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Last Wednesday was the second Cow Parade Auction that was open to the public and took place at the Multiplaza Mall in Escazu.  Although a total of 72 cows were up for biding, only 27 were sold.

This was less than what the organizers had expected while bringing in $65,000 for the event.  This was due to a very small attendance that was probably because of that day’s rain as well as the time.  The event was announced to start at 6pm, which is when the majority of people are stuck in rush hour traffic.  Although the organizers decided to postpone the event for one more hour, the attendance was still not enough.

The auctioning took place in an open space inside the mall and allowed curious bystanders to enjoy the show.  The first cow to be sold was the colorful Vaca on the Go by artist Maria Jimena Navarro and was sold for $1,700.

As the event warmed up, observers and other participants would cheer when tight biddings for specific cows took place.  This was the case for the Vacurbana cow by artist Guillermo Porras.  Two bidders fought for this art piece until finally one of the two, an art gallery owner, won the auction at $4,600.  He later stated that he would have gone up to $10,000 if he had too.

A 70% of the proceeds from the Cow Parade auction will be donated to several different charities in Costa Rica.

Cow Parade organizers will use the remaining cows to tour specific towns for a week each and bring this unique art exhibition closer to those who were not able to go to San Jose.  The first town to receive the Cow Parade will be San Carlos in Costa Rica’s northern region.

Perez Zeledon in the South Pacific will follow as well as Cartago and Grecia.  For the month of November, residents from the areas of Limon, Quepos, Alajuela and Pococi will enjoy the event as well.

The town of Limon in Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast has been struggling before the Health Department for the approval of their traditional carnivals.  If the Health Department denies the permit, this would be the second year Limon goes about without their traditional October carnival.

The permit for carrying out the carnivals in Limon was denied by the Health Department due to the serious garbage disposal problems the town has had for several years now.  The Municipality of Limon has not been able to resolve the situation of acquiring a new garbage dump terrain due to financial problems.

Limon is Costa Rica’s poorest province and has struggled for years to stay atop.  The only viable option Limon currently has for a garage dumpsite costs approximately $165,000, a sum too high for the local government.  Limon has had to look into other options such as sending garbage to nearby towns that charge them $25 per ton.

The Carnivals in Limon is a way for the impoverished town to receive extra income during the year and the permit denial will have its economical and emotional toll on its people.  The Health Department has stated that the permit denial is in the best interest of the public health as for the amount of garbage on the streets and on empty lots attracts mosquitoes, which are the main transmitters of the Dengue Fever and Malaria.

However, local authorities have announced that they are putting together a second remedial plan that they will present to the Health Department in order to request the permit one more time.

The only transportation provider for the Juan Santamaria Airport in San Jose, Taxis Unidos, requested last July permission to increase their rates by 10% due to constant raises in fuel.

Costa Rica’s Public Service Regulating Authority (Aresep ) denied the petition made by Taxis Unidos stating that the cabs do not use a meter as recently required by law in March 2008.

Taxis Unidos is a fleet of sedan vehicles and buses that are only allowed to offer transportation service to incoming and outgoing airport users.  The fleet of orange vehicles (regular cabs are required to be red by law) have set rates to different areas of the country based on the distance.

The equivalent of an airport cab rate in Costa Rica is $1.22 for the call plus $1.00 for each kilometer for sedan cabs and $1.22 for the call and each kilometer for buses.  The current rate was set in March along with the requirement for them to use meters which they haven’t implemented yet.

Taxis Unidos provides a safe and prompt service to and from the airport.  Each vehicle is easily identified by its orange color, white round logo with a wing and vehicle number.  Drivers are uniformed in brown trousers, white shirt and brown tie as well as with their ID card.

To book a transportation service to or from the airport, users may go online at http://www.taxiaeropuerto.com/ or call + (506) 2222-6865.  A 24/7 service is provided.

The Papagayo Marina has announced that the construction of the second marina to operate in Costa Rica is advancing right on schedule and will open its first phase by January 2009.

Currently, only the Marina Los Sueños in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast offers docking space and services to yacht owners.  The Papagayo Marina is located in Costa Rica’s Northern Pacific Coast of the Nicoya Peninsula in Guanacaste .  The Papagayo Marina will have a 44 hectare area at which 180 slips will be built as well as 200 dry dock areas for the first phase.

The initial phase of the Papagayo Marina will be able to harbor vessels from 400 feet to 3,400 feet.  The Marina will offer Immigration services as well as fuel, electricity, internet, phone service, minor repair services and sewer cleaning services.

The $15 million investment will also include a large building which will hold administration offices, state offices and commercial areas which will contribute to at least 470 new job openings in the Guanacaste area.

The Papagayo Marina is the first of the strategic marinas to be built along the Pacific Coast by the Polo Turistico Papagayo concessionary.  Following the Papagayo Marina construction, the company will continue with the Pez Vela Marina in Quepos and the Bahia Escondida Marina in Golfito .

The Bahia Escondida Marina project is the largest and most expensive of planed projects which will reach an approximate investment of $300 million.  It will include a hotel in Costa Rica’s South Pacific region as well as a casino, swimming pools, museums, restaurants, malls and condominiums.