Costa Rica is a country with 4 million inhabitants. In comparison to its neighbors it's a village, and the village mentality flows over to the mindset of its people. Since moving here I haven't really felt too much of a culture shock. Yeah sure the language could be a barrier at times, and I'm adjusting to their holiday schedules and other little things here and there, but after living here for almost six years I have not, nor will I ever get used to their system of directions.
I'm embarrassed to say this, but I will not venture out to a new location, ie: doctor's office, mall, unless my husband (who was born with a compass inside his head) has either taken me there first or written me directions my four year old son could follow. I have them all written down and will gladly share them all with you!
Trust me, I'm not the only one, you will often find cars driving super slow because everyone is lost! Even the cab drivers are constantly asking for directions.
This is the system, I'll sum it up for you by giving my old house directions and see if you can solve the mystery:
I live 150 meters south and 100 meters west of Mas X Menos (Mas por Menos (more for less) -- a supermarket chain), in San Pablo de Heredia -- in the Old Green Valley Hotel. (By the way, this was my postal address too! Although there are no postal carriers to deliver the mail, anyway.) Now I'll break it down for you. If you are coming from Heredia this can kind of make sense, but if you're coming from the other direction, which is San Jose, you have no idea where to go. Plus, where is Max x Menos? If you don't live here, how would you ever know where it is? 100 meters is an approximation of one block here. However, some blocks in Costa Rica can be up to 300 meters. But my question is: Which way is west, east, north and south? I normally don't carry a compass with me, especially in a city so I have no idea. Another unsolvable mystery to me is that the condo complex WAS a hotel over 15 years ago, but now, there is absolutely no sign anywhere that it was once a hotel. So even if you got there, you wouldn't know it. Two years ago they painted the complex from green to brown, so it has lost some of its value as a landmark for directions. It seems to me that Ticos are born with a gene of knowing which buildings were what decades ago and like an heirloom this knowledge is passed down from generation to generation.
So with 6 years of living experience I have the best GRINGO (foreigner) directions to help others travel freely, not going through what I did. You might still take some wrong turns, but chances are you can drive knowing that it has been tested by me!
So contact me for excellent driving directions and don't get as lost as I have:)
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