It is good to find out how Costa Rica is not letting the financial crisis get to them and finds different ways to keep their business and economy working regardless the situation. Not only have they been creating a plan to explode de European tourism market but also they have opened import markets that were previously closed due to several undisclosed issues, like tomato imports to the United States and Europe.
And it is probably because Costa Rica traditional markets are conformed by products and services that people need no matter what: tomatoes, flowers, bananas and well, Costa Rica tourism is one of the most important destinations in America. As I explained in previous posts, the real estate market in Costa Rica is keeping high number due to renting properties and not so much selling real estate.
Guanacaste is still a good place to run a business and the economy of the place has pretty much remain the same. Actually, besides Guanacaste tourism, another great business source of the area is cattle and the most important Costa Rica farms are settled here. Good meat is sold throughout the country and some is even imported to several locations in Americadue to its high quality.
My point with all of these babbling is that Costa Rica economy is completely safe…at the least for the moment, though I don’t really foresee much changes anytime soon and people should just continue with their lifestyle in peace. The country is dealing with the crisis better than bigger counterparts are and that should really help with our peace of mind as Costa Rica citizens.
To continue doing business the biggest Newspaper in Costa Rica “La Nacion” has laid off a total of 100 employees since yesterday and has closed several newspaper supplements that have been out on the streets for decades.
La Nacion newspaper is the biggest publication in Costa Rica and apparently the financial crisis has also hit them they have even laid of some of their senior journalists and removed the printed version of their college focused newspaper VueltaenU. Today every employee is being called in a private meeting to let them know one by one what will be the changes on their responsibilities and jobs, in the case they still have one.
Although it has been demonstrated that Costa Rica has had even worst financial crisis in the past, companies in Costa Rica are taking extreme measures to avoid being affected. In Guanacaste I haven’t seen much movement about the matter, but it could also be because of the high season.
We will have to wait and see what happens to all those journalists out of jobs, it is really sad that professionals in Costa Rica that have such caliber and experience have to go through such bad times. I really hope that tourism and real estate in Costa Rica doesn’t get as bad as other industries, it would be very sad to see more people affected by the financial crisis in Costa Rica.
I have noticed though that most real estate agents in Costa Rica are getting by with renting properties since the banks last year hardly gave out home loans, but the industry itself has maintain good profits.
Apparently people in Costa Rica have now been obligated to give it a chance to container homes: Due to the many homes lost during the past earthquake in Costa Rica, some private entities have donated several containers to be set up as temporary homes, kitchens and laundry rooms in the refuges set up in the Cinchona and Vara Blanca areas.
The INCOFER, entity in charge of the Tren Urbano in San Jose, Costa Rica’s only working train, donated a couple of weeks ago 25 containers to be used as temporary homes for some of the families that lost everything in the Poas Earthquake and now it seems that several private companies came together and donated another thirteen containers to be set up as laundry rooms and kitchens in the refuges where there are still several families that have nowhere else to go.
Costa Rica has shown that whenever there is trouble everyone has to help and people are actually glad to be of help even hotels in Guanacaste and other companies in the area conducted small donations marathons to send over to the people in need in Alajuela, commercial places donated their earnings and several places set up stands to collect food goods and clothes.
It’s been three weeks after the earthquake in Costa Rica and although things are going back to normal very slowly, people are still very scared, especially since after that big one, small earthquakes were felt in Guanacaste and some other areas in the country. Rumors say that people in the OVSICORI are actually expecting a bigger earthquake in the next few weeks but have not released any info to avoid panic. That one I don’t believe, but that only shows that people in Costa Rica are definitely still scared.
Apparently the earthquakes in Costa Rica were not limited to the Alajuela area and those of us that did not feel the previous one had to get scared somehow…yesterday there was a small earthquake in Guanacaste. It was not much but with all that has happen in Costa Rica I can tell you that I actually got pretty scared.
The small earthquake rated somewhat 4,3 degrees in the Richter scale and was felt in the lower areas of Guanacaste such as Nosara and Ostional which are not so far from where I live. There were no damages at all but it did give us an adrenaline rush.
While we jumped off our seats, the Cinchona area has been having terrible weather which has made the recovery work harder, people are still living in refuges and several pets were rescued…yet there isn’t much that can be done until the weather settles. The Poas Volcano did open its doors to tourists and visitors this week, although I don’t think much people want to go anywhere near that location for the moment.
Costa Rica is definitely suffering right now, but I have to admit that everyone is strong and it is amazing to see how the Costa Rica people put all their efforts together to help those in need without hesitating. I am extremely happy to be a part of this nation when I see how warm hearted everyone is.
I am off to continue my real estate adventure; today I have several appointments about the purchase of property so I will be pretty busy for the rest of the day. Have a nice day you all.
It seems that ICE (Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) has no clue of what open market means and still tries to act as a monopoly. Costa Rica citizens joined together yesterday on strike to avoid sending text message since ICE decided to raise their rates from 1.50 colones to over 5 colones each text message besides all their rates for cell phones and land lines were raised unconsciously and without approval recently.
People are understandably mad about this and ICE claims they will no change this resolution no matter what since basically, they will either cut off some services or raise the rates. Costa Rica people are not dumb and they have established that either this changes or they will just wait for the new USA companies to settle and drop ICE entirely.
This entire situation with the phone rates in CostaRica makes wonder: is ICE trying to squeeze as much money off citizens before real phone companies arrive or are they just stupid enough to continue thinking that their service is all there is? I really hope is the first choice, it would be very sad to see that they were just the stupidest company in Costa Rica.
So far, ARESEP has not been able to negotiate anything with ICE and phone rates skyrocketed this week, users all over Costa Ricaare worried that they will not be able to afford these new phone rates at all and believe that something needs to be done as soon as possible.
After 8 sad years of having a man who hardly knew where he stood as a president, I see my country smiling with brand new hopes for a better future. Barack Obama starts fresh today in his new charge as the president of the United States of America and I just want to wish him the best.
Although I may be living in Costa Rica, but I can see how all the mistake made by the previous so called president reflects all over the over and Costa Ricais no different. Small countries are affected by the actions of big countries all the time and Costa Rica was definitely feeling the pain all the bad decision making from the past government was generating.
I am happy and hopeful like any other gringo will be and here in Guanacaste the American community was happy to watch Obama take over, we feel sorry that he has come and pick up the pieces to what once was a trusted country, but we know he can do the job well and nicely.
As for me, I have a long day ahead of me getting documentation and plans together to continue with my project of housing development;Guanacaste beaches are crowded today since the weather is definitely the best in the past few months and people are enjoying it as much as they can, I would too. Now any other development project is finally getting back on track and Guanacaste is again the city in progress I am used to see.
Apparently the tragedy is still not over in Costa Rica: yesterday a new tectonic failure appeared triggered by the terrible earthquake Costa Rica had just 6 days ago and new tremors have been felt since yesterday.
People are terribly scared and more and more areas are being evacuated due to the damage and danger. Costa Rica has many volcanoes and due to this it is common that a small tremor occurs from time to time, yet the issues the big earthquake is bringing not only to the Alajuela and Poas areas but to the people in general. In Guanacaste, the earthquake was not such a big deal and tourism and business go on as usual.
If you are interested in helping, there are several ways to assist:
The CNE (National Emergency Commission) of Costa Rica has come up with a list of important items necessary for the refugees:
1. Camping tents for 4-6 occupants
2. Sleeping bags and blankets
3. Food for 3-4 days. Including: Pasta, coffee, milk (not powder milk since it is harder to prepare with racionate water), water (preferably 5 gallon bottles), canned goods, batteries, matches, candles, emergency lights.
4. Capes for the rain
5. Personal higiene products such as maxi pads, toilet paper, diapers, etc.
All of these items can be delivered to any Red Cross Costa Rica station, Mega Super or given the Costa Rica Boy Scouts all over the country. Also if you want to volunteer to go help you can subscribe at the Red Cross stations as well.
For more information on how to help Costa Rica refugees after the earthquake, please call: 2210 – 2723 / 2210 – 2725 / 2210 – 2763 / 2210 – 2764.
Rumor has it that famous super model Gisele Bundchen is planning to marry her boyfriend, NFL superstar Tom Brady very soon and apparently have decided to have a Costa Rica wedding like many other celebrities.
Costa Rica is known to be a paradise like location and many celebrities own a home in Costa Rica including famous actors such as Mel Gibson and David Hasselhoff, even the super model herself, bought a nice Costa Rica beach villa for herself not long ago.
Although the Costa Rica wedding has not been confirmed yet, it seems that the Guanacaste beaches are the first choice on the couple’s list. It has been a known fact that many celebrities have visited Costa Rica on vacations before and rocks star Pink was one of the celebrities that chose a hotel in Costa Rica for her wedding to famous motocross racer Carey Hart back in 2006.
The Model-Football player couple is of course keeping the entire details top secret and because of this, I do believe that the Costa Rica wedding rumor might be true: lots of celebrities also use Costa Rica beaches as a hiding spot to relax and get pampered.
According to insider sources “The couple is discussing a huge fashionista event in the spring or a more intimate and quicker ceremony in Costa Rica” I really like the idea of having a beach wedding, they can actually enjoy their wedding and a pre-honeymoon in paradise by doing this and the media will not bother them as much.
The wedding will be held in March and neither Tom Brady and Gisele Bundchen has made an official release of the news. As a NFL fan I certainly will love to get a glimpse on this wedding, not to mention that Gisele Bundchen is one of the most beautiful women in the world.
Almost fives after a terrible earthquake shook the Alajuela territory and the rest of Costa Rica, the losses are now more than they were on Friday: the entire town of La Cinchona in Sarapiqui has been officially declared a ghost town since basically no houses or structures were left standing after the earthquake. In Costa Rica, emergency commissions have been delivering food and clothing non-stop to the people affected who have been living in tents and refuges for the past five days.
It has been quite nice to see people helping, a lot of Costa Rica university students who are still on vacation, cut them short to go and help find the rest of the 60 people who are still missing, cook for the refugees and help with anything necessary in the Alajuela town. Some of the people of the area are still looking for their sons, daughters, parents or friends and it is definite that Costa Rica is suffering very much for all the losses.
This earthquake, has been categorized as one of the worst Costa Rica tragedies in history since an entire town was lost, the ecological impact has really affected the forest and jungles of the area and even the famous Waterfall Gardens, one the most impressive attractions of the Poas Volcano area is completely lost. Volunteers from all overCosta Rica, the United Stated and some other countries are working night and day yet the sadness in the locals faces are hard to erase.
The earthquakes have been stopping and the count is lesser and lesser everyday, we certainly hope that people can get back on track soon and that all of these can be left behind as soon as possible. My prayers go to the people injured, those who lost all their possessions and family members and to volunteers helping Costa Rica in this time of need.
Around 1:30 pm yesterday while I was having lunch a very strong earthquake was felt but at the moment I thought it was nothing to be worried about, that was only because I am in Guanacaste and the it is quite far away from the epicenter which was located near the Poas volcano in Alajuela. Costa Rica earthquakes are common but what was felt yesterday afternoon was in fact a huge one that caused a red alert in San Jose, Heredia, Cartago and Alajuela.
At the moment the Costa Rica earthquake has caused the loss of many homes, at least 15 people died and many injured and while the rescue workers still work on the area it is known that many people are still trapped underneath avalanches and incommunicado. In San Jose many buildings were evacuated and there were a few with cracks on the walls, In Alajuela, especially in the Vara Blanca area most people have lost their homes completely and some are still missing.
At the moment in Costa Rica, rescuers are still trying to find people, help the ones that are injured and probably later on this afternoon they will send a press release with the total losses and what kind of help will be necessary to get things back to normal. Stadiums have been open to be used as Heliports and all the hospitals in Costa Rica are ready to provide as much as assistance as possible.
Since it was not felt so hard in Guanacaste, I was definitely not aware of the huge damages caused by this Earthquake in Costa Rica, one of the most beautiful places I have visited: The Waterfall Gardens in Poas is completely damaged and the hotel itself is being used as one of the headquarters to help the people of the area.
