Hello everybody!!!


French couple (I am retired and Chantal is a artist). After 5 years spent in the USA (Pacific) we are looking for a new place where we can spend most of our time. We have been advised to look at your country and I am presently planning our first visit in June (Costa Rica and Panama) learn about the countries, meet Englsih speaking people and see if we can schedule to buy a propery (House or flat).

We read many books and surfed Internet to get as many information as possible about Costa Rica and Panama but we will be very interested to get some direct feeling and information from you.

We both speak English and of course, we will definitely learn to speak Spanish if we decide to settle in a Spanish speaking country. As we did before we are looking for a place where we could have a social life and contacts with local people as well as other "english speaking expats".

If you can you will be very kind to answer.... are:

- We will certainly wait for a while before becoming residents and will not stay more than 90 days each time BUT is it possible to leave Costa Rica from for only one week or two and come back?
- Is it easy to learn Spanish?
- What means exactly the wet season? Just heavy rain for some short time and sunny most of the time or awful days or weeks when it happens.
- When the langage barrier is broken, is it easy to have contacts with local residents?
- We do no look for any extra luxury so is it better to look for a flat or "condo" or for a house or villa, having in mind that we will travel from time to time and leave the place unoccupied. We can consider to live some miles away from the beach and other touristic places (Some 20 minutes away for example will be fine).
- Should we buy furniture and car locally or should we move most of it from Europe.
- Would you advise us to look first for places not to far from some large city to avoid to feel lost and unsecure in the country side.
- Would we be you able to get everything we'll need (Food, clothes...) at reasonnable prices.
- How about cost of electricity, telephone calls, petrol, car...?
- What about Internet communication and satellite TV (US or british channels).

I am looking for an active time during my retirement and Chantal who sold quite well her art (Original as well as high quality reproductions*) when in the USA would be keen to keep painting and complete her range of subjects. Is it possible to stay active (Sport, safe swimming, gardenig, safe local travel, benevol help, club activities...) and is the local art business active as well.

For our next visit, can you please give us some local address (Hotel as well as furnished condo)?

I am aware of the long list of questions so Thank you for your help

Maurice and Chantal

* (Incidently, if you want you may have a look at her "Pastel" and "oils" in visiting www.chantelleart.com ). l




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I would like to die young, As late as possible.

My wife and I visited Costa Rica in Apr-May of 2004, we returned in June and purchased property to build on. At present we are renting. We submitted our papers and became pensinado residents recently which allows us to stay in the country indefinitely. If you are interested in purchasing in this beautiful country and perhaps becoming residents as we did. I would suggest that you visit www.costaricapropertysa.com and take a look at their Costa Rican Properties. You will be amazed at what beautiful properties are available in Costa Rica.

Thank you very much for your message,

We are still planning our next trip, starting from Panama.
Did you consider Panama as a possible location and did you compare both countries?

Maurice


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I would like to die young, As late as possible.

Sorry for the late reply, have been on extended travel. To answer your question, yes we did investigate Panama, but we like the cooler climate here in the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Panama is a good choice if you like the warmer climates. For those interested in retiring to Panama however I would suggest you check their laws regarding foreigners owning land. Another good reason to select Costa Rica.

Thank you for your message, we are still studying the details of our next trip.

I will contact you back, if i may , when we know better about the details.

Can I have your e mail address? Mine is reece4183@hotmail.com

Maurice



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I would like to die young, As late as possible.

Yes, my e-mail address is bob@costaricapropertysa.com

bob the constantly advertising realtor, why do you try to imply there are any restrictions whatsoever on foreigners buying in Panama? There are none.