by Rod Hughes
In one of the most under-promoted events in this country, 50 boats ranging from oar-powered parangasto fishing boats and even a ferry participated in the annual honoring of the Virgen del Carmen, or Virgin of the Sea yesterday in the Gulf of Nicoya off the Pacific port of Puntarenas.
Although this Roman Catholic celebration is heavily touted for international tourists in the Mediterranean islands, here it passes nearly unnoticed to all but a few locals and, of course, to residents of or near Puntarenas.
A different vessel is chosen each year for the honor of carrying the image of the Virgin Mary on its prow during the procession. The boats are decorated with colored balloons and other adornments and most often are crammed to the gunwales with family and friends.
The event has had special significance for Puntarenas since 1913 when legend has it that the Virgin saved the lives of the crew of the foundering fishing boat El Galileo based in that port during a storm off Punta Guiones. In the early afternoon, a priest blessed the assembled vessels.

by Rod Hughes
In a measure long overdue, the Cabinet Council has ordered the Tourism Institute (ICT) to install 138 signs warning of dangerous currents at 30 of the country’s most hazardous beaches on both coasts. The signs are coated with salt-resistant reflective aluminum on sturdy bases to foil vandals and are in both English and Spanish.
Despite efforts by private individuals, most beaches have no life guards even in the high season and the Red Cross does not have the budget to provide them. But worse is that the only warning for the tourist swimmer is an occasional sign in a hotel.
Off some Costa Rican beaches, inviting, lukewarm waters conceal undertows or rip currents (once called rip tides) that can carry unwary swimmers out into the ocean. If one is a strong swimmer, one can survive them by not fighting the current, but by swimming parallel to the beach until reaching quiet water or even a current that is circling toward the beach.
Panic is the swimmer’s worst enemy and has accounted for taking the lives of many tourists and residents alike over the years. Floating is easier in tropical warm waters than it is in colder Northern Hemisphere seas, since a relaxed human body will float for hours.
An important rule is never to swim alone. Even though this country boasts oceans off both coasts, an amazing percentage of Costa Ricans do not know how to swim, so rescue is unlikely. Even at that, the only thing a rescuer can do is to help the distressed swimmer remain afloat and calm—no one, no matter how strong, can fight a rip current.
Not all resort areas are hazardous. For example, the waters off Samara Beach are protected by a reef. One can find out by asking at a tourism installation, resort or hotel. (Many locals do not venture out beyond ankle depth, so asking them is useless. Also, some are alarmists who may keep you from enjoying a safe swim.)
But not everyone was encouraged with the signs in lieu of lifeguards. The weekly Tico Times ran an acerbic Arcadio editorial cartoon showing an idyllic beach scene marred by a derelict lifeguard station and a huge sign that read, “Please Don’t Drown Here. (It looks bad for tourism.)”

by Rod Hughes
Every souvenir bought by a tourist at an airport duty-free store means more support for social welfare by the government agency IMAS. And sales set a new high last year, 21% more than in 2006, reports the daily La Nacion.
The sales go to support orphanages, senior citizen homes, indigent shelters, development programs such as those for small businesses run by single mothers as well as to provide basic needs for poor families.
This has been the case for the past decades but a new law means that less goes into the general government coffers and more to IMAS. The welfare agency still must share 20% of the overall profit with the Civil Aviation agency that oversees the airports.
Two new stores at the international airport near Liberia are accounting for a boost in sales. That airport brings in newly-established routes of Air Comet (Spain), Best Choice (Britain), Spirit and Frontier (both U.S.) carrying tourists directly to the beaches and resorts on the north Pacific coast.
A novel plan has boosted sales of restricted goods (liquor and perfimes) which are delivered to the door of the plane. (New security restrictions prohibit carry-on items such as shampoo, perfume and liquor. This rule has existed ever since British police foiled a terrorist attempt in 2006 to bring down aircraft by hiding explosives in these items. IMAS noted a sharp drop in income from the stores immediately after the measure went into effect.)
But new marketing plans are in place, leading IMAS to look forward to a bright 2007. One is to buy a bottle of liquor and get a 1/4 bottle free. Another is buy three and get four units in other products. For a government heavily influenced by a socialist bent in the past, this amounts to a revolutionary idea. In the past, not only with the government, the commercial philosophy has been (except in specialized fields such as construction materials), if one unit costs such and such, then three will be three times the price.