SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Stick of butter- $1.25

Yesterday I awoke with an inflamed, reddened mark on my inner thigh. It later swelled into a shape of a heart, which would make this story cute and adorable if it didn’t itch like nobody’s business. I soldiered on throughout the day but later that night I checked my mattress to make sure nothing was hiding under the covers. My thorough investigation revealed this beast in my bed…a scorpion.

“DO SOMETHING,” I yelled to my half comatose husband. And with the chivalry that is so characteristic of him, he grabbed a tissue off the nightstand, rolled over, and squashed the scorpion. And with the chivalry that is so characteristic of him, he handed it to me, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

I knew there would be creepy, crawly things in Costa Rica. I just didn’t know I’d be sleeping with them.

Scorpions – Rock You Like a Hurricane – 1984 Album: Love At First Sting

By | 2018-04-15T18:19:54-04:00 May 10th, 2011|Categories: Nature|Tags: |14 Comments

About the Author:

Nadine is the author of the best-selling series, Happier Than A Billionaire. Join her as she navigates living as an expat in the sometimes confusing, always beautiful, country of Costa Rica.

14 Comments

  1. Angela November 20, 2011 at 1:55 am - Reply

    Oh, oh! I have a grand aversion to earwigs. I don’t know how I will handle scorpions. I’m glad to know these aren’t going to kill me! I’m going to have to say that over and over! Scorpions aren’t deadly. Scorpions aren’t deadly. Huuummm. Not certain that’s going to work. Are they in Grecia too? That’s where we’ll be in December. Our exploratory trip to see if CR is a fit for two long in the tooth retired (and soon to retire) teachers. Scorpions. Here we come ready or not!

    • admin November 21, 2011 at 8:48 am - Reply

      Scorpions are not that bad in Grecia. They mostly stay outside, whereas I find a lot of them in the house here at the beach. But they only sting, not deadly, so really they just look scarier than they are.

      I will always love the town of Grecia. I hope you have a great time.

  2. Victoria September 26, 2011 at 1:10 pm - Reply

    eewww, reminds me of my first scorpion encounter!
    we had just bought our place, and I was all alone there, and I heard this kinda, clicketty clack sound… from the tile floor… glancing down I nearly passed out…
    at a rapid rate, clicketty clacking towards me was the hugest scorpion I had ever seen, and I was barefoot…
    I managed to jump up on the bed and I had a broom and I shewed it right outside.. thenI had an Imperial!

    • admin September 27, 2011 at 10:02 am - Reply

      Always have some form of alcohol handy for moments like that. Just saw a huge scorpion last night in the bedroom. You just can’t seem to get rid of them.

  3. Jake Dunham September 10, 2011 at 12:38 pm - Reply

    You need a couple of chickens. They eat the scorpions.

    • admin September 10, 2011 at 3:31 pm - Reply

      You are absoultely right. I am planning on getting some and letting them roam freely in my house.

  4. henry August 14, 2011 at 5:53 pm - Reply

    the bite you describe was not from a scorpion. when you are stung by a scoripion you know it whether you are sleeping or not. also scorpion stings don’t itch they hurt and sting. so the poor innocent scorpion you killed was not the culprit. there is a good chance the scorpion killed whatever bit you for his own dinner. i am a wild life expert living here in costa rica for 21 years.

    • admin August 15, 2011 at 7:45 pm - Reply

      I usually sweep them out the door. Unfortunately, this guy bit the dust.

  5. Tammy May 12, 2011 at 7:35 pm - Reply

    I told hubby about the scorpion bite…he turned a little green based on our upcoming trip in June to Tamarindo. Will be checking shoes and bedding every night!

    • admin May 13, 2011 at 9:02 am - Reply

      So sorry he turned green. But the good news is you won’t die. So, that’s a pretty big pro.

      They seem to be everywhere here. I had them at my other house but not as bad as this. I find them under the furniture, in my closet, and oddly, on my side of the bed.

      When you are in Tamarindo, you have to check out their supermarket next to Tamrindo Heights. I think it will give you great fodder for you blog. Very expensive. I picked up a box of brown rice and I think it was 8 dollars.

  6. Todd | Channelingmyself May 11, 2011 at 3:15 pm - Reply

    Creepy!! Reminds me of the time I was camping on Lake Mead when I was 20. I remember laying on a blanket in camp staring up at the stars and something crawling over my leg. I don’t know what it was but I was frozen with fear. Glad you are alright.

    • admin May 12, 2011 at 12:08 pm - Reply

      I couldn’t imagine that. Frozen with fear, in the dark, with something crawling over me. I don’t think I would ever camp again.

      Found another scorpion in my bed, it appears I am quite the catch.

  7. Dan May 10, 2011 at 6:48 pm - Reply

    ouch! in our short trip in CR (two weeks) we came across 3 scorpions. One in my wife’s backpack and 2 in our room in Monteverde. We were terrified but the manager assured us it was no worse than getting stung by a bee. I’m sorry you were bitten but THANKS for proving that his claims were correct and that the bite wasn’t too painful (or fatal!).

    • admin May 10, 2011 at 8:50 pm - Reply

      I can’t believe I didn’t wake up when he bit me. All and all, not too bad of an experience though. But I really don’t like seeing them in the bed, just too presumptuous for my tastes.

Leave a Reply to adminCancel reply

Join us in Costa Rica

Sign up and get the latest updates on life in Costa Rica!