Email
The best way to contact me is by email. It is not only free, but it is quick.
linda@ranchotranquilo.biz
Cell Phone
New! The Costa Rican telephone company, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to add another digit to the front of our telephone numbers. So, to call my new number from the USA, you now need to dial 011 506 8390-8947 (Note: 011 is the country code, do not dial 1 first). I do not get charged on this end if you call me, but it WILL cost you a fortune to call here, so think seriously before you indulge. The calls I made from Gloucester were around $10 per minute, so unless its a real emergency, just email me OK?
FYI: Costa Rica only has one area code (506) and all calls within the country are local calls. If you are calling me from within the country,
dial 8390-8947.
Snail Mail
Costa Rica does not really have addresses. Everything is based on directions. For example, my "physical address" is officially "Final de la calle publica de San Salvador de Baru, Perez Zeledon," or "the end of the public road in San Salvador, Baru district, in county of Perez Zeledon." It's not uncommon to see an address like "100 meters south of the police station, blue house behind the tree with the red parrot." Seriously.
All mail needs to be sent to my post office box:
Linda Gray
APDO 119-8000
San Isidro de El General, P.Z.
Costa Rica
Sending Packages
Lots of people have asked about sending packages. Apparently any package that comes into the country gets stopped at customs in San Jose. Sometimes we have to go up there to pick it up. Even worse is that customs decides the value of the package (sometimes based on the box you sent it in) and we have to pay duty. For example, a friend just received notice of a package and went to San Jose to get it. It was packed in an old radio box so customs assumed it was a radio & charged accordingly. In fact, it was only some papers but it cost our friend around $30 in duty to receive them.
That being said, my mother sent a package using the good ol' US Postal Service. It cost about $60for a 26-pound package, took a week to get here and it landed at our local Post Office with no problem. However, she sent "household goods" and things are not charged duty. Duty-free items generally include books, tools, and household goods. Before shipping, take off the price tags, take anything new out of the box, list the contents as "used broom, used potholders, etc." and there should be no problem.