CR Driving Licenses

As a useful form of local identification and for future use when driving in Costa Rica, we decided to get CR driving licenses. This turned out to be another labyrinthine adventure, so you may like to read a blow-by-blow account of the day. "CRC" is shorthand for Costa Rican colones. As of today, one Cdn$ = 538 CRC.

0500 - up for early breakfast and watch birds; weather overcast, calm, mild
0630 - catch local bus down to Grecia; 275 CRC each
0658 - arrive Grecia bus station
0707 - depart Grecia on nice coach for San Jose; 770 CRC each
0746 - stop at airport
0825 - arrive at downtown San Jose at main street (Paseo Colon)
0827 - hailed taxi to La Uruca, area of driving license offices. Janet asked what it would cost, driver said "3000 colones"; we offered 2000, and he countered with 2500. En route, Janet inquired why the meter was not running. Exasperated, driver said "because you asked me for a price!". The driver reluctantly started the meter, and it totalled 850 colones at our destination. Janet gave him 1200 to account for lost meter time and we learned our lesson to always have the meter running when taking a taxi in CR.
0833 - out of taxi and into first building
0840 - Start of process; give blood type sample and get physical examination by CR doctor; US$15 each.
0855 - Out the door with both blood samples and "physical exams" done! The exams were a joke - other than taking blood pressure, the doctor just sits with a form and very rapidly ticks items as he rattles off ailments and your answers. He even asked us for our height and weight rather than measuring himself.
0903 - Walked up the street 100 m to complex of government buildings ("COSEVI"), where driving documents are administered. Armed guard at gate, and outside gate a crowd of local touts seeking to steer you through the process for a fee. We had info from others here, so just did it all ourselves. Walked to office and saw LONG line-up - about 100 people outside the doors, and another 30-40 on chairs inside. We went to head of line and talked to another (armed) guard -then walked upstairs to separate office for non-nationals, and a line of only 5 people to our first interview to have our passports checked and copies of our Canadian Drivers Licences stamped and dated.
0917 - Finished with our first interview with gov official (Marielos Hernandez - an avid fan of local soccer team Sarparissa - mugs, banners, photos everywhere; she is only fractionally responsive to any dialogue and moves at the single "on" speed of government officials). We continue on to another line (now about 8).
1000 - Both met with a single official methodically entering all pertinent information for each license into computer. Careful cross-checks, relooking, slow typing, more looking. We are both told the same stock phrase - that we must now go out to a nearby bank to pay for the license fee and bring back the receipt to this office (but another line), for photos.
1022 - Completed walking out to street again, over to Banco de Costa Rica, paid 4,000 CRC each, get receipt, walk back to COSEVI offices.
1030 - both now in 3rd line, waiting for photos in cubicles with other officials and camera/printing machines. For some reason, we are allowed to cut in front of all of the 100+ waiting people for photos. We feel many eyes looking at us as we wait.
1035 - in for photos. Official now brings up our file on computer, we touch our right forefinger pad to a photo-finger print machine 5 separate times (! why could the electronic file not be copied is a mystery)
1038 - both out of photo booths and elated - we are nearly through. But Janet notices a mistake on her driving license!! "BRDSHAW" instead of "BRADSHAW" - eeooaahhoohh! Janet must march back up to the single computer guy, cut in line between people, get the correction done, go back downstairs, wait under the stares for another photo opening.
1040 - Miraculously, Janet is in front of the photo official again when... she takes a coffee break. Just gets up and walks away without a word. I advise Janet NOT to move from that seat.
1050 - After about 15 minutes the woman returns with coffee cup and part of a cookie. Resumes work without a word.
1055 - Janet has corrected DL and WE ARE DONE!
1100 - coffee and snack in small soda (cafe) near office.
1127 - bus to Hospital Mexico main bus stop; 150 CRC each
1208 - caught bus to Grecia; 770 CRC each
1301 - caught bus to our ridge above town; 275 CRC each
1346 - at home with a glass of wine in hand.

Total elapsed time: 7 hrs and 16 min.

The DLs here are nifty - they have photo ID, passport no., blood type, donor status, birthdate and are valid for 3 years.