Recent reforms to its tax administration have seen Costa Rica leap 18 places in World Bank rankings of the world’s easiest tax compliance regimes, moving from 156th place to 138th. Continue reading
For Ticos, Semana Santa, or Holy Week – Costa Rica’s most important Catholic celebration – means vacation from work, and most government offices and banks are closed, transportation services are reduced, and non-tourism-related commerce comes to a halt during Holy Thursday and Good Friday (April 5 and 6). Continue reading
Careless driving now costs only ¢20.000
The Sala IV gave another blow to the Ley de Tránsito and the efforts of traffic officials to reduce the carnage on Costa Rica’s roads.
The latest decision by the Sala Contitucional (Constitutional Court) reduces the ¢351.585 colones fine for speeding 20 km/h over the limit to the maxim of ¢20.000 of pre March 2010, when the new traffic law went into effect. Continue reading
The work of 150 volunteers at the large river basin of the Tárcoles river, the most polluted in the country, began yesterday.
Although the river is highly polluted, it remains a hot tourist attraction for it’s population of crocodiles.
Volunteers from companies such as Bridgestone, MECO joined with the Ministry of Health and the Social Insurance Fund to carry out a titanic task.
Removed from the sector was about two thousand tires that were released as waste into the river. Continue reading
Posted in Activities, Environment
Recycling is Catching on Throughout Costa Rica.
Costa Rica has a reputation for being green, and in many ways, this reputation is well deserved. Thousands of protected acres grace the country’s geography, its environment is strongly protected by law, and Costa Ricans are finding new ways to recycle every day. In recent news, three communities — both business and personal — have made efforts to recycle the country’s leftovers, making treasure out of another man’s trash. Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Living
A traditionally mild, not over-spiced cuisine, the Costa Rican food has absorbed influences from the Caribbean, South America and Europe into its culinary cauldron. Many dishes are simple with the staples of rice and beans tending to form the basis of most rural cooking. Costa Rican’s are also heavily dependant on locally grown fresh produce, particularly members of the squash family including courgette (or zucchini), zapallo and chayote (known as the “Christophine” throughout the Caribbean).
Other tropical fruits and vegetables are also widely available and usually of good quality. The plantain, like in most of the neighbouring Caribbean, is a particular favourite and can be served in a variety of ways; from just simply fried in butter, to being served in a honey and sugar sauce. Continue reading
There’s a peaceful feeling in the air at ICANN’s meeting this week, and I think it has something to do with being here in Costa Rica.Speaking at today’s opening ceremony, Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla described how, back in 1948, her country became the first to willingly go without any kind of armed forces for national defense. In that respect, Costa Rica is a lot like ICANN: alone in a hostile world with only its constituents and allies for protection. Continue reading Posted in Living, Technology
