Archive for October 28th, 2009
Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
It took a report and photo by the Spanish language daily, La Nación, to move the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) to fix a malfunctioning traffic light in Curridabat.
It appears that the traffic light at the “Los Figueres” cross at the entrance to the Florencio del Castillo (San José-Cartago) was illuminating a yellow light instead of a red.
A normal light displays green at the bottom, yellow in the middle and red the top light. The malfunctioning light had the top yellow instead of red.
The error, which witnesses say has been that way for the last two weeks, was evident on the westbound lanes.
Mario Chavarría, subdirector de Ingeniería de Tránsito, told the La Nación that a few days back work crews installed a lens different than that normally used and from up close it appears red, but from a distance it appears yellow.
However, it took the La Nación story to more the MOPT into instant action.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
The Obama administration is sending a team of senior officials to Honduras Wednesday to try to expedite a settlement of the political crisis spawned by the ouster in June of elected President Manuel Zelaya. The deposed leader remains at the Brazilian embassy in Tegucigalpa.
The Obama administration had preferred to let the Organization of American States and its designated mediator, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, take the lead role in Honduran diplomacy.
But it is now stepping up U.S. involvement with settlement talks stalled and a planned presidential election in Honduras looming in little more than a month.
State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly said a team headed by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Thomas Shannon and White House staff director for Latin America Dan Restrepo will urge both sides to show flexibility and redouble efforts to bring the crisis to an end.
Interim President Roberto Micheletti, who has headed the government since Mr. Zelaya was detained by soldiers and deported in late June, has refused to accept the return to office of the deposed leader as demanded by all other OAS member states.
Micheletti contends Mr. Zelaya’s ouster was not a coup, and that the troops who put him on a plane to Costa Rica acted legally after he had unconstitutionally sought to extend his term in office through a plebiscite.
State Department Spokesman Kelly, who said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke to both principals in the crisis Friday, said the crisis needs to be resolved quickly in line with OAS settlement guidelines if the Honduran election planned for November is to have any legitimacy.
“I think it’s getting quite urgent. What we want is to see an election, which is coming in about exactly a month, to enjoy the kind of international legitimacy that the people of Honduras deserve,” he said. “We have said all along that we’ve made this a priority and wanted to be as helpful as we could to try to bring this to a successful resolution. Talks on Friday seemed to break down and it was at that point that the Secretary decided to get involved directly.”
The U.S. team, expected to be in Tegicigalpa through the end of this week, will meet with both Micheletti and Mr. Zelaya, who has been sheltered at the Brazilian embassy in the capital since slipping back into the country five weeks ago.
A senior State Department official said the sides are in agreement on all terms proposed by OAS mediator Arias except for critical language providing for Mr. Zelaya to return to office and complete his term, which ends in January.
The deposed leader has said he would renounce any ambition to hold on to power beyond January despite his previous backing for a referendum that would have allowed him to run again in next month’s election.
State Department Spokesman Kelly also expressed sadness Tuesday over the death of Enzo Micheletti, a nephew of the interim president, who had gone missing several days ago and whose body was discovered Sunday in a northern Honduran town.
Kelly, who extended condolences to the family, said he had no information on the motive in the killing of the Micheletti nephew, who was found shot to death along with another man.
Honduran officials have said they are treating the death as a local criminal case and that it does not appear to be related to the political crisis.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Honduras qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1982 and only the second time in history on Wednesday after a 1-0 victory at El Salvador and a heartbreaking draw for Costa Rica.
Carlos Pavon scored in the 63rd minute to give the Hondurans the triumph over their “Soccer War” rivals and join the United States and Mexico from North America for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
After civil unrest over a power struggle in Honduras, national team coach Reinaldo Rueda sees the World Cup qualification in unifying terms.
“It’s a contribution toward peace,” he said.
Victory alone was not enough and it appeared Costa Rica would cling to the last spot but Jonathan Bornstein’s header in the fifth minute of stoppage time gave 10-man United States a 2-2 draw with the Ticos at Washington to deny them.
On a cold and rainy night where Bryan Ruiz scored in the 21st and 24th minutes to give Costa Rica a 2-0 lead, the Americans fought back to finish North American qualifying with three wins and two draws when foes score first.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
Hotel Costa Verde 727 Fuselage Suite in Costa Rica
The two-bedroom/two bathroom suite Hotel Costa Verde in Costa Rica takes architectural salvage to a whole new level. The structure is actually a 1965 Boeing 727 that was recovered from the San Jose Airport. Now it’s set 50-feet up a hillside from which it cantilevers out over the jungle. It might sound like you will be living as a castaway, à la Lost, but there’s a hardwood deck on the right wing with ocean views and the interior is done in local teak, including a dining nook and a TV room. Plus the suite has air conditioning. Jack and Kate never had it so good.
The Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi Sweden
Packing is easy for the IceHotel in Jukkasjärvi Sweden, 120 miles above the Arctic Circle. Long underwear? Check. Snow pants? Check. Thick Parka? Check. Once you get there you can fill your days with dog sledding, ice skating, and taking in the Northern Lights (peak times are from January to April and July to November). Yes, the beds are also made of ice, but they do have standard mattresses and cozy reindeer skins to keep you toasty (which you’ll need, since interior temps never exceed 32 degrees, of course). The complimentary morning mug of hot lingonberry juice will help thaw you out as well.
Kokopelli’s Cave Bed & Breakfast in Farmington, New Mexico
Lots of hotels like to trumpet their historical prominence, but few can boast the history of Kokopelli’s Cave Bed & Breakfast in Farmington, New Mexico. It’s located in a cave cut into 65-million-year-old sandstone. A geologist first had his offices there and later lived in the cave full-time before turning it into an inn (so you can rest assured that the accommodations aren’t prehistoric). You’ll have running water, a full kitchen, and even a Jacuzzi, but be sure to pack light. The hotel is only accessible by making a steep hike up the hillside.
Harlingen Harbor Crane Hotel in Harlingen, the Netherlands
The Dutch port town of Harlingen is packed with cranes, but there’s one that definitely stands out. The Harlingen Harbor Crane Hotel is located right in the docklands and has space for two guests in the crane’s main cabin, which is suspended 55 feet above a pier. There’s enough room in there for a double shower and a flat-screen TV, plus the rooftop patio is perfect for taking in the sights. Of course, you can always give the crane a spin and get a panoramic view of the port and the Wadden Sea.
Hotel im Wasserturm in Cologne, Germany
The Hotel im Wasserturm in the German city of Cologne may have all the trappings of a luxury hotel, but the building itself is something of a surprise. It’s located in 130-year-old water tower. The rooms inside the round tower have lots of right angles, but the circular theme is echoed in the custom furniture and upper-floor suites incorporate the original porthole windows. The 36-foot-tall entrance hall is lined with catwalks, so you can really get a sense of the tower’s construction. One surprising fact? The hotel lacks a pool.
Dasparkhotel in Ottensheim, Austria
Have you ever had that nightmare where you get to your destination and your hotel reservation doesn’t exist, everywhere is booked, and you have to sleep in a drainpipe? At the Dasparkhotel in Ottensheim, Austria, you can live that dream under the best possible circumstances when you book one of three suites located in refurbished drainpipes. Located in the city’s Rodlpark, the minimal rooms each have a double bed and a lamp, but that’s about it. Bathrooms are located in an adjacent building, as is a bar and restaurant. The pipes do have skylights cut into the concrete, though, in case you are feeling a bit claustrophobic.
The Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona
Retro is the name of the game at The Shady Dell in Bisbee, Arizona. The hotel is made up of nine 1950s-era trailers (plus an Airporter bus and a land-locked yacht). The kitsch doesn’t end there. Kitchens are stocked with vintage plates, canisters, and barware. The “Airstream” trailer is done up like a love nest (chenille bedspread, vintage wedding photos) while the “Royal Mansion” is party-ready with leopard carpet and a martini set. Though you could cook all your meals in your trailer, the hotel has a 1957 diner right on site for an authentically greasy mid-century breakfast.
Kanopi House in Blue Lagoon, Jamaica
The five eco-friendly bungalows at Kanopi House in Blue Lagoon, Jamaica, are not for you if you are afraid of heights. They are all built into 100-foot-tall banyan trees. The rooms incorporate work by area artisans and furniture is made from sustainable materials. The real reason to stay here, however, are the unparalleled vistas of the jungle and the sea from the treetops. The cabins all have terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows for taking in the rainforest below and the Caribbean Sea. They also come stocked with snacks, wine, and the local Blue Mountain coffee as well, so there’s little need to descend from your perch.
Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida
You have to either be a certified diver or take a three-hour SCUBA training course before you can spend the night at Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida. That’s because the entire hotel is located 21 feet below the water of the Emerald Lagoon. Talk about a room with a view. The 42-inch-round windows are perfect for peeping at angelfish and barracudas swimming by. There’s no need to surface during your stay—all meals (and your luggage) are delivered by SCUBA diving porters.
Winvian in Litchfield Hills, Connecticut
The 13-acre Winvian resort in Litchfield Hills, Connecticut has something for everyone…that is, everyone with a taste of period rooms and eccentric details. The hotel’s 19 accommodations include a real log cabin, a suite where you can live like it’s 1775, and a (surprisingly tasteful) medieval room inspired by Mark Twain’s Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. If you are feeling really zany, spend the night in the helicopter, decked out with silver padded walls and a fireplace.
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Wednesday, October 28th, 2009
On tap in Costa Rica there at least two dozen different types of beers. However, the market is dominated by the five, all brewed by Costa Rica’s largest brewer and marketer, Florida Ice & Farm Co., better known as Cerveceria de Costa Rica.
Florida Ice has controlled the Costa Rican beer market for almost 100 years, becoming also the largest publicly traded company, as well as the most valuable private company in Costa Rica.
In most Latin American countries, domestic beers is what usually is on tap. Imports are rare and if available, overpriced when you can find them.
Although Imperial is the most popular beer in Costa Rica, imports from the United States, Europe, South America, Central America, Japan and China are all available on supermarket shelves.
Coors, Miller, Milwaukee, Corona, Bremen, Toña and Colombia Club some of the foreign brands all available in Costa Rica.
However, in most of the cases you will have to seek them out.
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