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  Features

  InsideCostaRica

Sunday  26 January 2003 

Super Shopping;

            Have you ever gone out to find a simple item like a 500 sheet package of bright white 20# paper for your printer?

It’s a simple thing to do in Ft. Lauderdale and Chicago, a simple thing to do in any well-populated suburb also.

Here in Costa Rica finding paper to write on is a major project say nothing of our package of copy/printer paper. When we shop here it is a normal thing to run all over town visiting myriad stores to attain our simple task of supplying our home/office needs. You need to know what place carries what things in order to get anything of importance and if your needs are specific, you’re in for big problems unless someone you know has purchased it here.

Office Depot http://officdepot.co.cr from the states opened 2 stores here a week before Christmas, one in Escazu and the other in San Pedro. We no longer have that problem!

Going out to get simple drugs or prescriptions from a drug store can be exasperating. There is a Farmacia on every corner and two in between. Doctor’s that will write a prescription on the spot own them all but, you need to find one that carries your drug choice or at least an alternate listed in the “drug bible” they refer to. I use 4 very common drugs to combat my emphysema problem. They are standard items for pulmonary treatment. There are only 2 of them listed in the book and only one of them is available in most stores. I have to go to the http://clinicabiblica.com pharmacy (great private hospital) normally to get what I need.

My emergency medical supplies and breathing equipment were another big problem to conquer before deciding to live here full time.

(Medicare supplied my oxygen needs including the Oxygen Concentrator machine that produces oxygen from the available air, they also supplied the COPD nighttime breathing apparatus, and the Nebulizer that provides the medicated mist for lung treatments. The medications used in the Nebulizer were sent directly to my home at no charge! ) I had to purchase, beg/borrow/steal, the needed equipment for usage here. The stuff is just not readily available and when you find it the prices are tremendously up-charged.

The only plus factor is the import duty was waived because it is personal medical equipment.

            Localized food shopping is truly delightful here if you enjoy all of the local veggies and fruits as I do. My diet includes all of the above and our delicious “white meats”. Pork is great here as is the chicken. Beef is another thing unless you decide to travel to “Price mart”, or a few other typically “gringo” stores. The Beef here comes from range cattle, they receive no diet supplements, eat whatever they can find on the hillside range where they reside. The Beef Is Tough, No Fat, And All Muscle/Gristle!  Its ok anywhere you stew or cook it forever. I like my beef rare and therefore eat it only when out at some of the better restaurants.

Seafood is rather expensive everywhere and we are no exception, the quality is also good everywhere because of today’s quick freezing technologies. Our fresh Tuna is excellent among many others caught off our Shores. We also have many Tilapia farms here in our own region.    One thing you find here that is different, we have at least 30 different styles of canned tuna. We just don’t have “white meat” because it gets exported as “Charlie tuna’s” white, packed in water, expensive product. Our canned Tuna costs about 30 cents for a 6 oz. Can, the large ones are slightly more expensive. I particularly relish the jalapeno-garnished package.

Have a nice day       

Bari

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