San José, Costa Rica - Saturday 31 July 2004

1.415.265 Hits in June!

Updated every day by 8:00AM Central Standard Time

Part of the 333 Sam-7 surface-to-air missiles are destroyed by the Nicaraguan army in El Papalonal, Nicaragua, some 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of Managua on Thursday. Nicaragua would destroy most of its remaining Sam-7 missiles in exchange for planes and radar modules from the U.S. military. (AP Photo/Oscar Navarrete) Click for larger image!

Hundreds Walk to Cartago in First Day of the Romeria
Hundreds began the their to the Basílica de Los Angeles en Cartago in what has become an annual pilgrimage for the devoted.

August 2 Holiday Day in Costa Rica
August 2 is an holiday in Costa Rica "Dia de la Virgen de los Angeles".  Banks, government offices, most offices and businesses will stay closed on Monday. However, most retailers will stay open, as well as malls and shopping centres.

PUSC and Government Sharpen Fiscal Strategy
A closed meeting was held between authorities of Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC), and the Government Friday morning at the Orquídeas restaurant, where it was agreed to sharpen some of the points in their strategy to obtain the approval for the fiscal reform.

Colombian army kills 4 guerrillas, 3 paramilitaries Colombian troops killed four guerrillas of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and three paramilitaries of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) in the southwestern states of Valle and Cauca respectively, the authorities said Friday. 45 percent of Venezuelans to vote for Chavez: poll Forty-five percent of the Venezuelans will vote for President Hugo Chavez in the recall referendum on Aug. 15 and 34 percent will vote against him, according to a survey conducted by the local firm Keller and Associates. Bolivia's airports resume operation after 6-hour strike The airports in Bolivia resumed operations on Friday after the trade union ended a six-hour strike staged to demand the approval of the country's Aeronautics Law.   International News from the New York Times

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

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