COSTA RICA  

Our Spanish Courses in 
Costa Rica (see below)

 - Heredia

 - Manuel Antonio

 - San Jose

 3,5 million inhabitants

National Anthem

• 1502 : Christopher Columbus arrives in the Bay of Limon. Until the independence, the country will be one of the poorest in the Spanish Empire.

• 1821 : independence.

• In 1823, Costa Rica become one of the five republics in the United Stated f Central America, which will break up in 1840.

• 1850's : Coffee is introduced in Cuba (1808) become the main export of the country

• 1857 : American adventurer William Walker fails in taking over Costa Rica and neighboring countries.

• 1871 : Introduction of Banana plantations companies along the Caribbean and economic dependence from the USA.

• 1883 : Abolition of the death penalty and free elections 6 years later.

• 1948 : Civil War after a close election.

• 1949 : New constitution and dissolution of the Army.

• 1987 : President Oscar Arias receives the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on peace in Central America.

Tropical Climate, the temperature and vegetation varies with altitude. Rain is heavy on the Atlantic side. The Climate is moderate in the mountain regions.

Spanish and English in tourist areas.

• Voltage :  120 volt

• Driving  : to the right.

• National Parade : September and October 15th

Costa Rican Colon  

Canadian visitors please consult this handy site Travel information and advisory reports

For all other nationals please consult your Costa Rican embassy or consulate in your country of origin.

Mostly wood leather and craft industry.

Gallo pinto (usually for breakfast) and casado made from rice, beans with or without meat; chicken (with rice); beef (Guanacaste region); ceviche (marinated fish); lobster; coffee; fruits and fruit juice.

Recipe Lobster and Shrimp pancake

Ingredients

• 1 pan cake

• 1 ounce of lobster

• 2 ounces of pink shrimp

• 1 clove of garlic

• 1/2 onion

• 2 ounces of fine bread crumbs

• 4 ounces fresh thick cream or at 35 %

• 1 once fresh basil leaves

• 3 tea spoons of olive oil

Preparation

Cook the onions and the garlic slowly in a pan with olive oil, add the lobster, shrimp, cook slowly in reduced heat. Add a little basil and the cream let it cook for 2 minutes. Add all the rest of the ingredients, and let it cool. When cool, empty the ban into the pan cake.

Ingredients for the sauce:

• 4 shallots

• 5 ounces of white wine

• 1 once of small shrimp

• basil

• 2 ounces fresh cream

• 3 ounces of Béchamel sauce

Sauce

cook the shallots in butter and white wine, then reduce temperature. Add the small shrimp, and the rest of the basil, cook for 1 minute. Add the fresh cream, béchamel, add salt and pepper for taste.

Latin American country located in Central America between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica got its independence from the Spanish in 1821. Between 1948 and 1980, it had the best social programs in Central America.

Very scenic country. The center is dominated by a volcano chain (3842 m) cutting trough the country and shades the high plateaus where most of the population lives. The country has shore on both the Caribbean and the Pacific. The country is home to more then 40 national parks.

San Jose