Liberia, Costa Rica

COSTA RICA NEWS 2011

Despite our promise of not publishing a Costa Rica News 2011, here it is:    As we said in Costa Rica News 2010, we remain fearful of one of the 1200 "Homeland Security" agencies placing us on a Terrorist or No-Fly list, and so we make no more editorial comments about world events.  The news here is re-printed from INSIDE COSTA RICA , and we would make one comment on the article below concerning the new canal:  Daniel Ortega is old and sick, and knows he has a limited time frame to put his name in the history books (aside from the fact the the US is (to date) the only country in the world convicted of STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM (World Court, 1989) in its Sandinista/Contra War  fought to remove Ortega from power in Nicaragua. Since 1970, the Chinese Communists have tried to take Central America.  They began in El Salvador, and (as with Ortega) the Communists were defeated only to have the Communist Party elected into office. 

Again we encourage those concerned to read A PATH BETWEEN TWO SEAS to understand how everyone always knew that Nicaragua was the proper location for a canal. It was built in Panama (then Columbia) only to save the French from devastating debt, and started the practice of lobbying, which has plagued the US ever since.  As the Communists make their move around the world, Nicaragua has invaded the northern boarder of Costa Rica to finally build the canal. Costa Rica, with no army, immediately ordered Nicaragua to get out "or else"--- but there was no "or else" and Nicaragua continues to build the canal. Although Ortega will be dead when it is finished, his name will go down in history as being responsible for the canal. which will likely turn Panama into a tourist attraction. Costa Rica (and the rest of the world) will benefit greatly from the canal, and so all the news is not bad.  Unable to use force or get the US to do so, they are now undertaking an "Environmental Study" to try to get Ortega to stop, but as we continue to cut a football field/hour of Brazil's rain forest, Costa Rica News doubts this study will have any affect.

1 Dream Getaway, the source of Costa Rica News, continues to invite the world to see THE REAL COSTA RICA and we promise you will enjoy your visit in peace and security and never know that this communist invasion is happening. Please write to  INFO (AT)  1DREAMGETAWAY.COM to start planning your vacation of a lifetime.

The main food source in Costa Rica is rice.  Over the past years, Communist China has killed and injured thousands of pets, children and adults deliberately by adding melamine (a plastic ingredient they use to make much of their junk) to various food products. The addition of melamine causes the nutrition tests of these products, required before shipping, to pass tests they would not pass otherwise. Now that rice prices are rising and Communist China has made great inroads into Costa Rica, we fear this new plastic rice will take its toll on our citizens.

                  COSTA RICA APPARENTLY HAS A NEW APPROACH TO CRIME CONTROL

as we stopped recently to do some business just before the entrance to Liberia.  Those of our faithful readers remember that we reported a visit from my mother in 2010 (she'll never come back) where my car was robbed of everything inside during our half-hour meal at Pizza Hut. The robbery took place in front of hundreds of pedestrians with cell phones and hundreds of cars on the main road, where we were parked. 

On November 3 a car load of cops pulled up as we exited our car.  "Don't get out of your car in Liberia." They said. "Someone will steal it." Apparently the way to avoid crime in Liberia is not to go there. We only go into Liberia with our German Shepherd, Lobo.  Not only does Liberia have its own police force, but it is the headquarters for OIJ (like the FBI) and none of them are willing (or able) to stop the thievery. 1 Dream Getaway only takes you places where you can roam the streets, forests and beaches day-or-night without a worry.

AS I WRITE on the morning of 10/16, the sky has been falling for the last 24 hours.  We have likely had 10 to 20 inches of rain since this article was written:  http://insidecostarica.com/ .  Also, we reported (below) the loss of our Dry Forrest Volcano Package due to selling of the resort.  We had a client scheduled to go there next week, and changed his plans.  It is a good thing we did, as the volcano is erupting and entrance is currently denied:  http://www.insidecostarica.com/dailynews/2011/september/30/costarica11093002.htm .

With all of Costa Rica's current problems, like rain and erupting volcanoes, why would anyone come here? Well, for one thing, we don't have PI lawyers.  If there were anything like the Pigford scandal in Costa
Rica, there would be nothing else on our local news:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsNNt8GZ2YA&feature=youtu.be

                              MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM 1 DREAM GETAWAY AND COSTA RICA NEWS

Given Costa Rica's new laws prohibiting receiving packages in the mail, we lament that our country now steals Christmas presents from children. Throughout our website we proudly announce that 1 Dream Getaway shows you the REAL Costa Rica.  We will never think of San Jose as being any part of Costa Rica, and as Government employees in San Jose await a delayed January Christmas distributing all the packages confiscated from around the country, we held a party.  The clowns work at our bank, and a wonderful time was had by all.

In a country where cars are the most expensive in the world, fuel costs $1.50/quart, and renewing your registration can cost over $100/month; few of our neighbors have cars. Since 2008, many stores have closed their doors and the toys kids see advertised are only available on the internet.  Ordering on the internet is a creative way for kids to learn how to use the internet.  However San Jose Government effectively prohibits internet sales---and confiscates all internet purchases.  We see this as a big step backwards for Costa Rica.

                                                                       DECEMBER 22

Exodus Begins: Nicaraguans Headed Home For The Holidays
The exodus has begun, Nicaraguans heading for home for the holidays. And the most popular form of travel is by bus with direct service between San José and Managua, some with stops in between.

We Are Now 4.301.712: 49% men, 51% Women
Preliminary data from the Census conducted by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censos (INEC) determined that the current population of Costa Rica is 4.301.712 of which 49% are men and 51% are men.

Alleged Corrupt Tránsito Officials But On Suspension, But Will Receive Pay
The six Tránsito officials arrested Monday for corruption are now free but on suspension. The officials were arrested on suspicion of collecting bribes, targeting foreigners travelling on Ruta 27 that runs from San José to Puntarenas.

Combating Dog Fighting
Authorities are closing ranks on dog fighting, however, they fail to catch those involved.

Cerveceria Buys Musmanni
With that be an "Imperial" with your pancito? may soon be heard at the chain of bakeries across Costa Rica with the purchase of the Musmanni by Florida Ice and Farm Co. owners of Cerveceria Costa Rica.

Regional Court To Hear Nicaragua-Costa Rica "Road" Case
The Central American Court of Justice has agreed to hear a Nicaraguan complaint about Costa Rica's highway construction near the river marking the two countries' border.

Pilot And Police Official Arrested For Smuggling Jamaican Weed
Three months of monitoring and surveillance by the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) culminated in the dismantling of a marijuana smuggling ring from Jamaica.

Costa Rica At Risk From Cartels
Costa Rica is Central America's most stable democracy, a peaceful country that abolished its army in 1948 and now draws nearly a million U.S. tourists a year to its national parks and beaches. But it's also right in the middle of the world's most lucrative cocaine trafficking corridor.

Costa Rica Presents Local Approach to Conserve Biodiversity
I can’t open a science magazine without reading some sort of statement about human growth and its impacts on the world. Our carbon emissions are causing climate change, our consumption of seafood is killing the ocean’s biodiversity, and a lack of federal funding is closing national parks across the country.

Bad (And Good) News for Costa Rican Farmers
Knocking down forests to make way for farms and pastures in Costa Rica can drive away the birds that play a crucial role in distributing seeds, controlling insects, and pollinating plants.


NICARAGUA
Nicaragua Prepares Inauguration of Daniel Ortega
Nicaragua is ready to welcome many international delegations that will attend the inauguration, on January 10, of President Daniel Ortega, reelected on November 6, according to coordinator of the Communication and Citizenship Council Rosario Murillo.

PANAMA
Panamanians Recall U.S. Invasion
Panamanians have held commemorative events to commemorate the 22nd anniversary of the U.S. military invasion of Panama in 1989.

HONDURAS
Honduran Bishop Asks for Dispensation to Run for President
The Liberal Resistance Movement June 28, of the Liberal Party, is collecting signatures to ask Pope Benedict XVI to authorize Bishop Luis Alfonso Santos to run for president of Honduras.
 

                                                                                      DECEMBER 20

Organized crime is legalized in Costa Rica.  This is not an editorial or a joke---but real news verified by the people who are perpetrating  crimes against their own people and which is an exclusive report from Costa Rica News .  We begin by relating personal experience about a package sent to us.  When we arrived to pick it up at our post office box, we received instead to note from the government of Costa Rica saying we had to drive to El Roble, a town half-way across the country, to pick up our package.  That same day, we related the experience to as friend (a Tico) who owns an electronic repair store near us. He related a story and asked us to do him a favor.

He was repairing a plasma TV for a customer, and found it needed a PC board.  As it was not available in Costa Rica, he ordered the circuit board from a company in the US. After paying in advance for the pc board and for shipping to his shop near our home,  he went to our local post office to get his package.  As happened with us, he received a note from the government of Costa Rica that he had to travel to El Roble to get his package.  After hours of standing in line at the post office in El Roble, he was told he had to travel to another city to receive the paperwork from Aduana  (Customs) in order to get his package.  After driving to another city and standing in line, Aduana gave him papers demanding that he pay the Bank of Costa Rica (in yet another city) and then return to them (Aduana) with proof of payment.

After driving to the other city (Puntarenus) and parking blocks away from the bank, he stood in line for hours until he was able to pay the money demanded by Aduana and get his receipt---which he then drove to Aduana again in El Roble and stood in line again to get the papers to deliver to the Post Office in El Roble and retrieve the circuit board for which delivery to his shop had been paid months before.  Arriving to the Post Office in El Roble by mid-afternoon, he found their outside gates locked and with a CLOSED sign on them and a crowd of people locked out.  He made the long trip home, and was delighted to learn that we were going back there the next day.  Giving us the paperwork and receipts that he had followed all the procedures and was entitled to his package, he asked us to pick it up while we were there.  We were warned to get there early, so we left at four the following morning.

Arriving at the Post office in El Roble (after numerous stops to get directions), we found their gate and door open:

and friendly people attending several people trying to get their packages.  It was stunning to be greeted to a big sign next to the teller cage saying: NO HAY TIMBRES (we don't have stamps).  As the function of a post office is to sell stamps and send-out/receive letters and packages, we were rather shocked at this sign. We presented our friend's paperwork first, and were handed a torn-open box containing his circuit board---ALONG WITH A BILL FOR $10!  As months before he had paid for the circuit board along with all shipping and handling charges (to his shop five hours' drive away) and had driven ten hours, paid Aduana, paid the Bank of Costa Rica and had all the documents and receipts required, there can only be one answer to the question: For what is this $10 charge?

Then we were shown our package and directed to Aduana.  Fortunately we had a car and time, and (after two more people gave us directions) the Aduana building in Puntarenus.  It was a palace!!!  Unlike every other government building here, it had ample parking (closed off with an electric gate so the people who paid for it can not use it) and three floors of elaborate offices. We parked on abandoned railroad tracks across the street.

                  PUBLIC PARKING      ADUANA EMPLOYEES PARKING        ADUANA BUILDING

The glass door opened with a motion censor, and the air conditioned (the post office is not air conditioned) waiting area had ample seats for Ticos (mostly women with babies) awaiting their turn to find out what they had to do to get the packages, which were paid for and mailed to their post office in another city.  There were a dozen counters to attend the public---but only one person working. 

When our turn came, we found that the only worker (a friendly girl wearing pink) had no authority to do anything. We then waited another two hours for her to show someone upstairs our paperwork, and for him to give us more paperwork to take to Banco Costarica (in another city) and pay money (for a package that had been paid-for for a month (including shipping to our post office five hours away).  After stopping several more people for directions, we finally found Banco Costa Rica with no parking and people lined down the street to get in.  As I drove to the other end of town to find a parking space, Cony stood in line to get into the bank, where people were packed shoulder-to-shoulder and took a number to be served.

By the time Cony was able to pay Banco Costarica, we had been working 8 hours to get the package that should have been delivered to our post office ten minutes from our home/office. As fuel costs $1.50/quart, our costs were already over $100---and we still had to drive back to El Roble to get our package. When we arrived, the gates were locked (as had happened to a friend with the circuit board the day before).  The post office was still jammed (mostly with women with babies trying to get their Christmas presents) and each time a woman got her package, the postal worker came out with a key to open the gate and let her out.  Fortunately we talked our way in, and were locked inside the post office grounds as the crowd gathered outside the post office gate.

The postal workers had no place to walk, as their entire working space was jammed with packages and presents stolen by the post office in San Jose and diverted to el Roble. The workers felt guilty and were apologetic, and when I said "At least you'll have a great Christmas taking home all the packages that are unclaimed."  They explained that all the unclaimed packages were shipped back to San Jose, and one can only assume that they will be divided up among the San Jose government thieves, who will obviously have a wonderful Christmas.  AND FINALLY when we presented the stack of papers and receipts proving that we had paid all the fees and jumped through all of the hoops, we had to PAY AGAIN to have our package mailed from El Roble to Villareal---even though we had paid for that a month earlier, and were picking up the package in El Roble.

The next day I checked my post office box and related this story.  They assured me this practice had nothing to do with the post office----however it was a post office that was holding everyone's packages and Christmas presents.  We were advised by the post office not to make any internet purchases and to advise friends and family not to send any packages.  So Costa Rica news passes this information on to our readers. We will also forward this information to INSIDE COSTA RICA, as apparently the Costa Rica legislature has passed these new laws which have the effect of preventing any Tico from receiving any kind of package.  Merry Christmas from the government of Costa Rica.

                                                                     DECEMBER 18

The Chinese communists got us at 1 Dream Getaway, so we warn our readers about an internet company called DHgate.  When we were building our home/office, we elected to use 12 volt strip lighting.  Now the store where we bought the lights is gone, and replacement bulbs are not available. DHgate has the bulbs (or claims to), and boldly advertises: WE NOW SHIP TO COSTA RICA.  However two months and $85 dollars later we have no bulbs and the DHgate website advises that: "You are not authorized to use this account" when we try to track our order.  Our requests for a refund go ignored.  We advise our clients:

1. NEVER DEAL WITH COMMUNIST CHINA OR TRUST THEIR GOODS.

2. Packages sent via Costa Rica mail are normally stolen and rarely received.

We realize that buying anything that is not from Communist China is difficult---but you are usually better off not having it than paying for something that is junk, will make you sick, or is never received.

Costa Rica's Constitutional Court Freezes Controversial Tax Plan
The Sala Constitucional de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de Costa Rica - Costa Rica's Constitutional Court or Sala IV as it is often referred to, announced that it will take into consideration an action of unconstitutionality against the fast tracking being applied to the discussion of the Plan Fiscal (Tax Plan) currently in the Legislature.

Costa Rica: 2 Dead, 1.140 in Shelters From The Rains
The heavy rains of the recent days have left two people dead and some 1.140 to take shelter in the area of Sarapiquí, affected by the inclement weather conditions.

ICE Receives National Quality Award
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) was recognized for models of excellence in management, awarded the "Premio Nacional a la Calidad y Reconocimiento a Práctica Promisorias en la Gestión Pública" - National Quality Award and Recognition of Promising Practice in Public Management.

Costa Rica: Infinito Plays Scrooge Laying Off 223 One Week To Christmas
Industrias Infinito, the Costa Rican subsidiary of the Canadian mining company, Infinito Gold, announced the laying off of 223 employees following the Court decision last month that stopped the development of the Crucitas open-pit gold mine in the northern zone of Costa Rica.

Planting Trees May Save Costa Rican Birds Threatened By Intensive Farming
(PhysOrg.com) - The colorful birds of Costa Rica play a crucial role in the country's rural landscapes, by distributing seeds, controlling pesky insects and pollinating plants.

Costa Rica: Female Sloth Hitches Ride To Animal Sanctuary ...On A Bus
You can encounter all walks of life on the bus. But passengers on a journey in Costa Rica will no doubt remember the time they shared their bus - with a sloth.

Nature Air Pass Now Offered Year Round in Costa Rica
Packing more into a vacation in shorter time periods has become the norm, and experiencing the whole country of Costa Rica by air in one trip has become a whole lot easier – thanks to a year-round flight pass program by Nature Air that offers travelers unlimited flights in either a one- or two-week period.

Costa Rica: Bananas Have A Good End of Year
Despite the 3% increase in export value, banana producers in Costa Rica are expecting to receive assistance from the Government in regards to the current exchange rate system.

A Series Of Earthquakes Shook Costa Rica On Thursday
The Obvservatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (Oviscori) reports recording at least four earthquakes on Thursday. A string of aftershocks has authorities on alert.

Rainy Weather To Continue Into Sunday
It started in the afternoon of last Sunday, the rains that is and the weather man is predicting to continue until at least this Sunday, all due to a low pressure system over most of the country.


NICARAGUA
Nicaraguan Government to Grant Over 5,000 Credits to Women
The Nicaraguan government will grant, from December 20 to 23, microcredits to 5,627 women organized in solidarity groups in 40 municipalities, the coordinator of the Communication and Citizenship Council, Rosario Murillo, announced on Thursday.

NICARAGUA
Nicaraguan Government Invites Religious Organizations to Work for Children
The Nicaraguan government invited religious organizations to work together to guarantee education and health care for all the children in the country.

VENEZUELA
Chavez´ Positive Rating Grows 23.8 Points
The positive assessment of the administration of President Hugo Chavez by the population grew by 22.3 points between February 2010 and December 2011, according to Jesse Chacon, director of the GIS XXI polling agency.

ARGENTINA
More Argentinean Tourists Visit Cuba
The number of Argentinean tourists who had visited Cuba until December 12 increased 30.2 percent, compared to the same period in 2010, according to sources from the tourism sector.

CHILE
Human Rights Move Backwards in Chile, Say Stakeholders
About 20 social organizations and representatives of indigenous peoples reported that in 2011, Chile retreated regarding human rights.
 

Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast Under "Yellow" Alert Due To Rains And Swollen Rivers
The swelling of the river waters, flooding of many areas and continuing rains in Costa Rica's Caribbean coast has led the Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) to declare a "yellow" alert for the canton de Sarapiquí.

UCR Speaks Out Against Tax Plan
The The University of Costa Rica (UCR) is the latest on the list to express opposition to the Proyecto de Ley de Solidaridad Tributaria (Plan Fiscal) - Tax Plan - promoted by government and currently being discussed in the Legislative Assembly.

Costa Ricans Consuming More Veggies, Less Fruit
As time passes by, tables in Costa Rica are seeing more vegetables but less fruit; and are still to reach the minimum consumption recommendations.

Costa Ricans Consuming More Veggies, Less Fruit
As time passes by, tables in Costa Rica are seeing more vegetables but less fruit; and are still to reach the minimum consumption recommendations.

Costa Rica Contemplates The Electric Train
The government of Laura Chinchilla has set its sights on the electric train for the four provinces of the Central Valley - Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago and San José.

School Year Ends Tomorrow
Finally, Friday December 16 is only one day away, the day when the 2011 school year ends, as all schools in Costa Rica close for the "summer break", for the 2011 school year that began on February 10.

100.000 Without Riteve
With only two weeks before the end of the year some 100.000 vehicle owners do not have their Riteve, the annual vehicular inspection. The number represents almost 10% of the national vehicular fleet.

Netflix and iTunes Now available on your Apple TV, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch in Costa Rica
Good news for consumers, bad news for video/DVD rental outlets and music stores, as iTunes is now available in Costa Rica and Apple is allowing Netflix to be streamed on the iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone.

Political Humour: Chinchilla and Solís on Tax Plan
Presidenta Laura Chinchilla comments to PAC leader, Otton Solís, "Ottón this magic formula is not going so well", "Quiet Laurita, I am never wrong", he responds while Rodrigo and Oscar Arias, as buzzards, hover over them.


NICARAGUA
Nicaragua Achieves Major Results in Agriculture
Nicaragua will report an increase in agricultural production of more than 13.9 percent this year to meet the demand from domestic consumption and exports, according to Agriculture Minister Ariel Bucardo.

PANAMA
France to Sign Treaty with Panama and Remove it from Black List
The French government will sign a treaty with Panama this year to avoid double taxation, and will remove this Central American country from its black list of tax havens, announced French Presidential Aide Damian Loras said on Wednesday.

HONDURAS
Honduran Police and Military Beat Reporters in Protest
The Honduran police and the military on Tuesday beat and used tear gas against a march by journalists to denounce the assassination of colleagues in the country, which has a homicide rate of 82 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
 

                                                                                       DECEMBER 14

Costa Rica: One Dead, 600 In Shelters in Caribbean Due To Rains
The rains of the past days has taken its toll on the Caribbean coast with one dead and some 600 people today are being housed in shelters by the Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) and many others with friends and family.

Costa Rica: Thursday Deadline For Filing Income Tax
December 15 is an important day in Costa Rica, for it is the last day to file your income tax return, you know that form that lists your income and expenses and the difference taxed.

Interamericana Sur Fully Re-Opened
The Interamericana Sur (Ruta 2) in the area of Casamata de Cartago is finally opened after weeks of closures due to the sinking of the roadway.

Costa Ricans To Travel In Space
A recent prediction of Dr Franklin Chang, the Costa Rican astronaut for NASA and noted physicist developing the revolutionary Ad Astra Company plasma rocket engine, that soon Costa Ricans would travel in space seems valid. He made the statement recently to the English-language paper The Tico Times .

CheapOair Giving Away Trips to Costa Rica In "Jungle to Jungle" Photo Contest
CheapOair.com has announced its new, interactive Facebook presence, where fans of the O Zone have access to exclusive discounts, flight deals, prize giveaways and contests, starting with the chance to win trips to Costa Rica through their "Jungle to Jungle" photo contest, which debuted on the tab on Monday, December 12, 2011.

No Restrictions Of San José For A Month
Beginning Monday December 19 and until January 13, 2012 the vehicular restrictions of San José will be suspended. During the period all vehicles will be to transit the restricted area without risk of being fined by the Policía de Tránito.

Costa Rica: March Against Plan Fiscal (Tax Plan)
Braving the cold weather and rain hundreds of protestors from various labour organizations protested outside the Ministerio de Hacienda (Finance Ministry) and the Asamblea Legislativa (Legislative Assembly) on Tuesday, with the objective to derail the approval of the Plan Fiscal (Tax Plan).

Apostille Convention In Effect In Costa Rica Today
Beginning today, in Costa Rica the consular services of 102 countries can be without the long lines or having to travel to the country of origin for the original document.
 

                                                                                           DECEMBER 13

Costa Rica Trade Union Calls to Fight Fiscal Plan
Thousands To Join Protest March Against Tax Plan Today
Starting at 9am this morning, Tuesday, members of the various trade union organizations will begin to gather in downtown San José Parque Central (Central Park) with flags, banners, posters, slogans and drums, to participate in a march against the Plan Fiscal (tax plan).

Vacation in Costa Rica For Free. No Gimmick. No Purchase Required.
If you move quickly you may be able to enjoy one of the 55 trips-for-two left courtesy of the Instituto Costarricense de Turismo (ICT), part of the tourism board's one million dollar give-away.

CCSS Opens Tenders For Managers
For the first time the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) published a public tender to elect a group of ne managers. The publication was by way of a print ad in the local newspapers.

Rain To Continue To Tomorrow
Rain, strong winds and cold temperatures will be with us until tomorrow (Wednesday) says the weather service, the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN).

Telemaratón Canina Tomorrow
On Wednesday, December 14, the Telemaratón Canina will kick off at the Ramada Herradura hotel with the goal of collecting some ¢25 million colones to better the conditions of dogs in Costa Rica.

Kölbi Takes First Prize In Festival de la Luz
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) took first prize in the best float of the Festival del la Luz 2011 parade.

85.000 Traffic Tickets Go Unpaid
The Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI), like the taxman with tax payments, has a tough job on collecting on thousands of traffic tickets written up by the traffic police.

MOPT Promises Overhead Passes On Caldera. Again.
The MOPT promises once again that in January will will start building the overhead pedestrian bridges on the San José- Caldera.

Political Humour: Figueres On His Return To Costa Rica?
"This all belongs to Oscar and Rodrigo (Arias) and I cannot let you in", says the guard.


PANAMA
Minister of Security Justified Deceit in Noriega´s Arrival
The Minister of Public Security of Panama, Jose Raul Mulino, justified the deceits used during the arrival at the airport and transfer to the prison El Renacer of former general Manuel Antonio Noriega that caused criticism and angry protests.

VENEZUELA
Chavez Signs Decree-Law to Create Venezuela's Children Mission
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez signed on Monday a law creating Venezuela's Children Great Mission, which is a social program whose main objective is to eradicate extreme poverty in this country.

                                                                                           DECEMBER 12

What They Say About 2012
As the year 2011 comes to a close, the pundits are out predicting the future of 2012 in Costa Rica and the world at large. It gets them a good name and at the end of the next twelve months, who actually remembers what was forecast anyway?

Costa Rica Looks To Asia To Fill The Void Of The U.S. and Europe
Chinchilla administration: much of the economic future is at stake in Asia
While in Japan presidenta Laura Chinchilla and her entourage are getting a first hand look at the potential future of Costa Rica's trade sector and tourism industry.

Moín Docks No Man's Land With Cruise Ship Tourism
The docks at the port of Moín, in the province of Limón, is no man's land when the cruise ships arrive loaded with tourists. Although there are permits and regulations in place that rule who and who cannot offer their services and tours, there is little in the way of monitoring and enforcement.

Costa Rica: Of Mice and Coffee
There was an explosion of mice captures during Round 2 of our assessment in Aquiares — and not just in the forest areas, but among the coffee plants as well. We had a total of 207 captures — 114 of those were recaptures — which is a 4.80 percent trap-success rate.

Brangelina Buying Farm in Costa Rica?
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are buying a house in Costa Rica. That is the word out of the The Hollywood couple - who have children Maddox, 10, Pax, eight, Zahara, six, Shiloh, five, and three-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne together - are planning to spend the festive season in Costa Rica but could return more often.

Presidenta Chinchilla Awarded Honoris Casa By Kyoto University
This weekend, while in Japan, the Presidenta was granted the "Honoris Causa" from the Kyoto University of Foreign Studies, also known as KUFS, a foreign language university in Kyoto, Japan.

Work on Paseo Colón To Resume Today, Traffic Chaos Guaranteed
The traffic chaos of Paseo Colon will continue this week as work crews complete the work of signalization of the newly resurfaced road.

Noriega Back in Panama and Jail
Happy to be home? Noriega 'excited' to be back in Panama after two decades behind bars abroad (but will now be locked up for another 20 years for murder convictions). Panama's former strongman, former general and former dictator, Manuel Antonio Noriega, is now back home in Panama after being extradited from France.

The Day After The Festival de la Luz 2011
In the last few days we've published all the nice photos of the Festival de la Luz 2011, however, here are photos showing how of Paseo Colón and Avenida Segunada looked Sunday morning.

                                                                         DECEMBER 9

Nicaraguans Top The List Of Foreigners in Costa Rica
Contrary to the popular belief by Americans that they rank number one in the number of foreigners in Costa Rica, that place goes to Nicaraguans, in fact they represent nearly 70% of immigrations. Colombians take second place.

Ticos Prefer To Save This Holiday Season
According to a survey conducted by Amelia Rueda, the majority of Costa Ricans say they preferred to save this December, a month characterized with advertising geared to part consumers with their wallets, advertising that encourages spending.

MOPT Announces New "Final Repair" To The Platina
Get ready, sit down if you must, before reading this, the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) has announced it will "definitely" fix the "Platina" bridge - you know the bridge over the Virilla river on the carretera General Cañas - this time around.

Costa Rica: A Jab At Our Presidenta Laura Chinchilla
While Korea gave former president Oscar Arias a brand spanking new Hyundai Equus and China gave Costa Rica (by way of Arias) a new national stadium, the only gift our president Laura Chinchilla was able to get out of Japan so far during her visit is a toy car from the president of Toyota.

How Long Do Marriages Last In Costa Rica?
How long does a marriage last? Most enter a marriage with the promise and hope to be together for life. But, for some life means until divorced. In Costa Rica, according to sociologist Sergio Reuben, the average life of a marriage is 13 years and five months.

How Long Does It Take To Change A Light Bulb In Costa Rica?
How long does it take to change the light bulb of a street lamp? according to the Compaña Nacional de Fuerza y Luz (CNFL), the national power and light company - a subsidiary of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) - up to 21 days.

Burns From Fireworks Leading Cause of Injuries During Holiday Season
The Hospital Nacional de Niños (Children's Hospital) reports that in 2010 it treated on average one child daily for burns and that by far the leading cause was from gunpowder burns.

Costa Rica: Queso Fundido Whopper
We probably don't need to tell you that Costa Rica has a crazy long list of things going for it. Among them: surf spots, hot springs, eco tourism, canyoneering/ziplining, beaches, and now even a new $40 million airport. But what we bet you didn't expect us to say is that Costa Rica also hits home on the fast food front, as evidenced by our discovery of the Burger King Queso Fundido Whopper.

Carl’s Jr. Menu Is Impossible To Resist
For those looking for a premium burger in Costa Rica, Carl’s Jr. in downtown San José may be the place, opening its doors last month, with its first locale in the area of the Parque Central, with two more - Mall San Pedro and Plaza Cariari - opening by the end of the year

                                                           DECEMBER 8

Costa Rica's State Hospital Using Operating Rooms For Storage
At Costa Rica's state hospital, the Calderón Guardia five of six operating rooms in the new north tower are being used for storage of medical equipment.

Figueres Announces His Return To Costa Rica
The news of the return of former president José Maria Figueres Olsen to Costa Rica has generated wet dreams, euphoria, passions, prolonged sleeplessness, extreme concern and many other reactions since the airing of the television interview with Ignacio Santos on Telenoticias Monday night.

Cellular Phones In Costa Rica Cannot Be Sold "Locked"
A practice used by the majority of cellular operators in the United States and Canada is a "no no" in Costa Rica, confirmed the Superintendencia de Comunicaciones (Sutel).

Bank of Costa Rica Refuses To Exchange e500 Bills
Foreign exchange makes possible international transactions such as imports and exports and the movement of capital between countries. And of particular importance to a country with a strong tourism sector and foreigner visits.

Costa Rica to Create Caribbean Tourism Hub
The Costa Rican government is aiming to develop a quiet stretch of its Caribbean coast into a tourism mecca with the biggest investment of its kind in the country’s history, InternationalLiving.com has revealed. The province of Limón on the country’s Caribbean coast, is made up of virgin rainforests and white-sand beaches.

Costa Rica Halts Tuna Farm in Golfo Dulce
Save The Waves has announced that the Government of Costa Rica has halted plans to construct a tuna farm at the mouth of the Golfo Dulce. The proposed project consisted of the construction of 80 tuna farms which would have caused significant pollution of the nearshore waters close to Pavones and Punta Banco on the southern edge of the Golfo Dulce.

Costa Rica: Organic And Exotic Products Open New Opportunities In Europe
Producers in Costa Rica can consolidate their presence in the Netherlands if they modify their offer to products classified as "exotic", adding value or working under sustainable environment schemes, like organic agriculture.

Avoid Paseo Colón If You Can At Least Until Monday
When you thought it was ok to again use Paseo Colón now that the construction is finished (though not complete), you were wrong: traffic chaos continues, but this time to allow crews to erect platforms and seating along the road for Saturday's Festival de la Luz.

Magic and Light: The illumination of the Children's Museum "Lit Up" the San José Skies
A night filled with lots and lots of lights was enjoyed by more than 2.000 attending the illumination of the Museo de los Niños event in San José.  The activity is one of the numerous offered during the holiday season to bring the Christmas spirit to the hearts of children and adults alike.



NICARAGUA
Nicaragua Issues Environmental Complaint at Central American Court
Nicaraguan environmental organizations sued the government of Costa Rica for the construction of a highway parallel to the San Juan River at the Central American Court of Justice (CCJ), the national press highlights on Wednesday.

PANAMA
Panamanian General to Undergo Medical Tests before Extradition
The commission for the extradition of former Panamanian General Manuel Antonio Noriega on Wednesday returned to La Santé prison in order to make a medical examination before transferring him to Panama.

COLOMBIA
Santos Ready to Decide Terms to Prisoners Liberation
Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos showed his disposition to decide the terms for the unilateral liberation for 11 soldiers, now prisoners of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

CHILE
Anti-Communist Campaign in Chile Denounced
The president of Chile's Communist Party, Guilermo Teillier, on Wednesday denounced a strong political crusade to the detriment of the group he leads, and chiefly against student leader Camila Vallejo.

WE APOLOGIZE for failing to update our local news for nearly a week, as we have been without internet. Here is what is happening as of December 6:

Political Humour: Frozen Hell!
Again, ElPais.cr takes another poke at the Crucitas controversy. Yesterday's caricature depicted a rat escaping the grasp of Lady Justice. Today, the caricature has Oscar Arias worried at the possibility of ending up in jail with the announcement of a judicial investigation, to which he and nine are others are included.

Striking Doctors Walk Out On Mediation Talks
Presidenta criticizes doctors, says there is no professional ethics
It was 3:30am when representatives of the Union Medica Nacional walk out on the negotiations being held at the ICE auditorium in La Sabana and with the mediation of the Defensoria de los Habitantes (Ombudsman) and the the Ministerio de Trabajo (Labour ministry).

Two-Thirds of Costa Rica's Laws "Irrelevant"
Sometimes what we call news is not surprising but confirms what we already strongly suspected. So it was with the State of the Nation report that about two-thirds of laws passed by the Legislative Assembly in the first year of its term were "irrelevant" to the average citizen.

Costa Rica Celebrated 63 Years Without An Army
On December 1 Costa Rica marked the 63rd anniversary of the abolition of its army. The abolition of the armed forces was due to the courage of a visionary man ad fighter that remains etched in the minds of all Costa Ricans, young and old, José Figueres Ferrer, who is affectionately called "don Pepe" by many.

Infinito Gold Down 40% After Costa Rica Supreme Court Upholds Cancellation of Crucitas Mining Permits
Infinito Gold Ltd. (IG.V) is down 40% at 6 cents a share, giving up 4 cents in steady volume after the the Supreme Court of Costa Rica rejected the company's request to annul an earlier administrative decision tossing out the company's mining permits for the Crucitas gold project.

Nicaraguan Scientists to Present Evidence of Damages By Costa Rica To The San Juan River
Nicaraguan and Costa Rican scientists and environmentalists are working on the preparation of a report evidencing the damages caused by Costa Rica to the San Juan River.

Amador Named to Costa Rica's Olympic Team
Andrey Amador of Movistar Team has been nominated for the 2012 Olympic games by the Costa Rica National Olympic Committee. Costa Rica has one spot in the cycling events.

Costa Rica and Cuba Will Be CELAC Venue
The Foreign Ministers of the country members of the Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on Thursday chose Cuba as the venue of the yearly meeting of the bloc in 2013 and Costa Rica for 2014.

Enter the Earthbound Farm “Power Up Penelope” Sweepstakes To Win Power Trip Adventure To Costa Rica
Players still have two weeks left to play “Power Up Penelope,” a Facebook-based game with a sweepstakes component. For each right answer, players are entered for a chance to win one of the weekly and grand prizes, including a Power Trip Adventure to Costa Rica for one lucky grand prize winner (should 30,000 players participate during the duration of the game).

Costa Rica: Cold Spell To Continue
The cold snap is expected to continue at least into tomorrow (Saturday) and maybe into the weekend says the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) - national weather service.

Costa Rica: Aguinaldo Hits The Streets Today
Today, December 2, is an important day in Costa Rica, the day when the Aguinaldo is paid to all salaried workers. And the police have launched a campaign to protect the public and at the same time make a call to be extra careful when withdrawing their bonus.


PANAMA
Panamanian Doctors Refuse to Negotiate Public-Private Law
The National Medical Negotiating Commission (Comenenal) and the National Civic Coordinator rejected the government's offer to negotiate a bill that creates the Public-Private Association regime.

PANAMA
Parlatino Backs Laws to Protect Tourists
The Environment and Tourism Committee of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) agreed on Thursday to find mechanisms to harmonize the laws passed in all 23 member countries to protect tourists visiting the region.

VENEZUELA
Brazil, Venezuela Examine Bilateral Cooperation Accords
Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff on Thursday traveled to Caracas, to examine along with her Venezuelan peer Hugo Chavez bilateral cooperation agreements and attend the inaugural ceremony of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Teletón 2011 Kicks Off  With A Target of ¢550 million
The Palacio de los Deportes in Heredia was once again host to the annual telethon to raise funds, this year to equip Trauma and Neonatal Units of the Hospital Nacional de Niños (children's hospital), the Hospital Monseñor Sanabria and the Hospital Dr. Escalante Pradilla.

Costa Rica's Doctor's Strike Is Over!
Following three day's of negotiations Costa Rica's striking doctors and the Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social (CCSS) came to an agreement late Friday, ending the 14 day strike by anesthesiologists and joined by fellow doctors on Tuesday in a general strike against state hospitals and clinics.

Costa Rica's Presidenta Chinchilla Headed To Japan To Seduce Investment
Now that the doctor's strike is over, presidenta Laura Chinchilla can head off to Japan and with a clear mind to attract more investment dollars - yens, actually - to Costa Rica.

Former President Oscar Arias Gives His Version On Crucitas On CNN
Former president Oscar Arias is not waiting around for the Fiscalía (prosecutor) to come knocking on his door for explanations of his role in the Crucitas gold mine controversy, deciding rather to hit the television circuit, beginning with CNN en Español.

Christmas Officially Arrives In Costa Rica
It's official, Christmas has arrived in Costa Rica. The event is marked by the illumination of San José with thousands of lights, welcoming the holiday season.

Dog Whisperer To Visit Costa Rica In January
Costa Rica's Estadio Nacional (National Stadium) will go to the dogs, literally, on Saturday January 28, 2012, when the Dog Whisperer himself, Cesar Millan, will take centre stage, where he will takes dogs whose owners have behaviour problems with them.

Avoid Paseo Colón At All Costs!
If you need to go into the city (San José) today be warned that the traffic will continue to be a mess. We mean a real mess.

APM Says No Viable Alternative
Addressing an annual TOC Container Supply Chain Americas conference in Panama City, APM Terminals Moín managing director Capt. Paul J. Gaillie upheld his company's presence in the nation, saying that no other viable alternative existed.
 

A Country in Crisis Is A Country in Crisis!
Reported from a brief public address and news release originating from Casa Presidencial, in Zapote, Presidenta Laura Chinchilla emphatically said, “The country is not in crisis.” She continued to say, “This country was getting out of hand and so we're putting in some order, so it is normal and discontent is logical in the different sectors."

Doctors Back To Work Today, Caja Begins Calling Patients and Scheduling Surgeries
Now that the strike by state doctors is over and they are heading back to work this morning, the task of rescheduling surgeries and making new appointments for patients is the task at hand by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).

MOPT Does An About Face On Riteve, Now Offering To Renew!
Prepare yourself - good or bad - for another ten years of Riteve, as the government makes an about face, announcing its intention to extend the vehicular inspection contract with the Spanish firm.

Costa Rica: Tax Bill Gathers Opposition
The tax measure hammered out in a meeting between President Laura Chinchilla (Partido Liberación Nacional - PLN) and Otton Solis, chief of the Partido Acción Cuidadana party (PAC) has inevitably run into a few objections Thursday in its first appearance on the floor of the Legislative Assembly.

25.000 Enjoy Their Free Tamal On Sunday
Paseo Colón on Sunday was clear of all vehicular traffic, not for the resurfacing work, but for something far more important, enjoying the traditional tamal.

DHL Launches LCL Services To Costa Rica
DHL has recently launched three new direct less than container load (LCL) services connecting San Jose in Costa Rica, Tanjung Pelepas in Malaysia, and Constanta in Romania from Hong Kong, China.

Tej Kohli Hosting Annual Costa Rica Charity
International investor Tej Kohli is set to host the long-running Christmas gala for his charitable foundation to benefit disadvantaged children and families located on San José's Los Guido in Desamparados, one of the most populous counties Metropolitan Area that has received a considerable amount of immigration from the countryside and other countries in recent years.

Teletón Raises ¢638.000.000 for Childrens Hospital
When it was all over and done with the tally for this year's telethon was ¢638 million colones, surpassing the set goal of ¢550 million, confirming the Twitter post Sunday morning.

It's Official, The Dry Season Is Here!


It's official, the summer or "dry" season is here as the rains have completely left the Central Valley and Guanacaste. But don't take our word for it, "the transition is complete for most of the country" according to the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IM) - the national weather service.

INSIDEREPORTS
LATIN AMERICA
Female Condoms in Short Supply
In spite of the growing spread of HIV/AIDS among women in Latin America and the Caribbean, the female condom, which could put them in charge of their health, is not readily available.

PANAMA
Panama: Alarcón Explains Economic Changes and Situation of the Five
The president of Cuba's National Assembly, Ricardo Alarcon, explained in detail the economic changes taking place in his country and the situation of the Cuban Five unjustly imprisoned in the United States.

                                                               December 1...

INS Backs Down, Reduces Insurance For Motorcycles Following Protest
Protesting does work as thousands of motorcyclists proved that their common voice against the sharp increase in the 2012 Marchamo was able to force the state insurer to back off on the increase, or at last not as high as announced earlier this month.

Doctor's Strike Paralyzes Costa Rica's National Health System
It was shortly after 9am when doctors at state hospitals and clinics around the country decided they would not be attending patients, heeding to the call by the Unión Médica Nacional (UMN) for a national strike.

Government "Not In Crisis" Says Costa Rica's Presidenta
The various protests and strikes the government has faced in recent days are disjointed, very particular circumstances of each guild, and do not represent a crisis, but a reaction to the work that the administration put its house in order. At least that is the word from Costa Rica's chief executive, presidenta Laura Chinchilla and her communications minister, Roberto Gallardo.

Costa Rica's Banana Growers Continue Strike
The violation of labour rights in three banana plantations in the southern border of the country, maintained on Tuesday the more than three week strike of hundreds of workers in the Del Monte Agricultural Corporation.

Costa Rica at EIBTM
Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panamá are taking part at EIBTM Global Meetings & Events Exhibition, the leading exhibition for the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) sector taking place at the Fira Gran Via Conference Centre in Barcelona that began yesterday and until tomorrow, December 1.

3 In 10 Women In Latin America Without Their Own Source of Income
Thirty percent of Latin American women depend on others to survive, that is not receiving any income of their own, subsidy or pension, reveals a study by the Comisión Económica para América Latina, CEPAL (Economic Commission for Latin America, ECLAC, in English).

"Guaro" Sales Double In December
It is December and time for holiday celebrations and with that comes an increased consumption of alcohol, in fact sales of liquor more than double during the month of December.

UN Climate Boss Is A Costa Rican Who Inspires Climate Change
Christiana Figueres has one of the toughest jobs in the world - and to add to the challenge, not everyone agrees that someone needs to do it.

Banco Nacional Unveils New Security Monitoring Centre
Banco Nacional customers can feel safer this holiday season as the state bank unveiled their modern security system that includes more than 9.000 cameras keeping an eye on its 170 branches across the country.

Costa Rica Dry Season "Almost" Here
It should be a matter of days, maybe only hours, before the summer or "dry" season is upon us, says the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional (IMN) - national weather service - as the transition phase is completed this week for the North Pacific and Central Valley.

Costa Rica: Guide to Understanding the Fiscal Plan
The fiscal deficit facing the government in late 2011 will be approximately 5.5% of GDP, which prompted the administration to propose a new Chinchilla tax package. For this, the Government proposed in January of this year a draft "Solidarity Tax Act", with the expectation of raising 2.5% of GDP in one year.




NICARAGUA
Nicaragua, Costa Rican Environmentalists Assess Damages to Ecosystem
Environmentalists from Nicaragua will meet on Tuesday with representatives of non-governmental organizations from Costa Rica to analyze the damages to the ecosystem in the area of the San Juan River, a natural geographic border between the two countries.

PANAMA
Over 200 Parlatino Deputies to Meet in Panama
Over 200 deputies will attend the 27th Ordinary Assembly of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino), to be held on December 2 in this capital, its president, Panamanian lawmaker Elias Castillo, said in a press conference.

GUATEMALA
Cold Gets Worse in Guatemala
Cold have got more severe in several regions of Guatemala and it seems it will be more intense in the coming days.

CHILE
Public Employees Go on Strike in Chile
Chilean public workers will begin a 48-hour strike on Tuesday to demand job security and reject the wage adjustment presented by the government.

COLOMBIA/VENEZUELA
Chavez and Santos Help Strengthen Venezuela-Colombia Relations
Economic and political relations between Venezuela and Colombia were stronger today after talks held yesterday in this capital by the presidents of the two South American countries, Hugo Chavez and Juan Manuel Santos.

 

                                                        NOVEMBER 28

When in Crisis, Do Costa Ricans Much Care?
Costa Rica has gained its fame from being laid back, going with the flow, quasi-pacifism, an almost reverent faith in the good of government and a “Not much I can do about anyway,” mind set. This broad stroke gross characterization comes from the comment sections of newspapers, online news such as this one, plus the many radio/television “man on the street” interviews.

Costa Rica Tops In Latin America In Country Brand Strength
Costa Rica is tops of the 19 Latin American countries in FutureBrand's global study of country brand strength, which assess the strength of a country brand in much the same way as any other brand.

Costa Rica's Taxman Set Eyes On Property Rental Income
The taxman says they have set their eyes on those who rent homes, offices and buildings, as the Dirección General de Tributación del Ministerio de Hacienda (Directorate General of Taxation Ministry of Finance) prepares its 2012 Fiscal Control Plan.

Nicaragua Accuses Costa Rica of "Committing A Crime Against Nature"
Now that the presidential elections are over, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega and his government resumes its accusations against Costa Rica, this time for, "committing a crime against nature" by building a road parallel to the San Juan river.

Costa Rica's Medical Union To Consider General Doctor's Strike
The almost two week strike by anesthesiologists against state hospitals and the firing of two doctors on Friday by the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CcSS) may take a turn for the worse today, with the possible general strike by all doctors.

Motorcyclists To Protest On Tuesday
Again tomorrow motorcyclists will take to the streets in protest against the sharp hike in the 2012 Marchamo. Like last Tuesday, thousands of motorcyclists will unite to pressure the government into rolling back the increase.

ICE Deposit Confuses Users
So, what happens to the ¢12.500 deposit you gave ICE to get a cellular telephone line? The answer, in its simplest form, is complicated.
 

                                                  NOVEMBER 26

                       HOPE YOU HAD A GREAT THANKSGIVING.  OUR DOCTORS WENT ON STRIKE

                                                               NOVEMBER 17

We again warn our readers of a new danger from the sick minds of the Chinese.  1/3 of all honey sold in the US is smuggled from Communist China, has the pollen filtered out (so it cannot be traced) and contains heavy metals and carcinogens.  As these sick people purchased the US, so they are purchasing Costa Rica.  We found a local beekeeper and bought two gallons.  BEWARE!!!  Here's the rest of our news:

UNHATE Tico Style
What does UNHATE mean? UN-hate. Stop hating, if you were hating.

Black Friday Fever Catches On In Costa Rica
For many the day after Thanksgiving is the real American holiday. On this day, known as Black Friday, retailers in the United States open very early and offer promotional sales to kick off the Christmas shopping season. Black Friday is not actually a holiday, but many employers give their employees the day off, increasing the number of potential shoppers.

ICE Places Another Nail On Racsa's Coffin
The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) buried the plans by its subsidiary, the Radiografica Costarricense (Racsa) to develop a mega broadband internet service, instead opting to develop its own project.

Government Trades In Audis For "Work" Vehicles
The Ministerio de la Presidencia informs it has traded in two brand new luxury Audi A6 sedans for five "work" vehicles more in keeping with the Chinchilla Administration's austerity program.

Banks With Promotions To Entice Marchamo Customers
The 2012 Marchamo went on sale on Tuesday and the 'offers' war has begun, as banks and financial institutions try to capture their share of the market for the more than 1.1 million vehicles, for banks get a commission of 2% of the amount of every Marchamo they collect.

INAMU Launches Campaign Against Mistreatment Of Women
On Monday the Instituto Nacional de la Mujer (Inamu) - National Women's Institute - announced a new campaign to appeal against the mistreatment of women, called "Súmate es tiempo de Igualdad".
Costa Rica: Surging Market Gives Operators More Devices, Access and Content to Sell
Mobile penetration in Costa Rica will expand at an impressive rate to 140% by 2016, up from 61% in 2010, thanks to a rapid uptake of prepaid services and aggressive development in data services, according to a new report from Pyramid Research.

Rains To Linger For A Couple More Weeks
Though it is unlikely you will need the galoshes, don't put away the umbrella just yet, the rains will be with us for a couple of more weeks still.

Riteve Hike Rejected
The Autoridad Reguladora de los Servicios Públicos (ARESEP) rejected a bid by Riteve SyA, the vehicular inspection service, for an increase in its rates.

                                                                  NOVEMBER 11

We make a comment here about the tourism article below.  To Costa Rica and the world, San Jose IS Costa Rica.  We don't go there, will not pick up clients who want to fly into SJO, and do not have any of the problems discussed in the article.  If you want to see the REAL Costa Rica, write to us at INFO (AT) 1DREAMGETAWAY.COM and we will truly show you Paradise.  We always advise our clients to fly into Liberia Airport (LIR).

                                                                    HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

For our clients who have enjoyed the German Bakery before leaving us from Liberia Airport, you might enjoy these photos of Han's kids:

                                                                OCTOBER 30

Maintenance = Sustainability
I never thought of the word “maintenance” as a dirty or vulgar word. So then why is it that in Costa Rica we do not practice maintenance very much and therefore do not believe in the laws of sustainability? (Sounds almost Catholic, right?) I have, for years, been in awe of this. We much rather repair something than provide funds and resources for up keep.

Rains Cause Of Landslide In Wall Of Irazú Volcano
The Irazú volcano also suffered from the rains that haunt for weeks, because one of its walls collapsed causing a landslide into the lagoon, said the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica (OVSICORI).

Costa Rica Car Thieves Target Private Sellers
A new and powerful method of stealing vehicles is being pointed out by judicial authorities, where car thieves contact the seller of vehicle advertised in the local newspapers, to make off with them. In some cases, the owners have been assaulted, in one case the thieves even ransacked the home before leaving with the vehicle.

Costa Rican Linked To Facundo Cabral Murder Subject Of International Arrest Warrant
Costa Rican Alejandro Jiménez is a wanted man after Guatemalan authorities issued an international arrest warrant for his role in the murder of singer Facundo Cabral.

France - Costa Rica Race Postponed
Transat Jacques Vabre was due to have started, Sunday 30 October 2011 at 1302hrs CET. A series of bad Atlantic low pressure systems put paid to the scheduled start of the tenth edition of the biennial double handed race from Le Havre to Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. The race start has been postponed and will not go before Wednesday.

Marc Anthony Partying Up Costa Rica!
What's to do a soon-to-be-single man, who also happens to be a celebrity and the star of his own reality show while in Costa Rica? Party hard!

Baby 7 Billion: Jeikel Is Costa Rica's Entry
Countries around the world marked the world's population reaching 7 billion Sunday with lavish ceremonies for newborn infants symbolizing the milestone and warnings that there may be too many humans for the planet's resources.

Panama Looking To Curb Smuggling of Cigarettes From Costa Rica
Cigarette smuggling is big business at Costa Rica’s border with Panama. With the price of cigarettes in Panama twice as expensive of that in Costa Rica - us$1.70 for a 20 pack in Costa Rica and over us$3.00 in Panama -  smuggling is profitable and growing.


NICARAGUA
Ortega Won't Let Go of Nicaragua
When Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega finally agreed to face an internationally monitored election in February 1990, most polls predicted he would win. Most polls were wrong. In an upset that stunned the Sandinista machine and its American sympathizers, Nicaraguans went for challenger Violeta Chamorro, who won 55% of the vote to Mr. Ortega's 41%.

NICARAGUA
Nicaragua Mobilizes Resources to Reduce Disaster Damage
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said the government will mobilize the equivalent of about $16 million USD to meet urgent needs of repair and construction of housing and road infrastructure devastated by rain.

PANAMA
Panama Leader Sees Economy Growing 11% in 2011
Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli said on Saturday the country's economy was set to grow 11% this year, higher than previous estimates.

COLOMBIA
Colombia Holds Municipal Elections
Voters in Colombia head to the polls Sunday for regional elections under the watchful eye of thousands of military police officers. An estimated 130,000 candidates are vying for 13,000 posts, including governors, mayors, assemblymen, council members and various municipal boards.
 

                                                                      OCTOBER 29

                                                                       OCTOBER 23

                                                                       OCTOBER 20

                                                                OCTOBER 16

Well, the rains continue in 1 Dream Getaway Territory and across all of Central America.  This weather system is now crossing into the Gulf of Mexico and heading toward Florida.  We are experiencing none of the severe problems described below, and are still open for business and having no problems in taking our clients around.

The Realities of Being Costa Rican
I am concerned that expats have little factual information about our Tico Costa Rican) brothers and sisters and since they are our hosts, there is some kind ethical demand that we know their thoughts on the same subjects that concern us.

Minors Organized for Drinking and Drug Tours of San José
Remember when being a kid was a great time, about the worst that you get into trouble was taking out dad's car without his permission. Coming in late got a lecture. Sleeping in late was yet another.

Costa Rica Building A Road Parallel To the San Juan River
Almost a year later after the discovery of an alleged invasion by Nicaragua of Costa Rica's side of the San Juan river, raising an international incident that is currently before the International Court of Justice in The Hague (ICJ), Costa Rica is building a road parallel to the river so that residents and police do not have to use the river.

1.000 Evacuated For Fear of Landslides
The count is up to 1.000 who have been evacuated from their homes in the last two days for fear of landslides. The worst affected is the cantons of Carrillo and Santa Cruz in Guanacaste, and the Chaguite community in Santa Barbara, Heredia.

What Do You Say?
If the only motorized form of transport is all you have, you do what you have to do. But, it is right? And what about the safety of others?

Yellow Alert for Rains Continues in Costa Rica
Costa Rican authorities are maintaining the yellow alert triggered by heavy rains in the Pacific coast and the central zone, with two deaths reported so far.

Holiday Monday in Costa Rica
Today, Monday, October 17, is a legal holiday in Costa Rica, celebrating the "Dia de las Culturas, the holiday that fell on October 12 but moved to the following Monday.



NICARAGUA
Heavy Rains Keep Affecting Nicaragua
Managua - As a result of heavy and persistent rains, a total of 12 departments in Nicaragua remain on alert; many areas remain flooded, roads and bridges were damaged, but no single family has been abandoned.

NICARAGUA
Heavy Rains and Electoral Process Beat the Rhythm
Managua -  The devastations caused by the rains and the preparations of the elections beat the information rhythm in Nicaragua during the week ending today with another important event: the presentation of the 2012 draft budget.

GUATEMALA
Guatemala at the Security Council
United Nations - Guatemala is running unopposed for a non- permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2012-2013 period, at the voting that will be held on October 21st at the United Nations General Assembly.

COLOMBIA
Cuban Residents in Colombia Ratify Support to Their Homeland
Bogota - Cubans living in Colombia ratified Sunday their support to their homeland's right to self-determination and sovereignty.

BOLIVIA
Unprecedented Democratic Elections in Bolivia
La Paz - Bolivia will make history Sunday, when 5,2 million people go to the polls to elect the top authorities for four judicial entities: the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, the Magistrate Council, and the Agro-environmental Court.

                                                             OCTOBER 15

Since the Great Recession, we have done little with our 1 Dream Getaway Real Estate section.  However we have a unique opportunity for an ambitious person to have his piece of Paradise that will pay for itself.  We have some photos and a description of the business on our page: http://www.1dreamgetaway.com/costa_rica_ocean_view_real_estat.htm

...and many more in our files.  Have a look, and write to us at: info (at) 1dreamgetaway if you are interested.

                                                                OCTOBER 14

Our rainy season is coming to a conclusion, as today is the fifth straight rainy day.  When it ends, we will likely see no rain for the following six months.  If you would like to spend your time in Paradise this year, now is the time to book by writing to:  info ( at ) 1dreamgetaway.com. We do not do business from Christmas to New Years or Easter Week (Semana Santa) and prices go up from New Years to Easter.

We also report with remorse that Pocho the crocodile has died of natural causes at age 50. He was found years ago shot in the eye, and then nursed back to health and domesticated.  Pocho has amused many tourists and Costa Ricans over the years   http://www.ticotimes.net/Current-Edition/News-Briefs/World-famous-crocodile-Pocho-dies-in-Siquirres_Wednesday-October-12-2011 .

            1 DREAM GETAWAY SADLY REPORTS LOSS OF ONE OF OUR PACKAGES

this 25th day of September.  We have taken clients to our Dry Forrest Volcano Package from LIR.  After a day of going to hot springs and a canopy tour on horseback, they are ready to enjoy the rest of their stay at one of our beautiful beaches. Now new owners of that (Rincon de la Vieja) property are trying to sell cabins and no longer operating what we used to use as an introduction to native Costa Rica.  Here is the rest of today's news:

Law Hinders Competition In Cellular Service Rates
Competition among wireless telephone operators may not come with the boom of offers that many Costa Ricans are waiting for with the start of operations of Movistar and Claro in the coming months.

Drug Trafficking Greatest Threat to Latin American Countries Today, Costa Rica Tells UN
Costa Rica and El Salvador, two countries highly affected by drug-related violence in recent years, have urged the United Nations to help fight drug cartels and organized crime, and called on Member States with high numbers of drug consumers to take the lead on the issue.

Eight Arrested In 'Fruit Business' Drug Raid
Costa Rican authorities report they arrested eight people allegedly involved in a drug-trafficking operation that used a fruit distributor as a cover..

Ruling Reversed on Springfield Toddler Involved in Costa Rica Custody Battle
A Springfield, Missouri, toddler whose mother fled with her to Costa Rica two and half years ago was ordered to be returned to the United States. But Costa Rica's highest court has now reversed that ruling.

Traffic News Cameras One Again Capture Reckless Driving In Costa Rica
Once again the cameras of local television news Telenoticias captures images of reckless driving on the streets of Costa Rica.

Traffic Camera Offenders Have More Time To Pay Up
For the more than 14.000 that have been picked off by the traffic cameras there is good news, you will have more time to pay up, for the Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI) for even though the list will be published on Monday, however, its legal effect will not be until Friday, September 30.

ICE Workers To Strike Monday
In order to safeguard future security of supply electricity, the employees of the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad, ICE, will be on a one day strike on Monday  September, 26,  to ask the Legislature to prevent any attempt at privatization.

NICARAGUA/CUBA
A Representative of Cuban Orthopaedics in Nicaragua
Havana -  Marco Salas Cruz considers himself a representative of Cuban orthopaedics in Nicaragua, as he was the first Central American graduated in Cuba specialized in orthopaedics and traumatology.

EL SALVADOR
El Salvador Urges US to Lead War on Drugs
United Nations -  President of El Salvador Mauricio Funes urged the United States to take the leadership in the war on drugs, recalling that it is the world’s main consumer of those substances.

CHILE
Chilean Film on Violeta Parra to Compete for the Oscar
Santiago de Chile - The film "Violeta went to Heaven," by Andres Wood, will be the Chil