Archive for December 18th, 2009
Friday, December 18th, 2009
With only 9 banking days to go, some 600.000 vehicle owners (or 60%) have yet to pay their 2010 Marchamo. The 9 banking days is based on banks being opened on Saturday and closed Sundays and December 25.
The 2010 Marchamo is due on December 31, after which date the Policía de Tránsito (Traffic Police) can fine the driver and/or confiscate the vehicle license plates and the vehicle itself.
In the case of a plate or vehicle confiscation, only the “registered” legal owner of the vehicle can reclaim the vehicle from the “patios” of the Tránsito (impound lots).
The Marchamo can be paid at any bank – state or private, at the INS offices and your local insurance agent authorized by the INS.
Payment can also be made on line at the INS website, as well as some banks, like the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), with the marchamo sticker being delivered to your home or office.
It is important to note that the Policía de Tránsito will be in full force until January 3, keeping a close eye on drinking and driving and with spot-checks around the clock.
One of the items that a Tráfico (traffic official) will ask for is the vehicle registration. On the other side, you may be the holder of a ticket (fine) or having walk home if the 2010 Marchamo has not been paid on the vehicle.
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Friday, December 18th, 2009
Two Americans will be guests of Costa Rica for some years and all at the expense of the Ministerio de Justicia, after being found with some 3.8 Kg of cocaine hidden in their underwear, while leaving the country at the Juan Santamaría (San José) airport.
The first of the two was detained by the Policía Aeroportuaria (airport police) when passing through the x-ray machines, when officials noticed something strange in the abdomen area of the traveler.
The 26 year old woman was only identified by her last name, Daniels.
Moments later, the airport police saw something strange in two other Americans, keeping a close eye on the tow as they moved about the boarding gates.
Moments before boarding the flight, police moved in and after an exhaustive personal search came upon the illicit drug. The woman was identified by her last name Cooper and is 27 years old. The other person was set free when agents did not find anything on her person.
The two women detained for drug smuggling may spend from 8 to 20 years in a Costa Rican prison.
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Friday, December 18th, 2009
The vehicular restrictions of San José will be lifted beginning Monday, December 21 and will resume on Monday, January 4, 2010.
Germán Marín, the director of the Policía de Tránsito, said his officials will, beginning on Friday, focusing on spot checks for drinking and driving all around the country for a safe holiday season.
Marín said the traffic police operations will be on full alert around the clock and unlike in previous years, spotchecks for drinking and driving, will also be held during daylight hours and at locations not accustomed to by drivers.
The vehicular restrictions are to reduce traffic congestion in San José from Monday to Friday, from 7am to 7pm, depending on the last digit of the license plate of the vehicle.
And although the validity of the fines of the vehicular restriction of San José is still before the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court), Tránsito officials continue to enforce it and issue fines.
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Friday, December 18th, 2009
The Hospital Nacional de Niños (Children’s Hospital) said on Wednesday that it will report to Ministerio Público (Public Prosecutor) parents, guardians or any adult charged with the care of a minor, who is injured in a vehicle accident and not wearing a seatbelt.
The decision follows the case of an accident that occurred Monday in Nicoya were two year old twins, not wearing their seatbelt, where injured when a vehicle they were riding flipped over.
The vehicle, according to the director de Tránsito, Germán Marín, was at the hands of a minor.
Marco Vargas, head of the trauma unit at the Hospital Nacional de Niños made the announcement on ADN noticias (90.7FM) that children not buckled in are likely to be ejected from the vehicle and die or suffer permanent injuries.
“We will denounce before the authorities any person who exposes a child to these types of injuries. There is a lack of duty of care that is prescribed in the Código de la Niñez y la Adolescencia (Childhood and Adolescence code”, said Vargas.
Vargas said the twins in Monday’s accident are recovering at the Hospital Nacional de Niños from severe head injuries.
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Friday, December 18th, 2009
A Costa Rica vacation would mean a wild nature tripping adventure. It promises to be one of the most unforgettable. You will be amazed at the wonders of the earth.
If you are looking for the ultimate nature trip, then the Central American nation of Costa Rica is right for you. Here you can experience going up close to its several active volcanoes, getting to know its wonderful marine life, hiking through lush rain forests and going to the mountains to visit its several cloud forests.
Although the country of Costa Rica is small compare to its Central American neighbors, it is huge on bio diversity. Costa Rica is the ultimate nature paradise cause of its diverse flora and fauna. Whether you are a surf nut, beach bum, nature enthusiast or just someone looking for a place to chill out and escape the urban life for a while, come and visit Costa Rica and experience a vacation like no other!
Active volcanoes
There is no other place in the world like Costa Rica if you are fond of active volcanoes. Here you can marvel at the sight of its lava streams. Be amazed at the wonder of nature at its extremes. You can travel to some of its active volcanoes like, the Volcan Arenal, Poás or Irazú. There are several tours which can take you where the action really happens and there you can see the volcanoes erupting daily.
Rain Forests
The rain-forests, tropical dry forests and cloud forests here in Costa Rica are home to an impressive variety of not only birds, but also lizards, monkeys, snakes, butterflies, sloths and frogs. Take a trip here to see a number of the rarest wildlife on the face of the earth including Leather-back turtles, Morpho butterflies, Scarlet Macaws and the Central American squirrel monkey. You can also take a canopy tour and zoom across the rain-forest to appreciate incredible views of the jungle below.
Exploring the Coastline
For those people who like better the open spaces, take a car rental Costa Rica driving along Costa Rica’s stunning coastline. Costa Rica, bordering the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on either side, and being a habitat of an overabundance of amazing and exotic coral reefs and marine life, its coast literally offers many extraordinary opportunities to see various dolphin species, migrating whales, the endangered West Indian manatee and sea turtles as they swim along Costa Rica’s coasts.
Costa Rica, with its own unique take on ecotourism today has established its role as one of the foremost ecological vacation hot-spots on the planet. Creating its image as an eco-wonderland, Costa Rica promises you unforgettable vacations.
There are exciting activities here that await the visitors. You can go hiking along the trails of the tropical rain-forests in their famous Corcovado National Park. The Palo Verde National is another park to explore. It is populated with many local and migratory birds. The hiking trail here is also recommended. You have the option to go boating to explore the other areas.
Visit Barra Honda Caverns if you are into a wild spelunking adventure. These caves are very well kept. The lime-stones inside have been there for many centuries already and are being protected.
It will take a boat trip to get to Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, but it will be worth it. The wildlife view here is one of the most spectacular you will ever see.
And of course, nature tripping will not be complete without beaches. And Costa Rica is a heaven of wonderful beaches. In fact, it is good for water activities also like surfing. The surfing hot-spots here include Playa Hermosa, Jaco, Tamarindo, and Pavones. The waves are perfect for a wild surfing adventure.
Costa Rica Tours, Perfect Opportunity
When you are thinking about taking the Costa Rica tour, it is perfect opportunity that you could make. In fact, Costa Rica is considered one of the countries in South America that is brimming with picturesque beauty in diverse forms and it is politically steady. There is plethora of Costa Rica all-inclusive resorts to select from when you choose to attend the place that also called the paradise Nature. A Costa Rica holiday will assist you to decide on no matter what you are interested in: a calming beach, wildlife, waterfalls, or a lush rain-forest.
This republic is a perfect destination for all types of adventurers and vacationers. The living high standard at a low price is one of the major attractions. Costa Rica is situated in Central America and it is abutted by the North Pacific and the Caribbean on every side. Many surfers choose Costa Rica tours as the shoreline called Golden Coast can offer plenty of breaks near together because of which surfing becomes exciting and energizing. The all-inclusive hotels in Costa Rica amongst lush jungles and pristine beaches make it an ideal spot for a weekend or a honeymoon getaway.
Many Costa Rica tours just embrace visits to the seashore but there numerous things to investigate in Costa Rica.
Hotels, National Parks: Chirripo, Santa Rosa, Guanacaste, Corcovado, Totuguero and Manuel Antonio. Whatever your vacations interests; jungle adventure tours, eco-tourism, white water rafting, surfing, scuba diving incredible reefs, canopy tours, golf, all inclusive hotels, bird watching, sport fishing and swimming with dolphins in crystal-clear ocean waters, or just relaxing on an unspoiled tropical beach, you will find all of that and more in this tropical and secure paradise.
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