Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - December 2022 / Year End Review

During December, visits to this blog were received from the following 10 countries:

From the time I started to keep track, the total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 135. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions (e.g. Puerto Rico).

During the year, visits were recorded from 44 identifiable countries and non-independent jurisdictions.

As of 2022 year end, the total number of visits to this blog approached 50,000 according to a widget called RevolverMaps. In the right hand sidebar of my current blog the number indicates 25000+ views. However, this number is for the period from Sep. 29, 2016 to date and does not include 24000 views during the period from Nov. 13, 2012 to Sep 29, 2016: see my blog post on Oct. 4, 2016. The following map projection indicates by red dots places from where visits have been received since Sep. 29, 2016:

The right hand sidebar also includes a widget indicating that the "TOTAL PAGEVIEWS" is approaching 250,000. This widget is independent of RevolverMaps and the page count is current from the inception of the blog to date.

Not unrelated to my blog, the YouTube video I posted on Aug. 7,  2017 with regard to landing at the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) continues to attract interest. As indicated in the following chart**, the total number of views is over 9700 and the average is over 140 views per month:

Some of the views have undoubtedly been motivated by earlier blog posts which included a link to the video. I expect that many are from persons who have had their "Eyes on Costa Rica" but who were oblivious and remain oblivious to the existence of my blog.

** Note: While the horizontal x-axis distance between successive data points in the chart is uniform, the number of months between each pair of data points is in fact quite irregular. For example, the first data point after the landing date was recorded about 7 months after the landing date; the last data point (Dec. 31, 2022) was recorded about 1 month after the second last data point.

_____________________________________________

The following is a summary of the weather for December in the area where we live:

December 2022 was an extremely dry month. Unlike previous Decembers where we recorded at least some rain, nothing was recorded in December 2022. There were dribbles on a couple of days. But, our rain guage is a wireless system (Acurite Model 00899) with a remote collector and a digital display. If the rainfall on any given day fails to reach at least 0.01 in. (0.25 mm), then the record from Acurite for that day is "0.00".
 
That said, the following chart indicates the monthly pattern of rainfall in 2022 in the area where we now live ("San Roque de Grecia" as distinct from "San Roque" per se or any other "San Roque de ..." which you might find in Costa Rica). This pattern is compared to patterns in Hacienda El Paseo where we previously lived in 2020, 2021 and the early dry season part of 2022:

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - May 2022 / Covid-19 Update

 During May, visits to this blog were received from the following 7 countries:

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 134. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc. Seven countries are less than average.

_____________________________________________

May is the first full month that we were settled in San Roque de Grecia. Here is a summary of the weather for the month and a summary from the day we arrived until month end:

Compared to May 2021 when we lived in Hacienda El Paseo (a short distance southwest of Grecia), the average overnight low temperature in San Roque was about 1.5°F (0.83°C) lower. Somewhat surprisingly and despite being at a significantly higher altitude the average daytime high in San Roque was virtually the same as last year in Hacienda El Paseo.

Rainfall comparisons are a different matter. For us, 25.51 inches (648 mm) in a single month is a record for any month of any year in any place where we have lived and kept records in Costa Rica (firstly Vista Atenas; secondly Hacienda El Paseo; and now San Roque). Also, we have never before encountered 28 days of rain in a single month.

The nice thing about the rain is that on any given day it is often preceded by mornings with light or broken clouds and usually does not begin until early afternoon. Often, it only lasts for 2 or 3 hours or less. This serves to keep everything green and fresh. Thus, we have the so-called green season in Costa Rica.

_____________________________________________

Covid-19 Update

The following table updates information which appeared in my blog entry posted on May 6, 2022:

Overall, the death rate in Costa Rica is down 0.05% since my last post. That in the United States is down 0.03% and that in Canada is up 0.01%

If you want to see how some other country is doing in comparison to Costa Rica, then visit the website of Worldometer. Numbers for populations, reported cases and reported deaths can be obtained from that site. All that is then needed is some simple math to calculate the percentage death rate for the other country and the death rate in that country compared to Costa Rica.

If you want more up to date information and statistics on the situation in Costa Rica, including various locales in Costa Rica, then the web site of the Costa Rican Ministry of Health ("Ministerio de Salud") is a good source. If you do not understand Spanish, then you should enable translation features on your web browser if they are available.

Click on images to enlarge.

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - April 2022 / Covid-19 Update

During April, visits to this blog were received from the following 11 countries:

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 134. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc.

_____________________________________________

Our move in April from Hacienda El Paseo to San Roque de Grecia (see my blog post on April 23, 2022) has led to two weather summaries for the month:

Hacienda El Paseo is a community in Costa Rica in the canton of Puente de Piedra ("Stone Bridge"), a short distance generally southwest of the city of Grecia. San Roque de Grecia is a short distance generally northeast of Grecia. As the crow flies, the particular location where we now live is about 4.6 miles (7.5 km) from where we lived in Hacienda El Paseo. Our elevation is about 913 feet (278 meters) higher than in Hacienda El Paseo. So, on average we can expect lower temperatures but not temperatures which require indoor heating.

Rainfall comparisons are a bit more problematic. The first three months of 2022 were squarely within the so-called "dry season" in Costa Rica. There were only 3 or 4 days with small amounts of measurable rainfall at Hacienda El Paseo. The same is likely true for San Roque de Grecia. But, all bets are off when it comes to the so-called "green season". 

This year, the rain gods flipped a switch to the green season on April 1. There was measurable rainfall at Hacienda El Paseo every day from April 1 to April 10. On April 11 we moved - so we have no more information from Hacienda El Paseo. But, from San Roque de Grecia, we recorded measurable rainfall on April 15 and on every day from April 21 to April 30. During the remainder of the 2022 green season, it is entirely possible that the recorded rainfall from our location in San Roque de Grecia will be quite different from that which might have been recorded in Hacienda El Paseo. We will never know for sure. But, at the end of this year, we will be able to make comparisons with previous years at Hacienda El Paseo.

As has been indicated in previous posts, Costa Rica is a country of microclimates. Temperatures, temperature averages and rainfall can vary significantly over short distances depending on elevation and geographic location.

_____________________________________________

Covid-19 Update

The following table updates information which appeared in my blog entry posted on April 11, 2022:

Overall, the death rate in Canada is down 0.02% since my last post. That in Costa Rica and the United States is unchanged.

If you want to see how some other country is doing in comparison to Costa Rica, then visit the website of Worldometer. Numbers for populations, reported cases and reported deaths can be obtained from that site. All that is then needed is some simple math to calculate the percentage death rate for the other country and the death rate in that country compared to Costa Rica.

Click on images to enlarge.

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - March 2022 / Covid-19 Update

During March, visits to this blog were received from the following 11 countries:

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 134. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc.

_____________________________________________

The following is a summary of weather for the month in the area where we live:

March 2022 had marginally warmer overnight lows and significantly warmer daytime highs than March 2021. The average low was 0.7 °F (0.4 °C) warmer. The average high was 2.6 °F (1.5 °C) warmer. The 3 days with measurable rainfall compares with none in March 2021.

_____________________________________________

Covid-19 Update

The following table updates information which appeared in my blog entry posted on March 7, 2022:

Overall, the death rate in Costa Rica is down 0.01% since my last post on this topic. It is 0.04% in Canada and up 0.02% in the U.S.

If you want to see how some other country is doing in comparison to Costa Rica, then visit the website of Worldometer. Numbers for populations, reported cases and reported deaths can be obtained from that site. All that is then needed is some simple math to calculate the percentage death rate for the other country and the death rate in that country compared to Costa Rica.

If you want more up to date information and statistics on the situation in Costa Rica, including various locales in Costa Rica, then the web site of the Costa Rican Ministry of Health ("Ministerio de Salud") is a good source. If you do not understand Spanish, then you should enable translation features on your web browser if they are available.

Click on images to enlarge.

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - February 2022 / Covid-19 Update

During February, visits to this blog were received from the following 9 countries:

The number is down from the same period last year. I have no way of knowing, but I would not be surprised if it is somehow connected with the current situation in the Ukraine. Many who might otherwise contemplate a visit or a move to Costa Rica may now have other priorities.

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 134. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc.

_____________________________________________

The following is a summary of weather for the month in the area where we live:

February 2022 had cooler overnight lows and hotter daytime highs than February 2021. The average low was about 2.6 °F (1.4 °C) cooler. The average high was about 1.3 °F (0.6 °C) hotter.

As is characteristic of February during the dry season, there was no rain. Also, many days were accompanied by fairly strong trade winds. These two factors when combined with a barren property of land under development led to numerous dust storms day after day. The dust went everywhere both inside and outside our house and presumably will continue to do so long as the trade winds continue or until the property is more fully developed. The following is a satellite view (annotated in yellow) showing the location of the house relative to the property:

The yellow star indicates where on March 6 Lance and I drove onto the property and took the following ground level photo (looking west to east):

It may be noted that the yellow star in the satellite view is adjacent to a green area. But, that is not so anymore. Subsequent to whenever the satellite view was taken, that area has also been filled with brown dirt and graded just like the rest of the development.

The name "Condominio Corteza" in the satellite view caught our attention and led Lance and I to a web page of Fusion Inmobiliaracr. Amongst other things, the web page shows a planned layout of roads, lots and costs of building a home. The plan is ambitious and will hopefully come to fruition sooner rather than later. We do not want another season of dust storms like the present. The advertised costs of buying a lot and building may come as an eye opener to some who live in Canada and the USA (and maybe elsewhere).

_____________________________________________

Covid-19 Update

The following table updates information which appeared in my blog entry posted on February 6, 2022:

It appears that the Omnicron variant with its lower mortality rate has now taken full hold in Costa Rica. Once again, it seems that if you are inclined to catch any version of Covid-19, then you may have a better chance of survival in Costa Rica.

Overall, the death rate in Costa Rica is down 0.09% since my last post. It is unchanged in Canada and up 0.02% in the U.S.

If you want to see how some other country is doing in comparison to Costa Rica, then visit the website of Worldometer. Numbers for populations, reported cases and reported deaths can be obtained from that site. All that is then needed is some simple math to calculate the percentage death rate for the other country and the death rate in that country compared to Costa Rica.

If you want more up to date information and statistics on the situation in Costa Rica, including various locales in Costa Rica, then the web site of the Costa Rican Ministry of Health ("Ministerio de Salud") is a good source. If you do not understand Spanish, then you should enable translation features on your web browser if they are available.

Click on images to enlarge.

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - December and Year 2021

 During December, visits to this blog were received from the following 18 countries:

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received has risen to 134. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as Greenland, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc.

Côte d'Ivoire (aka Ivory Coast) in West Africa is a new country. The visit from that country originated from the capital city of Abidjan.

_____________________________________________

The following is a summary of the weather for the month and year in the area where we live:

In December, it became apparent that the “green season” was definitely over and the “dry season” was well underway. There were only 4 days with rainfall and the amount was minimal.

For the year as a whole, the following table summarizes the amounts and ranges of rainfall in the area where we live:

The following graph illustrates the amount and timing of rainfall in 2021 compared to 2019 and 2020 in the area where we live:

In other areas of the country, the amounts, ranges and patterns of rainfall can differ significantly from where we live.

_____________________________________________

Covid-19 Update

The following table updates information which appeared in my blog entry posted on December 12, 2021:

The death rates in all three countries have dropped. That in Costa Rica has dropped by 0.03 percentage points. However, more dramatically, that in Canada has dropped by 0.40 percentage points and that in the United States has dropped by 0.20 percentage points. 

Until these latest numbers, Costa Rica has consistently had the lowest death rate of the three countries. Canada is now in that position and the United States is moving closer. Speculating, the reason may be attributable to the Omicron variant of Covid-19. Apparently, the number of negative outcomes for those who become infected by this variant is significantly less than those infected by the original version and the Delta variant. Accordingly, as the Omicron variant surges as it has done in Canada and the United States beginning in early December 2021, the overall death rate drops when averaged from the onset of Covid-19 in early 2020. 

In contrast, it appears that the Omicron variant just began to take hold in Costa Rica earlier this month. If my speculation is correct and the variant fully takes hold, then in the next month or two there should be a dramatic drop in the death rate in Costa Rica as in Canada and the United States.

Click on images to enlarge.

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - November 2021 / Covid-19 Update

During November, visits to this blog were received from the following 11 countries:

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 133. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc.

_____________________________________________

The following is a summary of weather for the month in the area where we live:

It seems that a switch was thrown on November 8 - signaling movement from the green season to the dry season. There was at least some rain every day during the first 7 days of the month. In the remaining 23 days, rain occurred on only 6 days with significant rain on only 1 day. The total amount of rainfall in November was the lowest it has been during that month since we moved to Hacienda El Paseo in the Central Valley - much lower than last year when the total was 19.75 inches (502 mm). Dry season trade winds occurred on several days.

_____________________________________________

Covid-19 Update

The following table updates information which appeared in my blog entry posted on November 7, 2021:

Since my last post, the death rates in Canada and the United States have each dropped (by 0.2 percentage points). Conversely, that in Costa Rica has risen by 0.02 percentage points.

If you want to see how some other country is doing in comparison to those listed, then visit the website of Worldometer. Numbers for populations, reported cases and reported deaths can be obtained from that site. All that is then needed is some simple math to calculate the percentage death rate for the other country and the death rate in that country compared to Costa Rica.

Click on images to enlarge.

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - October 2021 / Covid-19 Update

During October, visits to this blog were received from the following 16 countries:

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 133. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc.

 _____________________________________________

The following is a summary of weather for the month in the area where we live:

The total rainfall in October was marginally lower than that in October 2018 and 2019, and roughly only half of that in October 2020.

_____________________________________________

Covid-19 Update

The following table updates information which appeared in my blog entry posted on October 10, 2021:

Since my last post, the death rates in Costa Rica and the United States have risen (by 0.06 and 0.2 percentage points respectively). Conversely, that in Canada has dropped by 0.02 percentage points.

If you want to see how some other country is doing in comparison to those listed, then visit the website of Worldometer. Numbers for populations, reported cases and reported deaths can be obtained from that site. All that is then needed is some simple math to calculate the percentage death rate for the other country and the death rate in that country compared to Costa Rica.

If you want more comprehensive and up-to-date information and statistics on the situation in Costa Rica, including various locales in Costa Rica, then the La Nacion newspaper is a good source. If you do not understand Spanish, then you will need a web browser (Google Chrome, Safari, etc.) which is set to translate to your language of choice from Spanish.

 

Click on images to enlarge.

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - September 2021 / Covid-19 Update

During September, visits to this blog were received from the following 12 countries:

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 133. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc.

The level of interest in my video "Landing at Juan Santamaría Airport, Costa Rica" has spiked in the last few months. It was first posted to YouTube and to my blog on August 26, 2017. Between July 2019 and February 2021 the number of views has risen from over 4400 views to over 6400 views - or roughly 95 views per month. Since February 2021 until now the number of views has reason to over 8000 views - or roughly 200 views per month.

_____________________________________________

The following is a summary of weather for the month in the area where we live:

_____________________________________________

Covid-19 Update

The following table updates information which appeared in my blog entry posted on August 28, 2021:

Since my last post, the death rates in Canada and the United States have dropped by marginal amounts (0.10 and 0.04 percentage points respectively). That in Costa Rica is unchanged. 

If you want to see how some other country is doing in comparison to those listed, then visit the website of Worldometer. Numbers for populations, reported cases and reported deaths can be obtained from that site. All that is then needed is some simple math to calculate the percentage death rate for the other country and the death rate in that country compared to Costa Rica.

If you want more comprehensive and up-to-date information and statistics on the situation in Costa Rica, including various locales in Costa Rica, then the La Nacion newspaper is a good source. If you do not understand Spanish, then you will need a web browser (Google Chrome, Safari, etc.) which is set to translate to your language of choice from Spanish.

Eyes on Costa Rica and Weather Records - August 2021

During August, visits to this blog were received from the following 10 countries:

The total number of countries and non-independent jurisdictions from which visits have been received remains at 133. Of this number, 13 are non-independent jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Puerto Rico, etc.

_____________________________________________

The following is a summary of weather for the month in the area where we live:

As can be seen from the table, the maximum rainfall on any one day so far this year occurred in August. Total rainfall for the month was virtually the same as that in August 2020 but more than twice that in August 2018 and August 2019. If history prevails, we can expect much more rain total rainfall in each of September, October and November. Temperature highs, lows and averages were about the same as last year. 

Click on images to enlarge.

Unique Health Care System in Costa Rica

In my blog post earlier this year regarding Covid-19 (March 15, 2021), the numbers indicated that Costa Rica was doing better than Canada and the United States. The focus was on mortality. If you caught Covid-19, what were your chances of survival compared to Canada or the United States? It appears that Costa Rica continues to do better.

As the table below indicates, this continues to be the case:

Back in March, I speculated that this might be because on average those who live in Costa Rica spend more time exposed to outside air than those who live in Canada or the United States. I did not clarify, but I had in mind that one or the other or both of central air conditioning and central heating is relatively common in both countries. This might not provide a particularly healthy environment for controlling the spread of the virus.

Now comes to light another possible reason why Costa Rica has been faring better. It has a unique health care system. Specifically, Costa Rica has a health care model which combines a tiered universal medicare system with an unrestricted private care system: see Atul Gawande, "Costa Ricans Live Longer Than Us. What’s the Secret?”, The New Yorker magazine, August 23, 2021.

While Canada has a universal medicare system, it is not tiered like that in Costa Rica. Moreover, Canada severely restricts the services which can be provided by private enterprise. In the United States, the private care system is essentially unrestricted as it is in Costa Rica. However, while the United States has a medicare system, it is restrictive and far from being universal. Neither Canada nor the United States has a health care system which reaches down to individual households in a proactive manner as described by Atul Gawande.

We have experienced the proactive approach in Costa Rica. Two examples: (1) as described in my blog post on March 19, 2021, Lance got a personal telephone call out of the blue from a doctor at our local EBAIS to schedule an appointment for our first of two Covid-19 shots. I might be wrong, but I doubt that any person in Canada or the United States ever got such a call from any health care authority. (2) shortly after moving to Grecia/Hacienda El Paseo in 2018 and signing up with our local EBAIS, we were surprisingly visited by two medics.

As the New Yorker magazine article indicates, these medics are referred to as “ATAP" (Asistente Técnico en Atención Primaria) - trained community health care workers. They wanted to give us flu shots which we respectfully declined because neither of us had ever had flu shots (or ever had the flu over a period of decades). They also gave us pills for intestinal parasites - very common in tropical countries.

They also inspected our property indoor and out for cleanliness, etc. Their only recommendation was that we get rid of an outdoor pool of water which could provide a breeding ground for some mosquitos that are responsible for dengue fever - a fever which is survivable but not pleasant. We got rid of the “pool”. The pool was a relatively small plastic, rectangular container on the ground filled with water (usually rain water). Various species of birds found the pool and relished the opportunity to take a bird bath. That’s why we kept it until advised by the medics not to do so.