IL's Costa Rica Insider

Thanksgiving is coming up. And even though we're in Costa Rica, we still celebrate and it'll be a surprisingly traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

One of my favorite things about living in Costa Rica is that I've finally found that small town atmosphere that was missing from my life in the U.S. Perhaps you already have this way of life or you grew up in it. In my previous home in the urban and suburban sprawl of South Florida, I certainly hadn't experienced it in many years.

If you've ever visited Costa Rica you've probably noticed that costs associated with tourist activities, like national park tickets, admission to hot springs, or fees for zip lining, can be a bit pricey. With the economy so heavily dependent on tourism, it's no surprise really. And you'll find the same thing in many countries.

There we were, my wife, two kids, and I, walking the trail through the forest, up the mountain. We were the only ones out there. It was quiet…peaceful. A blue-crowned mot mot landed on a nearby branch and then took off again. The small holes in the dirt walls lining the trail were probably home to tarantulas, but we didn't see any. Thanks to the elevation, it was actually a bit cool…low 70s.

Market day is my favorite day of the week. Just about every town in Costa Rica has a weekly farmers' market called the feria, usually held on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. In some towns, it's a permanent open-air covered space. In others, vendors set up tents and tables in the town square or a closed-down street or two downtown.

I'm just back from the Ultimate Retire Overseas Conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was great to see all my colleagues from IL, gathered from around the world to showcase the top expat hotspots, from Mexico to Malaysia and everything in between. I had two presentations on Costa Rica. But what takes place on the stage is just part of the conference.