1. Costa Rica's constitution states "human life is inviolable." The Costa Rican Civil Code interprets this and enforces the meaning as "to 300 days before birth."
2. Costa Rica eliminated all military forces in 1948.
3. In one of Costa Rica's only significant military victories, the Costa Rican army defeated William Walker's men, who had taken control of Nicaragua in the 1850's. William Walker was a Tennessean who had the misguided notion that he could self-direct military expansionism into Central America. Juan Santamaria, the general whose forces defeated Walker's, is a Costa Rican national hero today.
4. Today, there are six active volcanoes in Costa Rica. Poas, Arenal, Tenorio, Turrialba, Irazu, Rincon de la Vieja.
5. The national food of Costa Rica is "gallo pinto," a delicious rice and black bean dish served at every meal, but best for breakfast.
6. Estadio Nacional de Costa Rica, Costa Rica's national soccer stadium in San Jose, was financed and completely constructed by the Chinese government.
7. Although Costa Rica guarantees freedom of religion, and one can see churches of many different types, Roman Catholicism is the state religion. It is written into the Costa Rican Constitution as follows, "The Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Religion is the official religion of the Republic."
8. Auto insurance in Costa Rica is a government monopoly. Rental car companies in Costa Rica make the collision damage waiver mandatory.
9. Many Americans settled in Costa Rica 10 to 20 years ago as cheap real estate was plentiful and health care was cheap. This is no longer the case. Belize is the new Costa Rica.
10. Jesus Christ is alive and well and known in the country thanks to dedicated missionaries like our friends Matt and Lisa Befus. Look them up on Latin American Missions (www.lam.org).
11. And one for the road. A popular breakfast beverage in Costa Rica for children is "jugo de naranja y zanahoria (carrot and orange juice). Cheers!
Have a great weekend! Bill
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