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Eat its dust: An illustration of the Costa Rica Unico Racing Team car, set to burn rubber in Mexico in March. |
Illustration courtesy of Costa Rica Unico Racing Team |
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Ashes to ashes: Costa Ricans at the San José Metropolitan Cathedral take turns Wednesday receiving ashes on their foreheads for the annual Catholic tradition, Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent. Traditionally, the ashes come from burnt palm fronds from the previous year's Palm Sunday. |
Ronald Reyes ¦ Tico Times |
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2,000 jobs could sail into Costa Rican
Caribbean with revamp for yacht race |
A world-class boating event set to arrive in the Caribbean port of Limón later this year could contribute indirectly to the creation of at least 2,000 jobs in the region, particularly within the hard hit construction sector, a port official said. |
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| Costa Rica park seeks extension, but loses Blue Flag |
| Local officials and residents worked Wednesday to postpone the possible closure of Manuel Antonio National Park, on the central Pacific, and find a solution to sanitation problems which the park has until Thursday to correct or face closure at the hands of the Health Ministry. But their efforts to stem the publicity fallout met a setback Tuesday, when the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) revoked the Ecological Blue Flag for the park's four beaches because of the risk of sanitary contamination. |
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| Boat caught illegally fishing nearby Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco |
| The Costa Rican government has seized a commercial fishing boat caught with its fishing lines inside the waters of the Isla del Coco National Marine Park, one of the country's most prized protected areas. |
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| Costa Rica revving up for Mexico ‘Challenge’ |
| Costa Rica's Formula 2000 auto racing team has picked up three more drivers for the Latam Challenge Series set for next month in Puebla, Mexico. |
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Burgers, Beer and Wii
at New Santa Ana Eatery |
Food, fun and entertainment North American-style is the order of the day and late into the night at Brad's Grille. This newly opened restaurant and bar in Momentum Mall, opposite Auto Mercado on the Lindora road in Santa Ana, southwest of the capital, offers genuine, U.S.-style chow cooked by experienced chef David Kane, from Florida. |
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2,000 jobs could sail into Costa Rican
Caribbean with revamp for yacht race |
By Vanessa I. Garnica
Tico Times Staff | vgarnica@ticotimes.net |
A world-class boating event set to arrive in the Caribbean port of Limón later this year could contribute indirectly to the creation of at least 2,000 jobs in the region, particularly within the hard hit construction sector, a port official said.
After a year-long bidding process, it was announced that Costa Rica's port of Limón will be the final destination for the Transat Regatta Race that will take place in November.
“The event is creating the opportunity to create jobs in the sense that if we maintain the infrastructure, we can hold other types of events in the future,” Francisco Jiménez, president of the Atlantic Port Authority (JAPDEVA), said Tuesday.
The Transat Jacques Vabre regatta is the world's third-leading yachting race, during which more than 60 sailboats from 14 different countries will set out on Nov. 7 from Le Havre, France seeking to be the first to arrive at Limón Port.
The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) plans to spend about half a million dollars promoting the race in major European markets such as France, Italy, Finland, England, Spain and Germany, said Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides.
The estimated initial price tag for a larger project to revitalize the port of Limón is about ¢400 million (more than $716,000).
“This project is part of the overall betterment project of the Limón Port,” said Rashid Esna, engineer in charge of the project. “So as a result, this event will help speed up improvement projects that were planned for this area in the near future.”
The regatta typically follows a “coffee route,” using coffee-producing countries such as Colombia and Brazil as the finish line in previous years.
Panama and Mexico were two other contenders being considered for the final destination.
However, according to the event's promoter, Pierre Bojic from Pen Duick, the organizing committee, “ Costa Rica was chosen for being a very important coffee producer in the world.” “In addition, we think Limón has a great deal of potential for the development of its marina,” Bojic said. |
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| Costa Rica park seeks extension, but loses Blue Flag |
By Patrick Fitzgerald
Tico Times Staff | editorial@ticotimes.net |
Local officials and residents worked Wednesday to postpone the possible closure of Manuel Antonio National Park, on the central Pacific, and find a solution to sanitation problems which the park has until Thursday to correct or face closure at the hands of the Health Ministry. But their efforts to stem the publicity fallout met a setback Tuesday, when the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute (AyA) revoked the Ecological Blue Flag for the park's four beaches because of the risk of sanitary contamination.
Last week, Health Minister María Luisa Avila gave the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Ministry (MINAET) 10 days to correct the problems at the park, which include mosquito-breeding standing water, a garbage dump within the park and sewage leaks from the bathrooms near the park's most popular beach.
On Wednesday, Richard Lemire, president of the Aguirre Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, sent a letter to Avila asking for an extension. The problems of standing water and garbage have been cleaned up, Lemire said, but the sanitary issues involve a longer-term solution that requires more than 10 days.
“As the Chamber of Commerce, we don't want a patch,” Lemire told The Tico Times. “We want a good, long-term solution to this problem.”
Avila is set to visit Manuel Antonio on Friday, along with officials from AyA, to inspect the park's progress and announce a decision on its closure, which health officials said would be “the last resort.”
Losing the Blue Flag, which recognizes cleanliness and eco-friendliness in the country's beaches, is not a good sign. Darner Mora, director of water laboratories at AyA, said the beaches at the park were “in good condition,” but the risk of contamination from the nearby sewage leak was enough to warrant revoking the distinction.
Alarmed about a possible park closure, members of over 50 local businesses met in Manuel Antonio Tuesday night to discuss strategies. And, dismayed by the apparent governmental inaction, some concerned individuals sought to take matters into their own hands.
In November 2007, Matt Cook, the former director of the non-profit environmental group Fund for Costa Rica, set out to raise $20,000 to install environmentally friendly compost toilets in the park. But Cook said interest from local hotels, restaurants and tourist outlets was minimal, and he could raise only $1,500 from local businesses, including $500 of his own money.
“The vast majority could not be bothered to do something about this problem,” he said. “We had those toilets designed and ready to go. It was basically a big middle finger to the national park and the environment of Manuel Antonio by these businesses. And here we are.”
Tuesday morning, however, Cook resent his e-mail and found local businesses more receptive to his idea. By Tuesday afternoon, Café Britt owner Steve Aronson had offered to donate water-free urinals for the park, which the coffee company currently uses in its factory and tour facility. And Wally Pereyra, who had offered to match up to $10,000 raised in 2007, upped his offer to match up to $12,500 today.
“This was not a surprise that the park was being contaminated,” Cook said. “The whole place is going down the toilet, literally.” |
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Boat caught illegally fishing
nearby Costa Rica’s Isla del Coco |
The Costa Rican government has seized a commercial fishing boat caught with its fishing lines inside the waters of the Isla del Coco National Marine Park, one of the country's most prized protected areas.
Park guards boarded the boat and released three live sharks and a mahi-mahi back into the sea, according to a statement from MarViva, a non-governmental sea conservation organization.
The boat, called the Zaragoza II, was caught by the MarViva I, a patrol boat belonging to the conservation NGO. The organization conducts regular patrols with park guards from the Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Ministry (MINAET) aboard.
The Zaragoza II was caught 8.5 nautical miles from the island of Isla del Coco, which lies 365 miles off Costa Rica's Pacific coast. The Isla del Coco National Park encompasses the island and the biologically rich waters surrounding it within 12 nautical miles of the shore. |
–Tico Times |
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| Costa Rica revving up for Mexico ‘Challenge’ |
Costa Rica's Formula 2000 auto racing team has picked up three more drivers for the Latam Challenge Series set for next month in Puebla, Mexico.
Recently confirmed drivers include Mexico's Carlos Arellano and Colombians Juan Manuel González and Francisco Leonardo Díaz. They will join four others, including Costa Rican speedster Andrés Solano.
Ahead of the March 21 and 22 series dates, team Costa Rica Unico Racing is set to roll out for track day on Feb. 26.
“I have faith that with hard work we can have all our drivers fighting for first,” said team engineer Raymond González. |
–EFE |
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| Burgers, Beer and Wii at New Santa Ana Eatery |
Food, fun and entertainment North American-style is the order of the day and late into the night at Brad's Grille. This newly opened restaurant and bar in Momentum Mall, opposite Auto Mercado on the Lindora road in Santa Ana, southwest of the capital, offers genuine, U.S.-style chow cooked by experienced chef David Kane, from Florida. If you're tired of fashionable fusion, Pacific Rim or trendy Mediterranean food and hanker after an authentic, juicy burger or Buffalo wings, you can count on finding them here.
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| Brad's Grille, on the Lindora road in Santa Ana, features 15 high-definition, flat-screen TVs as well as a Wii home video game system. |
Vicky Longland | Tico Times |
George “Brad” Bradley came to Costa Rica in 2004, but retirement soon palled. After a couple of other ventures, he went into business with a Costa Rican and fellow North American partners, and thus Brad's Grille came to fruition.
On a recent visit for lunch, my eager team and I must have driven our friendly, obliging waiter, Carlos, crazy as we prowled around looking for the ideal table. We had a lot to choose from; the spacious restaurant has two floors, offering both indoor and outdoor seating.
It was a typical sunny and windy December day, so we didn't want to sit inside but were hesitant to sit outside in a wind tunnel. However, the sun and windscreens made our choice of a table on the second-floor balcony a good one. The black-and-white modern furnishing and decor add a touch of sophistication to the easygoing ambience.
Once we were settled, Carlos arrived with a high chair for the youngest member of the party, who then enjoyed a soft bread roll. By the look on her face, she thought it was of top-notch quality, as was the service. We scanned the large menu, and were told the salads and sandwiches were not available – strange, but some of the ingredients were apparently unobtainable because of the holiday season. Carlos took our drink orders of cold beer, a michelada (beer on the rocks with lime juice and salt on the rim) rosa de jamaica juice, lemonade and iced tea. Cocktail lovers can choose from an innovative selection. Also on offer are a variety of imported beers and a good selection of wines.
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| Brad's burgers are big and juicy. |
Vicky Longland | Tico Times |
North America is known for its gigantic portions of food, but at Brad's Grille somebody was thinking about small eaters, and I was delighted to see that many of the orders came in half portions.
Our choices were varied but included two burgers, Brad's original and the chili cheeseburger topped with Bavarian beer chili. The excellent, juicy, half-pound burgers were served with the usual trimmings, plus lightly battered and fried tumbleweed onion rings. These, however, were on the limp side and slightly greasy.
The fish used in the Boston fish and chips was very good, as were the shoestring potatoes; however, the Brits in the party stared aghast at the latter. Where were the big, wedge-style chips that normally accompany this traditional fare? Well, there's no accounting for taste, and our Canadian friend had no complaints.
Other members of the party enjoyed the hot spinach and artichoke dip baked with a blend of cheeses, the potato skins topped with cheddar cheese and bacon, and a half order of linguini Alfredo. The lightly battered, flash-fried calamari was succulent, but the pesto dipping sauce far too salty. Overall, our complaint was that the food wasn't hot enough.
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| Boston fish and chips. |
Vicky Longland | Tico Times |
Though we passed on the desserts, for those with a sweet tooth the tempting choices include Key West lime pie and New York-style cheesecake.
At first glance, the menu appears to be on the pricey side, but it includes 13 percent sales tax and 10 percent service, so there are no shocks when the bill is presented. This is a commendable practice that more restaurants should consider adopting.
Our total bill, including all food and beverages for six people, came to ¢52,000 ($95).
Obviously popular with families at lunchtime, the restaurant is a different story in the evenings. Managing partner John Hepner is very positive about plans for each night's entertainment and told us Brad's has 15 high-definition, flat-screen TVs for watching sports, as well as an activity room with Wii, the home video game system, allowing customers to compete at Guitar Hero, darts, golf and other games. You can win prizes playing Wii games and bingo or take part in NFL football pools and trivia contests. Monday is football night and Friday karaoke night, when would-be stars can sing their hearts out. The restaurant also caters for parties and special events.
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