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Monday 29 December
2008, San José, Costa
Rica
No Economic Crisis At
Zapote
The forecast of a bad
economic year around the
corner has not stopped
the biggest party of the
year, as thousands
continue to flock to the
Zapote Fair in San José
without a care, filling
the bars, rides and the
"redondel" to see the
bull fights that began
on December 25.
The cost to visit Zapote
is about ¢40.000 colones
(us$72) for a family of
four to enjoy the
festivities, the food
and to see the bulls.
A plate of "chop suey"
or "arroz cantonés" can
set back the family
¢2.000 colones, a "vigorón"
¢2.500 colones. Many
visitors say the food is
alot more expensive that
in past year.
The children's rides go
for ¢500 colones, while
the cheap seats at the
redondel go for ¢4.000.
A beer at any of the "megabares"
will set you back ¢2.000
colones for three beers,
possibly the best deal
in town, figuring that
the cerveceria is the
main sponsor of the
bars.
Parking around the fair
doesn't come cheap. A
spot can cost as much as
¢5.000 colones (us$9)
for the night. Best to
take a taxi, especially
if drinking, as the
Policía de Tránsito is
keeping a vigilant eye
on event goers and ready
to take all drunk
drivers to jail.
Jorge Villalobos,
president of the
Comisión de Fiestas de
San José, said that all
expectations for the
fair have been met and
that a record number of
visitors have visited
the fair since Thursday.
Villalobos dared to say
that the cost of travel
to and from the beaches
and resorts, as well as
the cost of the stay has
worked in favour of
Zapote, preferring to
visit the year end fair
rather that travel to
the beach.
According to villalobos,
the fair has complied
with all health
ordinances and security
measures. "We will not
drop our guard", said
villalobos.
However, regional
director for the
Ministerio de Salud,
Guillermo Flores, has
another side to the
story, as his officials
have closed down seven -
7 - chinamos (food
stands).
Flores confirmed that
two of the locales were
closed down for food
contaminated with Fecal
coliform and five for
excessive noise. Flores
said that of the 103
sample tests his
officials took, 17
tested negative,
especially in the
handling of cabbage,
sauces, cheeses and raw
dough which is used in
many dishes at the fair.
Flores added that closed
chinamos can re-open
when they meet health
standards and will be
shut down permanently if
they continue with
violations, as his
inspectors are on the
job from 8am to 12
midnight.
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