Archive for November 13th, 2009
Friday, November 13th, 2009
If you are a salsa lover there is no doubt that Casa Zeller is the place to be on Friday night (take a taxi… it’s somewhere south of downtown San Jose). Entrance is 3,000 and dancing starts a little after 9:00. The slightly high price is due to the live band and worth every penny. In contrast to Salsa 54 and Castro Bar, most of the music in Casa Zeller is salsa, with some marengue and a tiny bit of bolero and cumbia. However, most people arrive in couples and/or groups, so if you’re all by yourself you may find it challenging to make it to the dance floor. Dress code (for women) ranges from jeans and a T-shirt to a super-short mini skirt and tight top with the obvious high heels
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Friday, November 13th, 2009
The Central American country’s pineapple exports have exceeded banana sales in value terms during the first nine months of 2009
Costa Rican pineapples are reportedly on the verge of leapfrogging the banana trade to become the country’s leading agricultural export item in value terms, according to figures from the Foreign Trade Corporation of Costa Rica (Procomer) and published by Costa Rican daily newspaper La Nación.
In the 12 months to September 2009, Costa Rican pineapple sales were worth just US$30m less than bananas, Procomer said, and even exceeded returns during the first nine months of 2009.
Between October 2008 and September 2009, banana sales generated some US$604m, according to Procomer, compared with US$574m for pineapples.
Meanwhile, during the first nine months of this year (January to September), pineapple returns reached US$436m, just above the US$429m recorded for bananas.
The rise in Costa Rica’s pineapple trade is down to a combination of factors, according to Procomer, one of which is the growing impact of inclement weather conditions on the country’s banana plantations.
“The banana and coffee trades have registered a 22 per cent fall in export volume in 2009 – two clear examples of products which have faced adverse climate conditions this year,” explained Francisco Gamboa, Procomer’s director of market intelligence.
Meanwhile, planted area with pineapples has more than doubled from 15,500ha in 2002 to 32,500ha in 2007, according to the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Farming.
Currently, the Costa Rican National Chamber of Pineapple Producers and Exporters (Canapep) estimates national pineapple production at 45,000ha, compared with the 42,000ha planted with bananas.
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Friday, November 13th, 2009
San Jose, Nov 12 (DPA) Costa Rican police seized over two tonnes of cocaine in San Francisco de Dos Rios, in the southern suburbs of the capital, San Jose.
The drugs were found late Wednesday in a storage facility belonging to an international drug gang that was shipping the load to the US in containers, officials said.
Two Costa Ricans and two South Americans – whose nationalities were not revealed – were arrested in the raid.
Source: Over two tonnes of cocaine seized in Costa Rica
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Friday, November 13th, 2009
Uruguay, set to play Costa Rica Saturday in the first leg of the World Cup play-offs, the last chance for both teams to make it to South Africa 2010.
The artificial turf of the Ricardo Saprissa stadium – the largest in Costa Rica, with a capacity for 17,000 people, on the outskirts of capital San Jose – emerged as a major threat for Uruguay, not used to a peculiar surface.
‘Artificial turf is just one more circumstance of play, as was the case with high altitude in La Paz,’ Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez said of the complications this week.
He did not, however, want to underestimate its effects, and the side led by Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan travelled to Guatemala as early as Monday, to train on artificial turf ahead of the crucial game. They were only set to go to Costa Rica on Friday.
The return leg of this play-off between the fifth-placed team in the South American qualifiers and the fourth-placed of the North and Central American and Caribbean region is set to be played Wednesday at the Centenario stadium in Montevideo.
Tabarez stressed that his men would have to demonstrate on the pitch whether they are better than Costa Rica, as many presume.
‘We do not mind being described as the favourites, but that is more a matter for the media. We have to focus on playing,’ he said. ‘Thinking that you are the favourite means not being cautious enough.’
Indeed, Uruguay have won two editions of the World Cup, but they date back to 1930 and 1950. Recent times have been a lot more disappointing: of the past four editions of the prestigious tournament, they only played one, and even then they crashed out in the first round of play.
The side led by Brazilian-born coach Rene Simoes was hoping to make the most of their experience on artificial turf, which they regarded as their main ally to gain an advantage at home, ahead of the decisive match in Uruguay.
Fans were generally disappointed with the team, after Costa Rica lost the chance to qualify directly for their fourth World Cup at the very last minute.
The United States managed a last-minute 2-2 draw against the ‘Ticos’ in Washington in the fourth minute of injury time in very last round of play. The result handed the World Cup berth to Honduras.
That just closed off a most irregular qualifying session: Costa Rica ended the first round at the top of the table, with 12 out of 15 possible points, but then crashed and lost the next three matches. That led to a change of coach, with Rodrigo Kenton being replaced by Simoes, but it was not enough to redress course completely.
Costa Rica already played three World Cups, but this is the first time they ever have to engage in a playoff en route to the tournament.
For Uruguay this is the third playoff. They won one and lost another, in both cases against Australia.
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Friday, November 13th, 2009
Snuggled in between the Caribbean and Pacific is a hidden jewel of a country, Costa Rica. There are a number of vacation packages in the major regions of the country to choose from which will let you experience the rich eco systems and abundance of natural wildlife available here. While many Latin American countries have hunted down much of the native wildlife, there is a conservationist and reservist philosophy in Costa Rica which the rest of the world would do well to emulate.
Sporting amazing oceans and seas, majestic volcanoes, lush tropical rainforests, and pristine beaches, Costa Rica vacation packages are a treasure that will keep on giving long after you’re returned home. From surfing to fishing to hiking and exploring to white water rafting and canopy tours, there is really something for everyone here by car rental Costa Rica. The canopy tours in particular will expose you to a vast array of wildlife and beautiful natural vistas.
Most hotel stays are going to be in one of three areas, Guanacaste (specifically Tamarindo), the Southern Pacific side (specifically Jacó) or the Caribbean side. The Caribbean side offers arguably the best nightlife and ritziest atmosphere, while Guanacaste has the most untouched and laid back feel. If you want a great natural adventure for you and your family, a Costa Rica vacation package is for you.
The people are very friendly to Americans (sometimes to the derision of their Nicarguan neighbors), and most speak pretty good English, at least in the areas you are likely to visit. The food is excellent, and most is local in origin(although a lot of vegetables are imports). You’ll notice the sugarcane fields (no high fructose corn syrup gunking up your sweets down here), and also the roving cattle herds. Many steak places will let you choose your own cut which comes from herds that are on premises or nearby.
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Friday, November 13th, 2009
Christmas shopping in Costa Rica is a little different, the lay-away plan is a favourite for early shoppers to avoid the long lines as December approaches, fear of shortage of stock or lack of funds to pay before receiving the Aguinaldo.
Whatever the reason, retailers are eager to comply.
Just about any item is available for lay-away, computers, cellular phones, digital cameras, bicycles, etc, can all be purchased with a small deposit and with regular payments – plus interest – it can be available to be put under the tree by Christmas Day.
Retailers like the Universal have been offering lay-away plans since September when the Christmas shopping season began unofficially.
Many shoppers use the lay-away to lock in the purchase early and then use the Aguinaldo – Christmas bonus – to pay and take it home, while others pay in each pay period.
The Universal’s Byron Fernández, told the Spanish language daily that they already have some 9.000 items on lay-away. At the Universal, Fernández explains, items costing ¢5.000 or more can be laid-away with a minimum 25% down and have until the December 24 for toys, the end of November of Christmas decorations and varying periods for other items.
Other retailers like Cemaco and Gollo, for example, have similar plans, all in an attempt to lure early Christmas shoppers. Some stores like Toys, all it takes is a ¢1.000 colones to lay-away an item if the value is ¢10.000 colones or less, and 10% if above that.
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