Archive for September 3rd, 2009
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
One of the most common questions travelers worry about is to change money before coming or not?
This day and age practically everyone traveling has a credit card. Usually the hotel you’ll be staying at the first night accepts credit cards. And unless you’re planning on taking a public bus, the shuttle service will either be arranged before hand and if not, they actually charge in dollars. Airport taxi services accept credit cards and/or dollars. So, I wouldn’t worry too much about bringing local currency.
And the next concern, where to change the money and what’s the best method?
1. Every country is different, but in Costa Rica do not change money anywhere accept BANKS. Not only will you get the best rates, but you’re chances of getting counterfeit money are much better. Always bring a passport.
NOTE : Canadians can change Canadian money and get the best exchange rates at Scotiabank
DO NOT CHANGE MONEY WITH PEOPLE ON THE STREETS
2. ATMs are plentiful, you’ll get the best rates however, you’ll pay the small ATM fee.
TAKE OUT ONLY WHAT YOU NEED
3. Travelers checks don’t work well here. Very few places exchange travelers checks these days (casinos may change a travelers check for chips), and even fewer give good rates, plus they charge 1-2% on top of it and most banks will want you to deposit the check in an account that you won’t have here for about a month before you could even get the money.
Cash or Credit?
Cash is king in Costa Rica. You’ll escape some places charging you 8% for credit card usages. Plus, whenever you go out, ask for the cash (Efectivo) discount and chances are you’ll get 5-10% off. This can be done anywhere from tour operators, to hotels, to restaurants to pharmacies.
If you go to a local market, local currency goes much further than the dollar. You stand out less and feel more comfortable.
DON’T CARRY TOO MUCH CASH ON YOU EVER, AND ALWAYS KEEP IT ON YOUR PERSON!
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
A total of 12 police officials, including the chief of the Policía Metropolitana, were in the hands of judicial officials yesterday, all accused for taking money from criminals in exchange for favours.
Police chief Carlos León Retana is alleged to have headed the group of officials for more than 400 “cobronazos”, according to the director of the Organismo de Investigación Judicial (OIJ) - judicial police - Jorge Rojas.
The OIJ investigation labeled “manos sucias” (dirty hands) ended with the arrest of the 12 police officials and the naming of 77 other police officials in the OIJ report.
Rojas explained that it would have caused a nightmare in the Fiscalía (prosecutor’s office) if the OIJ had arrested everyone named in the report at one time, for such the arrests began in stages.
León is a career police officer with 19 years on the job. However, he was not the only high ranking officer, he is joined by Policía Metropolitana Norte and the chief of the Caribbean police delegation, both identified only by their last names, Serrano and Calderón, respectively.
Most of the officials arrested on Wednesday by the OIJ held rank in the police force.
The Policía Metropolitana unit is made up of 350 officers who patrol the downtown core of San José. The OIJ report indicates that one out of every four officers of the unit are corrupt.
The investigation began the middle of last year when rumours began that certain police officers were accepting bribes from local criminals to let them go, according to the ministra de Seguridad, Janina Del Vecchio.
A number of complaints were received against the officers which led the investigation to move ahead. Using undercover agents, the OIJ, confirmed that the rumours were in fact real and that local police officials were demanding bribes from criminals.
The evidence against the accused include video of police officials telling criminals to go about their activities with tranquility after making their payment, as well as evidence of drugs confiscated being resold by police officials.
The OIJ report shows that in some cases police officials were charging as low as ¢2.000 colones (less than us$4) to let a criminal go, and up to ¢200.000 colones to illicit businesses in the downtown core.
The ministera de Seguridad said that so far this year there have been 120 complaints of police corruption filed with her office and that up to five officers a week have been fired.
As to the Manos Sucias investigation, although only 12 were arrested, director Rojas assures that more arrests are pending.
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
The town center of Liberia fills with folkloric dancers, music and celebration in anticipation of the arrival of the independence torch from Nicaragua.
September is to Costa Rica what July is to the United States: a month filled with patriotic displays and celebrations of the country’s Dia de Independencia, which officially takes place on Sept. 15.
Costa Rica is a country brimming with national pride thanks in part to the fact that its Independence Day traditions that are highly centered around the younger generations. For the nation’s work force, Sept. 15 might be just one day off work, but for the school children, it marks the culmination of months of preparation and time to show off their artistic talent.
Central America actually declared its independence from Spain collectively from the colonial seat in Guatemala in 1821, meaning Sept. 15 is a day of celebration up and down the isthmus. As with most colonial government affairs, Costa Rica had little to do with the decision, and the region didn’t even learn of its independence until a full month later when a delegation arrived from Guatemala to pass on the news.
Every year, a flaming torch is carried from Guatemala starting on Sept. 11 all the way to the former colonial capital of Costa Rica in Cartago, symbolizing the arrival of the news of independence. The runners are selected from the local schools throughout Central America to carry the torch an average of 500 meters, a task that serves as a great source of pride. The torch crosses the Nicaraguan border into Costa Rica each year on the eve of the day of independence and arrives in the northern town of Liberia in time for a sunset ceremony on Sept. 14. Runners and bikers follow the torch route for varying distances, occasionally getting lost as outlying townspeople join the crowd to light their own torches to carry along their own divergent routes.
As the torch makes its way through Costa Rica, local townships kick off the two days of celebration with parades, mascaradas, concerts and cultural shows. School children are required to participate in their town parades in marching bands or by carrying “Faroles”, or elaborate homemade paper lanterns. Their designs sit atop or hang from a wooden stick with candles inside to light the way. It is a tradition for the children to make their own lanterns in patriotic colors, often in the form of a house, animal, vehicle or other creative representations of national symbols.
As the torch arrives in Cartago on Independence Day at 6 p.m. before the Basilica de Los Angeles, the entire country joins together in singing the national anthem “Noble patria, tu hermosa bandera”. The night is capped off with more parades, fireworks and local concerts. While visiting Costa Rica in September, you are sure to stumble upon a festive display of Tico pride and patriotism just about anywhere you go. Don’t forget to wear your red, white and blue and compliment the children on their faroles!
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Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Colorado State University students recently donated their time and services to spay and neuter more than 240 dogs and cats during a five-day clinic that took place in San Isidro, Costa Rica. Many of the animals received rabies vaccinations, which were donated by the Costa Rican government.
The animals were also dewormed and given a general health check.
The students were joined by a CSU veterinary anesthesiologist and partner veterinarians from Kansas, Colorado and New York. They worked in a school gymnasium using baby cribs and school desks as surgery tables and soccer goalie boxes as IV carts.
Pet owners began lining up outside of the clinic at 4 a.m., according to CSU. Because of the strong response, more than 250 animals were turned away due to limited supplies and time.
“The experience for the students was tremendous,” said Pedro Boscan, DVM, Ph.D., a CSU veterinary anesthesiologist who organized the trip with the nonprofit group VIDAS (International Veterinarians Dedicated to Animal Health).
“They had the opportunity to perfect their full health check protocol, surgery and recovery skills,” Dr. Boscan said. “All of the students had the opportunity to participate in at least five operations each. We’re very grateful to the community for their donations of items and money to make this trip possible. It truly impacted the health of animals and communities.”
Dr. Boscan said that they hope to go back again next year.
The trip was funded through donations from the Fort Collins area and from the Costa Rican government.
In related news, Jennifer Brown, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, a clinical assistant professor of surgery at Virginia Tech’s Marion DuPont Scott Equine Medical Center, recently traveled to Requena, Peru, to help neuter and spay almost 200 dogs and cats. Veterinarians do not reside in this particular area, according to the vet school.
Dr. Brown joined seven other volunteers involved with Veterinary Ventures, an organization that schedules and arranges spay-neuter campaigns in developing countries.
They established a “clinic” in a school classroom since school was not in session for the summer. The volunteer group took all of its own medical supplies, including a gas anesthesia unit.
Brown became involved with Veterinary Ventures after Hurricane Katrina.
“This is my opportunity to give back,” she said. “It gives me a good feeling to use my vacation to contribute something, to make a difference.”
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