The scandalous state of the coastal roads of the Pacific Coast is holding back tourism and is isolating some of the most gorgeous beaches of the country. Fewer tourists are able to reach these precious areas because they can only be accessed through roads that are either unpaved full of pot holes and usually flooded. A simple journey between two beaches becomes an endurance trip lasting the entire day, if you are lucky enough to travel in a 4X4. If you are travelling from Flamingo to Playas del Coco means you will need to go to Sardinal first, a small town totally out of the way, and from there head off to El Coco. Should you be undertaking a trip from Tamarindo to Avellanas, you’d be taking one of the most scenic roads of the country; however you might never get there! At the risk of stalling while trying to cross a river, or getting flat tires in the middle of the jungle, the trip is as hazardous as if you were trying to cross the Amazon! The pace is more stagnant than if you had decided to do it by foot!

The Samara-Nosara-Ostional stretch is no better, if not worse! This beautiful road is often closed during the rainy season, with rivers breaking out of their beds and bridges collapsing. Goods supplies are on hold for weeks, including basic food. The bridge near Ostional has become so rusty that it is now down right dangerous to use it; the Montana river is known to flood the entire area every year to the extent that it becomes impossible to even get anywhere by foot, car, or truck!

Puntarenas also has its jewels: Routes between Montezuma, Malpais, Sta Teresa and El Carmen are a disgrace; the buses can barely make it through the sinuous slippery path and it takes ten times longer to get there than it should.

There seem to be a repetitive pattern; the roads are paved up to a certain point, and all of the sudden it just stops, without any apparent reason, and the rest of it is left to the hands of Mother Nature.

The MOPT, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, has announced publicly that this sad state of affairs is about to change with five separate plans, including 27 new bridges. We will soon see if this time, there will be less words and more action coming from the government.

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Filed under: Reader Opinion & Stories on July 23rd, 2010 | No Comments »

Twenty seven houses were lost, and five bridges had to be indefinitely closed down following last Tuesday’s heavy rain fall. More than 150 people have found themselves homeless, many of these with nowhere to go! The Province of Heredia seems to have gotten the worst of it; seven houses were literally dragged down by the flow of water as the rain kept pouring down. Fallen trees, flooded roads and impassable bridges has put Sto Domingo de Heredia to a stand still, San Pablo has also reported some twenty homes badly damaged.

The provinces of Puntarenas and Guanacaste have suffered losses too, of which the town of Tilaran, near the Arenal Volcano.

Heredia did however get hit harder.   Over 100 people found themselves homeless overnight and had to be evacuated. The rivers grew so large that the bridges became unsafe, as the level of the water reached 12 meters. This meant that many towns found themselves totally isolated. Students were unable to go to school and essential goods like milk and basic food supplies could not make it through and reach the affected areas.

In San Carlos, the main water supply got contaminated when some pipes burst and what came out of the taps was mud, not water…

According to the National Meteorological Institute, the amount of water that came pouring down on Tuesday was the equivalent of the expected monthly rainfall. The figures, however, make you think: Liberia, in Guanacaste, received 68 liters per square meter that day; in July it got 117 for the whole month! The central valley received an average of 210 square meters. The institute however reminds us that this is just normal rainy season behavior! Landslides are expected around the country and some areas have been put under alert, notably the Central and South Pacific. Who says there is not enough water!

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Filed under: Travel on July 23rd, 2010 | No Comments »

There have been strong reactions these last few weeks after it was announced that The Congress was deciding upon the arrival of 46 US in Costa Rica.

The authorization was given to 46 ships to  stay along the Costa Rican coast was given yesterday and they will keep on arriving until the 31^st of December of this year, in an effort to fight the drug trafficking and to work in human aid. The ships fleet could contain as many as 200 helicopters and planes and as many as 7000 marines and we will have to get used to see them wandering around the country wearing their uniforms. They will be free to go as they please, entering and leaving the country as easily as if they were Costa Ricans, and this is sure to raise many eyebrows.

The ships will be sure to change the look of horizon, measuring up to 135metres and the capacity to transport two Black Hawk helicopters and 200 marines and 15 officials each. While sipping a Tequila Sunrise it will now be possible to watch helicopters chase the pelicans and Marines play with the Dolphins.

Other smaller ships like the USS Makin Island will also roam the waters of this usually peaceful country, with a garrison of marines and more helicopters. A Hospital ship is apparently also on the menu, to wonder if they expect a war! Indeed, the USS Freedom, built to fight submarine, is also on the list!

And as if this was not enough, they also had conditions: The US Marine and Staff will be authorized total freedom and rights on Costa Rican soil.

The PAC (The Civil Action), the PUSC (Social and Christian Unity) and the FA (Ample Front) were against the arrival of the ships, pointing out quite rightly that all this is way out of proportion and that these ships are way too big and powerful to fight the drug dealers. The Deputy of PUSC indeed reminded us that this country enjoys a peaceful reputation and indeed lives happily without an army to fight its crimes.

Now that the US army is here to run the show, the no-army status of this country is spoiled. Indeed, it is even worse than having its own army. It has to use the most controversial army of the planet…

Costa Rica is less pacific everyday. It is not the little Switzerland of Central America anymore. It is now run by greed and money; it is loosing its values and identity. It is taking on airs of grandeur because it is siding with its big powerful neighbor. Doesn’t it know it is only a little toy, a little beach toy to for the big boys so that they can show how strong and powerful they are.  It is building big hotels and airports in the jungle, it is cutting trees, and now, it welcomes the US army in its precious waters. How this will affect the marine life is yet to be seen, but for sure, it will have some negative outcome, in more ways than one. Shame on you Costa Rica. You are not, it would seem, going in the right direction. You must preserve peace, nature and beauty, not bring in war ships in your waters.

(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)

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Filed under: Press Releases on July 23rd, 2010 | No Comments »

Costa Rica was shocked when a student of the Colegio Montebello, a private school in Heredia, shot the school principal Nancy Maria Chaverri in the head. She died after spending several days in critical condition.

While we have seen these horrors taking place in other countries, this is a first here in Costa Rica and it is hard to come to terms with such a violent act. The father of the student gave an interview on local television, an emotional and touching interview as his deep sorrow and desperation for the family of the deceased was only too obvious, as well as for the torments and psychological distress that caused his son to act in such a violent way.

In answer to this tragedy, the government is asking for stronger security measures in the schools. But is this really the way to deal with such a huge problem? As usual, scratching the surface instead of getting to the core of the problem is not the answer. President Chinchilla is talking about more ambitious programs to confront violence, blaming a lack of values in schools; the point should be “more ambitious programs to “prevent” violence”, don’t you think, Senora Presidenta? Teachers are often helpless in such situation and they rely exclusively on the Ministry of Education to deal with such heavy situations. Yet what is the ministry doing, what can it do, and what support does it get from higher ranks?

What happened in the mind of this 17 year old that caused him to react so frenziedly, so ferociously? What drives a teenager to kill? Is this the beginning of a new era? While the youth is detained for two months, others have too many questions and not enough answers. According to the Ministry, violence has seen a decreased in schools between 2003 and 2009. Yet other reports show that bullying in schools is on the increase. In fact, violence in Costa Rica is on the rise, generally speaking, and this violence is now spreading in the schools. Going to the source of the problem, understanding what is happening to this country:  Why is it not as safe today to take a ride, or to go for a walk in Costa Rica. Why are more precautions needed, more alarms and security service necessary? Why such a big raise in crime, in anger with a feeling of fear and injustice in the air.

The funeral of Nancy Maria Chavarria took place in the Immaculate Church in Heredia, where family, friends, students and colleagues gathered with messages of peace and non violence, raising yet again the question of the presence of weapons in the home. Why was this youth in possession of his father’s gun, a gun that was supposedly hidden in a safe place in their house? Why is it that so many inquest and investigation take place only when someone dies? This is another sad example showing that guarding firearms in the home is just not safe and is never going to solve any thing. Violence brings in more violence, guns are generally bad news. There are, after all, designed to kill. Nobody knows how they will react in states of fear, anger, and jealousy with a gun in their hands.

The government of Costa Rica has a big job on its hands; let’s hope it is going to spend all the necessary time and money it needs to put a stop to this already alarming situation. The little Switzerland of Central America could well loose its reputation unless we soon see some positive changes. Somewhere along the line, something went wrong.

(1 votes, average: 1.00 out of 5)

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Filed under: Reader Opinion & Stories on July 23rd, 2010 | No Comments »

Costa Rica had been established as the number 1 country for cosmetic and dental surgery for over a decade when it was announced in Oct 2009 that Stem Cell treatment were now available in the country; Stem Cell treatment has been used in treating many ailments including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, cancer, Autism, Parkinson disease as well as bone fractures. When it became difficult to obtain the treatment in the US because the trials test were declared to be inconclusive, foreigners came by the thousands to Costa Rica hoping for a new and longer life, and for a portion of the cost. Soon researches were promoted and it seemed like this was going to be a major success as apparently the government was really pushing the issue.

Suddenly there was a big shift and now the Costa Rican Health Ministry has banned experimental stem cell treatment and even ordered the Institute of Cellular Medicine to cease all work on any type of degenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis and diabetes and spinal injuries.

Stem cell research and treatment has always been controversial and was never actually approved in the US. While many bans made under the Bush government have now been lifted, it is still only experimental in the US.

Many patients turn to Stem Cell Treatment as a last resort and this in effect take away their only hope. As the treatment is, according to test, harmless, it seems that they have little to lose, putting the money aside that is. Indeed some patients have seen a great improvement and claim the treatment has given them back their lives. Now that Costa Rica has closed its doors, the Cell Medicine is looking at Panama, where, they say, the clinic although very similar is actually larger and less arbitrary and more predictable.

(1 votes, average: 3.00 out of 5)

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on July 6th, 2010 | No Comments »

Yesterday I planted some trees. Precious trees, sought after for their beautiful timber.  Many of these trees are logged illegally in this country. One can see those huge trucks on the roads wherever you go in this country.

In Santa Ana, Western suburb of San Jose, there was an ecological fair a few weeks ago, and they were giving away small trees, a small reforestation act! I filled up my car and headed home. I realized I had very little knowledge as far as planting trees is concerned, however I thought that digging a hole and putting the small tree in it was all that it took!  My young dog thought they were just sticks, for playing!

Digging holes in the ground is hard when it has not been touched for a long time, but managed. In Fact I was rewarded with a shower of rain so my baby trees got all the water they needed in order to adapt to their new environment. As for myself, I felt elated and happy. I had done more than just talking and writing  about trees and ecology, I had planted them…A few hours later I noticed I had some strange red marks on my writs…  The next day they looked even bigger! Horrified, my grown up children literally threw me in the car and off we went to the hospital…What a pleasant Sunday afternoon…I felt a bit like a fool going through the process of explaining to the doctor why I was there, while getting over the shock of having waited exactly 3 minutes before I found myself in his office (this was a social security hospital). With everyone panicking around me, I had begun to feel that death was round the corner, if not, an unpleasant treatment to save my life! As it happened, I was told to take some aspirin and to go home!

I love my new trees; some of them looked like they might not make it at first, now however they are doing well and have already grown new leaves.  It took so little time and effort, and it is so rewarding to see them grow.   I have no idea whether I will ever have the pleasure of seeing them fully grown, but I will always know that they are there! I went to look for more trees and  got some for my children, for my friends, for everyone I know; if I can do it, so can they!…I feel I have given so little to Mother Earth, when She has given me so much.  She has given me life!

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Filed under: Reader Opinion & Stories on July 6th, 2010 | No Comments »

The long awaited Autopista Del Sol, the new road that joins San Jose to the Pacific Coast, was shut down; a woman lost her life and others were injured as mud and huge rocks have been steadily falling on the road, this intensified by heavy rainfall. Needless to say, the rain itself is not the culprit. The road that took 30 years to be built was actually recklessly finished in order to be ready on time for the presidential elections. The result is an embarrassment for a country that already enjoys an appalling reputation as far as its roads are concerned.

A section was closed off between Atenas and Orotina and traffic has been diverted through the old road known as Ruta 1. It has been announced that it would take two weeks to repair the road but this of course remains to be seen! Workers using heavy machinery started to dig the parts that were unstable but that only made it worse and more rocks came tumbling down.  The concessionaire,  Autopista Del Sol, is supposedly working on making the highway a safe place to travel again, but it is not sure how long it will take them, if indeed they are capable of doing so. When the legislators first appealed to MOPT, the notorious ministry of transport, it pressed for the total closure of the highway, however Minister of Transport Jimenez put his foot down.

Nobody knows how it will all end. To make matters worse, some of the land along the road is privately owned, making it harder to repair. Heavy metal nets and bolts were placed in an effort to hold it all together but already it is clear that this is already failing. The lack of vegetation where a terrace was built, like trees that were cut down, is making the ground even more unstable.

The making of the Autopista was already involved in scandal in 2009 when it was discovered that there was a split in the roof of the aquifer during an excavation executed near Barva, resulting in dirty water running into clean water source and the lives of 50 000 people endangered. The concessionaire was requested to continue construction under strict surveillance to provide the least environmental impact possible. Whether this was achieved, time will surely tell. What we do now know is that during the last few months construction was rushed to coincide with the elections, resulting in somebody’s death, suffering and still no road after more than 30 years. It all sounds too typical, it all sounds like one of those Costa Rican story. Scandal, corruption, the recipe for a bad ending, we have seen it all before, yet, how can it be permitted to happen again and again, why does it seem so easy for people to bypass the law, do as they please and collect all the money in their pocket?

It seems that with this attitude, Costa Rica will find it hard to move forward in the world. Although in appearance far above some of its neighboring countries, it may only be a matter of hiding the ugly truth and showing off a superficial success. National Parks are suffering, school are still in need of better equipment, the health service is lacking in funds, many people are struggling, when the salaries seem to be falling and the cost of living soaring! This country is so full of promises, let’s hope it can overcome its problem and keep its country as beautiful and serene as we know it now.

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Filed under: Press Releases, Travel on July 6th, 2010 | No Comments »