Anyone in Costa Rica or Panama?

You are right - it has little to do with laws and bullshit - it's all about who you know here. As long as it ain't anything serious like murder and pedo shit, nobody gives a damn :-)

San Jose is 2000 meters above sea level, but it's also in a valley? How does that work?

Hell.. I did not know that. I've got some land on the Pacific coast and that goes back and up to 1500 ish meters... or is it feet? Fuck knows...

I'd have thought Central Valley was a good bit higher than that.

Yup .. It's like the Wild West pretty much. Can't wait to get back!

I searched all over the Caribbean and Latin America and came to the same conclusion!

It's an ideal environment for anyone on the net - no taxes, think it's 8 microclimates and "convenient" laws :-)

You ever been up to Heredia? First time I saw this place I could not believe it was 10 degrees above the equator. It was Switzerland, complete with Swiss chalets, Swiss cows and a temperature to match :-)

There's a hotel with chalets called Tirol. The chef there is a friend of ours and he makes some pretty tasty french food. Check it out!

I know it well!!!

It's a nice place - I better say Hi to the chef next time! :-)

Can you send the country to me?

Don't trust your lawyers in Costa Rica!! :-) Over half of em are totally incompetent and the other half need it thrusting down their throats exactly what the scenario is and get on the phone and establish fact. (Tho this is common most places?)

There are definately laws regarding the production of porn - this is not new.

The law was enacted to stop pedos after a well publicised court case, but they also broaden it's scope to include all porn production.

In real life? :-) In the unfortunate and rare situation the law happens to walk in during the middle of a porn shoot, you have one option... Be nice and let em watch the shoot and if any suggestion comes up that this is an offense, - there are ways to cure that problem :-)

In practice, it is most unlikely - unless the talent talk too much locally - that it would ever reach the ears of the law.

If you are unfortunate enough to end up with a concientious officer, (I've never met one yet,) - then shit starts and you are immediately thrown in jail until such time as the OIJ (investigative arm of the law) decide to look at the file - that can take three months. Paperwork has a habit of being slow.

The other thing to watch for is leaving the country with digital material. It is very rare they check this, but this can open a can of worms. It has happened to others! :-)

I only spent time in Panama........ but I would like to explore Costa Rica this spring. From what I hear it is great.