Local Addresses

For better or for worse, I am starting to appreciate the Costa Rican approach to local addresses.

In most of the country, there are neither street names nor house numbers.

Addresses refer to local landmarks.

For example, my address—as shown on my rental agreement is:

“San Francisco de Dos Rios, 300 mts Sur del Restaurante Tierra Colombia, Fente al Abastecedor don Bosco.”

Roughly translated into English this means

“San Francisco de Dos Rios, [the community in which I live, part of San Jose, the capital city] 300 metres south of the Earth Colombia Restaurant [which is now closed and renovated into a business centre] across from the merchant Don Bosco”.

There are two things I like about the Costa Rican approach to describing an address.

Local Landmarks

First it forces us to be aware of what's around us. Whether giving or receiving directions, it is important to be aware of local landmarks.

Moving around Toronto, whether on foot, public transit or driving is invariably frustrating.

It's like some kind of dance in which thousands and thousands of people move about so totally engrossed in themselves, their inner thoughts or wireless communications that they are totally oblivious to what is right beside them.

When looking for local landmarks, you are forced to be more aware of your surroundings. This of course includes other people, the second feature I like about the Costa Rican approach.

Whether asking for clarification or entirely new directions, the Costa Rican approach certainly facilitates connecting with other people.

And speaking of connecting with people, I've seen a couple of Mormons wandering around town, trying to do just that.

It was hard to miss them...clean cut handsome young gringos in crisp white shirts and subdued ties, matching backpacks with Bibles in hand. Very un-Tico.

Found myself wondering how they prospect for converts.

No Mail Delivery

There is no such thing as door-to-door canvassing in Costa Rica.

When people come calling they stand on the street in front of the residence and shout 'Hola' or 'Buenos'.

There is also no mail delivery.

Important communications are delivered by guys on motorcycles who stand on the street in front of the residence and shout the name on the envelop or parcel followed by 'correo' or something like it.

This of course attracts the attention of curious bystanders who no doubt wonder...aka gossip...about what was so important that it had to be delivered by correo.

Now I am wondering if there is no mail delivery because there are no local addresses..or there are no local addresses because there is no mail delivery.