Now that the insipid reality show “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” has thankfully run its course, the region of Sarapiqui, which played host to the C-list pseudo celebrities who battled egos on the program, has returned to normal. Alex Leff has a great piece here on Sarapiqui’s true reality.
Mr. Leff offers a great perspective on the region. Too often, as we travel around this country in air-conditioned vans, between stays in world-class lodgings amid a setting too perfect to imagine, our contact with the local realities becomes either numbed or eliminated altogether. Part of the beauty of travel is to experience life, however briefly, in another context. This contact is what allows us to return home not only with a new tan, but with a new perspective.
Most of us are not celebrities. Hopefully you too choose to visit Sarapiqui, get your hands dirty, see what life is all about outside of four stars and imported wine. It’s a big world out there, and it’d be a shame to think that Costa Rica is just creepy-crawlies and whiny, self-absorbed fools in search of a piece of the limelight.
Publicado: 30 June 2009
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The English-language weekly The Tico Times has an interesting article here detailing the three-day outdoor concert held last weekend near Puerto Jimenez, in the Osa Peninsula. It will be interesting to see how organizers and potential concertgoers respond in 2010. The article doesn’t mention attendance, how much money was raised and what positive effects, if any, the concert had. Anyone care to chime in?
Publicado: 27 June 2009
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Check out the contemporary art gallery TEOR/ítica in Barrio Amón, San Josí. Their current exhibit is called Un gabinete de curiosidades, A Cabinet of Curiosities, and opens its doors to show off some strange
Publicado: 25 June 2009
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Playa Hermosa and the City of Jacó received the Blue Flag Award from Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism.The Blue Flag is reserved for communities demonstrating ecological excellence. Playa Hermosa is the site of the upcoming World Surfing Games.
It is expected that the ISA World Surfing Games, to be held in Costa Rica from July 31 to August 8, will see its widest international participation ever.
To date, 35 countries have registered, including the world’s top ten surfing powerhouses: Australia, Brazil, United States, South Africa, Tahiti, Peru, New Zeland and France, among others.
The ISA World Surfing Games have been held since 1964. This year is expected to be the world’s largest championship, eclipsing the 2006 games held in California when 33 countries participated.
Publicado: 24 June 2009
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Playa Hermosa y la Ciudad de Jacó recibieron de mano del Ministro de Turismo de Costa Rica la Bandera Azul.
Se preví que ISA World Surfing Games de Costa Rica 2009 sea el que más paéses acoja de toda su historia, a llevarse acabo del 31 de julio al 8 de agosto.
A la fecha, se han registrado 35 paéses, entre las cuales destacan las diez principales potencias del mundo Australia, Brasil, Estados Unidos, Sudáfrica, Tahité, Perú y Nueva Zelanda y Francia, entre otras.
Los ISA World Surfing Games se realizan desde 1964 y se espera que este año sea el campeonato más grande del mundo, superando al de 2006 que tuvo lugar en California cuando llegaron 33 naciones.
Publicado: 24 June 2009
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You’ll find an interesting essay here. The author is a developer in the popular beach community of Jacó. Over the last few years, I have witnessed the process as Jaco has been transformed from a lazy surfing and fishing community to a burgeoning city, complete with a skyline bigger than San Jose’s. The consequences of overbuilding and the subsequent economic crash are evident in a few Costa Rican communities, and Jacó has not escaped the perils of unbridled construction. Let us know what you think.
Publicado: 22 June 2009
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Take an online survey and share you opinions about Costa Rica here. The survey takes around 10 minutes and is being used by the Costa Rica Tourism Board to develop new marketing schemes. My hope is that they’ll also take note of any negative comments and begin to work to improve them.
Participe en una encuesta en lénea y opine sobre Costa Rica aqué. La encuesta toma alrededor de 10 ménutos, y el Instituto Costarricense de Turismo va a usar los resultados para desarrollar nuevas campañas publicitarias. En lo personal, espero que tomen nota de los comentarios negativos que escriba la gente, y tomen medidas para corregirlos.
Publicado: 21 June 2009
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Gira Zona Sur: cercanéas de Puerto Jimínez. No hay huecos en la carretera Interamericana desde San Josí hasta el cruce de Chacarita (antes de Golfito), carretera demarcada y con ojos de gatos en el 90% del trayecto. De Chacarita a Puerto Jimínez 50% asfalto y el resto buen lastre, varios puentes en proceso de construcción.
Southern Zone trip ubdate: There are no potholes in the Pan-American Highway from San Jose to the turnoff at Chacarita (before Golfito). The road is painted and flanked with cateye reflectors along 90% of the way. From Chacarita to Puerto Jimenez half the way is paved, and the rest of the way is graded gravel. There are several bridges being built.
Publicado: 19 June 2009
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Journalist Alex Leff reports on the discovery of a new species of frog in Costa Rica here. Alex’s blog offers regular updates, and his blog “covers Costa Rica for GlobalPost, delving into the social and environmental problems that threaten this small nation’s peaceful and eco-friendly balance,” according to his site.
Publicado: 17 June 2009
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Costa Rica’s Transit Police estimate that the number of vehicles circulating in San Jose increased by 25% yesterday, after the Sala IV (Constitutional Court) repealed a restriction that was based on license plate numbers.
Stagnant lines of cars along the few routes leading into town stretched for several kilometers, and rush hour, which normally lasts from 6am to 730am, lasted until well after 10am. If you don’t have any pressing reason to travel during those morning hours, I recommend that you wait until after 9am to drive to San Jose, and if you’re leaving in the afternoon, get out before 4pm. Otherwise, grab a coffee, read a book and wait until after 7.
La Policéa de Tránsito reportó que el número de vehéculos en las calles de San Josí aumentó en un 25% ayer, despuís de que la Sala IV (Corte Constitucional) revocó la restricción de circulación a base de los números de placas.
Las filas de carros sin mover se extendéan por varios kilómetros, y la hora pico, que normalmente es entre las 6 y las 730am, se prolongó hasta despuís de las 10am. Si usted no tiene algo urgente que hacer en la capital, recomiendo que espere hasta despuís de las 9am para entrar a San Josí. En las tardes, salga antes de las 4pm, o si no, tómese un cafí, lea un libro y espere para salir despuís de las 7pm.
Publicado: 16 June 2009
12 Comentarios
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