Today's Stories: Police Raid Result Two Arrests for "Proxenetismo" Final Goodbyes One Day Strike Was A Bust Mother's Day Coming; Buyers Beware Romeria Begins Today

New Fantasy, located in Barrio Amon, was raided on Wednesday night, along with another alleged related business, and owners and managers charges with Proxenetismo.

The two businesses operated in the centre of San José and operating as massage parlours, are alleged to be houses of prostitution, where women were available to customers for sexual relations.

The investigation of the two businesses and others in the area has been going on for six months and more raids and arrests are coming, according to police sources.

During the raid, police found about 15 women in the two centres, who worked as prostitutes. Authorities believe that as many as 35 women worked on those places, at different hours, charging up to 14.000 colones for an hour of massage that included sex.

None of the women found working were arrested, since prostitution is not a crime. Nor were any of the customers.

Authorities believe that the women are victims of "proxenetismo" - Spanish for pimping - a lucrative activity that provides the owners economic gain.

Article 169 of the Penal Code provides for a prison sentence of two to five years for anyone who is convicted of "promoting prostitution of either sex".

The two arrested were identified only by their last names, Carballo and Suazo. The businesses were New Fantasy and Bella Mansion, believed to be owned by the same persons.

The New Fantasy is located in Barrio Amon, on Avendia 7, catered mainly to foreigners, while the Bella Mansion is only several blocks away was a local bar with rooms in the back.

New Fantasy has had it's share of problems with authorities, being temporarily shut down last January for irregularities in it's municipal licenses.

The raids of Wednesday night are a result of a complaint by a private citizen and though police are aware of other operations in the area, there are no complaints filed against those businesses.

In a private interview with a manager of one of the businesses, claims that he is a victim of politics, authorities are trying to make him an example, and fierce competition.

Competition in the upper scale massage parlours has been fierce lately, with more massage parlours opening, and the claim is that dirty business is in play against New Fantasy.

Final Goodbyes
The final goodbyes for the three slain Chilean diplomats, Rocío Sariego, Cristhian Juseff y Roberto Nieto, at mass for family and friends at the Don Bosco church, before the bodies are flown to Chile.

Father Luis Alberto Jinesta led the mass.

"God forgive the soul that did this.. and though we know he was a good man, he crossed a bad moment...", were the words of the priest.

The bodies of the three will transported to Chile once all the official paperwork is completed, where they will be buried in their native land.

In Puriscal, family and friends also said goodbye in a funeral for policeman José Orlando Jiménez, who was the man responsible.

Taking from the game of soccer, protestors yesterday handed a "red card" to the Pacheco Arias government.

One Day Strike A Bust
The planned one day walk out didn't have the results that organizers had anticipated.

Most of the public offices were working normally. The general strike called by the union leaders of the Coordinadora Unitaria Sindical y Magisterial (Cusima), which makes up some 70% of all unions in Costa Rica, did not paraylze the country as it had been their intention.

Some of the public institutions that were partially affected were the Refinadora Costarricense de Petróleo (RECOPE) - the national refinery where combustile fuel stopped flowing for some time, theInstituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE), Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS), Junta Administradora Portuaria y de Desarrollo Económico de la Vertiente Atlántica (JAPDEVA), Fuerza y Luz and some schools, however, not enough to stop services to the public.

A group of protestors made their views known in front of the Ministerio de Hacienda (Revenue Ministry) on Avenida Segunda, leaving behind a "red card" for the government, then moved onto the Procuraduría General de la República and ended outside the Sala Constitucional - Constitutional Court.

The union is protesting their wanting a 10% increase in salaries, while the government set the increase for this half of the year at only 4%.

Mother's Day Coming; Buyers Beware
Mother's day is just around the corner and the buying frenzy begins in the coming days converting the season into a retailer's market.

However, the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Comercio (MEIC), recommends you to shop around as it found a difference in prices of up to 160% for the same items at different retailers.

MEIC officials visites some 57 different retailers of housewares and appliances - the most common gift items on Mother's Day in Costa Rica - between 19 and 22 July.

Their study reveals that consumers need to compare prices before buying, looking closely at the finance costs on items that offer no money down and low payments. Interest rates can be as high as 60% per year, for up to 5 years.

Mother's Day in Costa Rica is celebrated on August 15.

Romeria Begins Today
The  annual pilgrimage begins today, with thousands of devotees making their way to Cartago to visit "la Negrita", the Virgen de los Ángeles.

Red Cross workers, Transit Police, police officers from the Fuerza Publica, Firemen and many other emergency personnel will be on hand to provide a safe route and assistance to the devoted.

It is expected that the majority of those making the walk will be on Sunday 1 August, however, many head off early to avoid the congestion of the long weekend.

At noon today, officials will be on hand to monitor the route and ensure that those on the walk aren't alone.

Ignacio Sánchez, director for the Transit Police, said that there will be 280 Transit officers assigned to the detail.

This year's "romeria" may be wet, as the weatherman - the Instituto Meteorológico Nacional - announced it's forecast for the coming days.

Friday through to Tuesday temperatures will range from a low 14C to high of 25C, with mornings offering the best weather for the annual pilgrimage.

The weatherman says:
- mornings will be partially cloudy with mild temperatures
- afternoons may be filled with rain and storms
- evenings may see some fog and light drizzle

Romeros should take into considerations that the mornings will be cool and should dress accordingly.

Coordinators recommend wearing comfortable footwear is a must - avoid sandals -and using vaseline in between the toes to avoid foot burns and rashes. Drink plenty of water, at least one sip every 15 minutes, to avoid dehydration.

If you get hungry along the way, don't eat foods you have never tried before and don't carry anything heavy in your arms, use a backpack.

Take along a flashlight and wear bright coloured clothing. Don't over do it, especially if suffering from any kind of illness.

If accompanied by children, authorities recommend placing the child's name and phone number on the clothing, for easy identification in case the child gets lost.

And, most important, don't walk alone!