In what could be considered by some to be a historical day, the guaro called Cacique, Costa Rica’s number one’s  liquor made from sugar cane, is on its way to China! The first 1600 cases left Calderas, the port of  Puntarenas yesterday. This is more like a test at this point, investigating the potential of a new market in Asia. The journey is expected to take at least 35 days!

Because Costa Rica and China have a free trade agreement, Costa Rica can now export to China as well, it does not just work on way! If this is a success, more brands produced in the Fanal will make their way East; Cafe Tico, Mint and Anis to name just a few.

Why is Cacique so popular in Costa Rica? Well, its price has a lot to do with it. Cacique is a strong, rough drink without a lot of taste to it. It is improved slightly when mixed with fruit juice, however it was never intended to please the palate!

Guaro is the name given to alcoholic drinks in Central America, and it can mean just about anything. It usually comes from a distillation of sugar cane, it is really a cheap and unrefined version of rum! In Costa Rica, where the name Guaro actually comes from, it was given the name of Cacique, that was the name of the indigenous chief.

Who knows, Costa Rica may will export the famous Salsa Lizano next! Do remember that drinking too much Cacique is at your own risks!

(1 votes, average: 1.00 out of 5)

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Filed under: Travel on June 3rd, 2011 | No Comments »

In the center of San Jose, in front of the Parque Espana, stands the Yellow House, or Casa Amarilla, that you will have noticed because it is bright yellow and impossible to miss!

This elegant property, as it surely was before it became bright yellow, never served as a private residence; it used to house the Corte de Justicia Centroamericana in the 1900, under the guidance of Andrew Carnegie. Originally known as the Palace of Peace of Central America, it soon became known as the Yellow House due to its exterior color.

A Central American court could never exist and so it became the presidential house in 1920, then the foreign ministry and the site of the legislature. The government has used now and again as its main office when theirs had suffered damages due to earthquakes.

In 1963, it got a face lift, and made even more elegant and in 1976 it was declared a National Monument.

It may be absolutely impossible not to notice of the yellow house while walking in San Jose, however very few have seen the interior of Casa Amarilla. Those interested have the opportunity can do just that; this Saturday, as part of the Enamorate de la Ciudad program (Fall in love with the city), the Casa Amarilla, home of the Foreign Ministry,  presents a guided tour of the residence. Most of the action of the day will take part across from the house in Parque Espana, with yoga, music, face painting, food and more. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Youth, this is part of the celebration that marks  the end of the summer as May usually means that the beginning of the rainy season has arrived. The guided tours will also include the Jade Museum with its pre-colombian potteries and gold, and the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design.

The Parque Morazan will also take part in the Festivities in the Templo de Musica, starting at 11am. The program features the Orquestra del Sistema Nacional de la Musica de Desamparados, and the Banda de Conciertos de Heredia. Next will perform the Circo Fantastico, the flamboyant Ballet Folclorico de Nayuribe, breakdancing and the Ensamble Cultural of the Caja.

Near Parque de la Paz there will be urban sports, followed by the local hip-hop raock and pop band Los Govinda.

As a grand final, an awesome percussion session where everyone is invited to join in, providing they bring their own instruments.

The falling in love with the city theme is another well needed effort to promote the city of San Jose. While the surroundings of the Yellow house, including Barrio Amon, Arranjuez and Ottoya are so beautiful, the rest of the city has little to offer as far as architectural interest is concerned. Some “barrios”are indeed nothing to be proud of, seemingly abandoned, dirty and seedy. There is much to be done, yet, to improve San Jose!  Over the years, we have seen some improvement;   the Avenida Central that is now a pedestrian street only. The Plaza de la Cultura was remodeled a few years ago. There is still so much work to be done. The safety of the town also plays a big part, as today, many tourists avoid the city for fear of being robbed, and the police is scarce!

Tomorrow however promises to be a fun and interesting day, and a glimpse at the interior of the Casa Amarilla is sure to bring a good crowd!

(1 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5)

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Filed under: Travel on April 29th, 2011 | No Comments »

The former President of Costa Rica, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Echeverría, was sentenced to five years in prison for aggravated corruption and instigator in the case of the ICE (publicTelecom of Costa Rica)-Alcatel,  and a 12-year disqualification from exercising public office.

After  hearing the reading of the judgement the ex president exclaimed that there will be an appeal, although no one was surprised by the verdict. Rodriguez has also been banned from leaving Costa Rican soil until the court decidion is firm. The Tribubal in Goicoechea, San Jose,  gave its verdict last Wednesday; eight other defendants were convicted with the ex president.

In 2009, another ex-president of Costa Rica, Rafael Ángel Calderón Fournier was given 5 years for two offences of embezzlement in the case of the CCSS (Costa Rica Social Security) and Fischel.

The Public Ministry originally wanted Rodriguez to receive the maximum sentence of 7 years, however 3 of the judges opted for a lower sentence. Rodriguez is said to have acted as in instigator, demanding bribe for giving Alcatel a contract to intall 400,000 lines in 2001.

When he was first accused in 2004, he resigned from his position as Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS). Upon his returned to Costa Rica, he was immediately arrested and brought to the offices of the General Attorney.

Rodriguez is said to be pleased that the trial is over, whatever the sentence!

With one scandal after the other involving its former presidents, Costa Rica may not be so proud of its Pura Vida, yet, it is about time that these corruptions were exposed;  it can only benefit the country, in the long range! One can only hope.

(1 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5)

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on April 29th, 2011 | No Comments »

A new high-tech television with Internet access will be available in Costa Rica in May. Sony presented its new line of Bravia televisions with a technology that will allow a connection to the wireless Internet and the access to programs like Facebook, YouTube, Skype, surf the net and check out your Email, etc…This new TV (IPTV) is expected to cost about $1400. Screens will range from 32”to 65”and will be displaying 2D and 3D programs with the use of special glasses. It comes with popular entertainment, news and current affairs channels like Billabong, Terra, Google TV already installed.

For Skype, it will be necessary to buy a separate microphone and camera that can be connected to the TV. The IPTV does is not able to play Flash Media or popular similar formats yet, it is assume that it is only a question of time!

The menu of the remote control display is alphanumeric, pretty much like a phone, allowing users to write their messages. The TV is also compatible with the Android Iphone and Ipad. The Media Remote is downloaded in Market Place or in Itunes Store, and can use your phone to control the IPTV.

The manager of the Sony Store of Multiplaza Escazu, where the IPTV was first presented, is very excited about this new arrival. Costa Rica is the first country in Central America to have this new high tech TV. It has since been presented in Panama, and in Honduras.

Costa Rica always leads the way when it comes to technology in Central America. This new High Tech IPTV is another glimpse at the future, when TV and phone will all be obsolete, to will be replaced by the Internet. It is clearly moving in this direction and this country is always up to date!

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Filed under: Costa Rica News, Living, Press Releases on April 29th, 2011 | No Comments »

It was with nostalgia that many heard about the closing down of the Cinema Magaly in Barrio La California in San Jose.  It will close its doors forever, after 33 years providing entertainment; it had become an emblem  of the city, and now many realize that San Jose is maybe loosing more than it can afford to.

Farewell to big cinemas, they are disappearing all over the world. The Magaly has been overtaken and pushed away by the big chains of theatres in malls, multiplex cinemas resembling tins of sardines, that are usually too full by the time you get in, forcing you to sit in the front row, where you literally can touch the screen and where you see nothing for being too close. It is honestly better to give it a miss!  The Magaly on the other was big; 550 seats, the way they made them in the olden days.

Magaly first opened its door in 1978; it showed Moment of Decision, by Herbert Ross. Now it is closing down for lack of popularity, as there has been a distinctive decline of the public, yet, says CCM, owners of the Multiplex,  it is clear that Magaly has been on the decline and has stopped showing good movies for quite a while now. There was also the lack of nearby parking, people had to either leave the car outside. All in all, the Magaly has dragged along wearing an abandoned facade for a long time.

The closing down has been arranged for June, in the meantime, there will be showings of the most memorable movies that appeared at the cinema. The titles are yet to be announced. This is a symbolic farewell for those who feel sentimentally attached to the old theater. It belonged to an era of cinemas, together with the Variedades and Sala Garbo, that attracted a selected public.

When it first opened, it was the first one to operate a large room, a pioneer in its genre. The large room attracted large crowds. Today, its size is greatly responsible for its closing down; too many empty seats.

Magaly first opened its door in 1978; it showed Moment of Decision, by Herbert Ross. It was the first cinema  to have reclining seats in Costa Rica. In 1994, the Digital Theatre System was introduced (DTS), the first in Latin America. In 1997, it was first again in offering hearing aids for the hard of hearing, and in addition, it also made the appropriate arrangements to welcome the disabled and oldest.

What will happen to the actual building? The owners are not sure. It is the end of an era. Lets just hope that they don’t turn it into a shopping mall!

(1 votes, average: 2.00 out of 5)

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Filed under: Travel on April 29th, 2011 | No Comments »

Costa Rica is known for its National Parks, Rain Forests and pristine beaches, but how many know that it is also home to more than 1400 varieties of Orchids, of which almost 800 are cultivated and on display in the Lankester Botanical Gardens, in Cartago.

The gardens, measuring some 26 Acres, were created in the 1940s by an English Naturalist, Charles Lankester. They are now administrated by the University of Costa Rica who has expanded the collection that is now showing 3000 species from all over the world.

The idea was of course to preserve the local flora, with an emphasis on the orchids and the bromelias. The park is elegantly designed and the vast variety displayed at eye level means there is always blooms to see all year around; between February to April though is the best time to go.

The trails are paved and there are special wheelchair paths as well, making the visit available to all; one goes from shaded woods to sunny open gardens, from one environment to another, as the flowers are grouped according to the species. The information center will tell you all that you need to know, and there is also a gift shop that offers an interesting selection of books, and plants that are pre-approved for export by both Costa Rican and US Agricultural authorities, however visitors from other countries should get some information before importing plants as they could be confiscated upon entering their countries.

What makes these gardens so valuable for the visitors is that Orchids are actually quite hard to see in the wild because they live in the canopy, high up in the trees usually well hidden away. Further more, many species only flower for a few days per year and may easily stay unnoticed. Because the Lankester Gardens offer such an extraordinary variety you are sure to see many flowers in bloom!

While it is understood that the gardens attract the crowds for their outstanding collections of Orchids, there are many other interests on show,starting with the  cactus;  Guanacaste has many of these with its dry arid climate. Others settled in tree tops where the constant exposure to the sun and the wind make up the perfect arid environment for them.

During your promenade, you will also see bamboos, heliconias, various types of palm trees and plants, and conifers that are plentiful in the mountainous regions of this amazing country.Because of the abundance of blooms, the gardens are teeming with birds, specially the humming birds that are particularly keen on drinking the nectar of orchids.

A visit to the Lankester Gardens is always a great success by all members of the family, young and old, or whether you are really intrested in flowers and plants or not: It is a beautiful place to visit and its paved alleys, interpretive material and identification tags make it a pleasant and stress free day out and an excellent way to familiarize yourself with what you’ll see in the wild in Costa Rica.

Getting there is easy. Follow the panamerican highway, all the way to Route 10 to the East of Cartago. From there, follow indications to Paraiso, and you will see a sign for Lankester Garden. If you are going by bus, take the Cartago Paraiso route and the bus driver will let you off near the entrance. The park opens at 9:00 a.m. with last entry at 3:30 p.m. daily except for the Easter holidays, Christmas & New Year.

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Filed under: Travel on April 29th, 2011 | No Comments »

Some of you new to the country may not be aware that there is a « Ley Seca », an antiquated old fashion law that prohibits the consumption of alcohol for two days during Easter week. Every year on Wednesday nights of Easter week the whole of the country stocks up on booze as from midnight the law takes effect right up to midnight on Friday night.

Far from stopping people to drink, if anything, you drink more; fearing you will run out on these days of festivities and gathering of family and friends, you stock up and fill the refrigerator and shelves with bottles of wine, beers or whatever it is you like to consume, resulting in an excess of drinks available in the house! The prohibition is basically causing more consumption. This practice of treating the population as if it was a bunch of kids is past dated, and utterly ridiculous. It is up to each individual to decide whether they want to drink, or not!

As for the tourist, the matter gets even more absurd; how do you explain to them, as they are enjoying a flamboyant sunset on an idealistic beach, that they cannot enjoy it with their favorite cocktail?

It is about time that this medieval practice was abolished for good! The police should be occupied with more serious matters than to go from bar to bar making sure that they are not serving alcohol to thirsty tourists…This country is just so slow to learn, it sometimes seems so hopeless…Mistakes, mistakes and more mistakes. Wake up Costa Rica, this is 2011. Let the past flow and welcome to the future!

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Filed under: Travel on April 29th, 2011 | No Comments »