Historic Costa Rica: Two Historic Churches and Many Earthquakes
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ARCR’s English Language Magazine September / October 2018 $3.95 Free for members Published by ARCR Administración S.A. Apdo. 1191-1007 Centro Colón San José, Costa Rica (www.arcr.net) El Residente Historic Costa Rica: Two Historic Churches and Many Earthquakes Also in this issue: The Hand Painted Tiles of Barrio Amón An American Refugee Hey Buddy, Gotta Match? Parrots of the Deep Blue... 3 September / October 2018 Contents Across the Board Editor's Note ARCR Board of Directors 4 The View from Downtown Michael Miller 6 nce again the computer “got” us and the last issue, which was thought to have been distributed to Monteverde Moments 10 everyone on time, did not go out as planned. ARCR Marshall Cobb Oextends its sincere apologies to the members who received the Dollars and Sense issue late. If you have difficulties in receiving communications Tom Zachystal 12 from ARCR, please contact the office at [email protected] or call 506-2220-0055, to make sure our records are up to date. A Day In The Life Allen Dickinson 14 It has come to our attention that El Residente may be perceived as ignoring items of interest to members who originate from Guanacaste... From a Hammock countries other than the USA. Although the majority of ARCR Geoff Hull 16 members (90%) do come from the USA, we are keenly aware Finding My Way in Costa Rica that there are those from other nations among our membership. Katya DeLuisa 18 Despite requests to embassies, we get very little information that can be of use to those others to publish. If you are from another Historic Costa Rica country, and have information that may be of importance to your William Duckwall 20 fellow nationals, please send it in. All facts must be verifiable, From the Embassies of course, and submitted items should be in English. They are U.S. and U.K. Embassies 24 subject to editing, but we will do our best to pass the information on to those who need it. Pura Vida in Costa Rica Steve Johnson 28 If you have a tax debt with the U.S. IRS, be sure to read the Ask ACS column in From the Embassy. It might save you an Legal Update unpleasant surprise. Rómulo Pacheco 30 And, check out the new ARCR logo – you’ll find it scattered On the Grid throughout the magazine. It graphically depicts that all the Ivo Henfling 32 services you need can be found under one roof. The new design Wild Side highlights ARCR’s ongoing efforts to upgrade and expand our 34 services, including new website, Facebook pages, and the new Design Wise ARCR Tours service. Pretty cool, eh? Shelagh Duncan 36 Paradise, We Have a Problem Tony Johnson 38 Contact Information Club Corner Published by: ARCR Administration / www.arcr.net 41 Email: [email protected] Business Directory 43 Managing Director: Rómulo Pacheco Editor-in-Chief: Allen Dickinson Associate Editor: Bob Brashears Graphic Design: Eduardo González This magazine has been published every two months since 1995 as the official communications media of ARCRAdministration . Our organization Advertising graphics: Rubén Chavarría provides service to thousands of foreigners who have chosen Costa Rica Office hours: Monday - Friday, to reside for short periods or for permanent residence. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Since 1984 we have been offering reliable services, information and Main office, Av 14, Calle 42, San José, Costa Rica advocacy to Costa Rica’s foreign residents. We have the experience San José: (506) 2220-0055, (506) 4052-4052 and ability to help you with your residency application, immigration, Mailing address: P.O. Box 1191-1007 Centro Colón, business and financial management, real estate purchases and rentals, San José, Costa Rica property management, insurance, pet importation and much more. Advertising and If you wish to place an ad in El Residente, please contact the Advertising Publicity: [email protected] and Publicity desk in the ARCR Administration Office or at the email Insurance Office: [email protected] address listed in the masthead. Goods & services offered are paid General information: [email protected] advertisements. Neither ARCR Administration nor El Residente research Caja account info: [email protected] the companies and take no responsibility for the quality of such goods Residency info: [email protected] and services. Some articles published in El Residente may have been Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ARCR123 written by non-professionals. El Residente attempts to check all facts ARCR Forums: www.forums.arcr.net included, but takes no responsibility for their accuracy. Cover Photo Credit: William Duckwall El Residente 4 Across the Board Notes and News from the Board of Directors RENT INVOICES: It seems that in the past some VEHICLE INSPECTIONS: Once a year Costa landlords, property managers, and real estate agents had Rica requires every licensed vehicle in the country been avoiding paying income taxes on rental income (cars, trucks, motorcycles, ATVs, etc.) to undergo (impuesto sobre la renta). That has come to an end; a safety inspection. The month of inspection is Costa Rica has passed Resolution DGT-R-012-2018 determined by the last number on the vehicle’s license which obligates landlords to give a renter an electronic plate – it is also noted on the inspection sticker, the invoice for each amount paid by the tenant, beginning one with a colored border located on the vehicle’s in September 2018. This is for any form of rent windshield, where the month and year of expiration including long-term and short-term residential rentals, are prominently displayed in large, block letters. The vacation rentals, as well as commercial rentals. inspections are carried out by a Spanish contracting company, RTV (also known a Riteve), at one of UNPAID U.S. TAXES: The U.S. Government the thirteen inspection stations located around the Department of State has begun suspending passports of country, and are conducted by appointment. There those who have seriously unpaid taxes. The revocation are two ways to obtain an appointment; either by of a passport is not contingent on criminal conviction or telephoning the appointment desk at (905) 788-0000 suspicion of flight; passports can be canceled solely for (this is not a Costa Rica number but can be successfully unpaid tax debt. If the person is already overseas, the dialed from any Costa Rica phone), or by going online action can affect their ability to re-enter the country or to www.rtv.co.cr. Either method requires a working leave after arriving. For more information, see the Ask knowledge of Spanish. Cost of the initial inspection ACS column in From the Embassy. for an automobile is ¢13,450, and an additional one- ARCR TOURS: ARCR is now offering one-and half that amount if a re-inspection is required and two-day tours EXCLUSIVELY for our members. The completed within 30 days. tours are conducted by an experienced tour operator CAJA AUDIT REMINDER: The Caja, in its and have all the features and amenities expected for a efforts to confirm the information provided to quality experience. Bring a friend and join with other them regarding income verification, has started ARCR members and see those parts of the country an inspection process with many associations and you’ve been meaning to visit. To reserve your spot, see professionals. They began by requesting information the ad elsewhere in this issue. from all lawyers, doctors, and architects; they now FACEBOOK AND WEBSITE ADDRESSES: have moved on to associations. ARCR is one of the Some confusion has arisen over the correct addresses many associations that have a contract with the Caja, for the official ARCR website and Facebook page. The and has been approached by them to help in the correct address for the website is: www.arcr.net The verification of information for some of the members ARCR Facebook page is: ARCR123. Please note who have their Caja payments handled through us. these in your address book. You can get a personal We have cooperated with Caja and have provided all response to any questions at [email protected] or go to: of their requested information. This is not an audit of www.arcr.net. ARCR, it is something the Caja is doing with many affiliates to confirm existing information. As part of NEW ARCR FACEBOOK CHAT PAGE: Check the effort, members may be contacted directly by the out ARCR’s new Facebook chat page: EXPATS CR – Caja. If you receive a call from the Caja requesting US CANADA AND THE WORLD. Join and get information, please cooperate with them. For up-to-the-minute information and news from ARCR, assistance, call the ARCR office at 4052-4052. and chat with other members. To ship from HERE to HERE call SHIP TO COSTA RICA [email protected] Door to door shipping of FULL CONTAINER LOADS or CONSOLIDATED SHIPPING Commercial shipments - Household goods Cars - Boats - Anything Custom Brokers Toll free: 1-866-245-6923 • Phone: (506) 2431-1234 • Fax: (506) 2258-7123 El Residente 6 The View from Downtown By Michael Miller The Hand Painted Tiles of Barrio Amón any times I have told visitors to downtown jump out at you as you walk through the neighborhood, San José that they should take a walk and some of it you will have to look for. through a neighborhood that was once the Perhaps the best way to see the art is to start at the lovely Mmost prestigious in all of Costa Rica, Barrio Amón. boutique hotel, Hotel Don Carlos, where tile art is displayed There are a number of worthwhile things that you can both inside and out.