He’s very friendly, trust me…
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010
No Story, just a cute photo of a dog playing with his ball.
Archive for February 10th, 2010
Bottlenecking on new Caldera highway prompts rethink
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010Costa Rica’s National Concessions Council (CNC) could modify the toll system on the new San José-Caldera highway, but said they will need one month to study the route’s traffic.
Due to opening weekend excitement and last minute beach trips before school starts, tens of thousands of cars have traveled the new road in the past two weeks, causing long back-ups at toll booths. The CNC has decided to wait until the thrill calms to measure how many cars will actually use the toll way under normal conditions.
To relieve congestion, the CNC suggested that Autopistas del Sol, the Spanish company contracted to build and operate the highway, raise tolls during rush hour to discourage transit at peak times in the morning and the evening.
The government institution also requested that Autopistas del Sol devise a plan to expedite toll payments and prevent bottleneck clogs during high-traffic times such as Semana Santa (Easter holy week) and national holidays. Drivers have also complained about the amount of time that it takes toll booth operators to return change.
From Thursday, Jan. 28 through Jan. 31 – the road’s first four day’s in operation – an average of 22,897 vehicles traveled the route per day, well above the projected 2,000. During the four day period, drivers reported waiting for hours at toll booths.
The CNC expects Autopistas del Sol to submit new plans by the first week of March, which the concessions council will then evaluate for approval. If rejected, Autopistas del Sol will have five days to revise its plan provided the scheme does not require new construction. If the company decides to build more toll booths, it will have three months to build them.
If congestion persists, the CNC will grant drivers free reign of the road and Autopistas del Sol will be fined $5,000 per day for not complying with modifications and deadlines.
Drivers will be notified 15 days before any changes take place.
Wireless auction delayed indefinitely
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010Costa Rica’s long overdue mobile spectrum auction has been delayed because of an inquiry into a possible conflict of interest involving Irish operator Digicel, writes IHS Global Insight Perspective. The Costa Rican regulator Sutel has confirmed that the mobile spectrum auction for frequencies in the 850MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz bands will be late because of a possible conflict involving a local legal firm that has been working with the regulator as well one of the companies interested in the tender process.
According to Business News Americas, George Miley, the head of Sutel, has confirmed that local legal firm BLP was hired by US consultancy TGM, which at the same time advised the regulator in drawing up the bidding rules, but had previously worked with Digicel, one of the operators that is planning to participate in the auction, when the company was registering its brand in the country several years ago. Miley said that the operator is under no legal obligation to stop the auction, but it felt that it would be in the best interests of transparency to call a halt while the attorney-general and comptroller carry out their probe.
It is not clear when Sutel will resume the auction process, as the inquiry could take up to 20 weeks, but it is thought very unlikely that the licenses will be awarded by September 2010 as first expected.
Dhumal visiting Costa Rica to study environment management
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal is visiting Costa Rica to get lessons in environment management, an official said here Tuesday.
‘A high-level delegation, comprising Dhumal and Forest Minister J.P. Nadda, is leaving for Costa Rica tonight (Tuesday) to study the forestry models adopted by that country. Such models would be emulated here too,’ a spokesperson for the state government said.
Himachal Pradesh has taken various steps to make the state a carbon-neutral.
After Costa Rica, the delegation would visit the US for a meeting with the World Bank chairman Feb 16 for bringing more villages under the mid-Himalayan watershed project, the spokesperson said.
Why Owning A Costa Rica Condo Is A Good Choice
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010Have you ever dreamed of living in a tropical paradise where, as the song says,”the weather is fine and the life is easy?” For many people, Costa Rica appears to be that place and Costa Rica condos are their natural target. Perhaps, along with 1.5 million or more North American and European tourists a year, you have had the chance to enjoy the beaches, surfing, big game fishing, mountains, volcanoes, rivers, and tropical forests of this beautiful country. Situated between the sandy beaches on its Pacific and Caribbean coasts, Costa Rica also boasts numerous national parks and reserves throughout the country where protected bird, mammal, and reptile species live in Eden-like environments that bring tourists back again and again.
As a result, Costa Rica real estate is a popular item for investors, especially condos as rental properties and or for personal use, with eventual re-sale or conversion to a full time retirement home. However, maybe you are ready to retire now and take advantage of Costa Rica’s low cost of living, temperate tropical weather, and possess a marvelous home for children, grandchildren, and old friends to visit.
If you come to Costa Rica, chances are that you will land at Juan Santamaria International Airport outside the capital city of San Jose on the central plateau and nearly equidistant from the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Known for its surf, rain forests, and Tortuguero National Park, Puerto Limon is 120 km (75 mi) to the east on the Caribbean coast. The old coffee-shipping port of Puntarenas on Golfo di Nicoya and the Pacific coast lies 90 km (56 mi) to the west. You can stop at Puntarenas or veer off to the Pan-American Highway and head northeast to the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve for long walks on comfortable trails and incredible views, but a guided Canopy Tour of this rainforest is a must. Alternatively, you can head northwest to the national parks near Liberia, or the beaches of Tamarindo and Coco on the Gulfo di Papagayo noted for its year round deep-sea fishing.
If you head south, you can follow the oddly shaped province of Puntarenas (”Sands Point” in Spanish) stretching along the Pacific coast to the Panamanian border. Along the way are the beaches of Jaco and Manuel Antonio National Park, the smallest but among the most popular national parks in the country. In this park, visitors can travel paths leading from idyllic beaches to rain-forest and mountain terrains. Continuing south to Rincon and Puerto Juarez on Gulfo Dolce, you will find the dense, rich green jungle of Corcovado National Park standing as an unspoiled showcase of tropical nature. Believe it or not, these are only a fraction of Costa Rica’s attractions that full or part time residents can enjoy year round.
All these towns and surrounding areas boast Costa Rica condos for sale at prices that, compared with the Northeastern and Pacific coasts of the United States, can be a bargain. In fact, around San Jose and its relatively low cost-of-living, the housing costs in a typical middle-class suburban neighborhood are substantially less than similar housing in the U.S or Canada. Besides condos in Costa Rica, the country offers other real estate investments such as time-shares, single-family homes, and even working farms. However, if not always the least expensive approach, condos in Costa Rica are probably the best choice for foreign investment and retirement.
With the country so small, you can live in San Jose or its suburbs and enjoy the amenities and culture of a modern city and visit the attractions of the rest of the country. In the suburbs of San Jose, $90,000 or less can buy a very nice condo. However, if you opt for Costa Rica beachfront property or a mountain retreat, these properties are still available for much less than similar, choice properties in North America. Coastal properties can cost less than $250,000 and Costa Rica beachfront property will start at under $400,000. The residency requirements have no onerous restrictions with proofs of income minimal and the status cards easily renewable every two years. Costa Rica does not tax foreign residents on income earned outside of the country and most importantly the Costa Ricans, or Ticos, are friendly and welcoming to foreigners.
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