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Marcos
Brenes
and his
granddaughter
stand in
front a
statue
of Jesus
Christ
during
the
traditional
Via
Crucis
in Llano
Grande
de
Cartago
as part
of the
Semana
Santa,
when
thousands
of
Catholics
participate
in the
event
that
remembers
the
suffering
and
death of
Jesus
Christ.
[Foto:
Juan
Carlos
Ulate] |
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Semana
Santa in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a Catholic
country and the people
take Semana Santa
(Easter Week) very
seriously. There are
many religious
processions and
ceremonies throughout
the country.
San José, in the past,
became a virtual ghost
town during the final
days of the week.
However, due to the
world economic crisis
affecting Costa Rica,
many Costa Ricans have
decided to stay at home
with family instead of
going to the beach.
-
Thursday and Friday are
"dry" days as the "ley
seca" prohibits all
alcohol sales in the
country.
- All banks are closed
through Sunday,
re-opening normal hours
on Monday. ATM's
machines are working.
- Retails stores are
open Thursday, but may
be closed on Friday,
like Pricesmart, or have
special hours like
Wal-Mart stores. Regular
hours on Saturday and
Sunday.
- San José and Liberia
airports operations are
normal.
- Thursday, Friday and
Saturday (Juan
Santamaria day) are
legal holidays. Sunday
(Easter) is not.
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Cruz Roja Ready To Tackle Emergencies; 16
Deaths Recorded So Far This Semana Santa
Using modern telecommunications equipment
and the internet, the Cruz Roja
Costarricense (Costa Rican Red Cross) has
set up 107 command posts around the country
providing assistance to vacationers during
Semana Santa.
ICE Promotes "Prepago"
- Prepaid Cellular Service
The Institutio Costarricense de Electricidad
(ICE) - the state telecom and only cellular
service provider in Costa Rica - has been
promoting its "Prepago!" mobile services
that will allow customers to purchase a
cellular line without a contract or
commitment and in set amounts, which can be
recharged over the internet.
Juan Santamaría
Official Acts To Be On Monday, Though
Holiday is Saturday
Although Saturday, April 11, is the legal
holiday honouring Costa Rica' s hero, Juan
Santamaría, the official acts, however, will
be held on Monday, April 13.
Costa Rica
Makes Nomination To WTO Appellate Court
Costa Rica nominated its long-serving World
Trade Organization (WTO) ambassador, Ronald
Saborio Soto, to fill two upcoming vacancies
to the WTO top court, the appellate body.
Argentina, Brazil and Mexico have each
nominated a candidate, and the Euorpean
Union has nominated two, one from Belgium
and one from the Netherlands.
Costa Rica Authorities
Probe Alleged Shooting at
Wedding
Costa Rican authorities are investigating
claims by two photographers that they were
shot at by bodyguards at the wedding of New
England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and
supermodel Gisele Bundchen.
Region’s Tour
Operators Form Federation
(InfoWebPress) – Central America’s tour
operators now have an umbrella organization
that brings them together and supports them.
It is the Federation of Central American
Tour Operators Associations (FACOT), which
has filed papers that legally accredit it as
the entity representing all tour operators
from the region.
NatureAir Takes Action
to Combat Pollution in Costa Rica
Recent studies have shown that Costa Rica’s
rivers are polluted. NatureAir, keeping with
its commitment to environmental and social
responsibility, saw an opportunity to help
combat this problem. According to the
Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y
Alcantarillados (AyA) - water and sewer
utility - the pollution is mostly due to
sewage runoff from homes, hotels, and
businesses that do not have proper sewage
treatment facilities. |
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