I learned some cool Spanish in Costa Rica!

Question

I just got back from San Jose, Costa Rica earlier this week. I have to say I enjoyed it and I can't wait to go back.

The weather was perfect, in the low 80's with a nice breeze. I wasn't able to see and do everything I wanted, but I did manage to see Vulcán Poás. It was nice, I've never seen a volcano up close.

I'm blogging about the Spanish I learned, here's the first post of probably 2 or 3:

Tiene que cancelar la entrada

If you know any Costa Rican Spanish, share it!!

Nice post. - annierats, Apr 10, 2014

Thanks as always. - gringojrf, Apr 10, 2014

Very interesting! - Raja-jani, Apr 10, 2014

Thanks Dude: ) - Ranman, Apr 10, 2014

Love it and I love your blog! - jessicamccall117, Apr 11, 2014

Answer 1

¡Pura vida!

Multi-purpose idiom, if ever there was one . . . - Esteban_317, Apr 10, 2014

Answer 2

Constant use of the usted form in place of the tú!

If there was no cloud over Volcán Poas, you were very lucky to see it. In all the time I lived there, I only saw it clear from the airplane!

Yes, I was lucky! The fog was just starting to roll in as I was leaving. - rodneyp, Apr 10, 2014

I've never been anywhere near.. I envy you. - annierats, Apr 10, 2014

Dear Annie, you've been to Sweden and Spain - places I still want to see someday. - katydew, Apr 11, 2014

Answer 3

Tico is the nickname for Costa Ricans and Pure Vida amounts to a national slogan.

They commonly pronouce words with ll in them using a sound approximating sh preceding a (consonaunt) y sound so that:

"Ella es bonita." . . . might puzzle the new comer, and prompt them to say in response -

"Sí, pero Asia es muy grande." . . .

¡ Pure Vida ! : - )