Archive for October 16th, 2008
Thursday, October 16th, 2008
A Costa Rican who mistakenly washed a winning lottery ticket worth $112,000 dollars lost a court appeal to obtain the prize, a report said Wednesday.
The Supreme Court rejected the appeal by Urroz, who selected the correct numbers for second prize in the June 29 draw but later found the remains of his ticket in the pocket of a pair of recently-washed pants.
Lottery organizers in September refused to pay the prize without the whole ticket.
The court said that no fundamental right had been breached in the decision.
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Thursday, October 16th, 2008
Costa Rica, already assured of a berth in the final round of regional qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™, beat Haiti 2-0 on Wednesday in a third round clash. Junior Diaz made it 1-0 for the Costa Ricans in the 17th minute, and it stayed that way until Victor Nunez doubled the lead in the final minute.
Costa Rica have won all five of their matches for a maximum 15 points, and are top of Group 3 with one match remaining. El Salvador joined them in advancing from the group to the six-nation final round of qualifying for the North, Central American and Caribbean region with a 3-0 victory over Suriname on Wednesday.
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Thursday, October 16th, 2008
Not long ago, Tamarindo was a quiet little beach community on the western coast of Costa Rica. Over the last 15 years, the town has become a hot spot for ex-pats with accompanying development not far behind. Although some of the luster is gone, Tamarindo is still worth a visit if for no other reason than to compare it to the rest of Costa Rica.
Tamarindo is as good a place as any to experience Costa Rica beaches if you need a little civilization. The beaches are clean and tranquil, but lined with cafes, restaurants and hotels. The water is warm and good surfing can be found in certain locations. To the north, one can occasionally see rare sea turtles laying eggs on the beaches late at night. Unfortunately, turtle watching has become such a rage that you may be standing with a lot of people. There is definitely a voyeuristic feel to it and one can help but feeling sorry for the turtles.
If you’ve never been to Tamarindo, you’ll love it. If you’ve visited in the past, you might be disappointed with the development.
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Thursday, October 16th, 2008
Just a few months after Tropical Storm Alma caused several damages in the Pacific area of Costa Rica, just when most of the people finally getting back on their feet another bad weather strike hit them. At this moment there are 2400 people affected by two low pressure systems that started hitting Costa Rica since yesterday. At this moment locations in Puntarenas, Costa Rica such as Parrita are covered in mud due to bad floods and shelters have opened up to help the locals. There is an estimate of 600 homes that have terrible damages and 800 people are known to have lost access to clean water. Also 4 homes are reportedly to be completely destroyed. (more…)
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Thursday, October 16th, 2008
One of the common questions people ask themselves before visiting Costa Rica is which coast to go to. For backpackers, this is an easy questions to answer: both. However, for those honeymooning, going on a family vacation, short on time, or seeking a fixed local to spend a relaxing week this is an important question. The east and west coasts of Costa Rica vary from one extreme to the other. Many tourists to the country have a specific idea in mind of how they want to spend their vacation and what they are looking for. The first question to ask yourself isn’t where to go, but what you want to achieve. Here is Costa Rica coast to coast broken down for all of you asking yourself these things.
West Coast – Pacific Ocean
The west coast his built up and luxurious. A majority of the cities and provinces bordering the Pacific have a large European and N. American expat population. Because of this, the natives have thrived on the tourism rates and built concrete villages. This side of the country has less culture and more luxury comforts than the east coast. Here you can find common chain restaurants and fast food joints, concrete sidewalks, and upscale resorts and shopping. Because the west coast is a popular destination for most travelers the beaches tend to be a bit more crowded and hotels fill up quickly.
The west coast is perfect for those who seek a vacation that is family friendly and comforting. If you are traveling on business or on a honeymoon, you may prefer the west coast. Business travelers will find that required amenities for work will be easier to find here. Honeymooner’s can relax in lush beds, spacious bathrooms, and spas. Those with families will appreciate the access to more family actives and amenities.
East Coast – Caribbean Ocean
The east coast is very quaint and minimal. While luxury does lurk in corners here and there, this side of the country is built itself on eco-tourism. The cities here are more like villages where everybody knows everybody and the Costa Rican way of life is still in tact. Culture and minimalism without comforts of home can be found on the east coast. Dirt roads are lined by open air typical restaurants, hostels, and homes. The east coast is where people surf, relax, run from bugs, and hang their clothes on a line.
Those who seek to truly immerse themselves in the culture of the Costa Rican people. Anyone who wants to stay on beautiful, quiet beaches and ride a bike everywhere. Backpackers, environmentally conscious individuals, and those who truly want to get away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives will feel at east on the east coast.
Remember though, as a tourist anywhere, especially Costa Rica safety and caution should always be on your mind. Because the coasts of Costa Rica have such high tourism rates, danger lurks everywhere.
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Thursday, October 16th, 2008
It is no secret that Costa Rica has become a real estate hot spot during the last ten years. In 2007, Forbes listed Costa Rica as one of the top ten favorite worldwide locations. The country’s popularity as a vacation destination, retirement location, and investment opportunity has continued to climb, and even the recently stalled economies across the globe have not had much of an impact on the attraction to Costa Rica real estate. (more…)
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Thursday, October 16th, 2008
The world leader in Internet sales, Amazon, will establish in Heredia, Costa Rica, its first customer service center in Latin America. The manager for Costa Rica of the US electronic commerce giant, Alejandro Filloy, said that the center will handle the queries of US customers. He added that before making the decision to establish it here, the firm had thoroughly analyzed the conditions offered by other Latin American countries and by the United States to harbor the center, but that the Costa Rican ones finally prevailed.
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