Oscar Arias Says
Goodbye
Dr. Oscar Arias
Sanchez, Nobel
Peace Prize
winner and
president of
Costa Rica for
two terms
(1990-1994 and
2006-2010), bid
his adieu to the
thousands who
were out to see
the new
president sworn
in in person and
hundreds of
thousands at
home in front of
their
televisions.
See Photo
Journal for all
the photos of
the Chinchilla
inauguration
Shortly after
9am, Don Oscar,
with his two
children, Sylvia
and Filipe, by
his side and his
brother, some
members of his
cabinet and
close friends,
began the walk
from his home in
Rohrmoser to the
La Sabana park,
a short
kilometre away.
Lined up along
the Rohrmoser
Boulevard were
marching bands
and the boys and
girl scouts of
Costa Rica,
paying homage to
their president.
The walk swung
from the
Boulevard onto
the Avenida Las
Americas, past
the new national
stadium under
construction as
the Chinese
workers dressed
in red stopped
to take peek,
some taking
photos, of the
historic event.
Once inside the
park, Arias
swung around the
stands to
personally shake
hands with the
hundreds of
students who
cheered on. "I
met the
president",
could be heard
from more than
one as they
shouted to their
parents and
fellow students.
Once he tour of
the stands was
complete, Arias
took his place
on the centre
stage among many
of his political
allies and foes,
handing over the
presidential
sash to his
protegé, Laura
Chinchilla at
11:39am, ending
his second term
in office.
Once the
inauguration
ceremony was all
over, Arias
dashed out to
his waiting BMW
- his own
private vehicle
with his driving
waiting - and he
went back to be
being an
ordinary Costa
Rican.
Well almost.
Oscar Arias may
no longer be
president, but
we can rest
assured that he
will be active
behind the
scenes, if not
in government
politics, but
definitely in
party politics,
including with
the possible
candidature of
his brother,
Rodrigo, in
2014.
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