San José, Costa Rica - Sunday 01 August 2004

1.116 Unique Visitors Daily Average in July!  What's This? 

Updated every day by 8:00AM Central Standard Time

You need an engineer degree to figure out this intersection, located on the old road to the airport, between San Antonio de Belen and La Ribera. Constantly near misses are witnessed at this intersection, as drivers try to figure out who has the right of way and to where. Click for larger image!

Heat, Rain, Tiredness Doesn't Deter Faith
Neither the heat, nor the rain,  nor tiredness could keep the thousands of faithful away from making their walk to the Basílica de Los Angeles en Cartago in what has become an annual pilgrimage for the devoted.

Slain Chilean Diplomats Make Their Way Home
The bodies of two of the three Chilean diplomats gunned down on Tuesday by the policeman who had been their guard for years, began their journey home to their native land yesterday afternoon.

Pair Thrown Off Plane for Graphic Shirt
Two travelers were removed Saturday from a New York-bound flight at Miami International Airport because a crew member considered a T-shirt one of them was wearing obscene.

Japan Approved Recycling Project
The Government of Japan has approved the project named “Red de reciclaje de Costa Rica (Redcicla)”, the Japanese Embassy in Costa Rica informing the Fundación Centro de Productividad Nacional (Ceprona).

EDITORIAL:
Unique Visitors vs. Hits!
The price of being successful. There was a time in the short history of Insidecostarica.com (ICR) when no one cared if we updated or not. There weren't any letters pouring in, why it's 8:01am and the update pages aren't posted yet.

US travel curbs force Cuba exodus Hundreds of Cuban Americans have been returning to the US, as tough new curbs on travel to Cuba imposed by Washington come into effect on Sunday. Pinochet's son released from detention, banned from leaving Chile The son of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was released Saturday after two days in detention, but he was banned from leaving the country when the authorities were continuing to investigate whether he was involved in an illegal sale of vehicles. Chavez to prevent "destabilization" attempt Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said here Saturday that he will prevent any attempt from the opposition to destabilize the country during the Aug. 15 recall referendum.   International News from the New York Times

SPECIAL REPORTS Casa Alianza Pushes for Quality Education For All They are not the only former street children to benefit from access to education. In total there are 507 boys and girls in Casa Alianza Programs in Latin America for whom an education is the best - and in some cases the only - hope they have to overcome poverty. Casa Alianza is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to the defense and rehabilitation of the Human Rights of children in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Child Sexual Exploitation: Foreign Nationals who have been processed and criminally convicted in Costa Rica for sex crimes against children. COSTA RICA TRAVEL Ten Ways To Take "Cost" of Costa Rica Go during the green, or rainy, season (May through November), when hotel and rental car rates are cheaper. A car rental can go for $55 a day, fro example, during the the high season, $35 a day in the "green" season. And you can often save  30 percent or more on hotels and tours. THE TAKE:  YOUR TAKE "This Muñeca has had enough" You are the most beautiful flower in the garden,” a brave Tico told me as I sat on a cliff in Manuel Antonio watching the sunset with my mother. I bit my lips not to laugh and that created a smile. So he kept on. “I want to make you my wife here on this cliff. We get married and I take care of you forever,” he insisted. My mother’s face turned white like Casper. I asked him his name. “My name David and I make a good husband for you. You no pay for nothing. I take care of you. My beautiful flower. The best princess in all the world. You are a princess, preciosa.”

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