U.S. President Barack Obama arrives in Costa Rica

US President Barack Obama arrived in Costa Rica on Friday at 1:52 pm following a 24-hour trip to Mexico. He was received by Tico astronaut Franklin Chang, Foreign Minister Enrique Castillo and U.S. Ambassador Anne S. Andrew.

The official welcome ceremony was held at the Foreign Ministry in downtown San José, where Obama met with President Laura Chinchilla at 2:55 pm. Chinchilla and members of her Cabinet are holding a bilateral meeting with the U.S. delegation. They will then hold a press conference.

Pedestrians owned the streets of downtown San José due to the closure of Paseo Colón and Avenida Segunda for the arrival of Obama. 

The one place pedestrians could not walk, however, was the usually crowded pedestrian walkway, 200 meters of which will be closed until tomorrow.

Public employees were given Friday off to help alleviate traffic during the president’s arrival.

According to transit police there will be occasional opportunities for cars to cross over the street between Obama’s movements.