Archive for October, 2009
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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Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
Costa Rica’s Public Works and Transportation Minister Karla Gonzalez resigned on Monday after being criticized for failing to assume responsibility for last week’s accident in which five people were killed.
A bus fell into the Tarcoles River, some 60 km east of the capital, last Thursday after a bridge over the river collapsed, causing the deaths of five passengers and the injuries of 32 others.
The bridge, built during 1920-1924, has not been repaired for years despite its shaky condition.
Gonzalez said that she recognized the state responsibility for guaranteeing the security of its citizens and hoped that her resignation would mitigate the outrage of the public over the accident.
Gonzalez added that all parties involved must take their responsibilities in this painful drama and draw a lesson from it.
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Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
Thousands were out on Sunday to support the “Carrera y Caminata por la Vida”, the fight against breast cancer in Costa Rica, sponsored by Avon.
It is estimated that at least 7.000 people were out on Paseo Colón beginning at 8am, ending their walk at the Plaza de la Democracia, where they were met by the group “Son de Tikicia”, in addition to a host of other family activities.
Adriana Fernández, marketing manager for Avon, said that the number of people showing up in support broke all expectations.
All the money raised from Sunday’s event goes to the Fundación Nacional de Solidaridad contra el cáncer de mama (Fundeso).
All this month there have been activities in various locations around the country, the major ones focused in San José with its large population base.
Last Sunday, the supermarket chain Automercado sponsored the “Rosa” walk in Escazú and the Sunday before the Ross Foundation sponsored the “Corre por mi” in the Sabana park.
The focus of each activity is to detect breast cancer early.
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Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
The strike by the dockworkers in Limón is over, as workers and government reached an agreement late on Friday. However, the loss due to the strike by a small group, maybe 50 dockworkers, is enormous.
The JUNTA DE ADMINISTRACION PORTUARIA Y DE DESARROLLO ECONOMICO DE LA VERTIENTE ATLÁNTICA (JAPDEVA), estimates that the direct monetary loss for the strike that lasted three says is us$18 million dollars. However, the indirect losses may be even greater.
During the three day strike one cruise ship carrying 1.900 passengers could not dock and it is unknown how many more decided to scrub Limón from its list of docks. One company alone is reporting a loss of some us$600.000 when it had to destroy an entire load of bananas.
Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, while visiting the Turrubares bridge collapse site, told reporters that Japdeva is currently investing only 80% of its budget in salaries, but in the coming months will be raising to 100% in an effort to increase worker salaries and avoid further disruptions at the one of the nation’s two major shipping ports.
Arias said he was perturbed that the striking workers did not care that their actions would severely affect the artisans and those living off tourism in the area.
“What is important here is the need to move ahead the subject of concessions and to get it done as quickly as possible”, said Arias.
The strike ended with the workers obtaining a 2.44% salary increase.
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Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
The transition to the dry season has begun on schedule this week, despite previous predictions of an early end to Costa Rica’s unusually dry rainy season, according to the National Meteorology Institute (IMN). Meteorologists project that the duration of the changeover period will be “normal” in the Central Valley and on the Pacific side.
The dry season will begin between Nov. 7-11 in the northern Pacific, between Nov. 12-16 in the Central Valley, between Dec. 12-16 in the central Pacific and between Jan. 1-5 in the Southern Pacific.
On the Caribbean coast, the IMN forecasts 10 to 20 percent more rain than normal for the months of November and December.
October data has yet to be calculated, but earlier predictions indicated a drier-than-average October in the Central Valley and the Pacific – up to 40 percent less rain in some regions – due to the presence of El Niño in the Caribbean Ocean. Meteorologists believe that these predictions will prove to be accurate.
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Monday, October 26th, 2009
October is breast cancer aware month and all types of activities and events have been ongoing the last three weekends in various parts of San José and the country.
Today, October 25, is the latest installment of activities to bring awareness to breast cancer, with the walk “Carrera y Caminata por la vida” (Race and Walk for Life) sponsored by Avon.
The walk will begin on Paseo Colón and end at the Plaza de la Democracia, three kilometres, led by survivors of breast cancer.
In Costa Rica breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women with some 1.000 cases a year being detected.
Adolfo Ortiz, heading the Red Oncológica Nacional (National Cancer Network) said the mortality rate from breast cancer in Costa Rica is 12.6 to 100.000 women.
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Monday, October 26th, 2009
The area of Sabana Oeste will be in the dark Monday as the Compañia Nacioinal de Fuerza Y Luz (CNFL) will be turning off the electricity switch between 8am and 4pm.
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Monday, October 26th, 2009
After days of work stoppage at the port of Limón, the striking workers and La Junda De Administracion Portuaria y de Desarrollo economico de la Vertiented Altlantica (JAPDEVA) came to an agreement, ending the strike that paralyzed the docks.
The agreement late Friday followed two failed attempts to reach an accord.
A small group of workers estimated at around 50 of the 1.400 member union decided to take a strike action for more money.
Union leaders were quick to say that the strike was no sanctioned by them, but did not go against the workers movement.
By 1pm Saturday, the docks at the Limón and Moín were operating normally according to Francisco Jiménez, president of Japdeva.
The agreement to end the strike that began on Tuesday calls for each side to assume the consequences deriving from the situation.
Ronaldo Blear, head of the Sintrajap – the worker’s union – said the workers were happy with the deal and that the ports are now working normally and the police presence is gone.
The agreement calls for a 2.4% pay raise for the workers, which will begin to be paid this week and retroactive to July.
The strike place in jeopardy the cruise ship season as cruise ship operators had begun to make plans to skip Limón due to the strike. Earlier in the week a cruise ship with 1.900 passengers could not make dock due to the strike, causing irreparable damage to the local trade.
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Monday, October 26th, 2009
Intel Corporation, with headquarters in California, has a large presence in Costa Rica, where it strives to prepare local students for the high-tech job market.
The company, which makes integrated circuits for computing and communications industries worldwide, is the largest company in Costa Rica. It thus has a stake in seeing the country’s students educated to take leadership roles in the computer field. Through its support of an after-school computer club program, Intel helps youth in underserved areas access technology and become confident, motivated learners.
To help students with an aptitude for science and technology, Intel has worked with the ministries of education and science and the University of Costa Rica to create a national program of science fairs for elementary and secondary students. About 60 percent of the student population now participates in such fairs. Winners of the country’s national science fair can receive company support to go on to Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest pre-college science competition, to share ideas and compete for scholarships. (more…)
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Monday, October 26th, 2009
The Costa Rica government announced that it is allocating $15 million for the reparation of 10 bridges, two days after a tragedy that took five lives and sparked a barrage of criticism against Public Works and Transportation Minister Karla Gonzalez.
The money will come from a $65 million World Bank loan approved this year for dealing with emergencies and which could be available to the Public Works and Transportation Ministry (MOPT) in the coming weeks, the office of the president said.
The country’s two leading newspapers launched Saturday strong criticism of Minister Gonzalez, seconded by members of the opposition who demanded her resignation due to the bad state of the bridge that collapsed last Thursday as a bus went over it.
The bus fell from the bridge, which dates back to the 1920s, into the Rio Grande de Tarcoles river in the rural village of Turrubares, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) west of San Jose, leaving five dead and 34 injured.
Some of the survivors told reporters that they heard a loud noise when the cables holding up the bridge broke and the next thing they knew the vehicle was in the water.
In its editorial Saturday, the daily La Nacion said that the bridge “collapsed under the weight, not of a bus, but of the fecklessness of a government incapable of setting priorities and taking care of even the most elemental security requirements.”
La Republica, also in its Saturday editorial, said that “this is a case in which a resignation should be considered” since “it isn’t possible to just turn the page and go on as before, when there are five people dead who would still be here if priority had been given to prevention, prudence, discipline and a heightened sense of responsibility.”
A report by the Japanese Cooperation Agency, which dates back to 2007, said that most of Costa Rica’s bridges were in bad condition due to the lack of maintenance and that at least 10 were in urgent need of repair.
The $15 million announced by the government Friday night will go chiefly to improving those 10 structures.
The inhabitants of Turrubares and the town council had asked on several occasions for the Public Works and Transportation Ministry to fix the wooden suspension bridge, but the authorities had never undertaken any repairs, according to reports in the local press.
The political opposition has called for the minister to resign. The Libertarian Movement Party, which in a communique blamed Gonzalez for “inefficiency in running the MOPT, accumulating an unpardonable string of mistakes.”
For its part, the Citizen Action Party asked President Oscar Arias in a communique to dismiss the minister “as being directly responsible for the fatal accident on the Rio Grande de Tarcoles river.”
Minister Gonzalez has defended herself, saying that approaching the bridge there is a sign banning heavy vehicles and apparently the structure was damaged the day before it fell by a truck that crashed into part of the bridge.
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Monday, October 26th, 2009
Joel Campbell rallied Costa Rica with a goal in the 35th-minute, giving the Ticos a 1-1 draw Sunday in their opening game at the Under-17 World Cup.
Campbell capitalized when a pair of defenders stumbled over one another and finished easily, negating an 19th-minute tally by Michael Built. Andrew Mine was able to hold the ball and feed Built, who finished from near the penalty spot.
Both sides had second-half opportunities but Costa Rica had significantly more possession and twice as many chances, outshooting New Zealand 21-9 in the match.
“I think that every first game in a World Cup is a good game,” Costa Rica coach Juan Diego Samuel said. “Without thinking of winning or losing all the players are very anxious. I think we did a good job. We had a good game, we could have won the game but we are satisfied with the tie.”
Costa Rica next plays on Wednesday against Turkey, which won its opener 1-0 over Burkina Faso.
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Friday, October 23rd, 2009
A traditional hammock-style wood-and-cable bridge has collapsed as a bus crossed it in rural Costa Rica, dropping a bus filled with 38 people into a riverbed. Five people are reported dead. The wooden plank bridge deck was about 10 meters above the river. The vehicle ended up on its wheels in the middle of the river with water up to a point slightly below the passenger windows.
The bridge, known as the Puente Angosto de Turrabares, has been described as “seriously fatigued” and a weight restriction, which the bus exceeded, was in place.
Transport Minister Karla González said the bus driver ignored the weight restriction sign and crossed the bridge on his route to Orotina from Turrubares.
When the bus was halfway across the 50-metre, one-lane bridge, one of the steel cables supporting it collapsed, sending the bus into the Río Tárcoles. González admitted that a 75-metre iron reinforcement had been bought for the bridge in 2002, but engineers had not got around to attaching it. “The bridge was seriously fatigued, but it collapsed due to too much weight,” she said.
“We all have to accept responsibility for this tragedy and for the fact that the bridge was neglected, but at the same time, we did put up signs to warn drivers not to cross carrying more than four tonnes in weight and we cannot be expected to put a policeman on the bridge to ensure drivers obey the signs.”
Red Cross spokesman Mario Víquez said that four people died at the scene, a fifth person died en route to hospital, and the sixth died at a hospital in Orotina. Two other people were seriously inured.
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