Once the partying is done all that is left is to head home. And that is what thousands of drivers will be doing starting tomorrow.
To ease congestion, the San José – Caldera (Ruta 27) will be moving traffic in only one direction – into San José – between noon and 8pm on Tuesday.
The Autopistas del Sol has been using the “reversible” lane very successfully in the last couple of years, as it turns the entire highway between Pozón (west of Orotina) and Santa Ana into all lanes in one direction.
The section between Pozón and Puntarenas and San José and Santa Ana will continue with traffic in both directions.
If you have stashed away in your sock drawer any of the old ¢5.000 and ¢10.000 notes be aware that today is the last day they have a commercial value, that is can be used as legal currency at retail stores, supermarkets, etc.
Starting tomorrow, January 1, 2013 (or when the banks re-open) the notes can only be exchanged for equal value at banks and financial institutions. And come May 1, 2013 only at the central offices of the Banco Central in downtown San José.
The retirement of the “old” notes completes the process of changing over all the paper money in the country.
Currently, notes come in the following denominations: ¢1.000, ¢2.000, ¢5.000, ¢10.000, ¢20.000 and the rarely seen ¢50.000.
The National newspaper La Nacion revealed Friday that the government-owned power company ICE wrote into a 2007 contract with a private hydroelectric firm the clause that it would not buy electricity generated during certain hours of the night.
By preferring its own petroleum powered generation, ICE not only polluted but spent up to five times the cost of electricity generation. The measure cost customers an estimated $20.2 million more.
The situation reached such a point that President Laura Chinchilla was obliged to issue a direct order two weeks ago to the former monopoly to buy electricity at cheaper rates. (ICE still controls distribution of power as well as through its Power and Light subsidiary.)
ICE president Teofilo de la Torre hastened to disavow all knowledge of the contract clause in a La Nacion interview. But he was unable to assure the paper the ICE’s 34 other contracts did not contain similar clauses.
The contract was made amid a crisis in 2007 during which ICE was unable to meet the nation’s power needs, with attendant outages and rationing.
According to Claudio Volio, president of an association of electricity providers, ICE not only ignored protests from the private company about the clause in 2007 but has stubbornly refused to change it since.
It is estimated that ICE has spent $24 million on more expensive electricity since 2007 while the private company has been deprived of the sale of 85.5 million kilowatt/hours of much-needed power.
Commentary: This is yet another example of corporate hubris of the power company. ICE, despite the opening up of private generation of electricity, is still acting like a monopoly, sure that it can pass on any losses to its customers.
With sadness, we at this blog have watched ICE descend from a cherished national icon that brought electricity to all but a tiny number of citizens, into a bureaucratic morass. Sic transit gloria…
What if you are craving delicious food and a bit of adventure? For something more off the beaten path, head south on the main road towards Garza.
Garza is a fishing village on the Pacific coast, near Nosara. If you are driving in from Liberia or San Jose on your way to Nosara, the first time you see the ocean is by the boats at Garza.
You’ll come to a sign for Doña Ana’s Restaurant. Doña Ana is run by the Mora family and though this may your first visit, they’ve been here serving up fresh local food and fish dishes for eleven years. It’s the true definition of eating locally! The brothers of the family run a fishing business — not only can they take you out on a fishing trip or tour, they also fish each day to bring the freshest local catches to their family restaurant. From there, Doña Ana herself prepares fish of the day, fresh veggies, ceviche, and excellent desserts.
If you want to eat well prepared food that was caught in same part of the ocean as where the restaurant is located, check out Doña Ana’s. It is a locavore’s & ceviche lovers heaven! You can travel by car or by quad; the restaurant is a 15-20 minute drive from Playa Guiones, Nosara. Look for the sign on the right side of the road, and take the driveway right.
El Chamuko who runs the blog “El Infierno en Costa Rica” warns visitors to Mall San Pedro since many parts of the enclosed mall has no security cameras and one can easily become a victim.
The notice comes from several notes sent to El Chamuko of victims in of all places, the food court.
Of the complaints filed with the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) they tell the story of strangers bumping into patrons of the food court and in the confusion makes away with a purse or other belongings. In once case, a woman complained of being groped.
Problems with a computer hard drive rendering the cameras usless was the excuse given by mall management, meaning investigators had no way of retrieving footage of the incident.
Worse yet, according to Mary Picado, one of the victims writing to El Chamuko, said the mall security showed “a lack of responsibility and interest…”
Cell phones, purses, bags full of purchases are targets of anti-socials who seem to know the “camera situation” at the mall.
Another complaint by visitors to the San Pedro mall is the lack visible security guards. At times there seems to be patrols, while at other times there are no security guards in sight for long periods of time.
Although this note may be a little late for the holiday shopping season, since there is no word that the camera problem is fixed, best to keep an eye on your surroundings to not fall victim of an attack. Or better yet, avoid going to the San Pedro mall. There are other options.
When Brian and Stephanie Gough went on vacation in Tamarindo, a stunning stretch of palm-fringed shoreline on Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, their lives changed forever.
They had such an incredible time that they couldn’t bear the thought of going back to their old lives. So they bought a local restaurant.
“We fell in love with Tamarindo,” says Brian. “And we went in a real estate office and there just happened to be this pizza place for sale. It was random.”
It was February 2010. By May they had returned to open shop. But the couple didn’t want to do pizza and although they felt that a breakfast place or maybe bagels could work, the early morning starts didn’t appeal. So, they spoke with local expats about what they felt was missing from the community… and then decided on a barbecue restaurant.
Longboards BBQ, in the heart of postcard-perfect Tamarindo, was born.
Back in Denver, Colorado, Brian and Stephanie had owned a series of neighborhood sports bars. Before the move, Gough was spending 80 hours a week managing the establishments and spending his spare time thinking about how to bring in customers. While he was at one bar, his wife was at another.
“Steph and I barely saw each other,” says Brian. “We would be together maybe 10 hours a week.”
Longboards changed that. Today, they live in a condo next door and there’s plenty of time for surfing and spending time with the family (the couple has a young baby now). Stress levels are lower and quality of life is way up.
“Here, my day-to-day life revolves around my daughter,” says Stephanie. “I’m blessed to be able to stay home with her instead of working. I would not have been able to do that in the States. Our days are relaxed, and not rushed. We rarely have a time frame for anything and I’m no longer a slave to my cell phone.”
When he leaves the restaurant Brian is able to turn off “work mode” and fully relax, something he couldn’t enjoy in the U.S. “When you’re driving around in the States and looking at other people in their cars, nobody has a smile on their face. They’re worried about bills… about their job. That’s what’s different here,” says Brian.
Longboards is now well-known by expats and visitors alike for its top quality barbecue. In Tamarindo, a particular challenge was finding the right meat. The cuts are different, for one thing. But Brian’s refined his techniques. “The food is way better than it was when we started,” he says.
There have been some other adjustments. In Colorado, the sports bars lived on regulars. As a tourist town, Tamarindo businesses make their money during the high season. And Brian says they’ve been able to attract customers by keeping the focus on quality and keeping prices low.
And business is good.
“Good enough that we get to stay,” says Brian, laughing.
I am a consumer; I am attracted to the no-down payment offer and most of all the 0% interest rate when I make my payment which might be in a few months up to three years.
It is a sales ploy that has caught in Costa Rica and a very good sales ploy adopted from the United States with a few modifications.
For the most part you must be comfortable to make the purchase price payment schedule, which is generally higher than the competition, and you can buy a brand new 50 inch television, a teeth whitening paste, even an automobile overhaul worth thousands of dollars.
But God forbid do not miss a single payment or it is economic purgatory!
The interest, in Costa Rica can be as much as 50%, no matter how many payments have already been made. Interest is usually charged on the entire sum and not only the outstanding balance not to mention those hidden fees. Draconian, but legal.
The concept came from the North, where to sell products, a scheme, a very calculated scheme with a very nice partnership = Retailer + Bank = Money= up to 60% and in some cases 90% more for big-ticket items. All numerically calculates those consumers who can and those who will not meet the payment deadlines.
Cars, vacations, visits to the spa, televisions, medical necessities, etc. can be financed for 0% interest and so much per month. (If you qualify and make the payments not one day late.)
Fees, if any; outlets, retailers or medical people try hard not to say “Who qualifies and if you do qualify; how much per xyz are the payments. With simple addition times the payment schedule will become your total cost of the product or service.
Not a new marketing scheme to attract buyers but fiscally dangerous.
If you can pay the monthly quota or bi-monthly quota and you really want the face lift or 42” television; fine. Make the deal!
But as Q says, if there is even a question of not being able to pay the monthly quota …do not do it or you can be charged 50% or more just in interest alone plus late fees
A recent report by the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) reveals that the majority of homicides in Costa Rica occur on Sundays.
The numbers show that between January 1 and November 30 this year of the 335 homicides recorded, 74 occurred on the 48 Sundays of the period.
On Sundays, men are the principal victims with 62 of the homicides, while only 12 women were murdered.
“On Sundays some wake up under the effect of alcohol, drugs or futbol (soccer), while others have free time to plan out their actions, while victims are not thinking this is a day to be killed”, an investigator told La Teja during an interview.
A 9mm gun is the weapon of choice. Authorities say this type of gun is the easiest to obtain on the black market. Following is a handknife, mainly used in assaults and robberies. Interestingly, affixiation is the method most used to murder women.
According to the experts, drug trafficking is the major cause of the majority of the homicides, as gangs battle for turf and respect. The illicit drug trade also results in deaths due to deals gone bad, vengeance and ripoffs.
The OIJ statistics also point out that heading the list of victims and perpetrators are Nicaraguan nationals, followed by Colombians and Panamanians. Authorities say that many come to Costa Rica to dedicate themselves in the drug trade.
Following drug trade deaths are assaults and robberies, where in 95% of the cases the victim refused to hand over belongings.
Lower in the list but not of less importance to authorities is “femicides”. Many of the femicides are a result of a failed relationship, a love triangle or some other type of sentimental involvement between the victim and the aggressor.
Worrying investigators are the number of “sicarios” (murder for hire). Records indicate a total of 14 people were victims of sicariato (hire killers).
Leading in the most number of murders is the Caribbean province of Limón. Last year (2011) the province recorded 160 murders. Officials would only say that the 2012 numbers are lower.
In San José, the most likely placed to be murdered are, in order of most occurrences, Pavas, Alajuelita, Purral, La Uruca and Tibás. The “dark times”, the time when most of the murders occur on Sundays is between midnight and 4pm.
In contrast, the day least likely to be murdered in Costa Rica is: Monday!
Despite the Happy Planet poll that insists that Costa Ricans are the world’s happiest people — and have been for a number of years — a recent Gallup poll says that they are only the tenth happiest.
Moreover, close neighbors in Latin America appear to be happier with their lot — Panamanians are number one, Salvadorans in third place and Guatemalans in seventh.
In fact, the hemisphere ranks high: Paraguay is second, Venezuela fourth. Nor do riches seem to be an indicator: Trinidad and Tobago are a happy fifth place, closely followed by Thailand while prosperous Singapore, long admired for its industry, is dead last at 148th.
Even earth-quake wrecked Haiti which was known for corruption and grinding poverty before a record severity quake hit, is ahead of Singapore at 138th. Afghanistan at 139th and Iraq at 146th are more understandable.
How did the Gallup people arrive at their conclusion? They asked 1,000 people in each country six questions. These were basic inquiries about self esteem such as: Did others treat you with respect yesterday?
Or, did you smile or laugh much yesterday? Did you learn or do something interesting yesterday? Do you feel full of positive sentiments yesterday?
In first place Panama, citizens answering in the affirmative were 85.4%, followed by Paraguay at 85.2% and El Salvador with 84.3% In Costa Rica it was 81.3% — not a lot of pessimists.
Commentary: With due respect for the Gallup surveyors, we prefer the Happy Planet poll. But we at this blog have no scientific basis for our opinion. Like most people, we would like to believe the more favorable results… “Happy” Holidays.
Analysis – Clarification: Despite the common perception of — and arguments over — the now famous Happy Planet poll, we have to point out that the poll isn’t strictly related to the happiness of the population of a particular country. We wouldn’t argue that Singaporeans are actually happy due to economic reasons — certainly the gay population can’t be very happy — but their last place ranking is due to the environmentally disastrous consequences of their development. The Happy Planet Index attempts to link the physical and mental well-being of the population TO the environmental impact of that population on natural resources.
With very little heavy industry and 25% of the country’s territory being protected in national parks and reserves — Costa Rica consistently tops the poll. Because the people earn more than in other countries, they are also emotionally balanced with strong family ties, they have good public health services, are educated, AND the environmental resources consumed to earn the relatively high standard of living are much lower than in most OECD (developed) countries. This makes Costa Rica a model for sustainable development.
Meanwhile, the Gallup Poll is clearly focused on the present emotional status of each person answering the question, focusing on the past 24 hours. It can be argued whether such lightweight questions and ephemeral time frame are even a valid measurement of a country’s true happiness, but even so the high ranking of Latin populations – including Costa Rica – would seem to logically reflect the relatively higher value that they place on personal relationships and family. In addition, the Gallup poll doesn’t pretend to have any measure of the environmental cost required to achieve this ranking.
In the end, Costa Rica’s high ranking in both polls is welcome publicity. But it isn’t surprising that the ranking achieved is different, given that one is measuring the happiness of the planet as a whole, while the other is measuring the emotional state of people in the last 24 hours.
As a living, sincere testimony and a sorrow thanks to Newtown, Connecticut that becomes more viral, more macabre and we in Costa Rica should very well count our blessings, be it for God or a bottle of Cacique, this has never happened in “Paradise”.
Given the reports of the case, I have no suggestions, absolutely none to prevent such a horrific event here in Costa Rica except our own vulnerable sense of morality. This tragedy could have happened any day at any time and any place in our country.
Daily, in less spectacular events, I read or listen to or have seen mini-crimes against people who have always believed in the faith of “Paradise” and yet have been deceived only to be murdered.
Most are poor, most have had a long history of rape experiences and been previously robbed, battened and threatened with family violence and in turn, for survival, they become underage, child whores.
However, in the end, we have government officials who are charged as guardians of sorts, but in truth are locals who pay off officials and even members of the congress as in the National Assembly who are accused and often times guilty of selling the sex of kids. Not a hard job but an easy one since children tend to believe adult authority on every level from Santa Clause to doing what is profitable.
Selling kids in exchange for sex has got to be (1) the easiest job in the world and (2) this is a business that Costa Rica has yet to take seriously despite the repeated “tsk, tsk” rhetoric.
We need to arrest and convict!!!!! I mean really convict!
The country solicits more flights from Canada, from New York, even France and a large part of tourists never leave San Jose unless they have subscribed to any one of the 100 plus sex trade Websites.
The latest trend is sex for sale in Liberia where the boarder girls of Nicaragua and indeed many Ticas are closer and the resort towns less likely to enforce law. And, there is an obvious absence of concerned officers of those laws; provided it is not their kid, boy or girl whose sex is being sold.
These youngsters are Christmas gifts at 14 years old, readily purchased and packaged for not only tourists, but to satisfy locals as well.
Turn down the lights, dress them up, put on some lipstick, drop the pants and a boy or girl becomes just another pleasure for rent.
And, the government does little about stopping this on going practice except offer more and more lip service. Moreover, we the people, you know, the ones who live here also do very little to put an end to the heinous practice of child rape that has permeated Costa Rica on just about every level and in every county.
MANAGUA – Nicaragua’s efficiency in fighting crime is well known in the region. The country has reduced its per capita crime rate, including its homicide rate to 12.5 for every 100,000 residents, the second-lowest rate in Central America behind Costa Rica (10.9), according to the United Nations report “Transnational Organized Crime in Central America and the Caribbean: A Threat Assessment.”
It’s an important achievement considering the homicide rates in Honduras (92), El Salvador (69) and Guatemala (39) are much higher.
Nicaragua is home to 3.7% of all the homicides in the region, far behind Honduras (29%), Guatemala (27.7%) and El Salvador (18.6%), according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
In 2009, Nicaragua had 14 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants, according to the UNDP.
Nicaragua has 13,000 police officers for a population of about 5.8 million, distributed throughout a territory of 130,370 square kilometers (50,336 square miles), equaling 224 police officers for every 100,000 inhabitants.
“This is a reality that is slowly changing because each year marks the graduation of 1,500 new police officers whose work will focus on the implementation and reproduction of the ‘preventive, proactive and community’ policing model, which is the institution’s main strength,” said Maj. Commissioner Javier Dávila, the director of the Walter Mendoza Police Academy.
In addition to the 1,500 officers who will join the Nicaraguan police force at the end of 2012, the country will also reintroduce 200 at-risk adolescents between the ages of 16 and 21 into society, keeping them away from gangs and criminal organizations.
These young people have been prepared to re-enter society by the Juventud centre, an educational and training institution for at-risk youth managed by the Nicaraguan police. It provides job training in fields such as baking, tailoring, mechanics, beauty, crafts and electrician services, as well as high school equivalency courses.
Upon graduating from the Juventud centre, they work as monitors for other at-risk youth, along with 10,000 young volunteers.
Nicaragua’s policing model, which was adopted in 1979, was born at the end of the dictatorship of Anastasio Somoza (1967-1979) and the disappearance of the National Guard, which had exercised the powers of both a police force and army.
Since then, the police have formulated a strategy of community-based crime prevention that is divided into three subsystems: police, society and state.
Francisco Díaz, the deputy director of the National Police, said crime is more of a social issue than a police issue, adding the actions of individual officers are not enough to improve public safety.
“The police work must be complemented with the two other major components: social prevention and the state,” he said. “Cracking down on society isn’t the answer. The key is enhancing the social fabric of communities, and that’s our focus.”
Díaz said the strong bond among the National Police, community and public and private institutions is responsible for the reduction in crime.
Currently, there are about 111,000 volunteers throughout the country who work with the National Police through the Promotoría Solidaria (Solidarity Action) initiative. This includes 25,000 members of the Committee for the Social Prevention of Crime, who inform the police about suspicious activities in their communities and also act as social educators.
In addition, 76,000 take part in Citizen Power Cabinets, citizen organizations that promote the participation of society in community development issues, such as sports and entertainment activities for young people, community health and clean-up days.
In rural areas, 1,300 members of the District Committees, 14,000 volunteer police officers and 4,000 volunteers who work to prevent domestic violence support the police.
“This community action plan has given strength and security to young people,” said Inés Espinoza, a 50-year-old community leader with 12 years of experience in the field. “When they are safe and secure, they have more opportunities to achieve their goals, such as getting an education.”
Nicaraguans rank the National Police as the third-most-trusted institution in the country, with the approval of 73.2% of the respondents, trailing behind the Army (86.1%) and media (75.4%), according to the latest survey by M&R Consultores.
“The success of this model is a responsibility shared by all Nicaraguan families, the entire country and its institutions. The credit does not belong to National Police alone, but to the entire system,” Díaz said. “That’s why we’ve achieved these results, and we have to continue strengthening this model based on individuals, families and communities.”
The number of employers whose employees have filed a complaint for not paying the Aguinaldo increases to 148, this according to the Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social.
Every salaried employee in both the private and public sector is to be paid the annual bonus which amounts to an average of one month’s salary during the preceding twelve. The last day to pay was December 20.
Employers not paying up expose themselves to economic sanctions by the Ministry of Labour.
According to minister Olmán Segura, the names of the companies will be made public once the cases are filed in court.
Last year a total of 295 companies had complaints filed against them.
Come Tuesday (January 1) prepare yourself to pay more for the tolls on the San José – Caldera (ruta 27). The increase is part of the quarterly adjustment made by concessionaire, Autopistas del Sol.
The increase is between ¢10 and ¢70 colones at some, but not all toll stations and depending on the type of vehicle.
For instance, the tolls at Escazú will increase ¢10 colones for light passenger vehicles and motorcycles, while the tolls at Cuidad Colon, Siquaires and the ramp at Pozón will the same.
The increase is allowed under the concession contract between the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes (MOPT) and the concessionaire, who operates and maintains the road.
The sale of POPS ice cream to Colombia’s Nutresa was confirmed on Friday in a deal that is valued at US$110 million dollars.
There had been rumours that the Colombian company, part of the 25 companies that make up the Multi – Latin Index of Latin Trade Magazine – was looking to buy American Franchising Corp (AFC), a 100% Costa Rica company, with head office in Pamana.
AFC has some 180 retail outlets in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Miami, Florida.
The sale also includes the ice cream manufacturing plant, the Entrepans coffee shops and the distribution rights of Haagen Daz and General Mills products, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker and Chex Mix brands.
Carlos Abréu, presient of AFC, confirmed that the Colombians will take over operations starting on January 1, 2013.
Among the brands owned by Nutresa are Choys, Chokoito, Tutto, Chocobars, Cocoa Dulce, Merendina, Tosh, Chiky and Bokitas.
This year Colombians acquisitions in Costa Rica and Central America include the banking operations of BAC by Grupo Villa and HSBC by Davidienda.
IMAS, the Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social – Costa Rica ( Institute for Social Assistance) has found a little known regulation that allows this fine organization to tax the sex trade without calling it “sex”.
IMAS will be charging “motels”, un-registered hotels, massage parlors, and night clubs with “room service” a 30% tax on gross revenues in accordance with Law No. 8343, of Costa Rica.
The word “sex tax” and for sure the words, “tax sex for sale” are never used by Fernando Marin, CEO, certainly indicated.
This also applies to “un registered lodging” which might be interpreted as a condo on the beach rented out to a family of four.
IMAS shall have access to receipts and ledgers which is questionable because typically the sex trade is cash ‘n carry.
However, the institution has collect over 177.7 billion colons already this year and this is all for the common good.
They sit idle doing nothing while Traffic officials complain about the lack of patrol vehicles. In some cases, a number of patrol vehicles have been sitting in the Tránsito yard in Zapote for up to six months.
German Marín, the recently appointed director of the Policia de Tránsito, says it is a matter of economics, there isn’t money in the budget to fix them.
However, a number of Transitos say that is just part of the waste that goes on within the police department, a division of the Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes (MOPT), a ministry mired in controversy and corruption.
Marín was replaced by Cesar Quiros at the start of the Chinchilla administration in 2010, who was replaced by Diego Herrero earlier this year.
Both Quiros and Herrero have been said to be paper shufflers within the MOPT and with no experience in running a police department. Thus Marín, a career Tránsito, was brough back by the administration.
The situation Marín found after an almost three years absence is deplorable. A total of 15 units are stranded, needing repairs and no parts or worse no one knows who is responsbible for their repair.
A number of Tránsitos, on the basis of remaning anonymous in fear of reprisals, said that 15 units are sitting stranded, needing repairs, with no parts available and no one knowing who is responsible for getting them repaired. “What happened to the money and which are the authorized mechanic shops?”, collectively they ask rhetorically.
Director Marín assured the press on Thursday that a number of units will be rolling again in days. There are units that simply need a brake job and that in February all the units will be back on the streets serving society.
The dollar exchange has taken an upwards swing in the past week, rising more than ¢10 colones in the past week.
The Buy for one US dollar this morning posted by the Banco Central is ¢503.58 and the sell at ¢515.40. The exchange rate is as high as ¢506 for the buy and ¢520 for the sell at Scotiabank and ¢505.50 and ¢51450 at the state bank, Banco de Costa Rica (BCR). Other banks, both private and state, have similar exchange rates.
The rise in the dollar is said to be for several reasons. One is the cyclical movememt for the US currency at the end of the year and beginning of new.
Roger Madrigal, director of the División Económica at the Central Bank, assures that the change is not part of the normal movements of the currency band.
The appreciation in the dollar may not be long lasting. Bank officials predict that the exchange will return to floor of the currency bank as there are plenty of dollars entering Costa Ricain search of high interest earnings in colones.
There is fear among the banks about speculation by investors, both local and foreign, seeking to profit from the situation, forcing the Central Bank to step in to stem the flow of the dollar.
Fernando Naranjo, General Manger of the Banco Nacional (BN), says that in recent months there has been a high flow of currency from the exterior, known as “capitales golondrina” (“vagabond capital).
Last week Central Bank president, Rodrigo Bolaños, said that in January there would be adjustments made to curb speculative inflow of capital. Bolaños would not be speficic on his comments, only saying that when the change occurs it will be announced.
Thursday was Desampas’ turn to party, as the Carnaval de Desamparados filled the streets with dance and music, this year coinciding with the canton’s 150th anniversary celebration.
Marching bands, floats, cheerleaders, motorcyclists and classic autos thrilled the thousands who braved the cold air of the two kilometres between the municipal building and the Olympic Village.
The Carnaval was a tradition in San José, following the Tope, every year. Several years ago, however, the carnaval moved to Desamparados.
Editor’s note: Desamparados is called “Desampa” by the locals.
The two operating rooms of the Anexion hospital have been opened since November 27th, confirmed Juan Jose Li Kam, director of the medical center.
The two surgical rooms were closed down by the Ministry of Health on June 6th since they had problems with the air conditioning and rusted equipment. They were inactive for five months and required an investment of more than 100 million colones ($200,000).
Li Kam said that during the time that the rooms were closed, patients were sent to the operating rooms of the hospital in Liberia and in Cañas, but it will no longer be necessary to transfer patients.
“The motive of the closure was that the two air conditioners had finished their usefulness and were no longer functioning as they should be. In addition the ceiling and floor, as well as some cabinet drawers were deteriorated, so the closure was inevitable and we had to condition a hall as an operating room to attend to emergency cases there such as unscheduled cesareans and others, and any other surgeries had to be performed by our staff in the Enrique Baltodano of Liberia and in Cañas. There they did a little more than 100 operations,” related Li Kam.
To solve the problem, three air conditioners were brought from San Vicente de Paul hospital in Heredia, and support was given by the Gerencias de Infraestructura y Medica (Medical and Infrastructure Managers).
Hey, if you have some old calendars lying around – don’t throw them out! Turns out calendars from 1991 will work for 2013. So will ones from 1985, 1974, 1963, 1957, 1946, 1935, 1929, 1918, and 2002, according to this completely useless fun fact going viral today.
That means if you’ve got any World War I-era datebooks or disco-themed calendars on hand, those are still valuable too.
ust a word of caution: if you do decide to use the throwback calendars, make sure you don’t confuse notes like “Woodrow Wilson speech” or “Abba concert at Studio 54” with stuff you actually have to do today.
And for a more useless fun fact, here is a brain teaser.
If Christmas is on a Tuesday, so is New Year’s Day. If Christmas is on a Saturday, so is New Year’s. We all know that.
Why then, in 2011, when Christmas on a Sunday, but New Year’s Day was on a Saturday?
Answer if you don’t get it: New Year’s Day following Christmas 2011 is on Jan. 1, 2012 and is on a Sunday. New Year’s Day 2011 happened nearly 12 months before when Christmas of last year was on a Sunday.
New street signs have been popping up all over San José. The signs, with sponsor messages, are being erected on major streets and intersections.
New street sign on the Bulevar – sorry Transversal – in front of the Japanese embassy, diagonal to Oscar’s house in Rohrmoser.
The placement of the streets signs will simplify navigating the city. But maybe not.
Once upon a time there were street signs in the country’s largest and most populated city. Evidence of the elusive signs – now faded for the most part – are on some buildings in the downtown core. You really have to make an effort to see them. And in communities like Rohrmoser most streets have rusted out street signs.
The new signs have a fresh look. They are clean and appealing. But, will they actually serve a purpose? Or go the way of the old signs?
For new visitors the new signs could be a big help. That is if the maps of San José are updated. It is very difficult to get a good map of San José. Or at least a current one. But that is for another story.
I will venture that for most Costa Ricans and expats living in the country for years, the new signs will be nothing more that decoration.
And confusing. A case in point.
Everyone knows the “Rohrmoser Boulevard”. The Bulevar (in Spanish) his is the road that runs from the Stadium to the (almost) Pavas airport. It is also well known for wide two lanes and the large trees in the middle that span the several kilometres.
It is also the street with the home of Nobel Peace prize winner and two time Costa Rica president, Oscar Arias
But, according to the new street signs the street is really called “TRANSVERSAL 068 ‘. Uh? Transversal what?
I will stick to the Bulevar. And will continue to use Oscar’s house as a reference point.
Facebook has without a question hooked million of users. Now, in a trial the social media website is asking users to pay $1 to send messages direct to people who are not their friends.
The fee will mean messages go straight to a recipient’s inbox rather than the Other folder which contains all unsolicited correspondence.
The trial is only for a “small number of people” and is initially being tested just in the US.
Users will be able to receive a maximum of one paid-for message per week, and no more than three each month.
“Several commentators and researchers have noted that imposing a financial cost on the sender may be the most effective way to discourage unwanted messages and facilitate delivery of messages that are relevant and useful,” the site said in a statement.
“For example, if you want to send a message to someone you heard speak at an event but are not friends with, or if you want to message someone about a job opportunity, you can use this feature to reach their inbox.”
Spam prevention
The system is similar to one adopted by professional social networking service LinkedIn. Its InMail feature allows users to get in touch with people they are not connected to for a set monthly fee.
On Facebook, users can already send messages to anyone else on the network. However, depending on a user’s privacy settings, messages from users who are not friends mostly end up in the Other folder.
This folder, which is separate from the user’s main inbox, often goes unchecked.
The $1 charge will mean messages will go straight to a user’s inbox. Facebook said the level of cost is likely to prevent spam or irrelevant messages.
There are no immediate plans to launch the trial for users in Europe, but it could happen in the future, Facebook said.
The changes are the latest evolution of Facebook’s messaging service – an area of its site it is looking to expand.
The site’s founder Mark Zuckerberg has previously said he wants people to use Facebook messages instead of email – and the network rolled out @facebook.com email addresses to all users in June.
Facebook has without a question hooked million of users. Now, in a trial the social media website is asking users to pay $1 to send messages direct to people who are not their friends.
The fee will mean messages go straight to a recipient’s inbox rather than the Other folder which contains all unsolicited correspondence.
The trial is only for a “small number of people” and is initially being tested just in the US.
Users will be able to receive a maximum of one paid-for message per week, and no more than three each month.
“Several commentators and researchers have noted that imposing a financial cost on the sender may be the most effective way to discourage unwanted messages and facilitate delivery of messages that are relevant and useful,” the site said in a statement.
“For example, if you want to send a message to someone you heard speak at an event but are not friends with, or if you want to message someone about a job opportunity, you can use this feature to reach their inbox.”
Spam prevention
The system is similar to one adopted by professional social networking service LinkedIn. Its InMail feature allows users to get in touch with people they are not connected to for a set monthly fee.
On Facebook, users can already send messages to anyone else on the network. However, depending on a user’s privacy settings, messages from users who are not friends mostly end up in the Other folder.
This folder, which is separate from the user’s main inbox, often goes unchecked.
The $1 charge will mean messages will go straight to a user’s inbox. Facebook said the level of cost is likely to prevent spam or irrelevant messages.
There are no immediate plans to launch the trial for users in Europe, but it could happen in the future, Facebook said.
The changes are the latest evolution of Facebook’s messaging service – an area of its site it is looking to expand.
The site’s founder Mark Zuckerberg has previously said he wants people to use Facebook messages instead of email – and the network rolled out @facebook.com email addresses to all users in June.
Costa Rica has long been a favourite destination for single men looking for some R&R. And entering the country has never been a hassle. A cursory, what is the purpose of your visit? where will you be staying? how long will you be staying? and the 90 day stay stamp.
But that may be changing. We cannot ascertain if only single men are being targeted or it is also affecting couples, families and single women, as immigration officials are issuing stays of less than the usual 90 days.
One case in point is that of Danny, a frequent visitor to Costa Rica for the last six years. Danny is not a “perpetual tourist”, he does not live in Costa Rica, leaves every 90 days and immediately returns for another 90 day visitor stay.
Danny has been visiting Costa Rica once or twice a year, staying one or two weeks each time. His latest arrival was on Thursday when, for the first time, he was given only a “15 day” stay and not the usual 90.
The shorter stay does not inconvenience Danny, he has to return to the US next week. However, what if Danny wants to change plans and stay longer? And, although the Q has not been able to confirm other such cases, we have heard of several in the last couple of months.
“They are targeting the single male traveller with frequent visits to Costa Rica. I was prepared with my return ticket, as I had read on several forums/boards of people being asked, but a rude awakening on the 15 days. I was always given 90”, Danny told QCostarica.com.
The requirements to enter Costa Rica depend on your country of nationality. Generally, citizens of the United States, Canada and the European Union countries do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica. Those citizens can enter Costa Rica with their valid passport and remain in the country for up to a maximum of 90 days.
But the length of the stay is at the discretion of the immigration official at the point of entry. There is no appeal and the decision is strictly at the discretion of the “interviewer”.
What is disturbing here is that visits are being cut short and for no apparent reason. The official Costa Rica tourism site by the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT) does not mention the possibility that an immigration official may issue a shorter stay.
And for the most part it really isn’t a problem, tourists usually arrive in Costa Rica with a predetermined number of days/weeks stay and the leave.
In cases like Danny where his stay is limited to only 15 days and decides to stay in the country longer, there is hassle of having to visit the immigration office in San José and apply for an extension.
In the case of Danny, in the interview with the Q there were no “unusual” circumstances leading to Danny’s stay being cut short of the usual 90 days.
In Danny’s case he can be called a “regular” visitor. He spends money on hotels, meals, entertainment, transportation, etc, like a good tourist, while visiting.
The difference between him and the ‘average” visitor is that he keeps coming back to Costa Rica. Isn’t that a good thing?
“If they (the immigration official) see many entry stamps in your passport they will cut your visit short”, speculates Danny.
In addition, Danny was asked – for the very first time – to present his return ticket out of Costa Rica. Most tickets are now “e-tickets”, which means that if you did not print out the e-ticket before leaving, it may mean a trip to the airline counter at the airport to get a copy to satisfy the immigration service.
Wednesday morning former president Miguel Ángel Rodríguez (1998-2002) was all smiles. This days after learning of the appeals court overturninghis five year conviction on corruption charges.
The day after Christmas, the former president told the press that he forgives his accusers and that he is done with politics. His wife, Lorena, who was present during the interview, speaking soflty reiterated her husbands comments of forgiveness.
Rodríguez said that he has no thoughts of pressing on with a legal battle against his accusers, that all is forgiven and spoke of hopes that the Ministerio Público (Attorney General) does no repeat an action like the case against him.
The former president was accused, tried and convicted for accepting bribes related to the ICE-Alcatel case which saw the first 400.000 GSM lines in Costa Rica way back in 2001.
His lawyer, sitting by his side, called the aquittal “un regalo del Niño (Dios)” – a gift of God.
“Those who involved me, who invented proof that put me in jail illegally, who illegally detained me at the airport (…), to all I say that I forgive, that chapter that is over, hopefully not do this to anyone else”, said Rodríguez.
The accusation cost him a post as Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), resigning only one month after taking the post, in addition to great personal sacrifice and marring of his reputation.
Despite assurances by the Junta de Protección Social de San José (JPS) – Costa Rica lottery – that almost 100% of all tickets have been sold, lottery sales have been flat.
This because the “Gordo” -the big Christmas lottery – prize went unclaimed for the winning ticket never left the JPS archives.
The consolation lottery as it is called is on Sunday December 30.
The cost of the “entero” – a whole ticket made up of 20 portions – is ¢10.000, each “fracción” or portion is ¢500.
The traditional day after Christmas (Boxing Day for Canucks) “Tope” took place in San José Wednesday with thousands of horses and their riders parading along Paseo Colon and Avenida 2, tens of thousands lining the parade route and hundreds cleaning up the mess left behind by the horses and people.
The Tope in San José is organized by the Comisión de Fiestas de la Municipalidad de San José. “Jinetes” (cowboys and cowgals) pay a fee to enter their horse. This year an estimate 5.000 horses took part in the Tope.
For many the Tope is just one big outdoor party, as cold beers, hot sun and skimpily clad women (on horses and in the stands) are part of the tradition.
All in all authorities say the event was a success with a only a few minor hiccups. One man was detained by police for selling drugs openly and another with outstanding warrants. Police also had to break up a couple of skirmishes where alcohol played a major role.
Costa Rica – Although you will most likely here 80′s music or Calle 13 when getting into a taxi in CR there is a whole world of latin music and dance that you can delve into when living in Costa Rica. When you think of Latin music you may picture the type of dancing you have seen in movies such as Dirty Dancing or in big cities.
However, the dancing style in Costa Rica is much less energetic than in Cuba, New York, or California. It is very graceful but appears slow and repetitious. The most common dance genres of music and dance styles are salsa, bachata, meringue, cumbia, and bolero which is a type of swing only found in Costa Rica and different from other boleros.
The most popular club to dance these styles is Castro’s in barrio Mexico. Other places include El Tobagan, Meridiano al Este, Palenque, Manolo’s, and Picachos.
Most bars in the beach locations will play tropical music, with the exception of in the Caribbean where reggae roots and calypso are most popular. In San Jose and other university areas electronic music and 80s rock are the most normal to hear.
Costa Rican’s love to listen to music and dance. There is a TV show dedicated to pairing celebrities with someone connected with a charity. They are judged on their dancing and the winner gets money for the charity. It’s called Bailando por un Sueno and is on every Saturday night.
Contemporary dance and music styles are gaining popularity. Ballet, jazz, and bellydance are among these. There is a folkloric dance which involves acting out a story of the past while wearing traditional clothing and playing historic instruments. This dance is used in celebrations and parades year round.
Colombian cyclist Marlon Perez Wednesday won the ninth stage of Costa Rica’s International Cycling Tour, while his compatriot Oscar Sanchez held the general leadership.
The Wednesday stage was a 143.9-kilometer travel between the coastal area of Jacó in Costa Rica’s central Pacific region and Perez Zeledon, at 80 kilometers southeast of San José.
Perez was part of a 7-cyclist squad that went ahead and led the race even 10 minutes from the main group.
The winner Perez arrived to the final line with a time of 3 hours, 59 minutes and 18 seconds.
The tour’s general leader, Colombian Sanchez (GW-Shimano team) resisted the attacks of his nearest followers, Costa Ricans Roman Villalobos and Juan Carlos Rojas (JPS-Giant team), to remain in the top.
Sanchez’s total time so far is 23 hours, 56 minutes and 12 seconds. Villalobos is in the second position one minute and one second behind, while Rojas is in the third position one minute and 47 seconds behind the leader.
The tenth stage will be staged Thursday in a 121.4-kilometer circuit in Osa canton (170 kilometers southeast of San Jose), where the maximum height is of 60 meters over the sea level.
Costa Rica’s International Cycling Tour is held from Dec. 17 to 29, with a total of 12 stages and the participation of teams from Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Cuba and Costa Rica.
If you need to have your vehicle inspected before the end of the year, this week is a great one for doing so, with most on vacation the Revisión Técnica Vehicular (RITEVE) reports low flow of vehicles.
This is totally contrary to years past when the end of the year mad rush was on, as vehicle owners scurried to get the inspection to pay the year end Marchamo.
Berlioth Herrera, spokesperson for Riteve, informs that though there is steady traffic at all stations across the country, you can get an appointment for the next day without any problem.
Remember, that it takes 24-48 hours (not counting weekends) for the Riteve inspection to show up on the INS system. That is, if you leave the inspection to Friday it is unlikely you will be able to pay the Marchamo on Saturday or Monday, the last day before the new year.
Starting on January 2, when banks re-open, fines and penalties will be added to the original outstanding amount.
By preferring its own petroleum powered generation, ICE not only polluted but spent up to five times the cost of electricity generation. The measure cost customers an estimated $20.2 million more.
Moreover, close neighbors in Latin America appear to be happier with their lot — Panamanians are number one, Salvadorans in third place and Guatemalans in seventh.
The number of employers whose employees have filed a complaint for not paying the Aguinaldo increases to 148, this according to the Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social.
American Franchising Corp (AFC), a 100% Costa Rica company, with head office in Pamana.
The fee will mean messages go straight to a recipient’s inbox rather than the Other folder which contains all unsolicited correspondence.
Despite assurances by the Junta de Protección Social de San José (JPS) – Costa Rica lottery – that almost 100% of all tickets have been sold, lottery sales have been flat.
The report released this mornin Wednesday notes a decrease as compared to last year when there 12 deaths for the same period.
