A letter to U.S. President Barack Obama
Dear Tico Times (and Mr. Obama):Welcome to Costa Rica! Since your itinerary and agenda are entirely booked for your visit here, and we won’t be able to meet face to face, I wanted to introduce myself and share some of my concerns regarding the hunger strike and prisoners in Guantanamo Bay, and to commend you on your work.I have b...
The people have spoken
Dear Tico Times:“Clap-a-your hands, clap-a-your feet,” say the lyrics of the song that describes the people of San Ramón on Monday night.When they heard the government had listened to their complaints about the highway concession to San Ramón, they celebrated heartily. It was politician Luís Guillermo Solís who said the gove...
Why is getting a visa so hard?
Dear Tico Times:My story is about the Canadian Embassy in Guatemala and tourist visas for Costa Ricans who would like to visit Canada. I’m a Canadian, and my wife is Costa Rican. Before we got married, I was living in Canada. She applied twice for a visitor’s visa and was turned down. The reason was they were not convinced s...
Alarmed at Corcovado neglect
Dear Tico Times:I am alarmed by news of pervasive gold panning in Corcovado National Park on the Osa Peninsula (TT, March 1). About 25 years ago the government removed panners from the national park, where they engaged in “placer” gold mining – digging up riverbanks in search of gold located in the dirt. Former National Park...
Time to ‘pray for Costa Rica’
Dear Tico Times:Numerous youths protesting the country’s economy blocked the highway just south of the Parrita Bridge, on the central Pacific coast, on Wednesday, and traffic was backed up for hours.On Thursday, a protest involving dozens of slowly moving taxis took place, and they moved back and forth across the Parrita Bri...
