November 28, 2007

What dummies need to know for Costa Rica?

What dummies need to know for Costa Rica?

(此文原為美國觀光客讀者,現在加油添醋,轉載給中國觀光客讀者‧Nov 16, 2006)


原載 : http://www.doscolon es.com/

Costa Rica is not an island. It borders Nicaragua and Panama in Central America.

Costa Rica is not the 51st state of the union, nor will it ever be.

A meter is 39.37 inches, a little more than a yard.

Spanish is the official language in Costa Rica.

English is a foreign language and NOT widely spoken outside the tourism industry.

Speaking English in a louder voice will not help a non-English speaking person understand you.

US dollars are known as US dollars, not "American money" or "real money".

If you don't want everyone to know your are a tourist, don't wear shorts and sandles in San José. (看是東方臉孔便認為你是中國人不論你是打哪來的‧)

The pedestrian does not have the right-of-way.

When driving, it is advisable at all times to be prepared to yield to another vehicle. They will put themselves in your path and expect you to stop.

Motorcycle drivers are in another space and time. Ignore them unless they are directly in front of you.

If you are waiting to make a turn and an oncoming car flashes its headlights at you, what they are really saying is "put your trust in me while I block traffic for you so you can go ahead and make that
turn in an illegal fashion while putting your life and others at risk".

If you are driving in downtown San José and come to an intersection that has both a stop sign and a stoplight, the stoplight prevails (if working). Ignore the stop sign.

If you turn onto a street in downtown San José and the oncoming traffic is in your lane, you are going the wrong way on a one-way street.

If you are involved in a car accident, you can not under any circumstances move your car before the traffic cop arrives and gives you permission, even if you are blocking two lanes of traffic during
rush hour. (不要期望交通警察在一小時內到達現場)

Do not slam the doors of a taxicab. Always wear a seatbelt. It's the law and for your own protection.

Be aware of the 13% sales tax and 10% service tax when dining out. If surprised, you might appear to be rude. (心算派上用場! 23% 的稅,有空不彷倒過來算,有些美國朋友不算便被騙‧ 查看一下買單,有沒有多了道沒吃的菜,沒喝的酒,別請了服務生一頓宵夜. 簽帳刷信用卡時記得刪去小費一欄,否則服務生會在小費一欄上"自由發揮". 拉丁民族在這方面的"發揮力"很豐富!)

Remember to ask for your bill when finished eating at a restaurant or you might be there a very long time.

You will meet that person again at such and such a place and time - only if it is God's wish for it to happen.

All activities are "at your own risk". Do not assume that since there are no warnings signs, it is safe to proceed.

哥斯大黎加 足球迷給 "治安" 踢上一腳!

一場足球賽后的結果是十六名警員受傷,第二天帶著傷在國家保險局裡排隊.一位女警的左眼腫得似顆棒球班的大小也在隊伍裡,並接受新聞訪問.

很糟糕, 球迷把椅子及其他足球館裡可以丟的東西往場中央丟.

以前聽人說足球場場裡觀眾席上常會有低水準的球迷把喝完的啤酒空罐往下丟,落在坐在下面人便得自認倒楣. 今天新聞報導居然可以輕易地在觀眾席裡拍下吸毒的景象.吸可卡因(古柯碱)和吸大麻煙.

看到警察和暴動的球迷揪成一團,不僅讓我連想到台灣的立法院,政治集會.但是仍然是台灣暴動場面比起來較高級一些. :-) 至少台灣的暴動場面裡大多都上著領帶打架! :D 此外, 那些 "公僕" 打群架是 "為了大眾福祉" 而打, 再加上台灣立法院打架就算被監視器拍到了也無所謂,造事的人,警察,保安也拿他們沒輒!

在哥斯大黎加 足球迷 有打死人的不說, 把一位為了糊口,剛做六個月的女警,打得她眼睛腫得有棒球似的大小 也僅為了足球隊的成績而已!

November 21, 2007

哥斯大黎加 警察打臨工, Part time job - 搶劫 2

哥斯大黎加 警察打臨工, Part time job - 搶劫

才跟另一哥國朋友談到 哥斯大黎加的治安,他說上個星期下班時差點被搶. 那天他下班後,按照往常一般在等公車. 遠看著一個可疑的年輕人走向他的車站.
當時只有他一個人. 他見苗頭不對,便往下一個車站走, 幾步後回頭一望,只見那人開始快步跟進. 平時週末外出練跑馬拉松的他, 想都不想拔腿起跑. 那人也開跑,跑不到半條街
那人破口大罵 : "你娘x xxx xxx, 跑這麼快我怎麼追??"

哈哈哈哈!

在哥斯大黎加便是如此荒謬, 哥斯大黎加天氣真好, 地傑人不靈! 警政署署長提醒民眾防盜手法竟是假日最好不出門,出門最好不帶太多貴重物品;
哦,此外,如果你被搶就算警察當場逮捕到歹徒; 但是歹徒搶到你的價值不超過一千美元,法律規定查都不查, 連法院都不看你一眼.警察沒輒非得放人.
經常可見一個搶匪,搶了被抓,兩個小時不到,又在街上再接再厲-繼續強.

更有意思的是,當地電視台居然能訪問到一個頗有"資歷"的強匪.他大言不慚地在電視新聞節目上說道,他如何去"周遊"其他中美州國家,教其他人強劫和津津樂道著好久沒被警察抓到.

哥斯大黎加 警察打臨工 - 搶劫

哥斯大黎加 警察打臨工, Police Part time job - 搶劫

多年前剛來哥斯大黎加時,有一哥國朋友道:"如果有一群像搶匪的人在一街頭,另一邊有兩個警察,她寧可向像搶匪的一群人那走".
多名警察下班後,強迫一吸毒犯去搶劫路人.三名警察同一吸毒犯事後不久被清廉的警察逮捕.搶劫地點居然在離法院兩個街口的距離. 一年
不到,已有26名警察被解雇,另有一百名派被調查中. 那三名警察以被假釋,但那一吸毒犯卻被收押.



原新聞稿址:http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2007/noviembre/21/sucesos1323404.html