tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203221.post6207185710520708100..comments2008-04-13T06:49:58.679-07:00Richard Spraguehttps://profiles.google.com/115406681666947616195noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203221.post-75137464620474070982008-04-13T05:55:00.000-07:002008-04-13T05:55:00.000-07:00You said "I had expected it to be poor and run-down like other developing countries, but I was pleasantly surprised."<BR/><BR/>Well, the per capita income is $13,500 and 16% live below the poverty line (all data from Wikipedia). They also have a $1.9 annual billion tourist expendisture (that's $1K per person) to ensure trips like yours aren't seen as run down (and like Hawaii, as you point out).<BR/><BR/>Contrast that with, say, Costa Rica's neighbor, where you could experience the poverty you expected to see:<BR/><BR/>Nicaragua: 48% poverty (3x CR) and $3,200 per capita income (that's $10,000 less than CR).<BR/><BR/>Costa Rica spent a lot of time and money to build a Western-ready visiting experience. For those looking for Hawaii-like experiences, it's great. For those who want to experience what most developing countries in the world face, it's not the best choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8203221.post-75171723255909124102008-04-12T15:36:00.000-07:002008-04-12T15:36:00.000-07:00Costa Rica abolished their army in 1948ecopreservationsocietyhttp://ecopreservationsociety.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com