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Eco Realtors
(506) 2223-1327                         published  Tuesday, July 2, 2013, in Vol. 13, No. 129                  Email us
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Casacada
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Suggestion
for rainy day


This cat has the right idea. When the clouds show up in the afternoon and the rain begins to fall, a sheltered place for a nap is the best option. That kind of weather will be the norm for the next five months.

Southern zone cooks create some unique dishes
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

How about some flan made with a base of marcuyá?  Or maybe a drink made with bamboo?

These were among the 301 dishes or drinks that competed for awards Saturday in Palmar Sur.  There were 145 main dishes, 95 breads and desserts and 61 typical drinks.

The southern Pacific coast is well away from the Central Valley, and the cooking traditions appear to be unique. For example, the winners in the drinks category were fresco de ayote and batido de guayaba. Ayote is a form of squash, and guayaba is a fruit. The batido is similar to a milkshake.

The contest is one of a series put on by the Centro de Investigación y Conservación del Patrimonio Cultura. The goal is to preserve the culinary heritage of the country. Eventually the recipes of  the winners will show up in a Centro publication.

One of the three top main dishes was picadillo de flor de papaya by Elida Meza.

Sharing the honor were arroz de maíz by Marta Chavarría Cerna and a second picadillo de papaya dish, this one by Margarita Aguilar Montero.

The entries in each category were judged by independent panels. Judges took nearly three hours to make their selections, said the Centro.

The fresco de ayote was the entry by Aracely Acevedo González. Batido de guayaba came from the kitchen of Adilia Montoya Pinto.

Sonia Vargas Alvarado prepared the flan or custard with maracuyá.  A second winner, torta de plàtano was presented by Xinia Bolaños. The third winner in the dessert category was pastel de plátano by Marcela Picado.

All the winners received money prizes.

Ms. Vargas was quoted by the Centro in saying
maracuya
Ministerio de Cultura y Juventud photos
Flan de maracuyá
by Sonia Vargas Alvarado

picadillos
Picadillo de papaya with avocado on the side.

that the principal ingredient in such dishes is love followed by creativity.

Gerardo Bolívar was a judge in the drinks category who said he was surprised to find an entry that used bamboo as a base.

The southern zone is a rich tropical agricultural area. Officials said that another aspect of the contest was to suggest dishes that might be commercialized.


Public employee salary increases still up in the air
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Some 288,000 public employes are waiting for a decision on what their salary increase will be for the second half of the year.

The increase covers salaries of workers in the central government as well as workers in the 81
municipalities.

The Consejo Nacional de Salarios ordered a 2.4 percent increase for the minimum wage categories in the private sector last month.

Public employee union organizers are expected to push for a higher percentage.

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San José, Costa Rica, Tuesday, July 2, 2013, Vol. 13, No. 129
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A.M. Costa Rica's professional directory is where business people who wish to reach the English-speaking community may invite responses. If you are interested in being represented here, please contact the editor.


Dentistry

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Our reader's opinion
Article on court decision
was full of factual errors

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

A client asked for my opinion on your article “Sala IV ducks chance to clear up key question on property theft” as he wasn’t clear on its meaning regarding his own case.  These are my observations:

1. The note is poorly researched and shows little understanding of the legal matters it addresses;

2. The Sala IV has not “ducked” any chances of resolving this issue;  it acted on a Recurso de Inconstitucionalidad filed by someone and had no option but to dismiss it ad portas due to the lack of one of the fundamental requisites for this type of actions to be admitted, and that is that it must stem from a legal case or process still open where the objected law is of the essence in its resolution, condition that was not met here, reason for which according to article 75 of Ley 7135 de Jurisdicción Constitucional it must be dismissed without reference to its contents and not as the note says “because it said the case was still open” 

3. The published note says that “The memo said that the court left open the possibility of continuing to study this legal question.”. This is not true as the press release, not “memo,” does not even infer such a thing. What it literally says is En la sentencia, #2013-8582 de las 14:30 horas del 26 de junio de 2013, se explicó que no se cumplía un requisito básico propio de este tipo de casos, que es estar relacionado con un proceso judicial o un procedimiento administrativo cuya discusión se encuentre aún abierta, de acuerdo a lo que disponen los artículos 9° y 75 párrafo primero de la Ley de la Jurisdicción Constitucional. In English: “In sentence # 2013-8582 […} it was explained that a basic requisite pertaining to this type of case was not fulfilled, which is for the case (the “acción de inconstitucionalidad” filed) to be related to a legal or administrative procedure still in progress, according to articles 9 and 75 of Ley de Jurisdicción Constitucional”  In plain words I can only file an acción de inconstitucionalidad if I have an open case in any court or administrative organism where I believe the specific norm or law applied to my case to be in conflict with the Constitution.  The person who filed this was not in that situation, therefore his action was dismissed. The press release does not say anything regarding leaving open the study of any legal questions. It only says what it says, an accion de inconstitucionalidad was filed and dismissed for not conforming to the legal requisites for its admittance.

4. Regarding the expat who won his case but “In most cases the reverse is what happens”  I would ask the editor to produce the evidence or statistics he used to make such an unfounded statement. The truth is that when in criminal court the forgery of the escritura pública used to make the illegal transfer is proved, the victim invariably recovers his property. Exceptions occur when the victim is not able to prove legal ownership or when he/she appears to be part of the scheme.

5. Property theft happens everywhere in the world including  the U.S. and on quite a larger scale. The writer of the note is right on the fact that all it takes to transfer property in the U.S. is a signature on a deed, and the risk is passed on a insurance title company, like Stewart Title, but is dead wrong when addressing the notary system which he evidently does not know which shows in affirmations such as “What counts is a written statement from a notary that the property has changed hands”  In the Latin Notary System applied worldwide but in U.S., England and countries of British tradition, property is transferred through a formal contract rendered before a notary public who authenticates the signatures and legality of the transaction where buyer and seller appear and that is then inscribed in the Public Registry in order for it to have erga omnes effect, that is, to be valid before third parties; it is far from being  “a written statement from a notary that the property has changed hands”.

6. It is also said that this “tradition stems from a time when many citizens could not read or write” as if the notary system was an indigenous tradition we invented here. This is but blatant ignorance. The Latin Notary system as we know it was born in Rome 1,700 years before the Carta Magna was sanctioned by John I of England in 1215 CE. Emperor Justinian compiled the most important laws of the empire by 530 CE including those regarding the notary function in what is known as the Corpus Iurus Civilis which stayed in force in most continental Europe up to the time Napoleon put together his civil code from which all modern civil codes of the world except U.S. and Britain stem, including of course Costa Rica.

I have to end saying that this type of anonymous,  ill-researched, full of factual errors and unfounded personal opinions articles cause a lot of damage to the country by giving unaware readers false information on such important matters as the safe legal ways to transfer assets in Costa Rica, which by the way has one of the more solid and reliable legal systems of the continent. 

Mario Valverde Brenes
attorney at law

EDITOR'S NOTE; Lawyer Valverde is correct in that the news article was not well done and his amplification is appreciated.


Many in Germany reported
to sympathize with Snowden


Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

Is Edward Snowden a traitor or a hero?

Can it be wrong if somebody opens the eyes of the world to the illegal American espionage in the Internet? This being done on purpose by top government agencies. Obama refused to talk on the matter when in Germany a few days ago.

Meantime, top German politicians have openly discussed giving Snowden political asylum in Germany, as did the top social democrat Ralf Stegner. Would the American government react in the same way, as it does towards Ecuador? The leader of our Green Party, Claudia Roth, is starting to demand a law to protect whistleblowers, a wise move to collect votes in the forthcoming general election. This is a theme that will be taken up by many politicians in Germany, because many sympathize with Snowden, not with Big Brother!

Klaus Ebeling
Zeitz, Germany


Animal welfare organization
seeking volunteers in Jacó

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

McKee Jacó, the animal rescue organization is seeking volunteers and plans a meeting Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Hotel Mar de Luz.

The organization, which has the legal name of Asociación Pro Bienestar Animal, also is celebrating its 10th birthday. It said in an announcement that there are only five volunteers with the organization now.

McKee also operates a spay and neutering program in conjunction with volunteer veterinarians, including long-time associate Sergio Brenes and dozens of others. The organization engages in outreach to poorer residents of the area.

McKee said that it treats more than 1,000 animals a year.


New rector is elected
at University for Peace

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Francisco Rojas Aravena has been named rector of the University for Peace until 2018, the university said.

He has been secretary general of Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales. He is Chilean and by training a political scientist.

He has been a professor at the University Nacional in Heredia.

Rojas was a Fulbright fellow to Florida International University in Miami. He is the author or editor of some 80 books, has written more than 100 book chapters and 138 academic and popular articles. He holds a doctoral degree from the University of Utrecht in Holland.

The university, a United Nations, project, is in Ciudad Colón.


 
Find out what the papers
said today in Spanish


By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Here is the section where you can scan short summaries from the Spanish-language press. If you want to know more, just click on a link and you will see and longer summary and have the opportunity to read the entire news story on the page of the Spanish-language newspaper but translated into English.

Translations may be a bit rough, but software is improving every day.

When you see the Summary in English of news stories not covered today by A.M. Costa Rica, you will have a chance to comment.

This is a new service of A.M. Costa Rica called Costa Rica Report. Editor is Daniel Woodall, and you can contact him
 HERE!
From the Costa Rican press
News items posted Monday through Friday by 8 a.m.
Click a story for the summary
















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San José, Costa Rica, Tuesday, July 2, 2013, Vol. 13, No. 129
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Police kill motorist who ran down their fellow officer in Limón
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Fuerza Pública officers gunned down a motorist who tried to escape from a checkpoint in Limón Monday.

The motorist ran down a police officer who suffered serious injuries.

Dead was a man identified as Kendry Alexander Lewis Hommard. The injured police officer has the last names of  Bejarano Herrera.
He was knocked to the pavement and suffered at least one compound fracture.

Police officials said that the incident began when a vehicle approached the checkpoint. The two occupants appeared to be getting rid of a bag believed to contain marijuana.

The driver got out of the vehicle. He was identified by the last names of  Arana Fernández. But the passenger took the wheel and tried to flee, said police. Other officers fired on the vehicle, said police.  The injured police officer remains hospitalized.


Trade treaty with European Union given unanimous approval
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Lawmakers have approved unanimously a treaty between Central America and the European Union. The treaty basically means products from Central America will be able to enter the European market without custom duties.

The Minsiterio de Comercio Exterior estimates that Europe gets about 18 percent of the country's exports. Much of the exports are bananas, coffee, concentrated juice, melons, pineapples and plants.

The European Union noted that the agreement was reached in 2011 and signed it in 2012.
This closer economic integration between the countries of the
Central American region is important for attracting investment to the region and helping local businesses develop the strength in their regional market to compete internationally, the European Union has said.

Producers of some products receive an increase in the quota.

That includes sugar producers, cattle producers and rice farmers. The European union already has approved the treaty as have most of the Central American states.

Also Monday the free trade treaty between Central America and México entered into force, the commerce ministry said.


Fire fighters are seeking someone to share their work day
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Those who nourish the dream of being a fire fighter have a chance to be one for a day through a contest set up by the  Cuerpo de Bomberos.  The essay contest is in commemoration of the agency's 148th anniversary.

Those who seek to enter can respond to the question of why they want to be a fire fighter on the agency's Facebook page.
Those without Facebook access can send their response to a Bombero email address.

The winner will be chosen through a raffle, and he or she will be able to bring two friends to participate in trips to various fire stations and engaging in the daily work of a fire fighter. If there is an emergency, the winner and friends will participate, said the agency. Entries will be accepted until July 12, said the Bomberos.

Del Rey HOtel

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Marijuana dependency seems to alter brain chemistry and reduce motivation
By the Imperial College London news services

Long-term cannabis users tend to produce less dopamine, a chemical in the brain linked to motivation, a study has found.

Researchers found that dopamine levels in a part of the brain called the striatum were lower in people who smoke more cannabis and those who began taking the drug at a younger age.

They suggest this finding could explain why some cannabis users appear to lack motivation to work or pursue their normal interests.

The study, by scientists at Imperial College London, UCL and King’s College London, was funded by the Medical Research Council and published in the journal Biological Psychiatry.

The researchers used PET brain imaging to look at dopamine production in the striatum of 19 regular cannabis users and 19 non-users of matching age and sex.

The cannabis users in the study had all experienced psychotic-like symptoms while smoking the drug, such as experiencing strange sensations or having bizarre thoughts like feeling as though they are being threatened by an unknown force.

The researchers expected that dopamine production might be higher in this group, since increased dopamine production has been linked with psychosis. Instead, they found the opposite effect.

The cannabis users in the study had their first experience with the drug between the ages of 12 and 18. There was a trend for lower dopamine levels in those who started earlier, and also in those who smoke more cannabis. The

researchers say these findings suggest that cannabis use may be the cause of
the difference in dopamine levels.

The lowest dopamine levels were seen in users who met diagnostic criteria for cannabis abuse or dependence, raising the possibility that this measure could provide a marker of addiction severity.

Previous research has shown that cannabis users have a higher risk of mental illnesses that involve repeated episodes of psychosis, such as schizophrenia.

“It has been assumed that cannabis increases the risk of schizophrenia by inducing the same effects on the dopamine system that we see in schizophrenia, but this hasn’t been studied in active cannabis users until now,” said Michael Bloomfield, from the Institute of Clinical Sciences at Imperial, who led the study.

“The results weren’t what we expected, but they tie in with previous research on addiction, which has found that substance abusers, people who are dependent on cocaine or amphetamine, for example, have altered dopamine systems.

“Although we only looked at cannabis users who have had psychotic-like experiences while using the drug, we think the findings would apply to cannabis users in general, since we didn’t see a stronger effect in the subjects who have more psychotic-like symptoms. This needs to be tested though.

“It could also explain the amotivational syndrome which has been described in cannabis users, but whether such a syndrome exists is controversial.”

Other studies have looked at dopamine release in former cannabis users and not seen differences with people who haven’t taken cannabis, suggesting that the effects seen in this study are likely to be reversible.

 
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OF RELOCATION*

 (as reported by the moving companies)
Visit many rental options to actually experience the price/amenity options available in more of the areas chosen by Expats for security, comfort, and quality of life.
Geroge's view
An evening View
from George’s Puriscal home
Meet many Expats who are willing to share their experiences and how the tour has value long after the “lust” wears off.
See how to choose a Retirement tour video by past guest!
http://www.vimeo.com/5656822

Ask the others what you get for your money, and then compare the quality of accommodations, quality, quantity and variety of food and drink to measure the best value for your money.  Learn how others “talk the talk” and learn who really can “walk the walk
Please visit my Web site  to contact my references.
George Lundquist, retirement, relocation columnist, Guide & Developer/Builder. george@glundquist.com
7897-9/1/13

Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat
Steve and Debbie Legg
Toll Free: 1-888-828-9245       In Costa Rica: (506)-2478-0023 or 8333-6863

Our Vision at Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat is to create the perfect blend of Adventure, Discovery and Tranquility for each guest.  Plan an Adventure zooming along a zip line high in the canopy or horseback riding though forests, farms and rivers. Discover the magical wonders of the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. Experience Tranquility in one of our cabins tucked in our 26 acres. Located in Monterrey, San Carlos, in the mountains above Fortuna, we enjoy spectacular, panoramic views of the Arenal Volcano and its lava flow. Please see our Web site for more information. www.leavesandlizards.com or e-mail us at leavesandlizards@gmail.com.
7862-8/1/13

Costa Rica’s #1 Time –Tested Relocation/Retirement Tours
Christopher Howard's Award-winning Combination Relocation/Retirement Tour. NO other retirement tour offers MORE options...MORE areas visited, MORE information, MORE people just like you who have made the move and a LONGER
fact-filled tour for your money. Winner of the 2010 Latin America-Asia Travel Excellence Award for the most UNIQUE and OUTSTANDING tour in Latin America. This  is the ONLY relocation/retirement tour really APPROVED with a LEGAL tour guide to operate in Costa Rica by the government’s Institute of Tourism ICT (license number DL-658-2004) in 2004. ALL tours are personally led by Christopher Howard, the author of the perennial best-selling ”New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica,” the MOST read authority on living and 
Christ Howard with Max
retiring in Costa Rica,  and who has personally helped over 10,000 people with ALL BUDGETS relocate SUCCESSFULLY over the last 35 years. CUSTOM TAILOR-MADE TOURS are also available for people with special needs or who can’t take one of our fixed-date tours. ALL tours include EXTENSIVE touring and a highly informative SEMINAR by the country’s most renowned EXPERTS in their respective fields. Also visit: Live in Costa Rica to check out our NEW tour prices and specials.  Customer satisfaction 100% guaranteed! MY REFERENCES.

* Recommended by the Association of Residents of Costa Rica ARCR as part of the new Costa Rica Alliance (made up of the most renowned experts in their respective fields).

* FREE 50% DISCOUNT on the first year's MEMBERSHIP for the Association of Residents of Costa Rica ARCR with these tours
        
*FREE BONUS all people who sign up for the tour receive a FREE copy of the 16th edition of  the bestseller “New Golden Door to Retirement and Living in Costa Rica. At the conclusion of the tour they also receive FREE eBook copies of Christopher Howard’s other one-of-a-kind  bestsellers “Official Guide to Costa Rican Spanish,” “The Official Guide to Real Estate In Costa Rica” and “The Official Guide to Costa Rica’s Legal System for Tontos (dumbells).” Almost 2,000 pages of INVALUABLE material in all!
7962-6/9/13

Howard Spanish cover

NOW YOU CAN SPEAK SPANISH

LIKE A COSTA RICAN
ALL you need to handle most daily situation. ALL of the Tico slang you cannot find in a dictionary. Practical pronunciation exercises to help you lose your Gringo accent. Social situations and everything else you need to know in the #1 Best-selling “Christopher Howard’s Official Guide to Costa Rica Spanish.”  Also see our #1 Web site on Google www.costaricaspanish.net  for FREE Spanish lessons. eBook available through www.costaricabooks.com
7963-6/9/13

Christopher Howard’s Costa Rica Starter Kit!
4 INDISPENSABLE eBOOKS FOR ONLY $39.95        
THE SAME 4  GUIDEBOOKS IN HARDBACK COST  $82.95
costa Rica Starter Kit

    * The 16th edition of the 680-page  “New Golden Door to Retirement
             and Living  in Costa Rica”
    * The 545-page “Official Guide to Real Estate in Costa Rica”
    * Speak Spanish like a Costa Rican! “The Official Guide to Costa Rican Spanish”
    * Christopher Howard’s “Official Guide to Costa Rica’s Legal System for Tontos
            (dumbells)”
Purchase through Pay Pal at: www.costaricabooks.com
7964-6/9/13

Ready For a Vacation to Costa Rica?
Customized vacation packages to Costa Rica planned by our team of in-country travel experts. Call us Toll Free: 1-800-606-1860 or locally in San Jose: 2296-7715. You can sit back and relax while we plan your dream Costa Rica Vacation.
7699-3/4/14

Costa Rica Vacations
Customized, all inclusive Costa Rica vacations planned by our team of in-country travel experts. Call us Toll Free: 1-800-606-1860 or locally in San Jose: 2296-7715. Sit back and relax while we plan your trip or dream Costa Rica Honeymoon.
7698-1/14/14

Panama Vacations
Custom, all-inclusive vacations to Panama by 100% locally based experts in Panama.  See "the new Costa Rica" before the secret gets out!  We offer customized trips to the best all inclusive Panama hotels and Panama resorts. Call 1-866-393-4192 if from the U.S. or 00 (507)-264-1279 from Costa Rica.
7697-12/24/13

Costa Rica Fishing Experts
Customized, upscale fishing packages & Costa Rica fishing vacations designed by 100% local experts. Call Toll Free: 1-866-901-0683
7697-11/2/13



Here's reasonable medical care
Costa Rica's world class medical specialists are at your command. Get the top care for much less than U.S. prices. It is really a great way to spend a vacation. See our list of recommended professionals HERE!amcr-prom


Need a book about Costa Rica?


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A.M. Costa Rica
Real estate rentals
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Real estate for rent
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wanted
Real estate wanted

Real estate rental services (paid category)

See our listing of real estate brokers on the for-sale page.

Real estate for rent (paid category)

1 bedroom with private bath. Rooms in large, 3.000 sq ft. historical mansion in heart of Barrio Amón.  Prices starting at $350. for long-term. Smoking ok in common areas. Includes electricity, water, commercial kitchen use, laundry, high-speed internet. 7078-6985. More info HERE!
8006-7/14/13

COMPLETELY and nicely furnished apartments
apartment view
in San José, and one condo in Escazú. Fast Internet, cable TV, hot water. Large American appliances including washer and dryer. Both convenient locations. No pets. $600 per month. Contact: rentnowcr@gmail.com or call 8555-9819.
7990-7/17/13

prime
                                    properties
ATTENTION EXPATS:
 
We have many prime properties available for long-term rentals.
Rohrmoser
Escazú
Santa Ana
 

  rentals.sanjose@gmail.com
7988-7/17/13

cahuita beach house
Unique beach house for rent in Cahuita
$400 per month furnished. House is 150 yards from a beautiful beach in a jungle area. Next to our wildlife rescue center. Very safe, good water and electricity. One large bedroom, walk-in closet. Newly built and furnished. Must see. A tropical paradise. Contact: Todd at 2755-0014.
7985-7/4/13

Attn: Bikers-Swimmers..House to Rent or to Share
Conveniently located  two-bedroom, two-bathroom house, new construction, wheelchair accessible to rent for $750/month or to share with owner (female).  Located on outskirts of San José metro area, 5 minute drive to Sta. Barbara de Heredia, 20-30 minutes from SJO International Airport, an easy drive to Alajuela
Heredia home
or Heredia.  Natural setting with a panoramic view of Central Valley on a 1/3 acre lot (1,200m2).  A beautiful, well-maintained public pool is a 10-minute walk and road in front of house is a popular bike route.  The house is 900 ft2 (90m2) plus there is a spacious terrace, two-car carport, covered back porch and ample
additional parking.  Vaulted natural wood ceilings in all rooms except in the two bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry room.  There is also a small office which can serve as a guest bedroom. The house is unfurnished and appliances not included except for built-in cooktop/oven (gas). Tankless instant hot water heater for bathrooms, kitchen and laundry.  Rental fee does not include utilities.  Alarm system,  cable TV and DSL internet connections are in place. The owner will rent to 2-3 people, pets are allowed with the approval of the owner, and security deposit of one month's rent is required.  Alternatively owner can share house with suitable roommate, prefer female (non-smoker) but will consider a male roommate.  E-mail me for more photos or with questions:  linda.barton@yahoo.com
7984-7/3/13

ALAJUELA – SERENE LIVING
MONTHLY $800 TO $1,200

Villas Casa Loma has everything you are looking for.  Best vistas, climate, value.  Four unique homes in a secure private compound on a ridge near Alajuela overlooking the entire Central Valley.  Two are available fully furnished and equipped, each a complete home accommodating 4 persons in two bedrooms with ensuite baths.  Pool, rancho, mirador, other features.  Ask about part-month rates.  Call Gerry at (506) 2441-8796 or e-mail at gerrybuilt2000@yahoo.com.  See virtual tour of accommodations HERE!
Get to know the real Costa Rica – you may want to live here someday.
7968-7/17/13

Lovely cottage on private coffee farm
One spacious bedroom, one bath, office room/spare room with high speed DSL internet, fully equipped kitchen, phone line,
Sarchi cottage
balcony with beautiful view, especially at night with the far off lights of San José. Farm is gated and guarded, private and peaceful, owner on-site. Sarchi is a quiet small town about 30-40 min from the airport, a perfect base to explore from and also get a
feel for normal, day-to-day Tico life. Rental is $575 per month, 3 months minimum. All utilities included. Shorter stays at $45 per night, 2 nights minimum. $225 per week, and $30 per additional night. Sorry, no pets.  Contact jogya345@yahoo.com or 8308-7732.
7956-6/16/13

Beautiful Golfito house for rent in Costa Rica: $300/month
Available now and please see the video!
http://youtu.be/7N5BThdct8s
New construction includes some wooden stairs to the main gate and a small pavilion above the house overlooking the village. The distance to Golfito harbor/downtown is 7 kms and you can get there by car, taxi or bus. The sale price is $72,000 which is negotiable and includes the property lot of 26,000 sq, ft, for more houses. The rent is $300/month, which is very reasonable for those who want to live near sea and Panamá in an inexpensive lifestyle. It was so nice to live near Panamá where people can shop for much lower prices including for groceries. Please contact me at berosyyourlife@hotmail.com for more details. Thank you.
7954-6/8/13

Available now $650 a month
This small but new and clean American-built house is settled on an organic farm a 10-minute walk from the center of town in Santa Bárbara de Heredia. Taxis are $1 to town and buses run to
Organic farm
Heredia and Alajuela, about 30 minutes each. There is parking for one car. NO DOGS please. Rent includes: Cable television, house phone, ICE ADSL internet, water, electricity, laundry facilities. We have a family living on the farm aside from myself,  the owner, and another renter, so there is always someone around. This 2-bedroom house is brand new, 
completely furnished. Large windows overlook the valley and the gardens, There are large trees. Surrounded by fruit trees and vegetable gardens, it has a beautiful view of the valley. The kitchen comes fully equipped, with large refrigerator, gas stove and oven, all accessories. The bathroom has a large shower; both kitchen and bath have hot water. A brand new extra firm queen-size bed is included. A breakfast bar separates the living area and kitchen and a porch overlooks the farm and valley. This house is for one or two people only. $300 deposit required to be returned when renters leave house. Email for photos and questions. laurelfanderson@gmail.com
7945-5/30/13

Heredia rental
Beautiful mountain chalet  for rent
Beautiful mountain chalet surrounded by nature, built with tropical hardwoods and  located on a  5,000 m2  (54,000 sq feet) lot  with two other cottages.  House has basic furniture and  kitchen  appliances.  Ground floor:  Very large living/ dinning room, kitchen, office (or guest bedroom), and 1 bathroom . Upstairs:  2 bedrooms (one with a balcony), and 1 bathroom. 140 m2 approximately  Great BBQ rancho outside. Plenty space for visitor parking. Pets are welcome.  Quiet place, rural, restaurants close by. Near El Castillo Country Club, Tirol and La Condesa mountain hotels.  Only 45 minutes by car from San José.  All public services available  More information call Liseth.  Phone: (506) 7158-1548. Or send me a email:  licortes@hotmail.com
7939-5/24/13


COMPLETELY and nicely furnished apartments
apartment view
in San José, and one condo in Escazú. Fast Internet, cable TV, hot water. Large American appliances including washer and dryer. Both convenient locations. No pets. $600 per month. Contact: rentnowcr@gmail.com or call 8555-9819.
7975-6/16/13

Perez  Zeledon:   Large studio home overlooking river with deck.  Elegant, ceramic floors, nice cabinets, walk-in closet.  Beautiful gardens and grounds.  Secure. Private. Only  10 minutes
River view home
to San Isidro de El General. Mountain town with everything!  Then, 40 minutes to Playa Dominical, 40 minutes to Chirripó National Park, and also near many other attractions, yet very private and secluded.  Listen to river sounds and sleep like a baby.   
Rare birds in abundance. Includes,  One  double bed and refrigerator, stove, juicer, sofa, tables,  dishes, pans, etc.  Plus, electric, (hot) water   Phone, TV connected, Internet cable connected, garbage and gardener. All included for $425. /month.  Looking for one good person, reliable, long-term.    Non-smoker. jjpepman@hotmail.com
7902-4/25/13

Mountain cabin for rent
Sacramento, Barva de Heredia
We offer for rent three furnished, 2-bedroom mountain homes located on the slopes of Barva Volcano, Sacramento, Heredia. The cabin-style homes are adjacent to the Braulio Carillo National Park and walking distance to the Barva Volcano crater lake. Enjoy a spacious living room, kitchen, fireplace and garage. Take in breathtaking views of the Irazú Volcano and the Central Valley. Observe dozens of bird species, to include the occasional Resplendent Quetzal, and a pristine cloud forest. We can also offer you an occasional ride on one of our beautiful mares. Contact Allan or Cristina at HPCattleCR@aol.com, or or for more information HERE! $850 USD/month. We can also offer a weekend or short-stay package.
7875-4/11/13

Tropical Homes of Costa Rica is offering the best selection of vacation homes, condos and long-term rental homes in Playa Flamingo, Playa Potrero and Playa Brasilito on  the Pacific Gold Coast of Guanacaste. A wide selection of private residencies is providing an excellent choice for your stay in this beautiful part 
tropical
                                    homes
of Costa Rica. We are offering homes for every budget and every need. Please visit our Web page at www.tropicalhomesofcostarica.com or contact us at rentals@tropicalhomesofcostarica.com or call at (506) 2654-5442.
7833-8/15/13

Looking 4 Costa Rica Villas?
Rent our all-inclusive, 7 bedroom rental home in Guanacaste.  Just 20 minutes from the Liberia airport, this deluxe ocean view mansion sleeps 6-22 guests.  Ideal for company events & Costa Rica weddings. With 3 meals served daily and a full-time staff to pamper guests, it's more than a Costa Rica vacation rental ...It's your own Private Resort!  Call toll free: 1-800-606-1860.
7695-1/19/14

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San José, Costa Rica, Tuesday, July 2, 2013, Vol. 13, No. 129
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Cafetales



Torres del Lago

European leaders seeking
answers in U.S. spy claims


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

European politicians have reacted angrily to claims that the U.S. National Security Agency has bugged European Union missions and tapped phone calls and e-mails. The allegations stem from documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who is currently stuck in a Moscow airport awaiting political asylum.

The German magazine Der Spiegel and Britain’s Guardian newspaper claim to have evidence showing that the U.S. National Security Agency bugged the European Union mission in New York and its embassy in Washington.

The EU summoned the U.S. ambassador and ordered a sweep of its offices to check for devices.
 
Steffen Seibert, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said Washington needs to explain.

"It has to be cleared up. And if it turns out to be true, that it would be unacceptable, as we are no longer in the Cold War," said Seibert.

On a trip to Brunei Monday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was questioned about the allegations.

"I will say that every country in the world that is engaged in international affairs of national security undertakes lots of activities to protect its national security, and all kinds of information contributes to that.  And all I know is that is not unusual for lots of nations," said Kerry.

Such revelations should not be surprising, says Kristian Gustafson of the Centre for Intelligence and Security Studies at Brunel University.

“On security issues everyone is sufficiently on the same page that they don’t tend to need to spy on each other. But it’s in the economic realm where they are competitors rather than allies where you tend to get these espionage allegations," said Gustafson.

Other leaked documents allege that the NSA taps a half-billion phone calls and e-mails in Germany in a typical month.
 
“It might turn into an EU internal problem," said David Cadier, who is from the IDEAS analyst group at the London School of Economics. "It might be that the problem is less the fact that the U.S. authorities have been spying on some EU delegations officers, some embassies. But I think the key problem will rather be the issue of personal data sharing."

The allegations come as Europe and the United States are beginning negotiations on creating the world’s biggest free trade agreement.

“Will it be put in jeopardy? In the end, I don’t think so because the level of support among the EU officials, among European governments, for this trade has been quite strong," said Cadier.

One document lists 38 other embassies where spying has allegedly taken place, including Mexico, Japan, South Korea, India and Turkey.
 
The documents were leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who is currently at Moscow airport while he seeks asylum.

Several European politicians have suggested he should now be offered asylum in Europe.


Snowden blaming Obama
for blocking asylum bid


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

U.S. fugitive Edward Snowden has accused President Barack Obama of trying to block his efforts to seek asylum.

In a statement released by the website WikiLeaks, Snowden said Obama has ordered Vice President Joe Biden to pressure the leaders of countries where he has requested asylum to deny his petitions.

The statement marked Snowden's first public announcement since fleeing Hong Kong for Russia eight days ago.

Monday, a Russian immigration official said Snowden has applied for political asylum in that country. The official said a WikiLeaks activist who is traveling with Snowden handed his application to a Russian consulate in the transit area at Moscow's airport on Sunday. Snowden has been stuck there since arriving from Hong Kong.

Snowden, a former U.S. intelligence contractor, had been thought to be seeking asylum in Ecuador in a bid to escape extradition to the United States, which has annulled his passport.


Correa says Ecuador acted
in haste to welcome fugitive


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa says his government made a serious error in issuing accused U.S. spy Edward Snowden a letter of safe passage as the fugitive sought asylum in the South American country.

Correa, in an interview Sunday, said his country is still awaiting a formal asylum request from Snowden, before deciding on how to proceed with the controversial case. He also said his government will not block Snowden's entry if he reaches Ecuador.

Snowden, a 32-year-old former National Security Agency contractor, is reported stuck in Moscow's international airport, and Correa said the fugitive is unable to leave without the consent of Russian authorities.

"It depends on the Russian legal system if he can or can not leave the airport, if he can continue his journey."

Snowden fled Hong Kong for the Russian capital June 23, just days after U.S. prosecutors unsealed espionage charges against the former National Security Agency contractor for leaking information about secret U.S. surveillance operations.

In a separate interview Sunday, anti-secrecy advocate Julian Assange told ABC television that Snowden appears marooned in Russia with his flight to avoid prosecution stalled by the U.S. passport revocation.

Ecuador has sheltered WikiLeaks founder Assange at its London embassy for the past year to prevent his possible extradition to the United States, where he faces charges related to the publication of secret U.S. diplomatic cables in 2010.


Arizona firemen outflanked
by gale force wind and flames

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

An elite squad of 19 Arizona firemen killed in the worst U.S. wildland firefighting tragedy in 80 years apparently was outflanked by wind-whipped flames in seconds, before some could scramble into cocoon-like personal shelters.

Details of Sunday's deaths of all but one member of a specially trained, 20-man team remained vague a day after they perished in a blaze that destroyed scores of homes and forced the evacuation of two towns in central Arizona. But fragments of the firefighters' final moments painted some of the picture as investigators launched a probe into exactly how the disaster unfolded.

Fire officials said the young men fell victim to a highly volatile mix of erratic winds gusting to gale-force intensity, low humidity, a sweltering heat wave and thick, drought-parched brush that had not burned in some 40 years.

The deaths brought an outpouring of tributes from political leaders, including U.S. President Barack Obama, who is on an official trip to Africa. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer called the deaths “one of our state's darkest, most devastating days” and ordered state flags flown at half staff from Monday through Wednesday.

The blaze was sparked on Friday by lightning near the town of Yarnell, about 80 miles (128 kms.) northwest of Phoenix. It was still raging unchecked Monday after scorching some 8,400 acres (3,400 hectares) of tinder-dry chaparral and grasslands.

Still, conditions faced by the team that fights flames at close range with hand tools, were typical for the wildfires they are trained to battle, fire officials said.

They were trapped as a windstorm kicked up and the fire suddenly exploded on Sunday, said Peter Andersen, a former Yarnell fire chief who was helping the firefighting effort.

“The smoke had turned and was blowing back on us,” Andersen said. “It looked almost like a smoke tornado, and the winds were going every which way.”

The powerful gusts abruptly split the fire, driving it in two directions, then pushing flames back in on the crew, who were working on one flank of the fire front, he said.

The firefighters deployed their personal shelters, capsule-like devices designed to deflect heat and trap breathable air, in a last-ditch effort to survive, officials said.

Andersen said some of the men on the ground made it into their shelters and some did not, according to an account relayed by a ranger helicopter crew flying over the area.

“There was nothing they could do to get to them,” he said.

Prescott Fire Department Chief Dan Fraijo said crews typically establish a secure safety zone to which they can retreat if flames start to close in on them.

Authorities ordered the evacuation of Yarnell and the adjoining town of Peeples Valley. The two towns are southwest of Prescott and home to roughly 1,000 people.

Officials said on Sunday at least 200 structures, mostly homes, had been destroyed, most of them in Yarnell, a community consisting largely of retirees, but the figure could rise.


U.S. will accept visa requests
from same-sex couples


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

It’s official. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents in a same-sex marriage to a foreign national can now sponsor their spouse for a family-based immigrant visa, according to a directive issued by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Monday.

The move follows last week’s Supreme Court decision ruling that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, defining marriage between a man and a woman, as unconstitutional. U.S. President Barack Obama has directed federal departments to swiftly and smoothly ensure the court decision and its implication for federal benefits.

“To that end, I have directed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to review immigration visa petitions filed on behalf of a same-sex spouse in the same manner as those filed on behalf of an opposite-sex spouse,” Ms. Napolitano said in a statement.

According to the new procedures, the immigration service will look to the law of the place where the marriage took place in determining its validity for immigration law. That means if a couple was married in a U.S. state that recognizes same-sex marriage, but lives in a state that will not, the couple’s petition for an immigration visa will still be considered.

There are nearly 30,000 binational same-sex couples in which one partner is a U.S. citizen and one is not, according to estimates based on U.S. Census Bureau data. Until now, those couples were not eligible for family-based immigrant visas, forcing many to choose between love and country.

A landmark immigration reform bill passed by the Senate almost stalled out because of a proposal to allow U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents to sponsor their same-sex spouse for immigration. Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy removed the proposal after opponents threatened to kill the entire bill. The Supreme Court decision accomplished what Leahy was hoping to do.


Immigration bill in House
faces an uncertain future

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

Supporters of immigration reform in the United States gained a victory last week when the Senate approved a bipartisan bill which tightens border security and sets out a lengthy path for citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants.  But getting a bill through the Republican-controlled House will be a different story, says House Speaker John Boehner.

“We are going to do our own bill through regular order, and it will be legislation that reflects the will of our majority and the will of the American people,” he said.

Boehner insists any reform bill in the House must be supported by a majority of Republicans, and many of them have already rejected the Senate version because it offers a path to citizenship.

On the other hand, a bill that veers too far to the right would alienate Democrats, says Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

“We know it has to be a compromise.  We know who is in the majority.  But if you want our votes it has to be something that our members can vote for,” she said.

Fourteen Republicans supported the Senate immigration bill, well aware of the party’s dismal showing among Hispanic voters in last year’s election, says analyst Allan Lichtman.

“Republicans cannot go forward and expect to win national elections picking up 20 to 25 percent of the rapidly growing vote of Hispanics in the United States,” he said.

In the House, many Republicans are reluctant to anger their conservative supporters back in their home states, explains expert Norm Ornstein.

“If you are sitting there in the House, you may be mildly fearful that there could be a huge backlash.  But the bigger risk for most of those members is the backlash from their own right wing, not from a broader public uneasiness with the direction they are going,” he said.

If the reform bill is blocked in the House, immigration will be a key issue in upcoming elections, says Lichtman.

“It could be diffused for both parties if something major gets through the Congress.  If it does not, then you are going to see the blame game being played,” he said.

In the meantime, millions of undocumented immigrants are waiting for Congress to act.


Many workers would prefer
changing careers, says survey


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

So much for a dream job. Only 14 percent of U.S. workers believe they have the perfect job and more than half want to change careers, according to a new poll released Monday.
 
A Harris survey for the University of Phoenix in Arizona showed that the most coveted jobs are in the arts and sciences, business management, technology and healthcare, and that younger employees are more eager to find another type of work than older workers.
 
“It is not uncommon for working adults to consider one or multiple career changes,” Bill Pepicello, the president of the University of Phoenix, said in a statement announcing the results.

“Choosing one career path after high school or college and sticking with it for the rest of a career is becoming less common as the pace of business and technology quickly change jobs and industries,” he said.
 
Nearly 80 percent of workers in their 20s said they wanted to change careers, followed by 64 percent of 30-somethings and 54 percent in their 40s.
 
Although the majority of workers said they had career plans when they were younger, 73 percent of them had not landed in the job they had expected.
 
Women were more likely than men to be in a different job than they had anticipated, according to the poll, and college graduates tended to follow a planned career path more than non-graduates.
 
Even people running their own businesses were not happy, with only 20 saying they were in their desired careers.
 
Location was also important. Some 60 percent of people living in San Francisco said they did not want to change careers. Some 22 percent were likely to be in a dream job, compared to just 8 percent of employees in Dallas-Fort Worth and Los Angeles.
 
In New York City 62 percent of workers were somewhat interested in changing careers, compared to 67 percent of workers in Atlanta and 60 percent in Los Angeles.
 
Of the 14 percent of workers overall who were in their dream job, nearly 20 percent worked in business management, followed by 16 percent in healthcare.
 
Harris questioned 1,616 U.S. adults for the online poll between April 18 and 26. It gave no margin of error for the survey.


Cocoa farmers being evicted
as Ivory Coast clears forests

By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

The Ivory Coast is clearing tens of thousands of cocoa farmers from protected forests, threatening exports from the world's top grower and leading to complaints about human rights abuses.
 
Cocoa represents about 10 percent of the former French colony's economic output but the environmental costs of the industry's growth have been high.
 
The European Union estimates three-quarters of the West African country's forests, have disappeared in the past five decades, mainly due to farming including cocoa plantations.
 
President Alassane Ouattara's government says it is prepared to pay the economic price of phasing agriculture out to save the dwindling tropical forest and the security services have started flattening houses and forcefully removing the farmers.
 
“In America, you couldn't imagine people illegally occupying Central Park just because they say they have nowhere else to live, could you?” said government spokesman Bruno Kone.
 
Ouattara has won praise and promises of billions of dollars in funding from world powers for rebuilding Ivory Coast after a brief war that followed his 2010 election win.
 
The forestry service says around half the 4.2 million hectares of protected forest reserves are illegally occupied and the evictions form part of his efforts to reassert state authority after a decade of stagnation and political turmoil.
 
It also tallies with his plan to diversify the economy away from cocoa, which accounts for 40 percent of exports.
 
There also appears to be pressure on Ivory Coast to clear up its forestry sector as it starts negotiations with the European Union over a new timber trade agreement although illegal logging operates on a much smaller scale than cocoa farming.
 
But moving the farmers from the 231 reserves, some of whom have lived there with their families for decades, could leave them destitute, stirring unrest as well as hurting the economy.
 
“Everyone fed themselves through cocoa. Not everyone can make it in the city,” said Abo Baboue, a cocoa farmer, waiting beside a muddy track for a truck to carry off what belongings he could salvage after soldiers destroyed his home.
 
There are no figures for how many of Ivory Coast's 800,000 cocoa growers live and farm on protected land. In Niegre, the first forest to be cleared last month forestry agents counted 6,000 households, around 25,000 people,  before the army moved in, cutting short the head count.
 
Just weeks into the operation, those targeted have accused security forces of abuse, including the looting of homes, stealing money and cocoa and, in some cases, rape, charges rejected by the government.
 
In Baleko-Niegre, the main settlement inside the Niegre forest, journalists saw flattened homes, shops and restaurants after forestry officials, flanked by heavily armed soldiers, bulldozed the area.
 
Amadou Ama, who sold metal sheeting for roofs, said he had provided shelter to homeless neighbors but soldiers broke down his door at night and dragged two women off.    

“The next morning I found them. They told me the soldiers had raped them,” he said.
 
A day later, his house was leveled too, he said.
 
The illegal plantations in the Niegre forest produce between 60,000 and 70,000 tons of cocoa annually.
 
“A large share of the cocoa produced in this country comes from the forest reserves...The plantations inside the reserves are the youngest and most productive,” said one cocoa exporter based in the country's second-largest port, San Pedro.
 
Development workers familiar with the government's plans say long-term squatters will be allowed to keep to their plantations, as long as they live outside the reserve, until they are taken over by replanted hardwood and softwood trees.
 
Traders say next year's main crop harvest could be the first to take a hit if farmers are not able to access and tend their plantations during July and August.
 

Colombia and rebels try
to advance stalled talks


By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services

The Colombian government and leftist rebels clashed Monday over how to incorporate Latin America's oldest guerrilla movement into the democratic process, as they began the latest round of peace talks in Havana.

The rebels, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, reiterated its demand that Colombia's 2014 general election be postponed a year in favor of a constituent assembly to chart the country's political future.

The government has repeatedly rejected the proposal and insisted a peace agreement must be reached by the end of 2013.

Former vice president and lead government negotiator, Humberto de la Calle quickly dismissed the rebel proposal before Monday's talks began.

“There are clear parameters for talks on this point agreed upon last year by both sides,” he said. “That is what the government is willing to discuss and nothing more.”

In May, after six months of negotiations facilitated by Cuba and Norway, the two sides reached an historic agreement on agricultural reform that calls for developing rural areas and providing land to the people living there.

But they remain at loggerheads over the second item on their six-point agenda: turning the guerrillas from insurgents into political participants.

More than 100,000 people have died and millions have been displaced in fighting since the rebels known as the FARC was founded in 1964 as a Communist agrarian reform movement.

The talks recess every few weeks, then resume, even as the conflict rages on.

Rebels blew up an oil pipeline and the government sentenced their leader and FARC's chief negotiator to long prison terms on various charges during the most recent break in negotiations. The negotiator remains in Cuba with temporary immunity.

Other unresolved issues include the drug trade, compensation for victims and implementation of the final accord.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos initiated the peace talks last year in the belief that the FARC had been so weakened by the government's 10-year, U.S.-backed offensive that its leaders were ready to end the fighting.

Three previous peace attempts have failed. The rebels have been pushed into far corners of the country but can still attack oil and mining operations vital to Colombia's economic growth.
Real estate-related services (paid category)


Real estate brokers and agents (paid category)


Swimming pool at night
A Buyer’s Broker offering the best
of Costa Rica Real Estate.

For those looking for quality properties and service at quality prices. Central Valley Rentals. Offering honesty, experience and knowledge. Your Villa Real Expert. Call us now  Toll Free (877) 845-4533. In Costa Rica 2228-5961 or 8339-2112. www.costaricarealtyone.com
7938-6/8/13

Re/Max, the Pacific coast expert
Re/Max offers comprehensive Costa Rica Real Estate, vacation rental and relocation services. Our award-winning team is the largest in the country, and can show you the best lifestyle and financial investment properties in the most desirable locations including prime real estate in Tamarindo, Langosta, Conchal, Flamingo, Pinilla, Coco, Hermosa and Playa Panama.  Give us a call in Costa Rica at 506-2653-0073, or toll free from the U.S. and Canada 1-800-385-5930. Re/Max, the name you trust for the finest real estate services in Costa Rica.
7949-11/15/13

Moran Arenal
Lake Arenal, Costa Rica
The undiscovered jewel of Central America, 35 square miles of blue, pristine, clear water ideal for fishing, swimming, boating, Real estate values still low.
Great lake front, river front land, farms, homes, condos and commercial property. Some with owner financing
 
This is far and away the most beautiful place in all Central America — cool climate. Try our two-day, all-inclusive discovery tour for $299.

Check with our Web site at www.moranlakearenal.com
Contact us at the office: (506) 2694-0088
Cell (506) 8880-8888
Phone number from the U.S. (305) 307-0088
Email: moranrealestate@gmail.com
Moran logo
7922-10/15/13

The #1 Authority in Costa Rica Real Estate

Costa Rica real estate
Since 1996, CRREC has been providing the most valuable resource for discovering real estate in Costa Rica. Our Costa Rica properties database contains some of the most exclusive and hard to find properties in the country. Not to mention how affordable some of our Costa Rica homes for sale are. So if you're in the market for Costa Rica real estate then we encourage you to
visit our Costa Rica MLS and discover for yourself why people call CRREC the #1 authority in Costa Rica real estate.
Call Today @ 506-2654-5507 (Costa Rica) or 1-888-414-1836 (Toll-Free) Email: info@costaricarealestate.com
7721-4/29/13



Costa Rica,

Central America
Houses, lots and farms in Grecia,
western Central Valley.
Great climate
and safe communities.
Grecia estate
This is the BIGGEST DEAL of the month now at $850.000: HERE!
Sarchi home
Modern three-bedroon home in San Rafael de Sarchí. Cick HERE!
 Great deals for you!
SEE OUR OFFERS HERE
Visit our Web Site:
 www.greciarealestate.com
 English: (Cristian Arce)
English:  (Luis Arce)
 Español: (Luis G. Jiménez)

   (506) 8538-6186
   (506) 7100-8489
   (506) 8707-4016

  Send us your request to our email: info@greciarealestate.com
7685-2/7/12
Bargain

Real estate for sale (paid category)



Beautiful fully renovated house in Bello Horizonte, Escazu, 446 sq. meters. Four bedrooms; four baths. Price includes all furniture and fixtures - ready to move in! Light, bright and airy....$550,000 USD. Telephone 2288.6451. More details HERE!
8010-7/28/13

Heredia land
San Rafael, Heredia, great opportunity, 17,000m2 land for development,
US$600,000 or best offer.  email: celigar53@gmail.com or call 8385-2542.
8008-7/24/13

auction
6 LOTS – AUCTION
Minimum bid starts @ $10,000.
 ½ acre to 4 acres.
Walk to San Juanillo Beaches.
1 day only -10 a.m. June 15
Email: Karen@racsa.co.cr
Webs:  www.viviun.com/AD-129905/
www.haciendasdelmar.com
Phone: 506-2682-0185
8007-6/29/13

music studio
Musicians dream!!!
Two-story house, 2,400 sq. ft. (223 sq. mt.) total with covered porches, 2-car covered parking, 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, open kitchen/living room, bodega, laundry room, upstairs sala. Separate 320-sq. ft. (29 sq. mt.) music studio that could be used as an art studio, workshop, or additional bedroom. Studio has a patio on top, partially covered with ozonated hot tub. Mature citrus trees, avocado, mango, pineapples, bananas, and many colorful flowers. Completely fenced, security system, Internet, cable TV, automatic gates, one-car additional secured gravel parking. Double lot, 7,320 sq ft (680 sq mt). Backs up to a large cafetal and looks up to Natural Reserve Madre Verde. Located in La Granja, Residencia Palma Real, Palmares, Alajuela. Walking distance to town, 5 minutes to pista, 35 minutes to airport, and close to bus service. Comes with kitchen appliances, washer and dryer, bed set in master bedroom, shoe cabinet just inside front door. Other furnishings negotiable. More pictures available upon request. House and property are in a corporation. $215,000. terrycr2007@gmail.com
7998-74/13

Grecaiproperty
Private Gated Paradise in Grecia 3/2 home with guest apartment, 5000m2 land. $139k-/best cash offer! River access, costaricariver@yahoo.com, Phone: (506)2495-0487.
7953-7/10/13

Flamingo
                            view
Condo for sale in Flamingo

Ocean view 3-bedroom, 3 1/2-bathroom condo. Designer furnished 1,800 square feet, gated community. Only six units. Huge pool and balcony, pet friendly, parking, walking distance to Flamingo beach, banks, grocery store, farmacia, etc. New building. $349,000 asking. Ask for photos. 8705-0056. or 1-800-536-2322.
7986-8/6/13

Casa de Eden
For sale by owner Playa Conchal home. Reduced $329,000

Casa de Eden is an ocean view three-bedroom, 2.5-bath, with outdoor shower, private pool located only minutes from Playa Conchal.  The home is in a private, secure community surrounded by nature but still only 20 minutes to the resort towns of Flamingo & Tamarindo and less than an hour from the Liberia airport. There is 2,600 square feet under the roof, which includes a large outdoor terrace and has phone, Internet & satellite TV. The home boasts luxury finishings: AC & ceiling fans, Frigidaire professional series stainless steel appliances, granite kitchen countertops, marble bathroom vanities, custom wood cabinetry, ceramic tile.  Contact desmondproperties@gmail.com  U.S. 1-800-939-2617 or CR (506) 8349-2025.
www.puntaplayavistas.com
7982-6/30/13

San Pedro condo
Condo for Sale in Flor del Este
Lourdes, Montes de Oca San Jose

Located behind The Foundation Costa Rica Canada 500 meters north of Inglesia Lourdes. U Latina, UCR, and U Fieditas are located within 5 minutes.  Beautiful mountain view from roof covered 3rd floor terraza. Condo is a 3-story. Three/four-bedroom, three and half bath unit within a secure complex of 40 condos with high cement outside walls with only one entrance manned by an armed guard 24 hours per day. In addition, to security fencing, and electric wire, a recorded security camera system is monitored within the guard house. Residence has a telephone communication system to contact the guard house. In addition there is a green park area inside the complex for children to safely play and an outside parking area in from of guard house for visitors. Equipped with an independent wired security system in addition to iron bars on windows and patio doors. Equipped with circuit breaker box and 220-volt service for hot water heater, stove and dryer. Also has water storage tank under parking area and water pump to maintain high pressure on all three floors. American-style washer and electric dryer, Refrigerator, glass top stove, and kitchen cabinets included. $185,000. Other furniture items may be available for purchase.
Call Bill   (English) C.R. Phone: (506) 6011-6987
U.S. Phone:  6630-886-4458  or   (305) 848- 5577
Spanish  phone number: (506) 8799 4041
Email:  sjogringo@yahoo.com
7973-8/23/13

Guaancaate condos
Little Dreams La Colina Magnolias

Great Guanacaste Beach Condos Available

$28,500 - Little Dreams - Ocotal beach studio condo, furnished upper floor condo in great complex just 1 mile from Ocotal beach, 2 miles from Coco beach, great price for this complex.
$70,000 - La Colina - another Ocotal beach 2 bedroom, 2 bath condo, 80 m2 and fully furnished with upgraded kitchen, complex has Infinity pool, mountain views.

$75,000 Magnolias 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath townhome just 1 minute's walk from Coco beach and the 2 beach clubs in Coco. Nicely furnished, walk to town, 67 m2, perfect location.
Find out more information on these and other condos at my website WendyLovesCostaRica.com. All 3 of these condos are about 35 minutes away from Liberia Intl. airport, no need to drive a long way to get to your condo.  Call for more information, 1-415-670-9382 or 011-506-826-1211. Or email Wendy@WendyLovesCostaRica.com.
7971-6/23/13

Rich Coast Montage
RichCoastRealty.com
Central Pacific Coast Real Estate
- 2 Bedroom House in Gated Community near the beach, $89,000!!
- Beachfront Residential Lots from $35,000! Financing Available
- 2 Coffee Shops and Bakeries Turnkey $40,000/ $120,000 Great ROI
- Lots in Gated Community near the beach from $17,500!!
- 3 Bedroom House in Gated Community, furnished, walk to the beach, $120k
- 3 Bedroom Oceanview House on 5 acres subdividable
into 4 oceanview properties $250k
- 58 acre Oceanview Property subdividable, $169k
and much more....
http://www.richcoastrealty.com/
USA Toll Free 1 866 833 4005
CR Cell 011 506 8718 9891
Brendan@RichCoastRealty.com
7972-8/9/13

NOW REDUCED TO $680,000
ALAJUELA – PRIVATE COMPOUND OF 4 HOMES - $850,000 TURNKEY
Spectacular view property on a ridge near Alajuela.  Large home and 3 rental homes totaling 7,300 square feet (678 square meters) live-in construction.  Property area is 3,376 square meters (0.83 acres) including a vacant lot for expansion options.  In total there are 10 bedrooms, each with an ensuite bath.  Property has pool, rancho, mirador, courtyard and covered parking.  Homes have romantic fireplaces, built-ins, storage, other luxury features.  Turnkey sale includes all appliances, furniture, fixtures, equipment.  Call Gerry at (506) 2441-8796 or e-mail at gerrybuilt2000@yahoo.com.  See property video here:

See virtual tour of accommodations here:

For more details go to:
7967-7/17/13

La Cruz finca
La Cruz Finca 223 ha. (558.2 acre)
This beautiful 223-hectare (558-acre) farm is 70 kms. north of Liberia on the Pan-American Highway and has over a kilometer of frontage on the highway. The property is almost 3 kms deep and has good interior roads. The River Sapoa runs year round at the back side of the farm which is almost 1 mile wide with and incredible views over the Nicaraguan border to Lake Nicaragua and Isla Ometepe. Great property for an eco retreat, teak farm or cattle ranch.  At $900 per acre, this is one of the best farm deals around. See details HERE! The seller will entertain any reasonable offer. Price: $495,000 contact: Bruce Hummel. Email: Bruce@bh-cr.com. Cell Phone: 011 (506) 8819-2119, From US/Canada: (816) 987 7166,  www.bh-cr.com
7966-6/16/13

Playa Octal home
Playa Ocotal Beach Home
This home is located in a residential resort complex made up of 40 luxurious, fully furnished beachfront villas, plus a clubhouse complete with poolside bar and restaurant. Bahía Pez Vela is located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, one kilometer from Playa Ocotal on the North Pacific coast and just 30 minutes drive from Liberia International Airport and three miles to downtown Playas Del Coco. From this home you can hear and see the waves crashing on the rocks of this pristine beach. See it HERE! This is the best priced beach home in Costa Rica! Price $225,000   Contact: Bruce Hummel Bruce@bh-cr.com, www.bh-cr.com - Cell Phone: 011 (506) 8819-2119, From US/Canada: (816) 987-7166.
7965-6/16/13

hree peanel montage
This dream Costa Rica beach house overlooking Carara National Park and the Pacific has been rented continuously for two years. D.C. owners are on site at the house in May and prepping for June 1 Move in and/or vacation rentals and have an unbelievable offer. Already listed way under value, $150,000 Cash or $199,500 with owner financing through May 30th. Note: This was the owner's (14 year residents of Costa Rica) dream home before their relocation to Washington, D.C., Your own salt water Infinity pool, expansive sala and balcony, views from every room. Each room is individually air-conditioned, ceramic tiles, cathedral ceiling; three bedrooms in an international community. Scarlet macaws fly by your veranda each evening.
zen/natural contemporary design ideal for your location overlooking Costa Rica's biological corridor. 50 minutes from San José, minutes from beaches/20 minutes from Jacó Beach. Tour this property online first at www.dreamincostarica.com and if interested contact Barry in Costa Rica through May 30th for a tour. In Costa Rica: 8701-5639 or call Rosemary in the U.S. 239-910-3354. Note: On June 1 the price of this property will increase to over $200,000 after equipping, painting and acceptance of rental income. Don't wait!
7958-6/2/13

La Garita
                                  home
This home was built by a California contractor with all the amenities expected in a 3,000-square foot home.  There is a little less than one acre of land.  There is an 800-square foot shop easily converted to a rental unit or studio.  Located in La Garita de Atenas, 15 minutes to the international airport and 30 minutes to San José.  $225,000. 2487-4500.
xxxx-xxxxx

Arenal Colonial
Property for sale, great potential income
Turnkey business $350K. Rental $1,250/month This luxury home (4,000 square feet and two story private home) is a botanical paradise overlooking beautiful Lake Arenal. Only one block from the lake park and boat ramp. Close to Tabacón hot springs and Monteverde cloud forest. Caño Negro national park and many beautiful beaches along the Pacific are only a short drive away. Costa Rica bird watching, wind surfing, fishing, water sports, ecotourism adventures, hiking, tennis and mountain biking are out your front door. Also has a wonderful view of the Arenal Volcano, a safe 25 miles away. Electric gated entrance. Safe private home and entire property. To see more pictures and info, click here: http://www.intertica.com/homes/roy.htm
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=wKaNmrNyyZtXGg
7933-7/22/13

Jacó compound
Located in Jacó at Barrio Ricos y Famosos in Calle Europa, Casa Shangri La.
Main house: 3 bedrooms, 3 bath 270 square meters, 2 condominiums 2 bedrooms, one bath, 110 square meters, plus one small apartment. one bedroom, one bath. Huge pool, carport for five cars. plus double garage, rancho with pool bathroom,  gymnasium, laundry room, pool plumbing room, huge dog house in separate 500 square-meter garden with aviary for Guacamayas (we have three birds) 60 meters of river front of Río Copey with a 4 meter-high protective and retention stone wall. Eight surveillance camera CCTV system with Internet access from anywhere. Over 2 meter-high brick wall all around the property with two layers of razor wires on top, the safest place to be! Electronic entrance gate, door phone, five telephone lines, high-speed Internet wireless access everywhere. Beautiful gardens with many fruit trees. Price $ 1,350.000 negotiable. All fittings and furniture, included even a car. Owner financing available. German-built, excellent quality and well maintained. More photos on request. http://www.intertica.com/ocean/wolfgang.htm
7929-7/18/13

Monte Mar
Hacienda Monte Mar
Gated Community near the beach
SALE on our last 4 lots! Starting at just $17,500 with financing available.
Reserve today with just $5,000 down
Great Retirement Home, Vacation Home, or investment option!
Lots of wildlife on the property. Gated front entrance, caretakers on site,
security and lawn maintenance.
Water and power on site.
http://www.haciendamontemar.com/
USA Toll Free 1 866 833-4005
CR Cell 011 506 8718-9891
7928-8/9/13

Nicoya views
Property with ocean and gulf view for sale
Tranquil million dollar view, 5,000-sq.meter property with 3/2 home built to American standards, artistically designed and decorated, 16-foot ceilings of mango and tamarindo, appliances, plunge pool, rancho, caretaker apartment, workshop, covered parking, views of Gulf of Nicoya and ocean, in countryside near San José to Caldera highway. Near the lovely town of Esparza. Can provide extra income from bed and breakfast room rental and stellar Tripadvisor reviews. www.oasisbytheseabandb.com $180,000 506-8869-9274.
7882-4/15/13

For Sale By Owner
1 lot (1.5 acres)  at SIBU (8 lots total) amongst 50 acres of protected jungle gardens with sunset ocean views of Playa Nosara. Underground electric and water.13 minutes from Playa Guiones. Gated. In house financing available. Home of SIBU Sanctuary. jungalow@gmail.com.
7845-8/18/13

just reduced
Just Reduced to $169,000!!!
58-acre oceanview and mountainview property

Segregated into 9 lots, Excellent Development Potential!
20 minutes from the beach Central Pacific Coast, between Jacó and Quepos.
http://www.richcoastrealty.com/1060.html
Brendan@RichCoastRealty.com
USA Toll Free 1 866 833-4005  CR Cell 8718-9891
7766-6/17/13

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Live the dream!
Several profitable businesses, including a regional radio station, are for sale in Costa Rica. Certain purchases can provide the new owner with residency as well as a great lifestyle. So live your dream while making a profit. Contact: manager@crbusiness.biz.

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San José, Costa Rica, Tuesday, July 2, 2013, Vol. 13, No. 129
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traffic
              school
Educación Vial photo
Youngsters can learn to cross streets correctly at the park without the danger of real traffic.

An option for highway safety
available for vacationing kids

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Traffic safety experts are suggesting that the mid-year school vacation is a good time for partners to take their children to the road safety park in Parque la Sabana.

This is the area on the north side of the park where children can learn real life road safety without being on the street.

The name in Spanish is the Parque Infantil de Educación Vial, and it features in miniature many of the conditions that children will face on the street.

More than 50,000 school children go there each year when classes are in session. But the educational park is open by appointments made on the Educación Vial Web page.


San José gets new mayor
as political season opens


By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Sandra García Pérez took the oath of office Monday to become the mayor of the Muncipalidad de San José. She had been vice mayor.

The position became vacant when Johnny Araya Monge, mayor for the last 22 years, resigned to pursue his campaign for president.

Ms. García said that education and solid waste disposal would be priorities for her.

Meanwhile, the Partido Acción Ciudadana came out with an email attack on Araya saying that the municipality is deeply in debt although that has not been made public.

Another email under the name of Epsy Campbell, an Acción Ciudadana leader, was critical of Rodolfo Hernández, the presidential candidate of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana. The email said that he was a puppet of former president Rafael Caldera.  Hernández, a physician, was director of the Hospital Nacional de Niños for 12 years. She is a potential candidate, too.



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From page 7


Ojochal chefs planning
a feast this Sunday

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Restaurants in Ojochal are collaborating on another food festival Sunday. The sponsor is el Sabor de Ojochal, an organization designed to highlight the
Ojochal
culinary excellence found in the community, it said.

The event Saturday from noon to 9 p,m, will present the foods of 11 participating restaurants, said the organization. The location Sunday is the Citrus Restaurant.

Ojochal is on the southern Pacific coast south of Dominical.  El Sabor de Ojochal periodically stages such events to showcase the restaurants. It said:

"With over 12 incredible restaurants ranging from the exotic Exotica, chic Citrus, legendary views and Mediterranean cuisine of Azul and the warmth of the authentic Indonesian cuisine of Ylang Ylang, you will find your pleasure. Other restaurants include the French fusion of Diquis, casual French cuisine of Le Bistro, the not-so-typical Costa Rica cuisine by Boca Coronado, fresh pasta of Fabrizio, baked foods of Pancito Cafe, Italian excellence of Mamma y Papa and Latin infused Villas Gaia."

The event requires an admission.  More information is on the organization's Web site.