American Expatriate Costa Rica

English-language news and information on Costa Rica

Archives for December 2013

Advanced technological controls responsible for catching narco-bankers

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Arrests of two bank tellers, charged with laundering ¢96 million ($194,726) in drug money are being credited to an advanced monitoring system, setup by the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR). The system uses real-time, high resolution cameras, which are linked to computers that monitor bank transactions. The bank tellers were caught making small deposits into […]

Two arrested on charges of murdering attorney

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Police have made two arrests in the case of a sixty year old attorney who was kidnapped, bound, beaten and left for dead on a banana plantation in Pococí. Arrests of the two men, (17 and 34) came after police followed up a tip to check a blue Hyundai. Officers chased the car with four […]

Offical Guide to Costa Rican Spanish

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Although it may take a while to learn the pronunciation, this Spanish language guide by Chris Howard is designed to teach you to speak Spanish like a Tico. The book starts with a quick explanation of how to pronounce common constants and vowels in Spanish. It then moves into basic, “survival” Spanish phrases that you […]

Benefits to Citizenship: Second Passport

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Naturalization is an option expats have after being a resident for seven years, or marrying a citizen and living in Costa Rica for two years. Expats who acquire citizenship are entitled to receive a Costa Rican passport, which is valid for travel worldwide. Expats who retain their U.S. citizenship are unlikely to see much benefit […]

U.S. citizen murdered in Guanacaste

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Prostrate in the driver’s seat, covered in blood and with no vital signs, was found the body of American Steven Rutkiewics, age 41 by the tourist police in Brasilito, Guanacaste on Sunday. The body was found in a Nissan Tiida, parked in front of the Don Brasilito bar. Rutkiewics is said to have lived in […]