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Today is another one of those holidays which are celebrated on the Monday following the event. It has something to do with the annexation of somewhere,at some time by someone. It's just another one of those events that the Ticos keep secret from the Gringos so we can get stuck in their traffic jams and wonder what is opened and what is closed. I saw them setting up some stands in front of the INS building yesterday so obviously they will have people marching and music playing to further confuse the Gringos. I imagine Avenida Segunda will be a mess traffic wise. However it is always a good time and place to go hunting for the elusive "non pro" PROS that CRT guys are always looking for to spread heir hard earned,or inherited wealth with. Hopefully ID will chime in here to explain what is going on so that the Gringos can talk to their "novias" intelligently about something other than how much money she NEEDS this week.

This article in AM Costa Rica last week, while a bit off point, does give an explanation of what the holiday is in celebration of.

"Arias caught in a bind when he chose Liberia over Nicoya
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Arias administration usually does not make major protocol blunders, but holding the July 25 festivities in Liberia instead of Nicoya has turned out to be a mistake.

President Óscar Arias Sánchez even apologized publicly for the change of location Wednesday and promised that all future July 25 activities in his administration will be held in the city of Nicoya. There even was a Sala IV constitution court case against the Liberia location, but magistrates threw out the claim.

Liberia is in Guanacaste, but the holiday is the Annexation of the Partido de Nicoya and not Liberia, so residents of the city on the Nicoya peninsula were very territorial. This year is the 183rd celebration marking the decision by political elders of the region to join with Costa Rica and not Nicaragua.

In past years, the celebration and the meetings of the president's consejo de gobierno or cabinet were held in the public park in Nicoya. Arias noted that he had been told that in previous years the official session had been in a number of Guanacaste towns.

During the official ceremony, Karla González, the minister of Obras Públicas y Transportes, said that bids will be sought in December for improvements at the Daniel Oduber airport west of Liberia. Included are plans for $15 million in work. A second runway will be constructed as will terminals. The work will allow the increase in international flights. The general outline of the proposals had been announced.

The airport is a success story in that flights and passengers have increased dramatically to the delight of tourism operators in the region. However, facilities are still primitive despite a new departure lounge.

Minister González also points out that nearly $18 million has been invested to repair major highways in Guanacaste and that some 70 kilometers (44 miles) of gravel roads are scheduled to get asphalt.

Fernando Zumbado, minister of Vivienda, reported that in the province some 1,688 families have been given a new home under the government's anti-poverty program."



Sure the novias will quickly get bored with the subject and move on to their fiscal needs of the week.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

"Novias", hell what about us Gringos. I barely caught myself before I ended up face first in my Ramen Soup. I think we need an emoticon for a big YAWN.

isn't it great how out of nowhere the whole place shuts down? Hell, I'll never forget I was in Interbus coming back from Jaco to HDR, and then out of nowhere... elections.. we would try to drive into town.. road block, tico driver can't even get around it, asks traffic officer, he says... I don't know, try and go around... muy tico?

I have on my calendar that this Thursday (8/2) is Guanacaste day....Not exactly sure what that means, I just know when I was there a couple years back someone told me...Alot of parties in the towns. Doesn't take much for me to celebrate something so I put it in my calendar.

Also, my novia "informed me" once how I forgot Mothers Day in Costa Rica.....When she got down barking at me, I made sure I put every CR holiday in my calendar.

isn't this weekend the big walkathon to the basillaca in cartago?

don't people pour in to the central valley and finish the walk to the basillaca?

tip - if you want to score big with some of the chicas, go out to the basillaca and buy some holy water bottles and bring it back to San Jose.

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

The walk or should we say the "Crawl" has already begun this past weekend. The big day is Thursday (Virgen de los Angeles) but the roads should be crazy by Tuesday, and Wednesday forgetaboutit.

Productivity seems to be the same (absolutely nil)

BKTUNA
I am never going home

Will all the festivities be finished up by this Saturday ( 8/4 ) ???

MG

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

The official name of the feast is "Nuestra Senora de los Angelas' and traditionally Ticos from all over the country make the pilgrimage (called Romero) to the Cathedral in Cartago. They then crawl on their knees from the door of the Cathedral to the altar. The crowds are estimated to exceed one million.

After the mass at the Cathedral things disperse quickly and those who walked take buses back home so everything is over well before Saturday.

This was published in Inside Costa Rica this morning:

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Yes, this is the weekend. I am sure SJO is much more crowded. Some people, from distant places, have already been walking for a week or more. One more plug for the basilica in Cartago. If you have never been there, you should check it out. Yes, the chicas all dig the "holy water." Bring an empty bottle and have it filled by one of the volunteer workers. It's virtually free for the water.

dapanz1

Meow

Dapanz1, I didn't realize you could have a volunteer fill up a btl. Last trip (May) I took a bus, SJ to Orosi with a stop in Cartago to fetch some agua for the chicas. After touring the Basillica, very nice, the crowd was halfway up the circular walk appeared to be at least an hours wait. I opted to grab a Heineken instead

For those interested I'll post a picture of the Basillica, may be someone can use it for part of their cover story along with the "Snapper Fishing" trip

it just occured to me, go to a store that sells religious products, buy some plastic containers in some sort of holy shape, fill it up back at your room and present them to the chicas.

it is the thought that counts.

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Caliddude, I had thought about the faucett water after sipping that Heineken, but I figured Karma would catch up to me and opted to return to Idem that night sans agua. The cookies worked just fine with Anna