Everyone in Tronadora speaks Spanish, and there is a growing number of locals who speak at least a little English as well. If you remember, Tronadora is also home to a large German population, so it isn't uncommon to hear that language from time to time while you're out.
Costa Rica officially uses colones: it's a colorful currency with bills that come in denominations of 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000. Approximately 500 colones is equal to $1.00. Because tourism is such a large part of the Costa Rican economy, American dollars are accepted almost everywhere throughout the country. However, this isn't always the case, so it's generally still a good idea to exchange your money when visiting.
Prices in Costa Rica are similar to those in the United States. A bottle of water here costs between 1,200-1,500 colones, or two to three dollars.
Casados are classic Costa Rican meals. In Spanish, casar means "to marry," so the name comes from the joke that if you can cook a good casado, you'll be a great spouse. I went to a restaurant and ate an absolutely delicious casado in a nearby beach town called Paquera.
