Not only does Costa Rica boast excellent surf, adorable rainforest creatures, and a community of tax-evading expatriates who spend their days playing golf and having Cialis-fuelled mega orgies, the tiny Central American republic also has a lady president who doesn't take any shit from retail plazas when they try to…

When filmmaker Todd Bieber traveled to Costa Rica for a vacation with his girlfriend, he was immediately disappointed at the "adventure" suggestions his resort travel guide recommended he visit. Instead, they traveled to Nosara Wildlife Rescue, a place where good people have rescued orphaned or harmed monkeys and help …

It's usually charming when a human forms a deep friendship with a powerful animal like a gorilla or a lion. Even though you're aware of the danger, you can see the emotions they feel for one another, and it's so heart-warming when the giant creature nuzzles their head into their human pal's chest or rests their…

An insightful lesson, in eight steps.

[San Jose, Costa Rica; March 28. Image via Getty]

• The role of the "queen" of the Rio de Janeiro carnival is usually played by a model or soap star, but this year 7-year-old Julia Lira will be the drum corps queen. Children's services groups are none too happy.

[San Jose, Costa Rica; October 20. Image via Getty]

The recession has driven many women - skilled and unskilled - to prostitution in Costa Rica. Though the men of "Gringo Gulch" continue to work the bars, the sudden influx of competition drives down prices and increases desperation. [Miami Herald]

• Being on vacation with Amy Winehouse must be relentlessly entertaining:

• Gisele Bundchen married Tom Brady again, this time in Costa Rica. They first got hitched in the U.S. in February. These days you can't be a celebrity and not have two or three ceremonies. [Breitbart, Mirror]