 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 Colones coins. Maybe next time.
jhonn: Hey, see if you can get an extra copy of that book! Thanks Frank P.S. so, you didn't find anything with the detector?
In Costa Rica, I am sure you could have easily found someone fluent in English in the bank. There are a sizable number of expats living there, because it is an inexpensive and relatively safe place to live. I have heard that the scenery there is magnificent, and well worth the trip.
Oh, I met quite a few American AND British ex-pats there, especially where we were staying (Puerto Viejo)...and I'm sure I could have found a bank teller fluent in English, but I prefer to use Spanish when I can. The scenery is certainly beautiful. I would love to visit other Central American countries (Panama, Belize, Guatemala), but it would be hard not to choose Costa Rica over the others since it's such a nice country. Didn't get to see Arenal this time around...or last time for that matter. Maybe on my third trip there? And Frank, if you want a copy, I will definitely order an extra one as long as they let me order them in the first place. If anyone else would like to order a copy through me, PM me and I'll let you know if it's feasible or not! $3, in Spanish and English, full-color...published by the Museos del Banco Central and certainly the most comprehensive book (booklet?) on official Costa Rican counterstamps! They also had a huge color book detailing their entire collection for about $50, and another book just on Costa Rican coffee plantation tokens! Talk about specialized reading...
Porque en la America Central, es muy importante a sabes y hablas en la Español. Yo soy amor las paises de America Central, son muy bonitas y gentes muy amistosos.
The east coast would be the better one for metal detecting but the west coast is better for diving. I spent the best twenty minutes of my life with a 30 foot whale shark, off Playas del Coco, and the cost of living is so cheap. With the town primarily being a fishing village, fresh fish was cheap and I ate sashimi almost every week (yellow fin tuna), along with ceviche (mahi-mahi). I never made it to the east coast but someday I hope to retire to Costa Rica and then I will travel the country more. :thumb: Ribbit
Last year we visited Tamarindo, just south of Playas del Coco. Guanacaste and the Pacific side was nice, but I definitely enjoyed the Caribbean side much more. I gotta say, I've got a long way until retirement, but I could VERY easily see myself living there one day as well. Don't know how long it'll stay cheap, though!
Welcome back Jhonn did you get any pics that you might care to share with us Also could you please let me know if they agree to ship the book you mentioned, then I can contact them and ask if they would ship one to the UK
Welcome back. I'm always glad to hear people say they went somewhere. Anywhere. Way back when I was healthy I never went more than a state away. Now due to medical conditions I could not go even there. So anyone that gets to travel anywhere, great. Keep going and telling us about them.
