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Driving to the Universidad Nacional in December was a family tradition for my daughter and me. Under the solstice sun and trade winds, Allison and I walked around the forestry school’s Christmas tree nursery in Heredia, north of San José, until we found a sapling with the right height and form. Back at home, decorated …
Read more “Christmas Trees in Costa Rica Connect Cultures and Traditions”
Costa Rica is home to 93 species of sharks and rays, representing 8% of the global diversity of these marine animals. However, over half of these species (56%) are endangered. Locally, they face challenges such as high fishing pressure, lack of information, illegal fishing, and limited resources for monitoring and control. On Tuesday, December 3, …
Read more “Costa Rica Sharks Face Extinction as Scientists Race Against Time”
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights condemned El Salvador this Friday for denying an abortion in 2013 to a woman, publicly known as Beatriz, despite her life being at risk and the fetus having a congenital malformation. For the first time, the continental court ruled on a case related to abortion, which is prohibited in …
Read more “Inter-American Court Rules Against El Salvador in Historic Abortion Case”
Guatemalan authorities rescued 160 children this Friday from a property belonging to the Lev Tahor sect, an ultra-orthodox Jewish group under investigation for alleged sexual abuse of minors, reported the Minister of Interior and the Prosecutor’s Office. “Operation allowed the rescue of 160 minors who were allegedly abused by a member of the Lev Tahor …
Read more “Guatemala Rescues 160 Children From Religious Group Amid Abuse Claims”
Christmas one hundred and seven years ago meant Christmas trees with real candles, women in long skirts and petticoats, and men with waxed mustaches and pocket watches. In the Christian world, it was a time to celebrate. But in the 27 miles of trenches crossing France, it looked to be a dismal holiday. The war …
When we moved to Costa Rica 12+ years ago, my new job managing a small non-profit brought us to a little beach town in Guanacaste. Life here has been good. Stunning beaches. Abundant nature and wildlife. Beautiful culture. Nice people. Delicious food. An overall slower pace of life. However, there are some things that are …
Read more “A Local’s Guide to Driving Across Costa Rica: Guanacaste to San José”
El Salvador will privatize or close the cryptocurrency wallet “Chivo” created by President Nayib Bukele when he made bitcoin legal tender in 2021, an official said Thursday. The announcement came after the Central American nation’s government reached a $1.4 billion loan deal with the International Monetary Fund that addressed its controversial embrace of bitcoin. While …
Read more “El Salvador Abandons Bukele’s Bitcoin Dream as Chivo Wallet Faces Shutdown”
The Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR) in Liberia, the gateway to Costa Rica’s popular Pacific beaches, is facing a staffing crisis that threatens to derail the country’s crucial high tourism season. On Tuesday, the airport – known locally as Liberia International – suspended operations for several hours, marking yet another closure in a string …
Read more “Costa Rica Tourism at Risk as Liberia Airport Struggles to Stay Open”
The treacherous Darién jungle, a crucial corridor between Colombia and Panama for migrants heading to the United States, has seen a significant decrease in crossings as Donald Trump’s January inauguration draws near. Official figures show a 41% drop in migrant crossings compared to last year, with 300,000 people making the perilous journey in 2024 versus …
Read more “US-Panama Deal Cuts Darién Crossings by 41% Amid Policy Change”
I am currently building a collection of reusable shopping bags, courtesy of my local supermarket. The bags are said to have a shelf life of about 200 uses, but I wouldn’t know, because every time I go to the store, I forget to bring one of the dozens I have stored in the cabinet below …
Read more “Costa Rica Drowns in Plastic Despite New Shopping Laws”