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Would you like to break an arm or a leg walking into a Costa Rican shopping mall when it rains? I bet you don’t.
The rainy season, or the green season as we, the marketing specialists, call it, is a phenomenon to have respect for. When it rains in Costa Rica, it pours. Therefore, if you are not used to monsoon-style rains, pay attention to this article.
Most countries use anti-slip tile or rubber mats at the entrance when you walk into an office building or strip mall. Not in this country!
So, when you don’t watch your step, go on your face and break something, you better be aware it’s not so easy to sue the building for the medical expenses. The legal fees will probably be higher than the cost of getting your leg fixed. If you insist, you’ll probably be in for a long fight.
Once, when my wife and I were in Miami, I parked my rental car in the parking garage of a building. They had this sign at the entrance of your building that said, “Please HELP keep our lobby floors dry. Use our complimentary wet umbrella bags.”
That is the difference in culture between Costa Rica and Florida, where it rains almost as much as it does here. As you can see, the floors in the building are marble floors, and I don’t think they have invented anti-slip marble yet.
So, if you walk into a shopping mall here, you better watch out when entering the mall if your feet are wet. Here are 13 more tips for when it rains, so you won’t lose your umbrella, break a leg, or worse.
13 Useful tips for the rainy season
1. Umbrella
Always have an umbrella handy – or several – in your car and the house so you won’t get wet.
2. Wind
Please don’t use your umbrella when it’s windy; your umbrella will end up in the trashcan.
3. Sombrilla
In Costa Rica, an umbrella for a female person is called “sombrilla.” In other countries, la sombrilla is the one that gives the most shade (Sombra).
4. Paraguas
Also, an umbrella for a male person is called “paraguas.” Para agua means “for water.” In other countries, el paraguas is the smallest umbrella, but here it’s the largest; that’s why males use it.
5. Parasol
The umbrella to use against the sun is called “parasol.” Para sol means for the sun. There is no difference between a parasol for a male and a female user.
6. Wet floors
Before entering a building, a mall, or an office building, be aware of the type of floor. Watch out! Walk carefully!
7. Rain ditch
Don’t step into a rain gutter or ditch full of water; you don’t know how deep those can be here.
8. Park
Please don’t park your car in a rain ditch either; your vehicle could disappear in it when it starts raining.
9. Under a tree
Don’t hide from the rain under a tree; we have a lot of lightning in our country The Meteorological Institute of Costa Rica reports over 20 million lightning strikes annually.
10. Slippery road
When it starts raining, and you are driving, drive VERY carefully in the first 10 minutes of the rain because the road will be VERY slippery (don’t go crazy after those 10 minutes, though, and say it’s my fault). Roads become slippery with the oil from the exhaust that the tailpipes of trucks and buses expel.
11. Snakes
If you live in a rural area where snakes are common, be aware that as soon as it starts raining, any snakes in the area will look for a dry and warm place and try to get into the house.
12. Bugs
You will have more bugs trying to get into your house to stay dry, like mosquitos, spiders, and ants. Keep the window screens closed and the sugar in the fridge. Get rid of old tires and garbage in your yard that can accumulate water and attract mosquitos. Be aware of dengue.
13. Construction
Don’t start construction projects during the rainy season unless you’re already under the roof.
The rains keep the environment green and beautiful; that’s the reason we call it the green season. Don’t let the weather scare you away; it doesn’t rain all day. When it rains, it pours, but you can easily adjust your life to those hours. Some even love the rainy season!
Don’t fear any rain when you plan to buy a house in Costa Rica; contact us.
Used in images: Photo by Craig Whitehead on Unsplash, photo by Aleksandr Kadykov on Unsplash, Woman thinking photo created by nakaridore – www.freepik.com, and Ant vector created by brgfx – www.freepik.com
