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Town fairs Honoring Our Lady of Los Angeles
Including rides, food sales, sports and cultural events, July 30-Aug. 8, Our Lady of Los Angeles Basilica, Cartago; July 30-Aug. 8 in Los Angeles, Tilarán, Guanacaste; July 30-Aug. 2 at Elders Home in San José de la Montaña, Heredia; July 30-Aug. 2 including a serenade, mariachis, and special mass at Our Lady of Los Angeles Church in downtown Heredia.

“L'italiana in Algeri”
Opera by Gioachino Rossini, with national and international cast, music director Dan Saunders (U.S.), stage manager Oscar Grassi (Argentina), the National Symphony and the National Symphonic Choir, July 30, Aug. 4, 6 and 11, 7:30 p.m.; Aug. 1 and 8, 6 p.m., National Theater.

Piano Concert
July 30, 5 p.m., José Figueres Ferrer Cultural Center.

Auto Perro in Concert
Rock, July 30, 8 p.m., Spanish Cultural Center.

Conference “Comprehensive Leadership in Educational Organization
Dictated by Lic.Daniel Peiró, international counselor, July 30, 9 a.m., School of Education, UCR, 2511-8866, 2511-4590, admeduca@ucr.ac.cr.

Perro Zompopo in Concert
Rock, July 30, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro.

Malpaís in Concert
Trova, July 30-31, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, Escazú.

Peruvian Independence Day Celebration
Including dinner and live music, July 31, Villa Blanca Hotel, Santa Barbara, Heredia, reservations at 2461-0300, villablanca-costarica.com

Reggae Concert
Capoeira Workshop for Kids July 31, 10 a.m., Spanish Cultural Center.

One-Day Tour to Hot Springs
Organized by Terratur, includes transportation, meals, entrance fee, July 31. For further details call 2235-2032, 8329-4185.

Dog Adoption Fair
All are spayed, dewormed, and vaccinated, July 31, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Vet Pet House, 1 block south of Scotiabank, next to Plaza Atlantis.

IV Cultural Festival MATAMBU 2010
Including exhibitis, shows, concerts, July 31, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Matambú Indigenous Reserve, Hojancha, Guanacaste.

II Folklore Festival “Danzas del Tempisque”
July 31, 3-8 p.m., Salón Comunal, Paso Tempisque, Carrillo, Guanacaste.

Democrats Abroad Potluck Party
July 31, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m., home of Lenny Karpman and Joan Hall, La Guácima, Alajuela, reservations and directions with Nelleke, 2279-3553, cr.democratsabroad@yahoo.com.

Pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Los Angeles
Believers visit the Basilica in Cartago to thank, make a petition, or venerate Our Lady of Los Angeles, to whom thousands of miracles have been attributed. Pilgrims hike, ride, skate, to Cartago from different parts of the country throughout the day (some do it throughout the year). A special mass is held every Aug. 2 in front of the Basilica. Those making the walk should wear comfortable clothes, tennis shoes, be prepared for rain, and bring food and water. The Red Cross will have tents along the route to attend to pilgrims who need assistance.

Mangrove Festival
Including Aquatic caravan, night concert, food, camping, dance, sports, karaoke, July 31-Aug. 1, Terraba-Sierpe, 2788-1082, 2787-0125.

Salsa Concert
By Puerto Rican Niche, Aug. 1, 8:30 p.m., Rumba Discotheque, San Antonio de Belén, Heredia.

“Teatrinos viajeros”
Traveling storytelling theater by Juan Cuentacuentos, Aug. 1, 11 a.m., Casa de la Cultura, Grecia. Info: 8935-8282, 8864-3503.

“Ergo Sum”
Dance show by Danza Universitaria, July 29-Aug. 1, 8 p.m., La Aduana Theater, Barrio La California. Info : 2257-8305.

“L'italiana in Algeri”
Opera by Gioachino Rossini, with national and international cast, music director Dan Saunders (U.S.), stage manager Oscar Grassi (Argentina), the National Symphony and the National Symphonic Choir, Aug. 1 and 8, 6 p.m., National Theater.

2010 Pan-American Fencing Championships
Male and female foil, saber and épée categories, Aug. 1-9, La Aduana. Info: www.panamericanoesgrima2010.com.

Travelers driving along the northern section of the Inter-American highway will be re-routed due to damage to the bridge above the Río Seco. The alternate path for drivers heading north towards Nicaragua will pass through San Carlos and Tilarán. The detour will add an additional five hours to northbound travel.

The bridge was damaged due to heavy rains during the past week. It was closed on Wednesday night and is not expected to re-open until Sunday.

Costa Rica's Coast Guard began a search on Thursday for a fishing boat that reportedly disappeared off the country's Southern Pacific coast.

Two men were on board the boat - Luis Alberto Rojas and Andrés Villalobos.

The two fishermen left Golfito, a Southern Pacific port city, on July 20 with permission to fish for 10 days. But the two haven't reported to the owner of the boat, Carlos Villalobos, since Saturday, July 24.

On Tuesday night, Carlos Villalobos notified the Coast Guard that he had not heard from the men. Coast Guard boats from Quepos, on the Central Pacific coast, and Golfito are searching for the vessel.

The boat, named Bumerang, is 30 feet long and has authorization to venture up to 40 miles from the coast. It is registered in Quepos under the license number PQ-1406.

In a statement, the Coast Guard said that “boats with these characteristics often travel farther than they should when fishing in Costa Rican waters.” The statement noted that the missing boat could merely be experiencing communication difficulties.

The Coast Guard has notified Panama, Nicaragua and Ecuador – all countries with which Costa Rica shares maritime borders - of the disappearance. Coast Guard officials have also alerted Costa Rica's Security Ministry.

MarViva, a non-governmental organization, has also lent a boat to the search.

If this is the year you've decided to lace up your sneakers and follow Costa Rica's Catholic faithful on the march to Cartago, you won't be alone.

This year, 2 million people are expected to make the Aug. 2 pilgrimage. Most will leave on Sunday, but some are already on their way, walking, riding horses, biking and crawling from points as far away as Guanacaste and Panama.

If you do decide to join the mass of romeros (or pilgrims), it's best to heed the advice of veteran marchers, as the day can be a mix of pain and inconvenience for those who are not prepared.

Forty-eight-year-old Any Vargas, who has made the trip five times from her home in San Pedro, advises walkers to wear shoes that have been broken in and carry plenty of water.

“I wouldn't do it if you are not in good physical condition,” she said. “It can be very difficult.”

Though people along the route offer food and water and some open their homes and bathrooms to walkers, it's always a good idea to bring some food yourself, said Ana Isabel Ureña, as she emerged from a church in San Pedro on Wednesday morning.

Also, don't forget a sweater, said the seven-time romera, as you'll be walking through the mountains into the cool Cartago night.

Autopistas del Sol, the operator of the Caldera Highway, has issued a warning to all drivers using the roadway this holiday weekend.

The company said it is expecting excessive holiday traffic along the 77-kilometer highway that stretches from San José to the Pacific port of Caldera, and although pedestrians are prohibited along the highway, many may attempt to travel the route during the annual pilgrimage to the Basílica de los Ángeles in Cartago.

“There should be a large number of vehicles that travel this route,” said Claudio Pacheco, the highway's Sub-Director for Maintenance. “The speed limits will be reduced and all access for pedestrians, cyclists, ox-carts and horses is prohibited. However, it is probable that people living in Orotina, Atenas, El Coyol and other located along the new highway will attempt to use the route for travel to Cartago.”

Monday is a national holiday and, in addition to high participation in the romería, national travel is expected to be up as well.

To contact the Caldera Highway Control Center, call 2258-4040.