Monday, September 28, 2009

Costa Rica Ranked Number Three in Latin America

From :

costaricaviews.com

Costa Rica Ranked Number Three in Latin America


World Economic Forum Global competitiveness Report

In the 2008-2009 edition of the Global Competitiveness Report, Costa Rica was given the number three spot in Latin America. Chile was the highest ranked country in Latin America, followed by Panama, while Mexico was given a close 4th place.

Rankings for the Global Competitiveness report are calculated from data which has been made available to the public, as well as from the Executive Opinion Survey (EOS). The EOS is an extensive annual survey which is conducted by the World Economic Forum and its network of Partner Institutes from the countries covered in the report. Over 12,000 business leaders were polled for this report on approximately 134 economies.

Leading the overall rankings is The United States of America, followed closely by Switzerland who is ranked second, Denmark, Sweden and Singapore. European economies seem to be doing well as Finland, Germany and the Netherlands claim the sixth, seventh and eighth spots respectively; however the United Kingdom has dropped out of the top 10 primarily due to its weakening financial markets. Japan and Canada have reserved the ninth and tenth overall positions.

The People’s Republic of China has increased its rankings, most likely due to the incredible economic development from the 2008 Olympics. China is now ranked in the top 30 overall. Other Asian economies have performed well, with Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, and the Republic of Korea all making the top 20.

The Global Competitiveness Report contains a detailed economic profile for each of the 134 countries outlined in the study. It provides a comprehensive summary of the overall position in rankings as well as the strength and weakness of each economy.

Selected countries have been chosen this year as topics of interest for discussion in the report. The United Kingdom, Costa Rica and Saudi Arabia have all been given an in-depth analysis of the factors contributing to their national competitiveness.

~Stephanie Casanova

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Vista del Valle Plantation Inn

costaricaviews.com

‘Disconnect From Normal Life’ at Vista del Valle


vista-del-valle-plantation1

Source: Hotels Costarica

The feel of the city dissolves in the thick vegetation lining the narrow mountain road that winds upward to Vista del Valle Plantation Inn, in the northwestern Central Valley coffee town of Rosario de Naranjo. Upon entering Vista del Valle, a feeling of isolation from the outside world and a refreshing sense of peace are created by the towering trees and endless vegetation.

That is exactly what owners Michael and Johanna Bresnan aim to provide.

“We want people to come here and be able to disconnect from normal life,” Michael says. “We hope they will sense the peace, quiet, tranquility, hospitality and the beauty of this natural diversity that we have here.”

From the entry walkway to the far boundary of the 52-acre plantation, Vista del Valle is rich with brilliant flowers and lush vegetation, which line the walkways, central restaurant, pool and private cottages of the plantation. The vibrant flora displays the magic of cultivated nature, while the valley view – the vista del valle – reminds guests of the beauty of Mother Nature.

“We are world travelers and have been to many countries and hotels all over the world, and this is the most beautiful view we’ve ever seen,” says Dahlia Klein, a guest at the inn “There’s also a real respect for nature here. They haven’t plowed through the vegetation to create this. You can tell it was made with a real labor of love.”

vista-del-valle-plantation2

The Bresnans confirm that Vista del Valle was indeed created from a labor of love. Looking at pictures of the barren property they bought in 1989, it is evident how much work went into developing it into what it is today. Though a hotel was not in the Bresnans’ plans when they bought the property 20 years ago, as more and more friends and guests came to visit, they found themselves playing host more than they had anticipated. In 1992, they decided to open a bed-and-breakfast in the main house, which is now the reception area and gift shop.

Since then, the ideas and development have continued, and what was once a one-room bed-and-breakfast has evolved into a complex of 10 quaint cottages, seven villas, a large pool and spa area with a pool bar, and an opulent central restaurant and bar offering savory dishes and tasty cocktails. Horse tours are available on the property, and a pathway leads down to a 300-foot waterfall in the Río Grande canyon.

On Saturday nights, a band plays a variety of North American favorites at the restaurant from about 4 to 8 p.m., while on Sundays the Joe Anello Quartet plays smooth, cooing jazz at lunchtime, from noon to 2 p.m.

“The music weekend is a commitment to community,” Michael says. “We hope to offer art and music to both expatriates and Costa Ricans in the area. Usually we see a good international mix of people.”

After the music, guests at the hotel can find their way back to their cottages and villas, which are spread out over the property. Accessed via a footpath that crosses a small bridge and koi pond, each cottage is isolated in a nook of the property, separated from neighbors and within earshot of the river at the base of the valley below. The cottages feature different designs and themes, such as the Mona Lisa Rancho, with its thatch roof and private outdoor shower, and the Exotic Wood Suites, with views of the canyon and balconies ideal for bird-watching.

vista-del-valle-plantation3

Though the Bresnans are proud of the development and beauty of their property, they are prouder still of their emphasis on sustainability. The greenhouse on the far end of the property uses a hydroponic growing system to cultivate lettuce, tomatillos, cabbage and a host of other produce used in dishes at the restaurant, and the inn hires only local employees from Rosario del Naranjo and surrounding areas.

“We try to be a tourist business that has a conscience toward enhancing not only the environment, but every aspect of the local life around us,” Michael says. “The idea is to enhance the natural resources, culture and traditions, but also to do it in a way that benefits the local folks.”

Whether an employee, guest or restaurant visitor, it seems that everyone who passes through this luxurious refuge in the hills benefits from the experience.

Friday, September 25, 2009

efforts like this reach out directly to people in needy communities - getting to people where they live


Costa Rica Daily News

U.S. Military Medical Exercise Concludes in Remote Areas of Costa Rica; Nearly 400 Treated

A two-day Medical Readiness and Training Exercise, or MEDRETE, concluded in Costa Rica last week after bringing necessary medical care and supplies to more than 375 villagers from the remote Turrialba region of this Central American nation.

A combined team of more than 30 representatives of Joint Task Force-Bravo -- a joint United States military unit comprised of approximately 500-600 U.S. Soldiers, Airmen and Sailors based at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras -- and the Costa Rican Ministry of Health delivered the care and supplies after months of planning and coordination.

Treating ailments ranging from cold and flu-like symptoms to chronic bronchitis and early stages of pneumonia, the U.S. and Costa Rican medics also offered preventive medicine education, vitamins and immunizations to patients.

The acting U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica, Charge'd' Affairs Peter Brennan, visited the site of the MEDRETE on its second day.

"We at the Embassy conduct official diplomacy and try to also reach out to society in general. But efforts like this reach out directly to people in needy communities - getting to people where they live," Mr. Brennan said. "In the end, that's what helps people appreciate the United States more and see that we truly care about their health and education. It shows that the democratic system does deliver the goods."

At the request of the Costa Rican government and in coordination with the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Military Group, and the Costa Rican Ministry of Health, Joint Task Force-Bravo sent medical and command and control members, three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and crews, and one CH-47 Chinook helicopter and its crew to aid in the effort to reach populations unreachable by road since massive flooding destroyed a key bridge last year.

Residents of the area came from miles around to see healthcare providers from the Ministry of Health and JTF-B. Some heard of the opportunity through word-of-mouth advertising and some, like 50-year-old Rafael Martinez, simply heard the two UH-60 Blackhawks approaching. "I heard the helicopter go by and walked for about an hour to see the doctor," Mr. Martinez said. "It has been at least two years since I saw one."

Rogelio and Melli Segura and their five children - all under 10 years old - walked an hour and a half up and down mountains to see a doctor for the first time ever. The Seguras, who farm corn for subsistence and are expecting their sixth child, made the long walk after suffering from headaches and other pains for the past five days.

After the whole family received examinations from a physician's assistant, they left with bottles of Tylenol - medicine that is over-the-counter in places like the United States but considerably harder to come by in a place inaccessible by road and a three day hike from the nearest medical care.

"We value enormously the activities and materials Joint Task Force-Bravo brings to the effort, but especially the spirit and partnership evident through the coordination between the various agencies involved," the acting Ambassador said. "A mission like this helps us develop further close links and goodwill between nations."



Just before dawn breaks at the Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica, U.S. Army
Capt. John Osterman, Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bill Flores, and Army Lt. Col. Curtis Anderson finalize the airlift
plan for three Blackhawk helicopters supporting the Medical Readiness and Training Exercise in the remote
Turrialba region of Costa Rica, Central America. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Hammond)



A U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter circles as it approaches the landing zone to pick up
people and supplies returning from medical operations in remote, mountainous Costa Rica.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Hammond)



TOLOKICHA, Costa Rica — A Costa Rican man helps carry medical supplies from the
Costa Rica Ministry of Health out of a U.S. Army HH-60 Blackhawk on Sept. 11, 2009.
(U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Mike Hammond).


Source: Joint Task Force-Bravo, U.S. Southern Command

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Isla del Coco

The Island

Cocos Island, 532 km. southeast of Puntarenas, Costa Rica, is an oceanic island of volcanic origin, with a land surface of 24 square km. From a historical point of view, the most important areas are the Chatham and Wafer bays, the only feasible safe docking access on the island.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

This morning, I was thrilled to dive the Catalina Islands with Aquacenter Diving in Playa Flamingo.

Costa Rica Travel Blog

Day 6: Diving the Catalina Islands

16 September 2009 Written by Genna Marie One Comment
Speedboat to the Panga

Speedboat to the Panga

This morning, I was thrilled to dive the Catalina Islands with Aquacenter Diving in Playa Flamingo. The Catalinas compose an archipelago of volcanic and sedimentary islands just a few miles offshore from Flamingo. Due to soft coral and fragile sea fans, these islands are normally, but not exclusively, reserved for intermediate to advanced divers who can navigate deep and drift dives (where divers are transported by tidal currents) without a problem. Today, visibility was decent – between 20 and 30 feet – and our hopes of seeing exceptional marine life were high.

A small speedboat taxied our group of four to an enormous, two-story cruiser that can hold up to 18 scuba divers. Conveniences like a bathroom – no more peeing in your wetsuit! – and running freshwater (for rinsing salt off your mask or waterproof camera case) made the trip particularly comfortable and carefree. Our gang ascended to the top deck for better views and a briefing from the dive master.

Twenty minutes later, we were wriggling into our wetsuits at Los Sombreros, a dive site composed of two rock islands that look like wide-brimmed hats sticking out of the sea. I noticed the water around the Catalina Islands was considerably bluer than at Playa del Coco. I also noticed a stronger surge, which is dive-speak for the push and pull of the tide. There seemed to be more chilly thermoclines (layered temperature changes underwater) than in Coco.

Frenzied fish caves were a common sight at Los Sombreros, with giant schools of king angel fish, barberfish, moorish idols and cortez angelfish all competing for the same algae. It was fascinating to watch how quickly thousands of creatures pecked and gnawed at the rocks. I had seen similar vibrant species in much smaller numbers at Playa del Coco, and was stunned to see them in such huge quantities just 20 miles south.

Our second dive was at El Elefante, or The Elephant. This dive was a bit deeper, but for the same 40 minute time frame. We spotted everything we had seen previously, plus a number of octopi and green moray eels. Spiky scorpion fish sat so perfectly camouflaged that they looked as if they hadn’t moved a muscle in decades. Once finished, we returned to the dive shop.

Riding on beautiful Playa Conchal

Riding on beautiful Playa Conchal

Next, I was off to Hotel Conchal in Playa Brasilito, just ten minutes south of Flamingo. The owner gave me a short tour of the property and offered some suggestions about the area. I was impressed with his warm and caring demeanor, which perfectly matched the ambiance of the hotel. Pleased to feel so at home, I cranked up the air conditioning and took a five-minute nap before preparing for my afternoon horseback ride.

Santana Tours, located just across the street, took me on a private tour along Playa Brasilito all the way to the end of Playa Conchal. My mild-tempered horse named Payaso, or clown, was in fit shape. We galloped about half way down the beach, past Conchal’s open-air souvenir market and down to the sparkling aquamarine waters. The moment we arrived, the skies darkened and threatened to downpour – so we took this as our cue to head back.

Hotel Conchal Pool

Hotel Conchal Pool

I’m not really sure why I torture myself the way I do. Every time a horseback ride gets thrown into the mix, I convince myself that I don’t need long pants to ride – which never fails to result in excruciating pain. Today was no exception – by the time the excursion was over, my exposed legs were scraped raw from the saddle.

To distract me from the burn, I ordered a delicious mahi mahi and avocado pizza from the hotel’s Papaya restaurant. After a quick walk on the beach, I was ready for bed. That night, I drifted off to sleep thinking about how much I love the Gold Coast.

For more information, please see our travel guide to Guanacaste’s Gold Coast



Day 7: Sea Turtles Doing the Dirty

17 September 2009 Written by Genna Marie One Comment
Catalinas - Roca Sucia

Roca Sucia

Today I was able to dive the legendary Catalina Islands for the second time with Aquacenter Dive Company. Our first immersion was at Roca Sucia, presumably named “Dirty Rock” because it is covered in bird droppings. Visibility was between 30 and 40 feet and in addition to the tropical species we spotted yesterday, we also observed an unbelievably large school of bigeye jack along with blunthead triggerfish, guinea fowl pufferfish, spotted porcupine fish and blennies.

However, the most amazing sighting of the day was not what we discovered underwater, but what we spotted from the boat on the way back. Motoring along, the captain suddenly changed course; he had noticed something in the water and approached it so that everyone could see. Upon closer inspection, we marveled at two Olive Ridley sea turtles mating in the ocean.

copulating sea turtles

Mating Sea Turtles

This was quite a spectacular sight. These stunning creatures typically weigh around 100 pounds with shells ranging from two to two and a half feet long. No matter how close the boat inched to these lovebirds, nothing was going to stop them from their task at hand. As Olive Ridleys typically mate just offshore from where they lay their eggs, it was no surprise we discovered them close to Playa Grande’s turtle haven: Las Baulas National Marine Park.

Like clockwork, Olive Ridleys return each year to lay their eggs in the same exact sands where they were born. During the summer and early fall, members of this species simultaneously migrate to the northern shores of Playa Ostional in colossal numbers of up to 300,000 (over a time span of just 8-10 days). My family and I had witnessed a few females digging nests and burying eggs in Ostional last June, and it was amazing to see the first step in the reproduction process.

After a while, we noticed that the female kept flapping her fin as if she were trying to smack the male in the face. Being incredibly mature, we spent a good five minutes laughing at this – and the fact that a third turtle kept circling and surfacing from below, trying to get in on the action. Apparently, it is not uncommon to have up to three animals stuck together at one time.

After everyone had their fill of cracking sea turtle sex jokes, we returned to shore. Along the way, the captain saw a whale breaching in the distance. We were too far away to see anything but its foamy splash, but it was interesting nonetheless. Seeing a whale this time of year was no surprise, as September is the beginning of their six-month migratory period.

Frijoles Locos Surf Truck

Frijoles Locos Surf Truck

After lunch, I packed up my things and took a taxi about 15 minutes to Playa Grande’s Rip Jack Inn. The friendly owners, originally from San Francisco, greeted me with a cold bottle of water and a delicious Thai chicken salad from the cafe, Upstairs @ Ripjack.

A bit later, I departed for my massage at Frijoles Locos, owned by a young family by the last name of Bean. My masseuse Corynne gave me one the best massages of my life. She intuitively knew my trouble spots without even asking, and worked her hands and forearms like rolling pins over my muscles. Her scalp massage focused on pressure points I didn’t even know existed, and the result was pure heaven. I felt 15 pounds lighter when I walked out the studio.

Playa Grande

Playa Grande

Afterward, my body refused to cooperate with my mind – I wanted to stay awake to explore the town some more, but my body just wanted sleep. Corryne must have released some major toxins in my muscles, because en route to the hotel (no more than a five minute walk), I was physically incapable of moving my body another inch. I had to stop for a power nap on the beach – and then had another doze afterward in my hotel room. Around 4:00 p.m., I finally dragged myself out of bed and changed my clothes for yoga – only to fall asleep yet again on the hammock just outside my door. I finally woke just in time to watch the sunset, enjoy some sushi at Sushiko Restaurant, and pass out like a light for the rest of the night.

For more information, see our travel guides on Guanacaste’s Gold Coast and Las Baulas Marine Park.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

His model was Seaside, in the Florida



Atlantan Charles Brewer Building a Beach Town in Costa Rica

In 2005, Charles Brewer again found himself at a crossroads.

He had already founded Mindspring Enterprises Inc., an Internet service provider, which merged with Earthlink Network Inc. in 2000 to become the second largest Internet company in the U.S. After leaving the tech field a few months after the merger, Mr. Brewer became a real estate developer, transforming a former cement recycling plant off Memorial Drive near downtown Atlanta into Glenwood Park, a 28-acre neighborhood of houses, condos, shops and parks.

With Glenwood Park nearing completion, Mr. Brewer wanted to do another development, but not in Atlanta. He turned his attention to the tropics, eventually settling on Costa Rica.

“I couldn’t see doing another project in Atlanta,” Mr. Brewer told GlobalAtlanta in a recent interview at Glenwood Park. “Land prices were up 10 times. Everybody and his brother was building thousands of condominiums. I wasn’t comfortable investing in that kind of environment so I got this idea of building a walkable beach town down in the tropics.”

His model was Seaside, in the Florida panhandle, a cottage community launched in the 1970s. But he wanted an even better beach development.

“When we go to Seaside at spring break it’s not warm enough,” said Mr. Brewer. “In the summer, it’s blazing hot. There’s not a particularly interesting culture to go be part of or any particularly interesting nature to go be part of. It seemed like that idea might be interesting to have in some great tropical location. It just didn’t exist. So I just set out on purpose to find the place to do it.”

In 2006, Brewer, partners Robert Davey, Stuart Meddin and Tom Claugus and 20 other investors, paid cash for 1,200 hilly acres fronting the Pacific Ocean in Costa Rica's Guanacaste province. The area will eventually embody Mr. Brewer's vision in a town called Las Catalinas.

For now, the plot is quiet and undeveloped, devoid of the small clusters of man-made structures that will eventually dot its green hillsides. Rocky cliffs line much of the property's coastline. Two peninsulas – one decidedly longer than the other – jut into the Pacific, creating a bow-shaped area between them with wide patches of tan beach.

On a clear day, you can see parts of Nicaragua beyond the northernmost peninsula, Jim Berry, vice president of development, said in a GlobalAtlanta interview atop one of the highest points of the property.

As the vivid orange sun slowly sank into the Pacific, the sunset provided a foretaste of the views that future residents would enjoy, said Mr. Berry, an Atlanta native and Georgia Institute of Technology graduate who lives in Costa Rica and manages the development there.

New urbanist principles dictate that settlements are built at high density levels, leaving most of the land “essentially virgin,” aside from the network of recreational trails that will wind for miles throughout the property, he said.

About 85 percent of the project, nearly 1,000 acres, will remain a natural preserve. Thanks to ongoing reforestation effort, thousands of new trees – about 2,000 this year and 5,000-6,000 next year – will be planted on the property, he said.

Construction on the first seven houses – for the owners of the company and of Lola’s restaurant, which will open its second location at Las Catalinas – is scheduled to begin in November. The first houses will range in size from 1,490 to 7,962 square feet. A beachfront park and trail system for hiking, biking and horseback riding will be also be part of the first phase of construction.

The next phase, which the company will begin marketing later this year, will include 34 houses, a beach club and a small hotel. When fully built, which could take decades, the town will have about 2,000 homes, as well as hotels, restaurants, retail stores and other buildings. Homes will range in price from around $300,000 to more than $2 million, said Mr. Brewer.

“The idea is to have a very compact town but a town with a substantial number of things in it,” said Mr. Brewer. “It will be a lively place but at the edge, it’s the edge, then you’re out in this wonderful nature preserve. You get this gem of a little town surrounded by a great nature experience on land and at sea.”

At the site, Mr. Berry pointed out treeless patches where different sections of the town will be built and outlined the benefits of concentrating human settlements in small areas.

Not only does it keep building expenses low by decreasing the raw material costs for infrastructure like water pipes and power lines, but it also helps the environment in a variety of ways.

For one, because the city is walkable and mostly closed off to car traffic, carbon dioxide emissions will be minimal. Another large source of pollution, storm water runoff, can be more easily controlled in a small area.

Also, traditional subdivisions require clearing big lots. Grading land alters the properties of the soil forever, Mr. Berry said.

The “magic ingredient” of Las Catalinas is its slope, said Mr. Brewer. Although modeled after Seaside, Las Catalinas will also have the feel of a Mediterranean hill town, with elevations ranging from sea level to 650 feet, he said.

“You take this compact urbanism – if it’s on the flat, it can be quite wonderful in some ways,” said Mr. Brewer. “But privacy is hard to achieve and you’re kind of crammed for views. But if you take it on a slope, all of sudden everybody gets a good view. Our views are just incredible. And everybody gets privacy.”

Streets will be narrow and some will be car-free, other than for deliveries, a feature that would be difficult to impose in an urban development like Glenwood Park.

“We’re building a resort town.” said Mr. Brewer. “That gives us some extra leeway to make it better.”

Mr. Berry said Costa Rica provides a unique venue for such a rare type of development.

“Costa Rica is one of the few countries in Central America and the Caribbean where it's very safe,” said Mr. Berry, who has lived in Costa Rica since 2006. “You can get out and walk around, it's safe to drive, you feel safe as a tourist, you feel safe as a property owner here. We felt that was one of the things that was missing here with planned projects is that sense of place that we'll be able to create by building a town.”

Mr. Brewer, who lives in Atlanta’s Ansley Park neighborhood, plans to spend much time in Costa Rica, perhaps a year or two at a time. Las Catalinas in only 21 miles from the Daniel Obuber Quiros International Airport of Liberia. Delta Air Lines Inc. has nonstop flights from Atlanta there, with travel times less than four hours.

Mr. Brewer and his partners are intentionally creating a slow pace for Las Catalinas development as a way to ensure quality. With decades before it is finished, Mr. Brewer believes Las Catalinas will be his last development.

“This is such a lengthy project, I’m not anticipating anything else,” he said. “Our aspirations are really high. I think we can build one of the most beautiful, enjoyable, fun towns ever. I’m not looking ahead to anything else.”

For more information on Las Catalinas, e-mail Robert Davey here.



Friday, September 11, 2009

Jetair Flight Holidays

Liberia airport to welcome charter flights from Brussels


(InfoWebPress – www.journalcr.com) – The Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) announced that a new charter flight originating in Brussels will soon be arriving in Liberia, promising to bring at least 2,655 European tourists to Costa Rican in a four-month period.

Jetair Flight Holidays is the airline making the journey between Brussels and Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport on a weekly basis, with a layover in a Caribbean destination yet to be announced.

According to Maria Amalia Revelo, ICT’s marketing manager, the charter flight will operate from November 2009 and March 2010.

It is estimated that the flight will bring some 120 tourists each week to Liberia, or half the seats available in the Jetair Flight Holidays aircraft.

“This is great news for Costa Rica,” Revelo said. “Belgium, to us, is a very interesting market which, as we have seen, generates more and more visitors each year.”

With the goal of opening up this new tourist route, a cooperative campaign is being implemented, for which Jetair NV (Jetair Flight Holidays’ tour operator) and ICT will each invest $46,600.

A cooperative campaign is a joint promotion initiative that requires investment in equal shares by ICT and wholesalers, airlines or trade partners — whether domestic or international.

In the case of Brussels, total investment in the promotional campaign is $93,200, which will be used for publicity efforts including full-color ads in Belgian newspaper — such as Corelio and De Persgroep, which reach approximately 1 million people.

The campaign will also include presence at tourism fairs visited by some 1,000 travel agencies; information delivery to databases with 185,000 contacts; ads in specialized publications; and development of materials touting Costa Rica’s attractions to distribute to 2,500 travel and publicity agents via Jetair Flight Holidays’ website and in-flight magazine.

European tourism has greatly contributed to filling the void left by dwindling U.S. travelers due to the ongoing recession. One of the European countries that has contributed the most tourists to Costa Rica is Spain. According to data from tourism officials, based on reports from the only Spanish airline that flights to Costa Rica, some 25,000 from that country will come to Costa Rica this year.

Last year, some 190,000 European tourists visited Costa Rica — a 21 percent increase compared to 2007.

This year, some 215,000 Europeans are expected to vacation in Costa Rica, that is, 25,000 more than in 2008. Many of these travelers will arrive directly at Daniel Oduber, where a new parking platform has been completed. Such works gave the Liberia terminal room to accommodate 11 large airplanes (four more than its previous capacity). The project also included extensive improvements to the runway.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Does the model Central American country live up to its big green reputation, particularly when it comes to climate control?

En este blog se recopila cualquier artículo interesante sobre Costa Rica o turismo en general, independientemente de sus inclinaciones políticas u otras consideraciones parciales. Si el artículo tiene interés o información o datos que conviene tener a mano o repasar se presenta en el blog, sin que esto represente una adhesión a la línea o militancia de donde se ubica el artículo.

logo

Carbon Controversies in Costa Rica

by: Rachel Godfrey Wood | Visit article original @ Council on Hemispheric Affairs

photo
At the Bellavista gold mine in Costa Rica, an inspector observes operations. (Photo: Kent Gilbert / AP)

Does the model Central American country live up to its big green reputation, particularly when it comes to climate control?

Everyone needs something to believe in, and for many Latin American progressives, that something for years has been Costa Rica. The country has long been cited as a beacon of progressive tranquility in a region better known for violence, inequality and poverty. Following an uprising in 1948 led by Jose Figueres Ferrer, the country embarked on its own unique path of social democracy, involving extensive progressive taxation, universal health and education availability, and no armed forces. As a result, Costa Rica boasts high levels of human development, including the highest life expectancy in Latin America. Moreover, the country has for years stood out on the issues of environmental protection and conservation, with over 25% of its territory under protective status, as well as an internationally recognized eco-tourism sector. All of the above has led Costa Rica to find itself ruling the roost in the New Economics Foundation's recent publication of the "Happy Planet Index," which claims that Costa Ricans are the "happiest" people in the world, enjoying an enviable life expectancy, and consuming considerably less resources than the nationals of more developed countries.

Now, in the 21st century, Costa Rica claims to be taking these advances to the next level: taking the initiative on climate change, and thereby reconciling the traditionally antagonistic processes of development and environmental sustainability. Its Government has unveiled a nationwide initiative aimed at making "peace with nature," and has put the country amongst a small but growing number of nations committed to going "carbon neutral." Besides the Maldives, Costa Rica, is the only developing country to make carbon neutrality an explicit government objective.

Carbon Neutrality: Definitions and Controversies

Of course, if it were to achieve its goal, Costa Rica would not actually be the first country to have sustainably low levels of carbon emissions. Many countries already have reached them, but they are generally highly underdeveloped societies, with levels of poverty so high that greenhouse gas emissions are negligible. Given the low levels of human development and welfare in such countries, this form of "carbon neutrality" is obviously not considered desirable from a humanist perspective. Environmentalists of all hues have accepted the need to balance human wellbeing with environmental sustainability. It is claimed that the uniqueness of Costa Rica's promise is that it can, and will, increase the wellbeing of its population while simultaneously reducing its carbon footprint significantly. In doing so, the Government is ambitiously claiming to be charting a path to the fabled land of "sustainable development," a somewhat elusive concept which has beguiled governments, development agencies and private companies ever since the Brundtland Report in 1987. In this report, sustainable development was defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

But there may be some discordant to this structure. First, it must be recognized that carbon neutrality does not necessarily mean zero carbon emissions. What it more likely means is net zero emissions of greenhouse gases, meaning that any emissions are balanced by an equivalent offset, or sequester. According to its proponents, offsetting can either removestop greenhouse gas emissions, thereby allowing individuals, companies and governments to have a zero net effect on the world's atmosphere. The attractiveness of the idea has meant that carbon neutrality is fast becoming one of the buzzword phrases of the twenty-first century, used by institutions as diverse as the Vatican, the World Cup, the Chinese Olympics, the World Bank and companies such as Body Shop. However, dependence on the concept of offsetting has led to it now being fiercely challenged in some environmentalist quarters. The London based organization Carbon Trade Watch warns that the idea of "carbon neutrality" is tantamount to indulging in a "business as normal" approach based on the flawed idea that persistently high levels of emissions can be maintained as long as they are offset somewhere else, or at some other time. Carbon neutrality implies, deceptively, that such emissions can then be taken out of the atmosphere, but there is significant scientific evidence that this is not the case.

"A Que Sembrás un árbol": Planting Trees to Save the Planet

We learn to associate trees with environmentalism from an early age. As well as playing a crucial role in climate and water regulation, they are one of the most common and widely recognized manifestations of "nature", to the extent that high-profile conservationist organizations like the Sierra Club use them as their logo, and environmentalists are often derided as "tree-huggers." In their highly critical report Carbon Neutral Myth, Carbon Trade Watch claims that "the idea of planting trees in order to ‘neutralize' emissions taps into a pre-existing cultural notion that something with obvious environmental benefits could be used to cancel out doing something environmentally damaging." Given this, it is unsurprising that any country committed to carbon neutrality would initiate a massive national level tree planting campaign in order to expand its carbon "sinks." This concept has been largely inspired by Wangari Maathai, a legendary Kenyan activist and Nobel Peace Prize Winner. By advocating the mass planting of trees to provide incomes to rural families, improve soil quality and combat climate change, Maathai has quickly become the darling of international development agencies, particularly the United Nations, which appointed her as the spearhead of the Billion Tree Campaign.

Nowhere have Maathai's ideas been seized upon so enthusiastically as in Costa Rica, where the government has implemented a nationwide campaign entitled "a que sembrás un árbol", which has mobilized broad sectors of society into planting 4.5 million trees in 2007 and 7 million in 2008. President Arias claims that this initiative means that Costa Rica now has the highest tree/per inhabitant ratio in the world, and that the 7 million trees grown in 2008, for example, meant that 2.3 million less tons of carbon dioxide would now be in the atmosphere. So what could the environmentalist groups possibly be complaining about?

While virtually all environmentalist organizations recognize the importance of protecting forests and reforestation projects as a means of rehabilitating natural habitats and regulating the atmosphere, the extent to which mass tree planting initiatives are viable ways of combating climate change is highly disputed. In The Carbon Neutral Myth, Carbon Trading Watch outlines a whole host of objections to the assumption that tree planting can really compensate for persistently high greenhouse gas emissions. At a basic level, trees function in the active carbon cycle, in which there is "continual movement of carbon among plants, organisms, water and the atmosphere." Emissions from the use of fossil fuels (the primary contributor to climate change) represent the releasing of previously "inert" carbon from the ground into the active cycle. Once released, no amount of trees can permanently remove such emissions from the atmosphere. Furthermore, offset calculations invariably assume that trees will last a full life, and then die naturally. As is well known, though, there are a whole range of factors which could put pressure on the trees in the future, meaning that there is no guarantee of their long term survival. If such trees were to be destroyed, for example by eventual logging or even by climate change itself, they would actually give off greenhouse gases, thereby making a net increase in greenhouse emissions. Moreover, even if one could guarantee their long-term survival, it is doubtful whether such long-term projections of "offset" carbon should really be used in climate change policy decisions. If one were to accept the consensus view of the scientific community that rising emissions in the next few decades will have serious long-term effects on the world's climate, it becomes clear that the emphasis should be on companies and individuals to avoid emissions now, rather than paying to offset them on the basis of highly doubtful estimations.

Ultimately, any reasonable consideration of all the uncertainties relating to trees' ability to act as equivalent carbon sinks makes a mockery of the Costa Rican Government's claims of taking 2.3 million tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. Even worse, in the Costa Rican context, it appears that there have been many interests behind the "a que sembrás un árbol" campaign which have less to do with fighting climate change, and more to do with making profits. The organization Coecoceiba, the local branch of Friends of the Earth, claims that up to 70% of the trees planted in the campaign have been exotic species which grow quickly in plantations, as part of the transnational fruit companies' regular operations. According to Coecoceiba, some of these trees will even be cut down within a few years, totally defeating the objective of providing lasting carbon sinks. In fact, the planting of such plantations is well known to have highly damaging socio-environmental effects across the planet.

None of these criticisms are particularly new. Controversies and scandals regarding early attempts by carbon offset companies to balance emissions via forestation programs were so well documented that contemporary enterprises like Climate Care consciously downplay the extent to which their schemes are dependent on tree planting. All this suggests that Costa Rica's goal of going "carbon neutral" is based on highly disputed claims regarding the effectiveness of tree planting, that even the carbon offset companies which originally promoted them have now accepted as false. Civil society needs to be aware that the symbolic capital gained by governments and companies could easily be manipulated to distract from other environmentally destructive projects. Anyone wanting proof of this need look no further than Peru; one of the other presidents that responded to Maathai's call for a billion trees was Alan Garcia.

Infinito Gold at Crucitas: Profits Prevail Over "Peace With Nature"

In Latin America, development-conservation dilemmas rarely come to the fore as assertively as with extractive industries. Across the region, mining and oil operations represent huge sources of revenues, yet have had disastrous impacts on natural habitats and local communities. Costa Ricans need look no further than the Bellavista mine, which the Canadian multinational Glencairn Gold Corporation abandoned in 2007, leaving behind a socio-environmental wreck. Such dangers had prompted the previous administration of Abel Pacheco to bravely ban mining and oil activities in the country ( the license for Bellavista already had been awarded). Although President Arias has maintained the ban on oil exploration, he also signed a decree allowing open-pit mining in April 2008, insisting that a proposed mining project by Canadian Company Infinito Gold at Crucitas, was "in the public interest." While the mine is estimated to contain 700,000 ounces of gold, Heydi Murillo, President of the Conservationist Federation (FECON), claims that the project will entail the cutting of 115,000 trees, and the expected use of cyanide is certain to threaten local water resources. Not only that, Arias even signed a decree allowing Infinito to log trees, including protected species, as part of the protest.

Most worrisome of all, in November he vetoed an effort by Congress to give local communities the right to squash projects harmful to their interests. For Javier Baltodano Aragón of Coecoceiba, all this proves that Arias' rhetoric about "peace with nature" and carbon neutrality amount to a dangerous tautology which is little better than a "double discourse." Relations between the Government and some environmental organizations are today so bad that FECON actually held a street party to celebrate the resignation of the Minister of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications, Roberto Dobles. The Crucitas mine project has even exposed fault-lines within the epicenter of the Government, with the director of the "Peace with Nature" initiative vainly calling for a moratorium on mining activities in November. Given that El Salvador's new FMLN Government has taken the far bolder step of banning mining outright, it may be time to question whether Costa Rica remains at the epicenter of environmental protection in Central America.

Bold Alliance or Cynical Marketing? Bringing the Private Sector Onboard

There was a time when environmentalists assumed that the private sector would prove the most resistant to policies aimed at combating climate change. After all, private companies generally have the greatest stake in perpetuating a high carbon, high consumption economic regimen. One needs to look no further than the USA to see the lengths that major oil companies have been prepared to go to hide, obstruct and obscure the public's understanding of the risk posed by climate change. Such an image, though, is fast becoming outdated; most companies now accept the reality of climate change, and claim to be at the forefront of efforts to combat it. Moreover, many environmentalists, would agree with former Costa Rican President Jose Maria Figueres that "we will only manage to defend the environment if we turn it into good business." Traditionally, Costa Rica's model of environmental protection has been very much an alliance with private sector interests rather than an alienation of them. This can be seen, for example, in the country's extensive eco-tourism sector, and its enthusiasm for international initiatives like Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) and payments for environmental services. Now more than ever, the country is full of local and foreign companies claiming to have gone "carbon neutral." So when we see that multinational companies such as the Dole Food Company are enthusiastically signing up behind Costa Rica's carbon neutral policy, should we see it as a sign of fundamental, pragmatic change, or as a clear case of "greenwash" by a transnational company which in fact has no demonstrable interest in the environment, but every interest in projecting a "green" marketing image?

Dole Cashes in on "Carbon Neutral"

On August 9, 2007, Dole, which claims to be the "world's largest producer and marketer of high-quality fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and fresh-cut flowers", announced that it would go carbon neutral in Costa Rica. Its subsidiary, Standard Fruit de Costa Rica, currently exports 44 million bananas annually from the county, and claims that from now on, these activities will have a net neutral effect on the environment. Whether or not this is actually possible brings us right back to the issue of offsets. While Dole claims to be mixing a strategy of offsetting with mitigation (via better transportation methods, increased energy efficiency), offsets via tree planting clearly form a major part of its claim to be going "carbon neutral". Under an agreement signed with the Ministry of Environment, Dole will purchase certificates to offset the emissions produced by land transportation of the company's bananas and pineapples up to the point of export. In addition, the company explains how it is extending a company program to reforest and plant trees on company property. The problems of this are clear: Dole's claims to be "carbon neutral" in Costa Rica are almost entirely based on the highly questionable strategy of "offsetting." Moreover, Baltodano points out that Dole's claims of going "carbon neutral" do not take into account the emissions caused by external transportation, deforestation or the use of agro-chemicals in fruit production. In fact, there is nothing in Dole's literature which actually states how it is going to significantly reduce emissions. Despite these failings, though, the company will be able to put the "carbon neutral" sticker on its fruits, and thereby gain commercial advantages from presenting itself as a "green" company.

Nature Air: Third World Innovation or a New Level of "Greenwashing"?

As previously mentioned, Costa Rica's passion for carbon neutrality did not start with President Arias. Its private sector have long claimed to be at the vanguard of attempts to reduce or compensate for carbon emissions. The most notable example of this is Nature Air, the only airplane company in the world which claims to be carbon neutral. The promise is tantalizing; everyone, including nature lovers, likes travelling by plane periodically, and it often seems one of the few polluting activities that even the most committed of environmentalists are not prepared to jettison. While the airplane industry contributes to just 3 percent of world emissions, this figure is still significant given that even in 2009, only a minority of the world's population are at all likely to use planes on a regular basis, and in any event, the industry's emissions are expected to rise significantly in the coming decades. Sadly, it goes without saying that Nature Air's "carbon neutral" claims are as highly dependent on tree growth and protection as Dole's. By buying certificates from the government, the company claims to be protecting over 500 acres of tropical forest, in this way offsetting 6,000 tons of carbon emissions annually. Beyond that, Nature Air has helped develop Costa Rica's first alternative fuelling station, and fuels all ground activities with biofuels. Finally, it also claims to have increased its fuel efficiency by 7 percent in just 3 years. However, it is hard to describe such measures as anything other than gimmicks. The company claims that 160 CO2 emissions are avoided through a reliance on bio-fuels, a minimal amount compared to the 6000 tons of carbon "offset" via forest protection schemes. Of course, this figure of 6,000 tons a year is in itself highly open to question. As well as all of the previously mentioned problems of using trees as offsets, the figure could only be legitimate if we were to assume that without Nature Air's contribution, the 500 acres under its protection would have been immediately deforested.

Conclusion: Too Many Things to Be Skeptical About

It is rare that one hears genuinely positive news regarding global warming, and it is extremely tempting to hold Costa Rica up as a model for the world to follow (as did the prestigious New York Times Columnist Thomas L. Friedman). Undoubtedly, there are many well intentioned individuals within the Costa Rican Government and society and in the private sector who generally believe that "carbon neutrality" is a viable goal, and that planting millions of trees this year does genuinely offset the damage done by emissions in other sectors of the economy. Moreover, Costa Rica's efforts to protect its natural habitat and to engage in an initiative involving climate change mean that it does indeed stand out ahead of other governments in the Americas. Its mobilization of its own society in support of "peace with nature," its bravery in prohibiting oil exploration, and its protection of its tropical forest are all necessary elements of a strong developing country's international strategy of response to climate change. It may even be the case that its desire to publicize itself as supporting "peace with nature" actually gives its society stronger tools with which to challenge what have to be seen as environmentally destructive projects. Finally, it goes without saying that whether it is carbon neutral or not, Costa Rica's ecological impact, given the nation's limited resources and small size, remains negligible, and it cannot be held responsible for playing a major role in global warming.

However, the idea that it is actually going to become "carbon neutral" is highly dubious, and needs to be challenged strongly by its own civil society and academic and research institutes. Far too many of the projects in which it is engaged are based on the extensive planting of trees. For all of the reasons outlined in this essay, it is highly doubtful that such schemes actually can end up offsetting emissions in the way the government says they do. At a global level, it simply defies logic to suggest that fossil fuel emissions could be offset by tree-cultivating or even by any other means. Larry Lohman, founder of the Durban Group for Climate Justice, goes as far as to claim that "attempting to absorb the carbon dioxide released by the burning of fossil fuels still in the ground would require additional planets full of trees."

Although Costa Rica can be proud of preventing oil exploration, its constant trumpeting of offset programs send out a totally contradictory message: that companies can be considered "green" just because they participate in such initiatives, regardless of whether they actually realize any emissions reductions. The broader impact of this could be that transnational companies seek to exploit Costa Rica's environmental reputation to take part in offsetting projects, in order to gain prestige as "clean" companies and thereby increase their own market competiveness without fundamentally restructuring their operations or assuming any additional costly obligations. Moreover, the idea of offsets could be telling society a dangerous lie: that current consumption patterns are sustainable, and that businesses can continue more or less normally. This idea is highly contrary to the real goal, which should be to permanently shift the world economy away from its addiction to fossil fuels. As Lohman has made very clear, the danger embedded in the "carbon neutral" concept is that it allows major polluting companies to tinker around the edges of their operations, and claim to offset their emissions, thereby gaining enough political and environmental capital to avoid making substantial, genuine reductions that would clearly involve more of a commitment than they are now prepared to make.

Driving through Costa Rica's countryside it is an obvious nature lover’s paradise.

Tortuguero- Sea Turtle Watching

, Limón,
Flag of Costa Rica
Sunday, Aug 23, 2009


Driving through Costa Rica's countryside it is an obvious nature lover’s paradise. Fifty years ago the Costa Rican government protected a lot of land for national parks and are now reaping the rewards of tourism. They seem to be very proud of the land and biodiversity they have, with very recent environmental education being taught to the children. Speaking with the locals they say they have a lot of challenges today, much like what we have at home. With governments wanting to dam rivers and increased tourism taking a toll on the national forests. However, on the whole, the green campaign has made it here and people are talking about it. It

is very refreshing to hear this after passing through Mexico to Nicaragua.

Mom had noted she wanted to see the Sea Turtles while she was in Costa Rica and it just happens to be the time when the turtles were arriving on the beaches for their seasonal laying of the eggs. Tortuguero is an interesting place as it sits on a peninsula located on the Caribbean ocean with the ocean on one side and a river on the other. It is such a small peninsula that you can walk from the river to the ocean in 3 minutes. It’s also quite remote with the only transportation to the town being a boat. The locals are of Caribbean descent, speaking Spanish and English, and it’s quite easy to hear the Jamaican (Caribbean) accent while they speak.

The boat ride was amazing… as you can see we took full advantage of Mom’s new Nikon camera. We arrived into the small town of Tortuguero and the town was quaint and colourful, with dirt pathways and palm trees everywhere. We stayed at Miss Junnies Lodge and booked ourselves in with a guide to see the turtles. The viewing is strictly controlled as 100’s of people can be on the beach at one time. The conservationists organized two viewing times to break up the amount of traffic on the beach one at 8:00-10:00 and another at 10:00 – 12:00. We ended up on the later viewing time and had a local guide by the name of Carla who was a local from 4 generations back. It was apparent she knew what she was talking about, as not only was she a guide but a biologist trained in conserving the green sea turtles. So we learned a lot about the turtles but also a little bit about the history of the area.

The tour was organized very well as Carla, our guide, was advised by a spotter on the beach of the location of the turtle. Quickly we rushed off to the numbered section on the beach. Upon arrival we were told to turn off our flashlights and slowly and quietly walk on the beach. We could see that there were probably 4-5 other groups waiting patiently to share the experience. We were group one and we arrived in perfect timing to see the turtle dig her nest and hole for the eggs. By the time all groups viewed the nest building we were able to go back in and see this massive turtle laying her eggs, coming back to exact beach where she was born after 30 years. Once our turn was up we rushed over to see a second turtle finishing the process and crawling back to the Ocean. It was truly an amazing experience and one I’m sure we will never forget.

The next day we decided to have a relaxing day checking out the town and finished the night up with a game of Hearts. Chrisitina and Mom booked themselves another tour with a Canadian expat by the name of Darryl, this was a jungle river tour. Apparently he was taking on the persona of the late Steve Erwin, using the term "isn’t this amazing," often. They both enjoyed the tour and were able to give me a run down on all of the Monkeys, Toucans, Heron, and Caymans (alligator) they had spotted amongst the gorgeous rainforest.

On the whole, our visit to Totuguero will be memorable and definitely a must see on a trip to Costa Rica.

Sleeping at River's Edge

, Limón,
Flag of Costa Rica
Saturday, Aug 22, 2009

After staying the night in San Jose Devin and I got up early to prep Wesley for the big visit. We had him washed up, vacuumed out, and shinning like new as we drove tithe airport.

Costa Rica is like many foreign airports in the fact that they don't allow any guests into the airport. So we had to wait outside and look for his mother. We had our faces pressed against the glass so that we wouldn’t miss her. However, we still did. She came out of the airport and, of course, got harassed by men asking if she wanted a taxi. She was trying to explain that shedding’t need a taxi because she was looking for her son when she saw Devin’shat. We were very excited to see her and we quickly headed off for our first night.

In true fashion, it took us awhile to get out of the city because there were no street signs and we drove in circles. Once we got on the main freeway we enjoyed the passing scenery. We drove through a national park on our way East. Devin and I figured we should introduce Bev to our crazy form of boon docking right away. So we drove down a pretty rough road looking for a place to camp for the night. We ended up right next to a river with a pretty full jungle around us. We got everything set up and Dev was able to put some parts on the VW that Bev was nice enough to bring down from Canada. We also got a birthday present from Kellie, Devin’s sister. She sent us a citronella candle and a picnic mat… they will both come in handy. After all the catching up we got ready to cook Bevy her 'welcome to Costa Rica’ dinner… green curry.

As we were chatting a few guys with machetes started walking down from the mountain. They we refinishing up their workday and one, in particular, decided he wanted to stop and chat with us! He stayed and went on and on for about 30 minutes, in Spanish. Of course we didn’t understand that much but whatever he was saying he was very excited about it.

We enjoyed the excellent meal down by the river and settled in for Bev’s first night in Wesley.




Costa Rican Boarder- Worst Yet

, Guanacaste,
Flag of Costa Rica



We arrived at the Costa Rica boarder early. We were greeted by at least 7-10 guides running at the vehicle, hoping to get our business.Since this wasn't our first boarder crossing, and probably won’t be our last,we always choose to do it ourselves. Guides often can be helpful but on occasion they will rip you off. So we feel its better to do it ourselves and eliminate any opportunity. Since we were up early this particular morning the persistence of the guides was driving me crazy. Telling someone "no" 10 times still seems to be a yes in their minds. I’m very lucky for Christina’s calming abilities.

Second annoyance! In order to drive across the boarder you have to get you car sprayed for insects. I went to pay for this car spray and when I was given change Accidental dropped it on the ground. There was a truck driver standing next me who reached down to pick up a coin, I’m assuming he’s helping me, and he stashes my money straight into HIS pocket. Awkwardly, I called him out on it and he gives me the money like nothing even happened. Weird!!

The third hurdle of the day was the line up for passport stamping. It is well know fact that Costa Rican boarders are the busiest in Central America. We unfortunately arrived right after the tourist buses arrived,which turned into a 50-person line-up at passport control. Christina and Could’t understand why the line up wasn’t moving. Well it was because apparently if you are from Costa Rica you can walk to the front of the line. So something that should have taken us 30 minutes ended up taking 3 ½. hours The best part of the boarder was there were no charges.

Basically Christina and I have decided that we are not fans of boarder crossings. The great thing is that it’s still worth it in the end.




San Juan del Sur- Paradise on the Beach

After the Isla, Devin and I made our way over to the beach to enjoy a few days of sun before picking up his Mom in Costa Rica. Our two new friends, Taylor and Anna, came with us. We took the ferry back across to the main land then drove the quick 30 minutes to the beach. Pulling up to the view we thought we had died and gone to heaven. Out of all of the amazing beaches I've seen, in all the countries I've been to, this has to be on my top 20 list. It was incredible. The sand the perfect, the ocean clean, and the harbor around it was a sight to reveal in.

We quickly found a spot to park the Wesley, an ocean front property,

and made our way over to a bar with beach chairs and hammocks. Devin

did a little work while I jumped in the ocean. We spent the last few fading hours of daylight enjoying the sunset, a few beers, and dipping in the warm, crystal clear ocean. That night we cooked a nice dinner as we enjoyed out view then meet our friends out for a she-saw (hookah).

The next morning I woke up to take my first swim on the day at 7:30 AM. It was so refreshing and I loved having the ocean to myself. I was standing in the crystal clear water, just enjoying the view, when I saw something swim towards me. I quickly jumped over it with my heart in my chest. It looked like a sting ray! I ran back to the van to tell Devin what I saw. He quickly assured me that if it was they weren't dangerous to swim with. They were only dangerous if you step on one and the chances of that were very slim. So we both heading back out together, and sure enough, we saw more sting rays! They were everywhere! They were riding in the waves and even jumping out of the water. It was beautiful and so surreal. At one point Devin thought he might have seen a small fin but wasn't sure. Also, we were in pretty shallow water so we knew if there were any sharks they wouldn't be dangerous ones. After our swim we rode our bikes to the store to get food for breakfast. Devin cooked me a wonderful breakfast of pancakes and eggs. After that I went back in the ocean, my third time that day, and you'll never guess what I saw right in front of me! Two shark fins. They were tiny and I was only in water about 3 feet deep so I know I was safe. They came out of the water about 6 feet in front of me, then dipped and came back out again. It was amazing. What a wonderful experience in a Pacific. Devin and I enjoyed another lazy day on the beach and a bonfire that night.

Devin and I fell in love with this little surfing village and we are

defiantly sad to go...