Playtime: Children and adults in downtown San José yesterday broke in six new pieces of exercise equipment donated by the Chinese-Costa Rican Chamber of Industry and Trade.

Voters can tune into the last in a series of debates on the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA) tonight at 8 p.m.

Click/Play Film and Photography Aesthetics
Featuring “Blow Up” (United Kingdom, 1966, 108 min.), 6 p.m., Contemporary Art and Design Museum, San José.

Jam Session
With Jazz Café Trio and Guests, jazz improvisation, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro. Reservations: www.jazzcafecostarica.com.

By Peter Krupa
Tico Times Staff | pkrupa@ticotimes.net

Scotiabank Costa Rica officially completed its integration with Corporación Interfin yesterday with a dramatic inauguration ceremony at its new headquarters in Sabana Norte, on the west side of San José.

The bank acquired Interfin last year for around $300 million and completed the merger in September 2006. The completed integration means Scotiabank has finished converting Interfin's 25 branches to the Scotiabank brand.

It also means Scotiabank has moved into Interfin's headquarters north of La Sabana park, as the sea of red-shirted employees and the cutting away of a shroud from the building's brand new Scotiabank logo demonstrated yesterday morning.

“Right now we are witnesses to a very important moment in the history of private banking in Costa Rica,” said Scotiabank Costa Rica manager Luis Liberman.

Scotiabank entered the Costa Rican market in 1995. The acquisition of Interfin makes it the largest private bank in the country, holding $1.93 billion in assets, $206 million in equity and $1.45 billion in outstanding loans.

After moving into Interfin's infrastructure, Scotiabank now operates 42 branches and 80 automatic teller machines, all run by 1,300 employees. Liberman said the bank plans to add another 15 branches during the next few years.

By Amanda Roberson
Tico Times Staff | aroberson@ticotimes.net

A playground of sorts for kids of all ages attracted passersby yesterday in downtown San José, thanks to a donation of six pieces of exercise equipment by the Chinese-Costa Rican Chamber of Industry and Trade.

The yellow and blue apparatus are stationed in the Plaza de Garantias Sociales, behind the giant Social Security System (Caja) building. Many resemble machines one might find in a gym or see advertised on late-night TV infomercials, but they're simpler, made out of metal and powered totally by human force.

“It's fun because you get to do exercise,” said 12-year-old Diana Madrigal as she hoisted herself back and forth on a contraption resembling a rowing machine.

Madrigal was one of a gaggle of children who yesterday discovered this new urban attraction and enjoyed it as if it were a playground built just for them. Nearby, cars honked, vendors hawked snacks and lottery tickets, and life went on as usual in this busy city.

Lottery vendor Juana Picada took a break from her table to try a piece of equipment with a disk and handles that make its user twist and turn when standing on it.

“It's nice, but I don't have enough time for it,” she said, laughing and twisting away in her frilly street vendor's apron.

The chamber donated the equipment to the San José Municipality as part of San José Possible, an effort to “rescue” the city and turn it into a safe, attractive place to spend time, according to a statement from the municipality. It came from China and is based on the principals of Tai Chi.

If this project proves successful, the municipality says it will consider installing exercise equipment in other spots around the city

By Gillian Gillers
Tico Times Staff | ggillers@ticotimes.net