| Speaking of waiters, though, the food is outrageously good. You can get gourmet meals at incredibly beautiful restaurants - or very tasty (but cheap) eats at local establishments called "sodas." A friend took this picture of my wife and I toasting as we watched the sunset from an amazing restaurant in Las Catalinas… We like to be outside, so Costa Rica is perfect for us. The hiking, the beaches, the water… it's all there to enjoy. This was us after a morning hike where the trail ended on the beach. You can probably tell that I've fallen in love with Costa Rica. But when it comes to money, I use my head, not my heart. That's another reason why Costa Rica is so attractive to me. I'm looking to buy a place in Guanacaste, which is on the Pacific side of the country. I plan on renting it out when I'm not using it. I also expect prices to rise significantly there. Costa Rica is a democracy and one of the most stable governments in Latin America. Luxury hotels and homes are being built, more flights are being added to Liberia airport, and the area is attracting more tourists. There's a definite buzz about Costa Rica these days, and while it's hardly undiscovered, it still feels like I'll be on the early side of things. My hope is that in the near future, in addition to my family having more vacations down there, you'll be reading a column that I wrote while eating fish tacos at the local "soda" - after which I'll take a stroll on the beach, go for a quick swim, and return home to watch the sunset from my balcony. Pura vida! Good investing, Marc | 
