INYO COUNTY – There are changes coming next week to traffic flow on U.S
395 traffic will switch onto the new southbound lanes of the Olancha Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project starting October 7
Caltrans will open a new road connecting the new southbound lanes to old U.S
<a href="/-/media/dot-media/district-9/images/project-maps/olancha-cartago/traffic-switch-olanchacartago-expressway-updatednumbered.jpg"></a>
There are three central changes to southbound traffic with this traffic switch: 
Northbound traffic will remain on the existing lanes of U.S
A second traffic switch planned for November will move northbound traffic to the new northbound lanes
Caltrans will release information about that traffic switch once details are finalized
The speed limit remains 55 mph through the project area
Work schedules are subject to change due to traffic incidents
Travelers are asked to be attentive to workers on the highway, slow for the cone zone, and move over whenever possible to give additional clearance. Be Safe and Be Work Zone Alert! And remember to <a href="https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-9/district-9-news/2024_8_23-slow-down-in-town">#SlowDownInTown</a>
Find out how California is building for a better tomorrow by visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://build.ca.gov/" style="background-color: #ffffff;">build.ca.gov</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rebuildingca.ca.gov/" style="background-color: #ffffff;">rebuildingca.ca.gov</a>
For those with sensory disabilities requiring alternate formats (i.e., Braille, large print, sign language interpreter, etc.) and those needing information in a language other than English, please contact <a href="mailto:robert.gossman@dot.ca.gov">Bob Gossman</a> at 760-881-7145 or TTY 711
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Emergency Information for American Citizens
Where:  TEC Cartago (Auditorio del Centro de Investigaciones en Computación
The U.S. Embassy invites U.S. citizens living in Costa Rica to a town hall meeting with senior Embassy officials to discuss your experiences living and traveling in Costa Rica.  The U.S. Embassy is also pleased to announce that our representatives will provide passport renewal services at this event. Please RSVP for the town hall and/or passport services by sending an email to <a href="mailto:ACSSanJose@state.gov">ACSSanJose@state.gov</a> by 5:00 p.m
 The Embassy will confirm the event’s location to RSVP responses
Note: Payment for passport renewal services MUST be made through <a href="https://www.pay.gov/">pay.gov</a>
Direct links for passport services are provided below
please pay close attention that the appropriate service requested matches your paid amount
 We regret that payments which are not correctly paid cannot be accepted for this event
Passport Renewal Services: Embassy representatives will be available to accept passport renewal applications
The following is required for a complete application: 
Passports will be available for pickup at the U.S
Embassy in San Jose approximately 4 weeks after acceptance
Passports can be mailed through Correos de Costa Rica and can take an additional 2-4 weeks to arrive
Applications for lost/stolen and damaged passports will not be accepted. Please visit our website (<a href="https://cr.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizens-services-navigator/">cr.usembassy.gov</a>) to make an appointment for a renewal or replacement of a lost/stolen or damaged passport
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<a href="https://www.galapagos.org" title="Galápagos Conservancy" rel="home">Galápagos Conservancy</a>
There they spent eight days trudging across hot lava fields and over small
and marking many of them while—collecting essential biological samples along the way
This population is one of the last in the wild on Isabela Island and had not been monitored in 20 years
What the team learned suggests hope for the recovery of this isolated population of endangered lizards
the team captured 288 yellow land iguanas: 117 females and 171 males
feisty animals are a challenge to catch and even more so to hold
the team was able to collect measurements of every iguana captured which has enabled piecing together of the population’s size
and changes in the iguana’s conservation status
whereas the remaining 50% had previously fitted
several of the iguanas recaptured in 2024 were part of a captive breeding program launched in the late 1970s
Given that these individuals were reintroduced as juveniles to Cartago Bay several decades ago
suggesting some individuals have not just survived but thrived
highlighting the success of this reintroduction program
Jorge Carrión noted that the monitoring effort produced an estimate of a current population of 600-700 individuals in Cartago Bay
&#8220;We also observed the positive effects of the removal of feral goats
which has allowed for recovery of the iguana’s habitat
resulting in more available food for the iguanas
generating strong growth and good survival,&#8221; he emphasized
Another essential task carried out on the expedition was the collection of biological samples
Blood and feces from the iguanas were gathered and will soon be analyzed to provide insights into the genetic health of the population
Gathering this information provides insights for developing effective protection strategies for this emblematic species both here at Cartago Bay and elsewhere in the archipelago
the team recorded the presence of other notable species in the area
Invasive species are of particular interest because they pose a significant threat to yellow land iguanas
While no invasive plant species were recorded during this expedition
posing one of the greatest threats to juvenile iguanas
This highlights the importance of continuing efforts to control invasive species
The expedition to Cartago Bay marked a significant milestone in the effort to conserve the yellow land iguana
Expedition activities —from population monitoring to biological sample collection—provide valuable information for developing a long-term conservation strategy for this species
The discovery of previously tagged individuals serves as a clear indicator of the success of the captive breeding program and ongoing efforts toward the reintroduction and re-establishment of young iguanas into the wild
and park rangers witnessed an ecosystem that is steadily recovering following the removal of feral goats
which has allowed for an increase in food resources for the iguanas
Carrión summed it up best: &#8220;We are seeing the fruits of decades of dedicated work to restore land iguanas in this critical area of Galápagos.&#8221;
progress is made in protecting iconic species that are not only of interest to themselves but also vital to maintaining the ecosystems of the archipelago
Galápagos Conservancy reaffirms its commitment to advancing science and conservation
not only for the yellow land iguana but for all the species that make the Galápagos a global treasure
Galápagos Conservancy donors are the driving force behind our efforts to conserve this magical place
Join the fight to save it by becoming a member
Follow Galápagos Conservancy on social media to get the latest conservation updates and alerts in real time
Inc.® is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with EIN Tax ID # 13-3281486
Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law in your country
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Olancha Cartago Fire Department Former Chief Chelsea Benbrook made this statement at the Olancha Community Services Regular Board Meeting
Failing EMS systems is a problem nationwide
Our Volunteer EMS collapse has been on the horizon and after the fall of Symon‘s ambulance in Bishop
I knew we were entering into an opportunity phase in Olancha
We are vulnerable here on the outskirts of the county but fortunate to lie on the 395 corridor and also unfortunate because of the added geography to cover for our small and diminishing population
80% of our total call volume is helping tourists and traffic collisions along 395
The brave people who respond to these scenes are paid a $20 flat rate per call
so it’s safe to say the incentive isn’t salary-related
Vulnerable to motorists driving high speeds
No leader should lose sight of the potential liability people enter into when they volunteer at their local fire department
These brave few need to be protected through high-quality training
Department decisions need to be made in accordance with the law and the mission statement
We need to cast a wide net to find people willing to collaborate and plan for the current and future stabilization of our department
when I took office there were no radio communications with Dispatch
No one was aware of our communication problem except for us and our mentality was “This is how it is and it can’t be fixed”
When I alerted chiefs and county departments they cared
Through the collaboration efforts of Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and CalOES
The Cerro gordo repeater was brought back online
The collaboration efforts with Inyo chiefs
and county departments allowed for a cost-free EMS class held in Southern Inyo and a $25,000 infusion to OCFD from county funds (our tax dollars) to bolster EMS
Through collaboration with CalOES and the Inyo task force we were able to become a Cal OES resource and increase the OCFD budget by nearly $400,000 and pay salary wages to OCFD volunteers
Through collaboration with China Lake Federal Fire
we were able to ask for their assistance on 911 calls in the south tip of Inyo County when no one else was available
I can continue to list examples of how collaborating with outside agencies vastly improved the safety
and services of Olancha Cartago Fire Department
The point is that improvement and stabilization of our department does not rest on the five individuals making up the current OCSD governing board
**The following was written between the community meeting and public board meeting on 9/19/24 in response to the public comments and discussion at the community meeting**
I am comfortable with how I spent my time in the department
A person has limited resources which emphasizes the need to include who expresses true interest and is willing to lend their precious resource of time
I will always continue to come and go from this community- it’s a lifelong investment and I would like to continue lending time I have to strategize for the future
Times have changed so much over the past 10
a new way to connect with people from longer distances
Let’s capitalize on our resources and value each other for what we are worth
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Drivers are reminded that the speed limit through the project is 55 mph 
What you need to know: Northbound traffic on U.S
395 within the Olancha Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project will switch onto the new northbound lanes at the southern end of the project
395 traffic will switch onto the new northbound lanes of the Olancha Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project on Tuesday
Drivers are advised that the temporary detour that switched southbound traffic onto the new northbound lanes north of Cartago will now be used to switch northbound traffic onto the existing lanes of U.S
<a href="/-/media/dot-media/district-9/images/project-maps/final-nb-traffic-switch-map.jpg"></a>
Traffic will remain in this configuration until next year
Haiwee Road and all northbound traffic will stop at the Owens Lake Operations Access Road
395 from the new lanes using the Crystal Geyser Road crossover and Lake Street connector in Cartago
State Route 190 into Death Valley National Park will be fully accessible
The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph through the crossovers
and it remains 55 mph through the project area
Smartphone mapping apps and GPS devices may not be updated to reflect the current route
Drivers are advised to follow the signs posted in the project area
Travelers are asked to be attentive to workers on the highway
and move over whenever possible to remain clear of construction personnel and equipment
To get the latest information on conditions on the State Highway System, visit the Caltrans QuickMap site at <a href="http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/">quickmap.dot.ca.gov</a> or download the app to your smartphone
You can also call the Road Condition Hotline at 1-800-427-ROAD (7623)
Find out how California is building for a better tomorrow by visiting <a href="https://build.ca.gov/">build.ca.gov</a> and <a href="https://rebuildingca.ca.gov/">rebuildingca.ca.gov</a>
For those with sensory disabilities requiring alternate formats (i.e. Braille, large print, sign language interpreter, etc.) and those needing information in a language other than English, please contact <a href="mailto:christopher.andriessen@dot.ca.gov">Christopher</a> Andriessen at (760) 937-7217 or TTY 711
COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER
Costa Rica is gearing up for its annual Independence Day celebrations
the Traffic Police will launch a special operation to ensure order and security during the patriotic events
On Friday, September 13, at 11 a.m., the <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2023/09/15/from-hand-to-hand-reflections-on-the-antorcha-de-la-independencia" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Independence Torch </a>will enter Costa Rica from Nicaragua at the Peñas Blancas border
Law enforcement will escort the torch caravan as it travels through various communities
The procession will primarily use the Inter-American Highway North
On Saturday, September 14, at 6 p.m., a ceremony will be held in Central Park, San José, to receive the torch. From there, it will continue its journey to <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/02/13/visiting-cartago-costa-rica-its-history-and-culture" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cartago</a>
passing by the Fuente de la Hispanidad (Hispanic Heritage Fountain) and Tres Ríos
The final event of the day will take place at the Plaza Mayor in Cartago
at the foot of Las Ruinas (the ruins of the Parroquia de Santiago Apóstol) that evening
authorities will escort the torch southward towards the Paso Canoas border
noted that support will also be provided along secondary routes as the torch is transported to different parts of the country
The caravan will receive assistance from personnel of the Ministry of Public Education (MEP)
September 15 &#8211; Independence Day &#8211; a special operation will be implemented in San José for the official celebrations:
Authorities will also ensure security at other patriotic events across Costa Rica, such as <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/10/11/celebrating-independence-day-lantern-parade-2-2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">lantern parades</a> and cultural activities
They urge the public to cooperate and follow instructions to ensure successful celebrations
For more information on local events and how to participate in the Independence Day celebrations, visitors and expats are encouraged to check with their local municipality or visit the official<a href="https://www.visitcostarica.com/en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Costa Rica Tourism Board website</a>
these hot springs once attracted aristocrats and global travelers seeking respite and healing
they are now poised to become a beacon of wellness tourism in Costa Rica
Originally the centerpiece of the Bella Vista Hotel
Pura Pora offered relief from ailments such as arthritis
and the springs vanished from public awareness
Adventurer Avraham Kotlitzky rediscovered Pura Pora decades later
inspired by the region’s storied past and the potential for a modern-day sanctuary
GBI Costa Rica aims to restore the springs’ legacy while embracing cutting-edge sustainability and luxury
Instalaciones del Palacio Purapora en Agua Caliente de Cartago / Buildings of Purapora Palace in Agua Caliente of Cartago
“This is about more than preserving history—it’s about crafting a forward-thinking destination,” says Chen Noiman 
“Pura Pora will redefine wellness tourism by harmonizing Costa Rica’s natural splendor with contemporary comfort and innovation.”
Central to the project is a state-of-the-art wellness center
featuring thermal baths that tap directly into the hot springs
GBI Costa Rica will also introduce eco-conscious suites
health-oriented dining options spotlighting local cuisine
and immersive cultural experiences that reveal Cartago’s heritage
This holistic approach ensures visitors of all backgrounds
from leisure travelers to dedicated wellness enthusiasts
can benefit from the project’s transformative vision
To introduce these ambitious plans, GBI Costa Rica will host the <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/Tracker?data=3mSzidEbBEZaahnnneN08aF92G-k9asa4thzBE34WeNeCecSFx2W3Xj4IQHDebThk2MpHaTRVxUa5AvaPn35RA==" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="">UpPura Conference</a>
a free event inviting investors to explore Pura Pora’s future firsthand
Attendees will not only gain insights into how the revitalized hot springs can reshape sustainable tourism in Cartago and beyond
but they’ll also enjoy a complimentary three-night stay at the hotel to experience the transformation for themselves
Pura Pora promises to be more than a luxurious escape—it stands as a symbol of Costa Rica’s evolving commitment to holistic well-being
For those looking to help shape the next era of responsible travel
Pura Pora offers an inspiring opportunity to uplift and rejuvenate generations to come
GBI Costa Ricainfo@uppura.comhttps://uppura.com
 What you need to know: The connector will make it easier for vehicles to reach State Route 190
The State Route 190 connector as seen from the new northbound lanes
The new State Route 190 connector will simplify navigation for northbound traffic heading to Death Valley National Park
as well as those needing access to services in Olancha and Cartago
In addition to the new State Route 190 connector
395 from the new lanes using Crystal Geyser Road and the Lake Street connector in Cartago
Construction on the Olancha-Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project will continue into 2025
and move over whenever possible to give additional clearance
 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region. 
 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects 
 Analysis, reports, news and interviews about your industry in English, Spanish and Portuguese. 
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An authentic Halloween tradition of Costa Rica
is an authentic local tradition that has deep historical roots and was revived two decades ago
October 31st is officially known as the National Masquerade Day
Giant costumed puppets march the streets with music and dances
Large puppet heads are prepared by local artists with craft paper and various materials
Escazu artisans are especially renowned for creating unique masks
They are the masters behind traditional Costa Rican folk characters like El Diablo and la Muerte
There is also el Padre sin Cabeza la Segua
which appears in front of men and women who stay up late
a female ghost that wonders along river banks and scares kids
you can also see masks of various popular culture characters at the parades
especially those that are loved by children
you can watch large masquerade parades in the towns of Escazu at Escazu Central Park
the masquerade is normally held on Plaza Mayor de Cartago
the museum aims to promote this vibrant tradition of masquerades and showcase the beauty of its origins
opens with a mesmerizing concert of Costa Rican music featuring the San José Concert Band
Admission is completely free for residents and nationals
This vibrant tradition dates back to pre-Colombian customs
and the Giants and Big-heads parade held during the San Fermin festival
The first masquerade was held in Cartago in 1824
The event was abandoned for nearly a century and was at risk of disappearing
October 31 was officially declared the Dia de la Mascarada Tradicional Costarricense
What you need to know: The connector will make it easier for vehicles to reach State Route 190
INYO COUNTY &ndash; The State Route 190 connector within the Olancha-Cartago 4-Lane Expressway Project is now open to the traveling public
months ahead of its original planned opening of spring 2025
Built at the southern end of the project near the Los Angeles Aqueduct
this is the third of three new connectors that link the new lanes of U.S
The speed limit remains 55 mph through the project area and 45 mph at the two traffic crossovers
<a href="https://www.medicaldesignandoutsourcing.com/">Medical Design and Outsourcing</a>
July 1, 2024 By <a href="https://www.medicaldesignandoutsourcing.com/author/mdostaff/" class="entry-author-link" rel="author">MDO Staff</a>  
A rendering of the new facility that Cretex Medical is building in Cartago
Costa Rica [Image courtesy of Cretex Medical]
Minnesota—Cretex Medical announced today that it has broken ground on a new production facility in Cartago
The 65,000-square-foot medical device component manufacturing and assembly facility will include state-of-the-art technology and manufacturing equipment
and operations are targeted to begin in Q3 2025
the needs of our customers are central to our decision-making
it’s clear now is the right time to add an international footprint,” said Nick Morrison
“We evaluated a variety of countries and communities
We knew that we needed a location that brought us into proximity with our global customers
It also had to have a labor market with the right technical skills and talent
while aligning with our domestic operations.”
Medical technology is Costa Rica’s main export product
The growing device manufacturing community not only puts Cretex Medical close to its customers
but the area has the physical and business infrastructure to fuel success
That includes the availability of a highly skilled talent base thanks to nearby technical schools and universities
Costa Rica’s time zone also aligns with Cretex Medical’s U.S
Cretex sought a location that aligned with both our business needs and our core values,&#8221; said Jeff Wollerman
&#8220;Costa Rica&#8217;s cultural emphasis on family and community
coupled with its status as a leading manufacturer of medical devices
Cretex Medical plans to invest over $20 million in Costa Rica operations over the next few years
Cretex Cos. (<a href="http://www.cretex.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.cretex.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1719937485318000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2n3BjXMadTiuOwP7LghEpx">www.cretex.com</a>) has been privately owned by the same family for over 100 years
Cretex employs over 2,200 team members at facilities in Minnesota
and rms provide contract manufacturing and engineering services to medical device manufacturers (OEMs)
Cretex Materials and Cretex Specialty Products are leaders in the infrastructure industry
The companies are guided by a common management system
The opinions expressed in this news release are the author’s only and do not necessarily reflect those of Medical Design &amp; Outsourcing or its employees
Subscribe to Medical Design &amp; Outsourcing
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The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/diocesis.decartagocr" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Diocese of Cartago</a> received this Friday a sample Carlo Acutis’ hair
Acutis will be proclaimed a saint for a miracle granted to a Costa Rican woman
The Vatican has sent to the Diocese of Cartago a relic of Carlo Acutis
who will be proclaimed a saint after granting a miracle to the young Costa Rican Valeria Valverde
“We are going to receive in the Diocese of Cartago a first-degree relic
it is from this young man who is an example for the youth
he celebrated his faith and believed in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
&#8216;the most ordinary way to get to heaven is to attend mass,&#8217;” noted David Arley
The relic arrived during on Friday at the <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2023/04/14/a-visit-to-cartagos-basilica-de-nuestra-senora-de-los-angeles" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Cathedral of Cartago</a>
It will remain there for the weekend.On Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
it will be transported to the Parish of Santa Maria Goretti—in the Pitahaya sector—where it will reside permanently
A mass will be celebrated at the site by the local Bishop
so both figures will now be known as the patron saints of diocesan youth
The Diocese of Cartago also stated that other parishes will be able to request a visit from the relic for a few days.Acutis was born in London in 1991
He was an avid Catholic and was very active on social media
This led him to become an “influencer” of the Church or “internet apostle.”
he was declared “venerable,” the first step towards sainthood
his first miracle was recognized when the unexplained healing of a child in Brazil was attributed to him
According to the norms of the Catholic Church
another case of intercession needed to be presented
the Vatican recognized the unexplained recovery of a young Costa Rican woman named Valeria Valverde
Last week Olancha-Cartago Fire Department temporarily suspended emergency medical services
Olancha Cartago Fire Department said that they could not provide emergency services
Lone Pine Fire Protection District EMS and Ridgecrest EMS expanded their operating areas to include Olancha Cartago as an interim measure
Inyo County Emergency Medical Services are sparse and fragile due to the current model
Inyo County Medical Services depend upon volunteers; however
Recent shortages of qualified personnel created this temporary
unsustainable strain on Olancha-Cartago Fire Department EMS coverage
Olancha-Cartago Fire Department and Inyo County are working to ensure Olancha Cartago EMS is available to the public
“The emergency service and fire services is reduced
That department is struggling with volunteers
Their board is holding a community meeting on Thursday night [September 19]
which I believe they hope will highlight the problem and help get more people to want to volunteer
so that their community will have the fire and EMS service
this is a challenge for all of our communities to maintain this kind of service with the volunteer system,” said Supervisor Matt Kingsley
“We’re all working to ensure these services are available to the public,” said Anna Scott
An emergency meeting to address the situation should be held Thursday
To volunteer contact your local fire department or emergency service provider
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The government&#8217;s monetary policy has significantly impacted various sectors of the country
the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) announced that the Mexican company Promotora y Desarrolladora Mexicana de Infraestructura S.A
responsible for building the Cartago hospital
PRODEMEX cited the country&#8217;s macroeconomic situation as a primary reason for exiting the project
The company emphasized the appreciation of the Costa Rican colón and its effects on the project’s viability
the economic outlook has changed considerably since they initially submitted their bid to build the hospital
“It is evident that a project of this magnitude can only be successfully executed and completed with the commitment and support of all stakeholders involved
in accordance with the applicable legal framework,” PRODEMEX stated
the appreciation of the colón has affected the economic feasibility of the project
as the contract did not include adjustment mechanisms for such fluctuations
<a href="http://prodemex.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PRODEMEX</a> also highlighted the country&#8217;s political situation as another reason for withdrawing its offer
They pointed to the disagreements between the CCSS and the Ministry of Health
particularly following a Ministry of Health resolution in May 2023 that deemed the land &#8220;unsuitable&#8221; for hospital construction
“The political uncertainty surrounding the project
and the lack of assurance regarding its execution as originally planned
constitutes a true fortuitous event (act of the prince)
justifying our withdrawal and exempting us from liability,” the company added
The hospital project was awarded after a thorough analysis of bids from four companies by the Infrastructure and Technology Department of the CCSS
followed by Compañía Constructora Van Der Laat y Jiménez
and Consorcio Edificar-Estructuras 2022 with 74.09%
Congresswoman Jhoanna Obando presented several motions on Thursday before the Cartago Commission
calling for a hearing with representatives from PRODEMEX
due to government’s decisions and the disputes between officials
the people of Cartago will face further delays in the construction of a much-needed hospital
about 75 miles south of Bishop and 60 miles north of Ridgecrest on Hwy 395 at Cartago
Access: From Bishop or Ridgecrest take Hwy 395 to Whitney Street in Cartago
The wildlife area boundary is about 1/2 mile east of Hwy 395
<a href="/Lands/Viewer">CDFW Lands Viewer</a>
<a href="/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Icon-Key" title="Wildlife Viewing"></a> <a href="/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Icon-Key" title="Hunting with Shotgunsy"></a> <a href="/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Icon-Key" title="Quail Hunting"></a> <a href="/Lands/Places-to-Visit/Icon-Key" title="Waterfowl Hunting"></a>
Ruins of an old soda ash processing plant are on the southwest side of the wildlife area
Old dikes 3'-4' high extend into Owens Lake bed and encircle ponds which were once used as soda evaporators
Shotguns only (due to the close proximity of Hwy 395)
Type C: Cartago Wildlife Area does not require the purchase of a hunting pass for entry
Entry permits and/or passes or special drawing may be required for hunting on some Type C wildlife areas
Cartago Springs contains one of the few remaining spring and wetland areas on the shore of Owens Lake
Groundwater pumping and surface and groundwater export by the Los Angeles City Department of Water and Power has significantly reduced wetland habitat acreage and quality
and has significantly impacted vegetation in the Owens Valley since the 1950s
The purpose of the acquisition was to protect existing wetland and aquatic habitats found onsite
The property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 2007
a hidden archaeological treasure was found in Agua Caliente
The discovery was made when personnel were carrying out work in Quebrada El Molino due to the risk of overflow and the potential impact on homes
the machine operator and other municipal workers discovered a stone sculpture near a slope in El Molino Creek
Immediate communication was established thanks to a group of nearby neighbors—some closely linked to the care and protection of the Agua Caliente Archaeological Monument—who were present where the machinery was operating
it was determined that it was a pre-Columbian sculpture and
needed to be recovered and cared for,&#8221; said Quintanilla
The recommendation was to collect the piece and keep it safe so that no one could take it for personal use
the piece was taken to the municipal campus
it was moved to the National Museum to be cleaned and catalogued
&#8220;The finding of this sculpture is very relevant because it corresponds to a female figure
In different parts of the Caribbean region
and in the same archaeological site of Agua Caliente
similar sculptures have been found,&#8221; added Quintanilla
was among the officials who announced the discovery of the piece
Redondo mentioned that they are working on the development of the Agua Caliente Archaeological Center in the same place
This would focus on the historical and touristic significance of the region
Infrastructure such as mounds and causeways has been found there
Its occupation has been recorded over 2,000 years through villages of both natural and agricultural exploitation
daily life and ceremonial acts took place there
The tombs have been key to investigating details of the original inhabitants
Today, thousands of faithful Catholics celebrate the Day of the Virgin of Los Angeles, Patroness of Costa Rica. This day honors a revered figure whose original image is small and crafted from volcanic rock, graphite, and jade. Her devotees affectionately call her &#8220;<a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/07/31/finding-la-negrita-a-story-of-coming-home">La Negrita</a>.&#8221;
a woman named Juana Pereira discovered an image of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms on a rock
The site was known as &#8220;Puebla de los Pardos,&#8221; where the Basilica of Cartago was later constructed
The woman moved the image to various locations
the image would always reappear on the original rock
Locals interpreted this as a sign that the Mother of God desired a temple to be built there
The people began calling her Our Lady of the Angels
as she appeared on the feast day of the Virgin celebrated under that name
Costa Ricans from various parts of the country undertake a pilgrimage to the National Shrine
This traditional ‘Romería’ often begins in mid to late July
as it takes several days for many pilgrims to complete
thousands of people have made this pilgrimage to the Basilica of Los Angeles annually
Some embark on this journey seeking miracles for themselves
while others come to express gratitude to ‘La Negrita’ for blessings received
pilgrims kneel and walk down the main aisle to the image of the Virgin
The most significant aspect is the faith of those who seek miracles and those who believe they have received one
This day holds a special place in the hearts of Ticos and Ticas
who show their deep-rooted faith and express their spirituality and gratitude
 by <a href="https://sierrawave.net/author/news_staff/" title="Posts by News Staff" rel="author">News Staff</a> | Jan 25, 2021 | <a href="https://sierrawave.net/category/government-utilities/caltrans/" rel="category tag">CalTrans</a> | <a href="https://sierrawave.net/what-is-the-progress-of-the-olancha-cartago-four-lane-project/#respond">4 comments</a>
What is the progress of the Olancha Cartago Four-Lane Project
Olancha-Cartago four-lane project (photo submitted by Michael Lingberg
as it will consistently be updated before and during the project
The north and south boundaries of the project are an “area from between four miles south of Olancha to four miles north of Cartago on U.S
The total cost of the project is $83 million
which will be funded by the following organizations: Inyo and Mono counties’ Local Transportation Commissions
and Caltrans with State Transportation Improvement Funds
In a phone interview with <a href="https://www.inyocounty.us/government/board-supervisors/district-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matt Kingsley, fifth district supervisor of Inyo County</a>
said he is “in support of doing something to make it safer,” when referring to the two-lane section in Olancha/Cartago
Kingsley mentioned the several deaths that resulted in that area over the past couple of years
Kingsley said that due to COVID it has made it more difficult to engage with people in person
“I do think one of the benefits coming from the pandemic [is that] we are learning to use remote meetings like Zoom
which I hope to continue to use in the future
To engage with communities spread throughout the fifth district [and] the challenge is to make sure all our communities have broadband internet access to use these platforms,” said Kingsley
These safety improvements can&#8217;t happen soon enough
This is so needed and can&#8217;t happen fast enough
I spoke with a contractor last week that is biding on the fence to keep the tortoise safe during the construction
He told me the contract calls for 30 miles of fencing to cover both sides of the new alinement
A link to where the information is on the Caltrans website please
Yaney, thank you for the reminder. The link has been added to the story and is also right here: <a href="https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-9/district-9-current-projects/olancha-cartago-4-lane-project" title="Olancha Cartago 4 Lane Project" rel="nofollow ugc">Olancha Cartago 4 Lane Project</a>
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It was a historic day for Costa Rica’s soccer: Club Sport Cartaginés won the final and lifted the championship trophy
The last time Cartago was crowned champion was in 1941 when it defeated Club Sport Herediano in the final 4-3
Legend has it that after the celebration of that title
and the fans and players even arrived drunk and on horseback to the Basilica of Los Angeles
the priest told them they would never be champions again until all the players who committed the sacrilege died
Another story attributed Cartago’s championship drought to an evil spell doll under the stadium&#8217;s turf
It was believed someone cast a spell against the team
The so-called curse lasted for eight decades
Cartago&#8217;s fans are euphorically celebrating a historic triumph
which they have deeply desired with all their hearts
Cartago ranked third worldwide among the teams that had gone the longest without winning a championship
Cartago&#8217;s Plaza Mayor was overflowing with fans
who were looking forward to seeing the players arrive with the cup
Cartago Vive!’ thousands of fans celebrated amid applause
and flags as they waited for the team to return in a caravan along with those who came to support them in Alajuela
the team arrived in the city of Cartago at 4 am
where they were greeted by a sea of blue shirts and flags
Players and fans remembered all those team fans who longed to see their beloved team win and are no longer here today
They stressed that this triumph was also for them
&#8220;It is a blessing; I can only thank God
This is because of the whole workgroup that we had around us
I am very grateful to everyone because I am the head
you have to work as a team,&#8221; said coach Geiner Segura after the victory
Cartago&#8217;s loyal fans have many reasons to be happy and celebrate big time
they have remained faithful to their team and have been able to support them amid adversity
 by <a href="https://sierrawave.net/author/news_staff/" title="Posts by News Staff" rel="author">News Staff</a> | Aug 30, 2019 | <a href="https://sierrawave.net/category/general-stories/" rel="category tag">General Misc. Stories</a> | <a href="https://sierrawave.net/olancha-cartago-the-gateway-to-the-sierra-nevadas/#respond">12 comments</a>
395 may by-pass Olancha and Cartago some time in the future
but CalTrans won’t leave the little communities in the lurch
The future of both was outlined at Tuesday’s Inyo Board of Supervisors’ meeting by James Powell of Alta Planning and Design
Olancha/Cartago will be re-branded as “The Gateway to the Sierra Nevadas” with tourists intentionally cruising through the community instead of driving blindly past it
funded through a CalTrans California Sustainable Planning Grant
The by-pass will identify the eight miles of the original 395
as a destination as well as the turn-off point to Death Valley
Residents and visitors will actually be able to walk or bike through the communities without fear of turning into road kill
there was a fear Olancha/Cartago would wither on the vine
the goal of the corridor study is to increase tourism and promote economic growth
identifying the area as both the way to Death Valley and a place to be in its own right
biking and horse-back riding trails along the corridor as well as way-finding signs to local attractions and recreational opportunities
Powell told the Supervisors he’d be back in the fall for a final workshop
Where are all the Semi-Trucks from the Crystal Geyser hauling Owens Valley water going to route
 hopefully we will not have to put up with them anymore
The greater Owens Valley is almost always referred to as the Eastern Sierra
so if any pointless &#8216;re&#8217;branding&#8217; is to be done
And every place that is nicknamed &#8216;Gateway&#8217; to somewhere else
Olancha and Cartago also serve as beginning/ending points to/from Death Valley
The local residents were given no voice against the bypass
so why should they have a say in how their community is re-branded
Bad marketing to polish up a crime committed by Caltrans
a number of folks from the area came out to a couple public meetings and convinced the Board of Supervisors to not allow cannabis in that zone &#8211; in spite of the voting public being a slight majority in favor of it in the 2016 general election
 Let&#8217;s bring back some optimism in our communities
As much as I get a chuckle at the self-appointed Sierra Word Police who are constantly correcting the commonly misused words
&#8220;Sierras&#8221; or &#8220;Sierra Nevadas&#8221;
they should use the correct name if they intend &#8220;re-branding&#8221; for this area
(I never realized there was brand to re-brand
this stretch of highway is dangerous and improvements are desperately needed before more tragedies occur
Remember how Narrow Gauge Road in Lone Pine was Narrow &#8220;Guage&#8221; Road for a while
They finally took down the sign and corrected it
and we will lose our minds if we continue to worry about folks&#8217; spelling and grammar in the Valley
we can place bets and perhaps just have a drink and laugh when the newly branded &#8220;Gateway to the Sierra Nevadas&#8221; makes it to print
Can it please be called &#8220;The Gateway to the Sierra Nevada&#8221;
I’ve lost two many friends to this Highway
Please stop delaying this over one restaurant
Sierra Nevada is always singular when referring to the mountain range on the west side of the Owens Valley
 It isn’t “the Sierras,” it isn’t “the Sierra Nevadas.” It is a mountain range and there is only one of them
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Baxter International is a diversified healthcare company with a presence in several countries
medication delivery and bioscience sectors
Its Cartago facility concentrates primarily on medication delivery
The plant has been operating since 1987 and has a portfolio of 169 codes to its credit
The plant&#8217;s manufacturing activities include producing IV administration sets
Baxter Cartago is Costa Rica&#8217;s fourth-largest exporter
with the finished goods used in 60 countries across the globe
Most of its production is exported to the US
A new steriliser is being constructed at the plant to boost its vertical integration process
Costa Rica,the Baxter facility is a 152,000ft&#178; plant.Launched in 1987
the plant has achieved continous growth in medication delivery
 The 1,200-employee facility produces products including IV administration sets
meant primarily for administering medication and delivering IV solutions to patients
At present the plant has a portfolio of 169 codes
The plant has also been dealing with production transferred from other Baxter plants
the plant manufactured nutrition sets transferred from another Baxter plant
Similar transfers were made in 2005 for irrigation sets
catheter extension sets and tri-layer sets
The Cartago facility also provides subassemblies and components to other Baxter plants in ten countries
Baxter&#8217;s Cartago facility adopted quality leadership process but later shifted prior to the Baldridge quality model
The plant has adopted the lean approach at the shop floor level as well as for the support functions
Operational process at the plant is guided by six factors &ndash; customer
Monitoring of the processes is done through a balanced scorecard
The plant has achieved substantial progress in terms of delivery
It has reduced manufacturing cycle time by nearly 65&#37;
the service level improved by 17&#37; while the lead time went down by 29&#37; between 2006 and 2007
Back orders also fell by 66&#37; between 2005 and 2007
the plant became the first to receive the Shingo prize for operational excellence outside North America
The award was given in recognition of the plant&#8217;s efforts to improve productivity
manufacturing cycle time and customer lead time
Baxter&#8217;s facility at Cartago is the first in Central America to be certified by ISO 9002
The plant was upgraded to ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certification
It pioneered the implementation of 100&#37; electronic batch records in the medical device industry
All the product codes of the plant fall under the advanced product quality planning (APQP) methodology
which is used for managing risk and prevention of defects
the plant recieved 40&#37; fewer complaints per million
the defects per million had come down by 45&#37;
Quality exception situations were also reduced by 58&#37; in 2005
Baxter&#8217;s Cartago plant became the first manufacturing facility in Costa Rica to recieve carbon neutral recognition
Apart from cutting gas consumption by 44&#37;
the plant has also reduced energy consumption by 9&#37; and achieved waste reduction by 25&#37; in 2006
The plant was certified with ISO 14001 in 1998 and OHAS in 2004
becoming the first company in Central America to receive this certification
The plant brought down its lost time incident rate per 100 full time employees from 0.63 incidents in 2000 to 0.06 in 2006
The safety performance was further improved between 2000 and 2006 by reducing the lost time days per 100 employees from 3.85 to 0.60 in 2006
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An estimated 2 million people made the pilgrimage to Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in Cartago on Friday
Costa Rican Catholics &#8212; and faithful from across the world &#8212; complete the romería to give thanks to and ask for blessings from La Negrita
Here are some photos from the 2019 romería (shot on my cell phone
since I was too hot/tired/sweaty to carry another camera)
  <a href="https://www.bnamericas.com/en/what-we-do">Bnamericas</a>  Published: Friday, April 21, 2023    <a class="topic" href="https://www.bnamericas.com/en/tag/suspensions" title="Suspensions" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="bottom" tooltip> Suspensions </a> <a class="topic" href="https://www.bnamericas.com/en/tag/hospital" title="Hospital" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="bottom" tooltip> Hospital </a>  
 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region
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ShareSave<a class="isDg-4PG" href="https://www.forbes.com/lifestyle/" data-ga-track="breadcrumb-L2">Lifestyle</a><a class="isDg-4PG _2XNbdi6I" href="https://www.forbes.com/dining/" data-ga-track="breadcrumb-L3">Dining</a>In The Shadow Of A Volcano, Cartago Is The Entry Point For Costa Rica’s Vast Eco-System And ForestsBy<a class="_4tin10wS YbfXuVMn" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmariani/" rel="noreferrer" target="_self">John Mariani</a>
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
10:31am EDTShareSaveThis article is more than 5 years old.The  Irazu Volcano is still very active within sight of Cartago
 As capital and largest city in Costa Rica
San José draws the most tourism and industry
But as a whole Costa Rica is one of Central America’s most sought-out eco-tourism countries
is a good place to stay put while exploring the verdant rainforest of Tapanti Macizo de la Muerte National Park and the still active 4,700 foot Irazú Volcano to the northeast
The Lankester Botanical Garden displays a thousand orchid species alone
and serves as a research center within the University of Costa Rica
Cartago&#x27;s Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles is revered for its black madonna statue called ..
which was once the country’s capital from 1574 to 1824
there are several historic sites that bespeak the city’s origins as a Spanish settlement by Juan Vásquez de Coronado on 1563
  Critical to the city’s decline were major earthquakes in 1822
Today Cartago cannot be called a modern city in the way San José so manifestly is
but its folklore and location give it a great deal of quiet charm based on a strong Catholic faith
in 1635  an indigenous girl found a statue of a black Madonna (“La Negrita”) that kept mysteriously disappearing from her house despite repeated retrievals
Today a statue of La Negrita inside the Basilica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángelesadorns a rock where the original was supposedly found
often climbing the Cathedral steps on their knees
 was left in stark ruins  after significant damage from ..
The most famous of Cartago’s historic sites is Santiago Apóstol Parish
after significant damage from 1845 and 1910 earthquakes
(The latter destroyed most of Cartago’s colonial buildings.) It is set in the Plaza Mayor and has a strange quiet about it
similar to that at Barcelona’s unfinished Antoni Gaudí Cathedral
as if the ruins were cloisters in which to meditate
is actually located within the former police headquarters
while soft music plays within the rooms and hallways
Costa Rica&#x27;s forests are home to more than 400 species of birds
with Irazú Volcano looming over the landscape
with some of Central America’s most glorious forests
populated by more than 400 species of exotic birds with wonderful names like highland tinamou
green-fronted lancebill and cabanis’s ground-sparrow
eat and explore the region is the Hotel Quelitales (Peñas Blancas; 506 2577 2222)
set up a rocky road called Calle El Bochinche (which curiously enough means “gossip road”)
spread over 10 acres bordering 30,000 acres of a forest reserve
run by the very affable and knowledgeable José Albas
who is also the chef at the on-premises Restaurant Casa José
The tropical-colored rooms and suites here are all within individual cottages and overlook the gardens and forests
(While I visited over the course of a half-hour I must have spotted a dozen species of birds in the trees outside the window.)  The hotel has well-working Wi-Fi but there are no TVs in the room
The Hotel Quelitales is located within thousands of acres of forest outside of Cartago
It’s also a good central location from which to visit attractions in the Highlands like the Guyabo National Monument
which preserves the ruins of a powerful town from 1,000 BCE; the lake at Laguna Angostura; and the Catie Botanical Garden
at the on-premises Restaurant Casa José serves a remarkable ..
Albas’s restaurant would be quite remarkable anywhere in Central America
for it is very personalized and very much dependent upon what he finds locally
that began with a omelet cooked in butter with sprouts of quelites
It was served in a bowl of chicken broth that tasted like the chicken had just been plucked from its nest that morning
with a squeeze of lemon juice and a salsa made from Lizano
which is to Costa Rica what Tabasco is to Louisiana
rare t-bone with a big slice of habanero pepper on top
For dessert was a kind of bananas Foster Costa Rican-style flamed in brandy
and delicate crêpes with ice cream and Bailey’s Irish Cream sauce—all to the sounds of birds singing and a breeze blowing through the trees
Zachary Lee ’24 takes a photo of a bird of paradise in Jardín Botánico Lankester in Cartago
A group of students who studied global development in Costa Rica helped launch a new model of <a href="https://cals.cornell.edu/global-development/study-trips">faculty-led study trips</a> in January
Their 10-day excursion marked one of the first faculty-led international trips hosted by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences in the post-COVID era
Spearheaded by the <a href="https://cals.cornell.edu/global-development">Department of Global Development</a>
the new model features classroom instruction during the semester that prepares the students for a field-based practicum in a foreign country during a school break
Students taking the 3-credit course “Agriculture
Food Systems and Global Development” traveled throughout Costa Rica to engage with the organizations
trade policies and gender considerations that impact value chains
They focused on visiting farms that produce specialty crops from coffee to cacao
Students are now preparing for a study trip to Ecuador this spring break; students enrolled in the course “Development in Action” in the fall semester will travel to either Cameroon or Malawi in January 2025
Students take a guided stroll through Jardín Botánico Lankester in Cartago
it is a major center for orchid and botanical research in Central America
it was the first time they were fully immersed in another culture: touring local farms
engaging in conversations with farmers and university students
This learning model prepared students to practice skills in a new environment
with the goal of empowering students to become global citizens
Students observe the Poas Volcano on the first day of the trip
The rich volcanic soils and altitude create the perfect climate for growing coffee in the region surrounding San José
Rodolfo “Tigre” Zamora welcomes students to Rinconcito Organico Irazu
an organic farm in Cartago that he runs with his wife
The visit left a lasting impression on many of the students; since 2006
the farm has been a model for organic growing and sustainable agriculture in the region
"It was very touching just seeing how much work and care that they put into their farm
It showed me a different realm of agriculture
we care a lot about monoculture and economic growth and here
they are integrating everything sustainably and with a passion for global causes
Students walk through an organic research farm in the heart of Santa Ana
"It’s been cool to see what's motivating the farmers and breeders behind production systems because it's really different than how we often think in the United States
What I've appreciated is that there's a pretty holistic approach to agriculture and what sustainable production looks like here."
professor of the practice of global development in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
chats with Cornell and local EARTH University students after a tour of EARTH University’s banana plantation
Sophia Ukeni ’27 picks strawberries at P&amp;E Farms in Cartago
Lauren Chuhta ’26 cracks open a cacao pod at Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza in Turrialba
"I’ve seen the impact that these trips have on students
especially when they haven’t traveled much
sounds and it immediately influences their life-course."
professor and director of undergraduate studies
School of Integrative Plant Science Horticulture Section
and professor in the Department of Global Development
The whole crew jumps in the back of a produce van for a quick photo op near Santa Ana
A green iguana basks on a sunny branch at EARTH University in San José
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Every year, an estimated two million people from across Central America&nbsp;leave their homes and walk to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ticotimes.net/2014/07/31/la-negrita-please-fix-my-peacock" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Ángeles</a> in Cartago
to pay their respects to Costa Rica’s patron saint
known locally as &#8220;La Negrita.&#8221;
The tradition&nbsp;is based&nbsp;on the 17th century legend of La Negrita
in which an indigenous woman discovered a small&nbsp;statue in the forest&nbsp;of a dark-skinned woman carrying a baby in&nbsp;her arms
The woman&nbsp;took the statue&nbsp;to her home
but something unusual happened: the next day
The indigenous woman again found the statue in the middle of the woods
only to reappear in the same spot in the woods
The woman decided to tell the town’s priest
he declared it a message from the Virgin Mary
The priest&nbsp;said villagers&nbsp;should&nbsp;build a church on the spot where the statue appeared
the Basilica in Cartago is said to sit on that spot
&#8220;La Romería de la Virgen de los Ángeles,&#8221; the annual pilgrimage to Cartago
continues to attract faithful Catholics who come to see the statue of &#8220;La Negrita&#8221; and ask for blessings
The Directorate of Bands will dedicate a distinctive and unique concert to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship to honor international ties and highlight the institution’s work
as it is a bridge and fabric of cultural fusions at the international level
&#8220;Musical Legacy&#8221; brings together the Cartago Concert Band and the Limón Concert Band to offer a musical program in recognition of musical works for large ensembles
with the performance of more than 45 musicians on stage
The presentation is today July 1, at 7 p.m., at the Cartago Municipal Amphitheater, (due to <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/06/30/costa-rican-authorities-prepare-for-tropical-storm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tropical storm bonnie</a>
changes may occur) under the musical direction of the invited Carthaginian maestro
Víquez has had a long trajectory in musical projects with different concert bands as a conductor and guest soloist
this concert will feature guest instrumentalists: Bianca Scaglioni
from the National Institute of Music; Osvaldo Redondo
from the University of Southern Mississippi; and Danilo Víquez
from the School of Musical Arts of the University of Costa Rica
These musicians will come together to perform &#8220;Cristina,” an emblematic piece by Costa Rican Rafael Chávez Torres
it will be the world premiere of &#8220;Legado para Banda de Conciertos&#8221; by composer Pablo Aguilar Garita
1 &#8220;Titan&#8221; by German composer Gustav Mahler
has been a Costa Rican and a resident of the United States of America since 2012
He has an outstanding career as an orchestral
which has been recognized throughout the American continent
Víquez is Director of the Chair of Orchestral Studies
and Full Professor in the Department of Music at the University of South Dakota
&#8220;This concert is extraordinary for me
for sharing the stage again with my colleagues from the Carthage Concert Band and for the first time with the Limón Concert Band,&#8221; Luis A
General Director of Bands of the Ministry of Culture and Youth
was pleased to have the presence of the great Director
Maestro Luis Adolfo Víquez has been doing hard work as guest conductor in several of the country&#8217;s Concert Bands
seeking to perform repertoire that has not been previously performed in Costa Rica
in parallel to his work environment in the United States
Admission to the &#8220;Musical Legacy&#8221; concert is free and open to the public
Reservations must be made at 2550-4635 | 2550-4426 at the Cartago Municipal Amphitheater which started Wednesday
Considering how much I love the idea of trains in general
it’s embarrassing how long it took me to hop aboard for a ride to and from Cartago
I’d ridden the train eastward from games at the National Stadium – by far the best way to get away from the jam-packed streets surrounding Sabana Park after any major event – but never from my home
I finally remedied this on a recent Saturday, along with my husband and daughter. As we waited for the train at the station in Cipreses de Curridabat, it was inevitable, given <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2014/11/10/a-love-letter-to-costa-ricas-second-language" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">my obsession with Costa Rican slang</a>
that I would wonder aloud whether there are any choice costarriqueñismos related to trains
“Not that I can think of right now,” he said
it was often used to describe women who hadn’t yet been married
‘La dejó el tren’ meant that she’d never gotten hitched.”
As I pondered the lovely linguistic gifts bestowed upon unmarried women in many languages, our particular train trundled up to our stop. We were off: up the hill to Cartago, off the train for a short visit to the <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2017/09/03/visit-cartagos-mercado-central" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mercado Municipal</a> and the Ruins
The journey was a bit of a revelation – or
a heightened view of everything I consider the essence of Costa Rica
and thoroughly dislike about my adopted country flashed by outside the open windows (why is it that when it comes to Costa Rica
I can only seem to use the word “hate” in the phrase “love to hate”?)
I was transfixed by what was outside those windows
Most any journey by car or bus in greater San José is
pedestrians risking their lives as they sprint across streets
big-box stores holding court in increasing numbers
And thanks to the tendency to live “del portón pa’dentro,” as one person once described it to me – hidden behind a big front gate or wall
and probably a series of locks – there are precious few of the glimpses of family life that can enliven travel through the streets of some other cities I’ve known
You chug through graffiti-heavy underpasses and peer into lush backyards
You gaze into someone’s kitchen window right next to the tracks and wonder how on earth the woman pouring coffee into her mug
has gotten used to the sound and vibrations
We saw a man and his son buying chips at the <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2023/06/19/costa-rica-expat-living-the-pulperia">pulpería</a>; a semicircle of bare butt-cracks where a group of workers were squatted around the back of a pickup for an impromptu lunch in a vacant lot; breathtaking views of ravines and cafetales; the backsides of some very ugly new buildings; mounds of trash here and there; people waving to us as we passed by; a child whirling
in a cimarrona costume in his family’s back patio
we saw glimpses of Costa Rican life that haven’t changed much since my husband
We also got a unique view of the drastic inequality that was not the same back then
Just minutes after leaving Cartago on the last train of the day
all the riders in our car were startled by an object that seemed to drop from the ceiling at top speed
We looked at each other in momentary confusion
we realized that it had been thrown in through one of the open windows
“This is a slum,” one well-groomed señora explained to the rest of us
gesturing at the neighborhood passing by outside our windows: garbage
I pictured a skinny boy jumping up and down on a dusty slope
Even though we were rumbling along fairly slowly
it would be deeply satisfying to aim just right and get something through that little window
It’s another to be a good-for-nothing,” said a man across the aisle
She rose to close the window next to the four-top she shared with what appeared to be her husband and granddaughter
plastic container of West Country deodorant
Our fellow passengers opened the windows about ten minutes later as the train pulled into the extraordinary decadence of the suburbs past the town of Tres Ríos
train riders get inside glimpses of houses that are more like castles
homes whose luxuries are normally hidden behind massive gates and armed guards
There are crystalline pools ringed by world-class landscaping; broad
I watched all of this and thought: Costa Rica
I didn’t mean some shiny bullet train on the fast track to the developed world – not that that’s necessarily on the horizon
with its faded seats and scratched windows
May we not be left behind by this train and all it sees during its brief voyages through the Central Valley
May we not miss the opportunity it represents
where people of many walks of life – not all
but many – filed into the same seats and experienced the same things
with all the annoyances and friction and humor and real
human interactions that come when we emerge from our social circles
The opportunity to ride shoulder-to-shoulder on public transportation
instead of in the plush isolation of the cars that are choking this city
that this country’s extremes of wealth and poverty are actually close neighbors
A tiny open window between these realities many people work very hard to isolate – even if
all that came through was a deodorant container
A reminder that exuberant green and exuberant
sometimes foolhardy development are also close neighbors
all of them: giving San José room to breathe
integrating development with the environment
finding economic and social solutions that can somehow slow and reverse the accelerating concentration of wealth in a country that long boasted of its strong middle class
but as I alighted from the train with a tired four-year-old Tica hanging from my arms
It’s the fact that so many of the smartest
most creative and most passionate people I know
often driven by a natural sense of solidarity
And I&#8217;ll hitch my car to theirs anytime
Recommended: <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2017/02/12/costa-rica-lovers-affectionate-language-daily-life" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Costa Rica is for lovers &#8211; the affectionate language of daily life</a>
<a href="https://ticotimes.net/categories/maeology">Read previous Maeology columns&nbsp;here</a>
 by <a href="https://sierrawave.net/author/news_staff/" title="Posts by News Staff" rel="author">News Staff</a> | Mar 3, 2016 | <a href="https://sierrawave.net/category/general-stories/" rel="category tag">General Misc. Stories</a>, <a href="https://sierrawave.net/category/government-utilities/" rel="category tag">Government Agencies/Utilities</a> | <a href="https://sierrawave.net/38713-2/#respond">1 comment</a>
division manager from Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
they are draining and contaminating our aquifiers around this area   I am wondering why DWP will let them get away with this practice
You must be <a href="https://sierrawave.net/wp-login.php?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fsierrawave.net%2F38713-2%2F">logged in</a> to post a comment
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           Print                          CARTAGO
Calif.&nbsp;—&nbsp;It didn’t take long for a team of highway archaeologists to mark their first find while searching for buried human remains on an aging stretch of U.S
Highway 395 that cuts along the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada range
That alone was enough to concern local tribal leaders, but they went on to hit more bones missed by earlier archaeological surveys required to start construction of a <a class="link" href="https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-9/district-9-projects-list/olancha-cartago-4-lane-project" target="_blank" >$69.7-million Caltrans project</a> to convert 12.6 miles of 395 from a two-lane road to a safer four-lane expressway
Now, as nearby bulldozers lumber over huge mounds of excavated earth, tribal historic preservation officers are demanding that  the California Department of Transportation halt construction and realign the project to avoid the gravesites.
                     (CalTrans)       “We’re saying, ‘Stop!’ Your gigantic highway project is disrupting the peace of untold numbers of ancestors in a place that had gone undisturbed for thousands of years,” said Sean Scruggs, tribal historic officer for the Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians.
               </a>         <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/california">California</a> 
Members of the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation became the latest Indigenous tribe to watch homes burn despite knowing it could have been avoided
“How many human remains must be unearthed before Caltrans decides it is time to respect our advice and perspective?” he  asked
<a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2021-03-14/a-corporation-wants-to-mine-for-gold-near-death-valley-native-tribes-are-fighting-it">Kathy Jefferson Bancroft</a>, tribal historic preservation officer for the Lone Pine Paiute Shoshone Reservation, said, “We don’t want this to become another sensational case of horrific desecration.”
“We have been trying to work with Caltrans to find a creative solution, but have yet to see a proposal that aligns with tribal interests. This needs to change,” she said.
The project got off to a rocky start when it was proposed in 1997, with many tribal leaders warning that nearly every slope, sage plain and shoreline in the region held evidence of Indigenous people who knew it as a kingdom of irrigated villages and plentiful game surrounded by canyons and crags sculpted by storms and flash floods.
                    A $69.7-million Caltrans improvement project under construction along U.S. Highway 395 near the eastern Sierra Nevada community of Cartago is off-limits to the public because of the discovery of Native American burial grounds.   (Louis Sahagun / Los Angeles Times)       “We’ve had at least a hundred meetings with Caltrans,” Bancroft said. “But formal consultation was never completed regarding design issues that have never been addressed.”
The highway project, which is within a Caltrans right of way, has been identified as a priority. But unless the state government agency yields to tribal concerns, they are headed for a showdown of complicated and competing values.
In 2012, state coastal regulators fined a property owner $430,000 for unearthing artifacts at a 9,000-year-old Native American village site near Bolsa Chica wetlands in Huntington Beach. Native American groups with ties to the land said the penalty was not severe enough.
That same year, the Colorado River Indian Tribes unsuccessfully asked the federal government to slow down its development of the $1-billion Genesis solar project in the Mojave Desert because of the discovery of human remains missed by archaeological surveys in a rush to build.
In 2019, construction of a San Diego Freeway widening project was halted immediately after Native American remains were discovered during excavations. Orange County Transportation Authority officials consulted with the California Native American Heritage Commission on how to proceed.
               </a>         <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/environment">Climate &amp; Environment</a> 
Indigenous tribes nominate section of Owens Lake for the California Register of Historical Resources and the National Register of Historic Places
The Olancha-Cartago 4-Lane Expressway project will pass west of the community of Olancha
cross the Los Angeles Aqueduct and continue through the community of Cartago to close the gap between existing four-lane sections of the route vital to the eastern Sierra’s regional economy
                    Construction work continues on a headwall footing
which is part of the improvement project along a 12.6-mile stretch of U.S
  (Derek Armon / Falcon Engineering)       Construction is roughly 40% complete
and expected to conclude sometime next year
The worksite overlooks the nearby Owens Lake playa
flat expanse best known as the focal point of a historic feud that began in the early 1900s
when Los Angeles city agents quietly bought up ranchlands and water rights for an aqueduct to quench the thirst of the growing metropolis 200 miles to the south
drained so much water via the aqueduct system that the 110-square-mile lake dried up
making it nearly impossible for local ranchers and farmers to make a living — a scandal that was dramatized in the 1974 film classic “Chinatown.”
For Native Americans, however, the area was once an essential part of their religion, culture and history until the late 1800s — before U.S. troops were sent in to <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2013-jun-02-la-me-massacre-site-20130603-story.html">protect white settlers</a> and tribal lands and water were in effect stolen
As part of an effort to present a fuller picture of the region’s importance to the Indigenous people of Owens Valley, <a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-04-23/owens-valley-tribes-seek-historic-site-nomination">five local tribes have nominated 186 square miles</a> of the lake bed for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources and the National Register of Historic Places.
Those tribes now want the burial site in the path of Caltrans’ highway project deemed off-limits to further construction until a solution agreeable to all sides is reached.
That won’t be easy. Caltrans in April offered a proposal to curve the disputed section of highway around the burial site. But it wouldn’t move the highway far enough away to satisfy tribal leaders, who are calling for a clearance of at least half a mile to a mile.
The tribes insist they are not against the highway improvement project. The problem is that it was approved for construction, they say, without their consultation.
Instead, they have watched with mounting anger and frustration as Caltrans archaeologists and road crews bearing hard hats, shovels and buckets fan out each morning to search for remains of their ancestors.
In areas where pumpjacks bob along the banks of the Kern River
The yellow-vested teams work in areas slated for construction
carefully digging 10 feet or more into hard alluvial soil and pushing shovelfuls of dirt through course-mesh screens to gather the smallest pieces of evidence
The work is conducted with a Native American monitor present
and must follow the protocol as outlined in the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act
and the California Public Resources Code that outlines the process,” the agency said in a prepared statement
A March 15 letter from the chairwoman of the Lone Pine Paiute reservation was pleading and tough. It requested formal consultation with both<a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2022-01-16/black-bears-killed-on-california-roads"> Caltrans</a> and the Federal Highway Administration regarding “the way the project has been designed and implemented.”
On Thursday, tribal officers finally received some good news: Caltrans announced that it has “halted all construction activities in the area in question,” including its search for human remains.
“Caltrans is committed to protecting tribal cultural resources,” it said. “When concerns are raised, there are a variety of tools we can use, up to and including project redesign.”
“That’s a good start,” said Scruggs of the Fort Independence Indian Community of Paiute Indians, “but we’ve still got a lot of nation-to-nation consultation ahead of us.”
“All we want,” he added, “is prior informed consent before they launch something of this scale in our ancestral home.”
<a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/footersubscribe" target="_blank" >Subscribe for unlimited access</a><a class="link" href="https://www.latimes.com/sitemap" target="_blank" >Site Map</a>
which groups the Catholic Church’s leaders in Costa Rica
is asking faithful to conduct a virtual romería this year in the face of the coronavirus pandemic
The traditional pilgrimage of Catholics to the Costa Rican city of Cartago has been officially <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2020/05/13/annual-romeria-the-catholic-pilgrimage-to-cartago-canceled-due-to-coronavirus" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">canceled due to COVID-19</a>
But Ticos can join a virtual celebration by visiting <a href="https://www.romeriavirtual2020.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">romeriavirtual2020.com</a> and adding their name and offerings to the online platform
More than 25,000 people have already done so
&#8220;We urge you not to make a pilgrimage this year,&#8221; the Episcopal Conference said in a statement
&#8220;Live the pilgrimage from your home or through the Virtual Pilgrimage
make a pilgrimage and give thanks with a simple process.&#8221;
Costa Rican Catholics &#8212; and faithful from across the world &#8212; complete a romería to Cartago to give thanks to and ask for blessings from La Negrita
An estimated 2 million people made the pilgrimage to Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in 2019
pilgrims have arrived from as far as Panama or Guanacaste
It&#8217;s typically Costa Rica&#8217;s largest mass-gathering event
but this year the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles remains closed to the public
and we ask pilgrims to refrain from doing this activity,&#8221; Health Minister Daniel Salas said earlier this week
&#8220;We cannot trigger contagions at a time when the health system is already on edge.&#8221;
The Public Security Ministry (MSP) says it&#8217;s monitoring the roads into Cartago to help discourage agglomerations
and it will be assessed if more police resources are required,&#8221; MSP said in a statement
the call is reiterated not to do the journey in person and join the options offered by the Catholic Church.&#8221;
The traditional romería was last canceled in 2009 due to the A(H1N1) flu virus
La Negrita, a dark statue of mother and child representing the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus, has also been <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2020/03/23/news-briefs-costa-rica-asks-tourists-to-postpone-not-cancel-their-trips" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">flown throughout the national territory</a> to inspire and bring hope to the Costa Rican people as the country faces the pandemic
The World Heritage Centre is at the forefront of the international community’s efforts to protect and preserve
World Heritage partnerships for conservation
Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world
where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development
<a class="btn btn-blue2 btn-sm mt-2" href="/en/partners/">Our Partners</a>  <a class="btn bg-orange btn-sm mt-2" href="/en/donation/">Donate</a>
Take advantage of the search to browse through the World Heritage Centre information
Carthage was founded in the 9th century B.C
it developed into a great trading empire covering much of the Mediterranean and was home to a brilliant civilization
Carthage occupied territories belonging to Rome
which finally destroyed its rival in 146 B.C
A second – Roman – Carthage was then established on the ruins of the first
Carthage établit à partir du VIe siècle un empire commercial s'étendant à une grande partie du monde méditerranéen et fut le siège d'une brillante civilisation
mais celle-ci la détruisit finalement en 146 av
تأسست قرطاج في القرن التاسع قبل الميلاد عند خليج تونس ثم تحولت ابتداء من القرن السادس الى امبراطورية تجارية شغلت جزءاً كبيراً من منطقة البحر المتوسط وشكلت مركزاً تجارياً لحضارة ساطعة
كما انها احتلت اراضي من روما خلال الحروب البونيقية، لكن هذه الأخيرة قضت عليها نهائياً عام 146 قبل الميلاد فقامت على أنقاضها قرطاج ثانية رومانية
迦太基毗邻突尼斯湾，始建于公元前9世纪。自公元6世纪起，迦太基逐步发展成为一个强大的贸易帝国，也创造了一段辉煌的文明。其领土曾扩展到地中海大部分地区。在漫长的布匿战争中，迦太基占领了罗马的领土，但最终于公元前146年被罗马打败。第二个罗马迦太基城建立在古迦太基的废墟之上。
он превратился в центр мощной торговой империи
охватывающей большую часть Средиземноморья
и стал местом развития блестящей цивилизации
В ходе продолжительных пунических войн Карфаген захватил территории
смог победить своего противника и разрушил его столицу
Cartago fue la sede de una brillante civilización que impuso su hegemonía comercial en una gran parte del Mediterráneo desde el siglo VI a.C
Durante las guerras púnicas los cartagineses llegaron a ocupar territorios pertenecientes a Roma
pero ésta se alzó con la victoria y arrasó la ciudad de Cartago el año 146 a.C
Una segunda Cartago romana fue construida sobre las ruinas de la primera
Carthage is an extensive archaeological site
located on a hill dominating the Gulf of Tunis and the surrounding plain
 Metropolis of Punic civilization in Africa and capital of the province of Africa in Roman times
Carthage has played a central role in Antiquity as a great commercial empire
Carthage occupied the territories that belonged to Rome
 The town was rebuilt by the Romans on the ruins of the ancient city
diffusion and blossoming of several cultures that succeeded one another (Phoenico-Punic
this metropolis and its ports have encouraged wide-scale exchanges in the Mediterranean
Founded at the end of the 9th century BC by Elyssa-Dido and having sheltered the mythical love of Dido and Aeneas
Carthage produced a warrior and strategy genius in the person of Hannibal
Carthage has always nourished universal imagination through its historic and literary renown
The property comprises the vestiges of Punic
The major known components of the site of Carthage are the acropolis of Byrsa
Malaga cisterns and the archaeological reserve
Criterion (ii): Phoenician foundation linked to Tyre and Roman refoundation on the orders of Julius Cesar
Carthage was also the capital of a Vandal kingdom and the Byzantine province of Africa
Its antique ports bear witness to commercial and cultural exchanges over more than ten centuries
contains numerous stelae where numerous cultural influences are in evidence
 Outstanding place of blossoming and diffusion of several cultures that succeeded one another (Phoenico-Punic
Paleochristian and Arab); Carthage has exercised considerable influence on the development of the arts
architecture and town planning in the Mediterranean
Criterion (iii): The site of Carthage bears exceptional testimony to the Phoenico-Punic civilization being at the time the central hub in the western basin of the Mediterranean
It was also one of the most brilliant centres of Afro-Roman civilization
Criterion (vi): The historic and literary renown of Carthage has always nourished the universal imagination
The site of Carthage is notably associated with the home of the legendary princess of Tyre
sung about by Virgil in the Aeneid; with the great navigator-explorer
one of the greatest military strategists of history
with the martyr of Saint Cyprien and with Saint Augustin who trained and made several visits there
Although its integrity has been partially altered by uncontrolled urban sprawl during the first half of the 20th century
the site of Carthage has essentially retained the elements that characterise the antique town: urban network
The conservation of the site guarantees the maintenance of the intact character of the structures
it continues to face strong urban pressure that has
been contained thanks to the national listing of the Carthage-Sidi Bou-Said Park
Restoration and maintenance work carried out over the years is in accordance with the standards of international charters and has not damaged the authenticity of the monuments and remains of the site of Carthage
The site benefits from a maintenance protocol
Protection and management requirements (2009)
The site of Carthage benefits from the listing of a large number of its remains as historic monuments (since 1885)
Its protection is also guaranteed by Decree 85-1246 of 7 October 1985 concerning the listing of the Carthage-Sidi Bou-Said site
Law 35-1994 concerning the protection of archaeological and historic heritage and of traditional arts
and by the Order of 16 September 1996 for the creation of the cultural site of Carthage
A conservation unit attached to the National Heritage Institute is responsible for the safeguarding and management of the site
The management of the property is currently integrated into the urban development plan of the town
Hundreds of Cartago residents blocked streets Friday in the surroundings of Casa Presidencial in Zapote to demand that President Luis Guillermo Solís pay more attention to the province
Demonstrators started arriving at around 10 a.m
Community groups led by Christian Democratic Alliance Party lawmaker Mario Redondo Poveda
chanting slogans and asking for Solís to receive several petitions they brought
They want the government to invest more money to create jobs in Cartago
and improve public services and road infrastructure
not words!” and “You will not play with Cartago anymore!” were some of the slogans displayed on banners and chanted by the crowd along the street in front of the president’s office
He also complained that the government currently has no plans for building any housing projects or investing resources to improve public utilities in his province
and that Cartago has been forced to become a bedroom community because of the lack of local jobs
“Thousands of Cartagineses are forced to commute everyday to companies in San José
Heredia and Alajuela as there aren&#8217;t any job options in our province
But our people are rising up and we will fight for our rights,” Redondo told the chanting crowd
Cartago is the third most populous province after San José and Alajuela
A recent <a title="Hiring outlook in Costa Rica positive for next year" href="https://ticotimes.net/2015/12/08/hiring-outlook-costa-rica-positive-next-year" target="_blank">employment outlook survey</a> from consultant company Manpower showed that 15 percent of employers in Cartago expect to add new jobs during the next quarter
That&#8217;s the second best hiring outlook in the country after Alajuela
young José Barguil decided to leave his hometown of Maaloula
in search of a better life – and began a circuitous journey that would eventually lead to his own Costa Rican business and family legacy
Barguil was only 20 when he left his hometown behind to follow one of his uncles to Colombia
He stayed there for about two years until he came down with tuberculosis
his closest option for quality treatment was Costa Rica&#8217;s Sanatorio Durán in Cartago; he arrived there in 1932
a passion that would continue throughout his life
then opened a store in Cartago where he sold materials for shoemaking
He eventually founded his own department store
which has endured for more than 80 years in multiple Costa Rican locations
They had seven children who have continued the family business of Almacenes Barguil in Cartago
At the branch of the store located in San José near the Mercado Borbón
Barguil&#8217;s daughter Zayda is the manager alongside her grandson
meaning that the family business has now spanned four generations
studied business management at the Latin American University for Science and Technology (ULACIT) and obtained a Master’s degree from the ENAE Business School in Spain
He is now pursuing a master’s degree on big data for innovative technologies with Spain’s ESADE’s online program OBS
On a sunny morning at our offices in Barrio Amón
The Tico Times sat down and spoke with Méndez about his family’s story and business
Could you tell me a bit about your job at Almacén Barguil
While I was studying to obtain my Master’s degree I asked myself what I was going to do when I returned
Within those options was working at Barguil; we’ve got to maintain that
I told my grandmother that I was interested in helping at Barguil
It’s very hard because there are about 8,000 different products in all shapes and sizes with very complicated names
[Laughs.] Everyone knows the names and prices by memory
The first year was very hard because I didn’t know anything
so I started in the wholesale part with a project to expand our business throughout the country
the most impressive part was to see my grandmother at work
She’s super smart and knows everything [that happens in the store]
I was a child and do remember a bit about him
He and one of his brothers decided to go to Colombia because an uncle of theirs lived there
They went to Colombia without speaking a word of Spanish and with about $2
He began working and learning to speak Spanish
He was told that the only place near Colombia to get treated was in Cartago
He came to Cartago and marveled at its green mountains
everything was pure rock and with no color
He was always very loyal to Cartago and it was his true love
He was part of the Board of Directors at the soccer team there; if he had to give money to the people
It was there where he met my great-grandmother
They got to know each other and got married
did your great-grandfather know anything about the country
My great-grandfather was going to a place in which he didn’t know what to expect and what not to expect
Everything that would happen there was a surprise for him
My great-grandfather knew how to build shoes
He went to speak to a shoemaker to ask him for the materials and said he would pay him later
it was like that…you’d pay the other person when you had the money
If you see the photos you’ll see that it says zapatería (shoe store) or department festival
We still have some of the shoes he made; I found them when we were looking inside of some old warehouses
The original Barguil store is from Cartago
but now they’re all distributed throughout San José
Each family member formed their own Barguil store
It’s really nice because they sell the same products
Within the family everyone supports each other
we’ve got to support each other no matter what
What products do you sell at Almacén Barguil
There’s the vinyl department that includes different vinyl types for couches and decorations
or for floors and walls; there are also carpets
There’s also the foam and mattress department
shoe polishers and everything else related with shoes; a department with things related to sewing such as nylon
lace and sewing machines; and the sports department
From what countries do you import all of your products
How did your great-grandfather distribute the businesses throughout the country
they are right around the corner from the market
My great-grandfather’s idea was always that the people would meet at a common place
and then look for more things to buy that they didn’t find at the market
Read more &#8220;World in Costa Rica&#8221; interviews <a href="https://ticotimes.net/categories/the-world-in-costa-rica" target="_blank">here.</a>
Would you like to share your or your family’s coming-to-Costa Rica story? Contact us at <a href="mailto:kstanley@ticotimes.net">kstanley@ticotimes.net</a> or share a post or video with the hashtag #SoyMigranteCR
A 5.6-magnitude earthquake struck in Colombia on Friday, according to the <a href=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us6000m4n2/executive target=_blank>United States Geological Survey</a>
Media organizations shared pictures and videos of the disaster
revealing that the temblor struck approximately 5 km southeast of Cartago city which is 6 hours west of Bogota
The natural disaster was not confined to Cartago alone
Nearby cities like Pereira and Cali also felt the impact of the quake
Colombian authorities have yet to release an official statement regarding the extent of damage the earthquake has caused
Earthquakes: <a href=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/01/18/us-earthquake-risk-map/72266301007/ target=_blank>What cities are most at risk of a strong earthquake? Here's what USGS map shows</a>
This is the second earthquake to hit Colombia in recent months
2023 a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Colombia's capital of Bogota sending multiple aftershocks through other surrounding cities
According to the media outlet <a href=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/18/magnitude-6-3-earthquake-shakes-colombian-capital>Al Jazeera</a>
one woman died after jumping from the 10th floor of a building in a panic
Cartago — It was the hottest tourist attraction in Costa Rica in the 1880s — an “extremely hot” spring with a centuries-old reputation as a “fountain of youth,” visited by European aristocrats and renowned for its healing powers
The elegant Bella Vista Hotel opened in 1885 to provide access to these curative waters
which were said to be superior to those of the best spas in Europe and the U.S
and the Bella Vista closed its doors before the devastating 1910 earthquake that destroyed most of Cartago
the reason that is usually cited for its closure
The springs fell into disuse and ended up lost
forgotten and buried in a garbage dump for decades — until a somewhat obsessed Israeli adventurer named Avraham Kotlitzky came here eight years ago
moved garbage and weeds aside and thrust his hand into a hot spring
but for me the most important thing I do is this place,” Kotlitzky said during an interview and rare tour of the Palacio Purapora
the giant resort he is building just south of Cartago on the hill where the dump used to be
“This water is going to give big hope for people
Kotlitzky began his Costa Rica quest when he saw an old photo of the Bella Vista Hotel and springs
He asked people where this beautiful place was
and someone recalled that it had been in Cartago
and he found the spring under some weeds and rotting boards
The “palace” he is building here now is five stories high
counting the turreted tower flying the flag of Costa Rica
and it looks like something out of another age
The arches are said to resemble Roman or Middle Eastern styles (and to some extent the design of the old Bella Vista Hotel)
while the tower was inspired by the architecture of the National Museum of Costa Rica
The Purapora Palace will have some 40 suites
struggled to explain why he wanted to build such a large structure above the ancient springs he rediscovered
said for Kotlitzky this is not a for-profit venture but a higher mission
“He sees it as his life’s destiny,” he said
he didn’t just want to build the big building for access to the springs
that’s what he wants to bring back to life.”
Kotlitzky emphasized that he and his hotel are not the story here — the water is
Kotlitzky said soaking in the water here can effectively treat or cure psoriasis
he said — and it has been certified potable — can cure all kinds of stomach problems
Two visitors from The Tico Times got a chance to soak in (and taste) the steaming water pumped into a variety of elegant tubs and showers in the heart of this complex
“extremely hot” — the temperature of the water reaches 55 degrees Celsius
So when will all of this be open to the public
It’s a question a lot of curious neighbors have been asking
like one year,” Kotlitzkly predicted — an optimistic assertion considering the deliberate pace at which he works
The name Purapora comes from the indigenous Huetar ceremonial capital
said to have been founded here because of the hot springs
and Huetar artwork inspires the murals and statues that decorate the gardens
the Spanish conquistador who in 1563 founded Cartago
was said to have chosen the spot because he believed he had found the &#8220;fountain of eternal youth.&#8221;
reports of the springs’ restorative powers led governor Juan Flores to build a bridge
wall and other improvements to facilitate access to these healing springs
the Bella Vista Hotel was open for business and hosting such dignitaries as the brother of the Belgian King Leopold II
Now it’s Kotlitzky’s turn to live up to the storied history of this place
but he has his businesses in Israel,” Chaves said
Contact Karl Kahler at kkahler@ticotimes.net
Cartago will host the first-ever Cultivating Pura Vida Festival this weekend to promote organic and GMO-free produce
The event will run Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the National Center for Specialized Organic Agriculture of the <a href="http://www.ina.ac.cr/">National Learning Institute (INA)</a> in San Rafael de Oreamuno
The free festival will feature the sale of GMO-free produce grown without the use of chemicals
 Attendees can also attend chats about the organic farming process and learn how to switch their farm to organic
The Cultivating Pura Vida Festival also marks the launch of the Cartago Organic Fair
Recommended: <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2014/12/16/lawmakers-begin-discussions-on-bill-that-would-place-a-moratorium-on-gmo-crop-production-in-costa-rica">Lawmakers begin discussions on bill that would place a moratorium on GMO crop production in Costa Rica</a>
English is a universal language in our transnational world; proficiency in English can be the key to a better future
a better job or a scholarship to study abroad
Although English is a required subject in Costa Rican schools
few students graduate with the proficiency and confidence needed to speak it well
so they started the Spanglish Foundation to help children in grade school get a jump start on mastering English
Both Quinn and Quirós know what it’s like to learn a new language
Quinn is from Texas but moved to Costa Rica with his Tica mother when he was nine
he struggled with the switch to full-time Spanish
Quirós made the reverse journey: she was born in Costa Rica
where she had to deal with English every day
“She is still learning,” says husband Quinn
and try to spend time each day speaking only English
The Spanglish Foundation is their way of paving the road to a better future for kids from their home area.Because of their own backgrounds in Cartago
they&#8217;ve started with four schools in that area
with 150 fifth and sixth graders divided into groups of 15
“We chose that age level so that they can finish up the year-and-a-half program before graduating” from primary school
explained Didier Zúñiga who coordinates the program here
rural areas near Cartago where students often lack opportunities or help with studies
Students are chosen based on their good grades and attendance records and their desire to learn
The program uses the “Side by Side” series from the United States
a course designed for learning English as a second language
Teachers are English graduates from the University of Costa Rica or the National University
and have experience in English through visits or studies in the United States
Lessons are conducted in English from the minute the class begins
computer games and Show and Tell to get students’ English flowing
who had been studying with her for ten months during our visit
understood her instructions and answered questions in English
This is an opportunity for them,” she explained
adding that because Cartago attracts its share of tourists
students have access to foreign-language signs
In Layola the class is preparing for an English holiday party
After six months of classes they are able to give presentations with simple sentences and follow their teacher&#8217;s instructions
The final measure of their English skills will be the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
a universally acknowledged assessment for those who plan to use their English to work
study or live in English-speaking countries
“We want to expand the program,” says Didier
Teachers donate much of their time and equipment
We need company and individual donations to provide more materials and pay teachers better
A donation of $25 will sponsor a child for one month
A donation of $1,000 will help a group of fifteen students for six months
Information on donating in Costa Rica or in the United States is available at <a href="http://www.spanglishfoundation.org">www.spanglishfoundation.org</a>
Read previous “Giving Back” stories<a href="https://ticotimes.net/categories/giving-back"> here</a>.
“Giving Back” is an occasional series that seeks to draw attention to the work of nonprofits, community organizations and other donation-based initiatives around the country. Nominations for the series can be sent to us at kstanley@ticotimes.net. 
The owner of a Forest Heights pub won the right to open a new deli Friday when an appeal board overruled neighbourhood concerns
Edmonton’s subdivision and development appeal board released its decision Friday
giving Cartago owner Katy Ingraham the right to open a deli and cafe beside her neighbourhood pub on 82 Street and 106 Avenue
That means neighbours in the area will have to put up with the increased traffic and parking on their front street
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It’s been a completely exhausting process,” said Ingraham in an interview after the decision was released
and said she’ll work with neighbouring residents to get parking and safety concerns addressed with the city
Residents say patrons started parking in the neighbourhood and walking to the shops after the popularity of the new business made it a destination for Edmonton residents beyond Forest Heights
get frustrated and “rip a U-turn” at the end
according to presentations to the board Aug
Children can’t play street hockey anymore on nearby Rowland Road
which is without sidewalks and becomes dangerous when congested
One resident said his neighbours recently sold their house at a loss because the area had become “too urban” but that assertion was not backed up by a professional real estate opinion
Cartago and building owner BelJan Developments paid for a parking impact assessment when they submitted their development application
Bunt and Associates surveyed the streets multiple times and found 63 on-street parking spaces were generally available within a block in any direction
Ingraham said safety issues should be dealt with by the city
and its failure to do so was causing the animosity in the neighbourhood
the business owner said Cartago would support some resident-only parking permits specifically to address speeding and U-turn issues
She also wants the city to remove the peak hour parking ban on 106 Avenue
since it only applies for a short stretch of roadway
She and one opposing resident spoke about this Friday morning and agreed to work together
(Ben) Henderson’s feet to the fire,” she added
the appeal board overruled previous direction from a city development officer
allowing the formal change of use from general retail to restaurant and granting the parking variance
Council recently reduced the amount of parking required for restaurants near transit avenues
It found “the development authority did not follow the direction of council by failing to exercise
the variance power provided in … the bylaw.”
It said neither the city nor the residents presented any professional evidence to prove the developer’s parking impact assessment was wrong
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In this time-elapse video, Jonathan Jiménez captures the scene in front of the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Los Angeles in Cartago, east of San José. Hundreds of thousands of people<a href="https://ticotimes.net/2015/08/02/photo-report-faces-of-the-faithful-a-journey-along-costa-ricas-romeria" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> flock to this spot each year </a>to visit &#8216;La Negrita,&#8217; the popular name for the Vírgen de Los Angeles
https://www.facebook.com/TicoTimes/videos/2050892084950681/
The climax of the pilgrimage takes place tomorrow
https://ticotimes.net/2015/12/28/finding-la-negrita-a-story-of-coming-home
CARTAGO – The effects of drier rainy seasons in Costa Rica have been evident mostly in coastal areas in Guanacaste and Puntarenas
or in the higher altitude regions of Heredia
also is suffering the consequences of drier-than-normal weather patterns
Farms and tourist areas near the country’s colonial capital
including diminished reserves that traditionally supply enough water for the entire province and more than half a million residents in eastern San José
Currently 554,000 residents living east of the capital face daily water rationing for up to 12 hours a day
Water reserves in Cartago are 20 percent below normal levels
mostly due to a lack of rainfall during the past rainy season from May to December 2013
This decrease in rainfall has dried up rivers and prevented storage tanks in the canton of La Unión from fully replenishing, the Costa Rican Water and Sewer Institute reported. Rationing in the affected communities <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2014/03/29/water-rationing-will-continue-for-at-least-one-month-agency-says" target="_blank">likely will continue</a> through May
Records from the National Meteorological Institute (IMN) show that annual rainfall levels in Cartago have severely decreased since 2010
from 1,822 millimeters that year to 780 mm in 2013
The effects of an irregular rainy season this year in Cartago could have dire consequences for a significant number of Costa Rican residents
Agriculture is one of Cartago&#8217;s main productive activities
and farmers in the north of the province are the country&#8217;s top potato producers
supplying 80 percent of all potatoes consumed in Costa Rica
according to the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry (MAG)
The region also is the largest producer of onions in Costa Rica
while hundreds of other farmers also grow carrots
Following the IMN&#8217;s forecast that the upcoming rainy season could be affected by an El Niño weather phenomenon
Agriculture Vice Minister Xinia Chaves last month met with Gerardo Aparicio
president of the Horticultural Association of Irazú
which groups almost 1,000 producers whose farmlands north of Cartago account for 2,800 hectares of potato crops
farmers said they are struggling due to the ongoing lack of rainfall in the region
and MAG officials agreed to study the option of declaring a state of emergency in the area to qualify farmers for government assistance
“Depending on the possible effects of [El Niño]
the emergency declaration could be issued in December
to allow us to assist farmers as they face the next dry season in 2015,” MAG’s Director of National Programs and Agricultural Planning Erick Quirós told The Tico Times
While the southeastern region of Cartago also relies on agricultural
in addition it is home to the area&#8217;s main tourist attractions including recreational parks
is the main attraction of La Expresión Park
which covers eight hectares a few kilometers southeast of downtown Cartago
Only a small pond exists today due to an increase in temperatures and a lack of rainfall
is “a proliferation of housing projects around the park that compete for the area’s water resources.”
Recommended: <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2014/04/07/climate-change-coral-reefs-deforestation-and-dengue" target="_blank">Climate change, coral reefs, deforestation and dengue</a>
The lake’s main water supply are aquifers that no longer produce enough to replenish it
several hectares of housing projects are now located in former pastures and forested areas that once surrounded an entrance road to the park only a couple decades ago
City Sewer Chief Jaime Astúa denied that the growth of residential areas near the park is affecting the water supply
“We have drilled several wells to provide water for residential projects
but the well that feeds the lake was not affected
The problem is that the pump they use to draw water to the lake is broken,” he said
saying the pump is in good condition and the well is simply empty
The last rainy season helped replenish the lake slightly
but by February any gains were lost as it turned dry once more
A few birds can still be spotted at what is now a pond
but muddy skeletons of fish and other species are the only visible signs of the life that previously existed here
“We&#8217;re awaiting the start of the next rainy season
and it remains to be seen if this year&#8217;s rains will replenish the lake or not,” Brenes said
IMN forecasts for this year show a 10-15 percent drop in average rainfall across Costa Rica
Precipitation during the next rainy season will depend on El Niño
its first effects will happen in July and continue through the end of the year,” Stoltz said
a new joint public-private initiative to secure the water supply in the Greater Metropolitan Area is currently under discussion
The plan was presented on April 2 by officials from the Environment Ministry (MINAE) and members of the Foundation for the Development of the Central Volcanic Range
It also will have the support of the Costa Rica-U.S.A
outlines a number of protective regulations for watersheds that supply the Greater Metropolitan Area
MINAE’s Vice Minister of Waters José Lino Chaves said last week
The initiative is still in its planning stage
but among its proposals are a series of fundraising strategies by organizations and businesses that would supplement public funds to finance water conservation projects in the GAM
The Basilica de Los Angeles in Cartago reopens its doors to receive thousands of faithful
who will walk from all corners of the country to visit La Virgen de Los Angeles
After two years without being able to organize the event
both the Catholic Church and the devotees are delighted to be able to return to such a beautiful activity
but the time has come to open the doors again,&#8221; the Catholic Church of Costa Rica indicated on its social networks
The <a href="https://ticotimes.net/post-covid-19-updates" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Covid-19 pandemic </a>had kept thousands of Catholics from making the journey to Carthage; however
Those in charge of the organization announced the activities schedule with great joy
to deposit them in the lap of the Mother of God,&#8221; said the bishop of Cartago
He also urged Catholics to make this an event that would allow them to &#8220;grow in faith&#8221; and seek God wholeheartedly
he reminded all assistants of the importance of wearing masks
Quirós thanked the different institutions and companies who have always helped the Church organize the pilgrimage
&#8220;Let us now commend the Pilgrimage to the Mother of God
As part of the activities, the novena to <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2016/08/02/thousands-flock-cartago-annual-romeria" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">&#8216;La Negrita,&#8217;</a> as the Virgin is affectionately known
It will begin this July 23 with the visit of the Diocese of Alajuela and conclude on July 31
the Mass for the dressing of the image will be held at 9:30 a.m
the Holy Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m.
and the Rosary of Light will be celebrated at 6 p.m
the traditional ‘pasada de la imagen’ will be celebrated with a 9 a.m
Other activities like concerts in tribute to Virgin Mary will also be held
The priests confirmed that the group of singers
would interpret a beautiful repertoire to serenade La Negrita
They were emphatic in indicating that they wanted to maintain an atmosphere of spirituality
which is why Radio Fides was going to be in charge of the activities outside La Basílica
&#8220;This whole activity revolves around spirituality and prayer,&#8221; the Church indicated
pilgrims were asked to maintain the measures implemented due to the pandemic
and to ask for help from the Red Cross and other authorities if necessary
The <a href="https://ticotimes.net/2022/02/13/visiting-cartago-costa-rica-its-history-and-culture" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Municipality of Cartago </a>invited everyone to attend
Mayor Mario Redondo indicated that all necessary efforts were coordinated to guarantee all order
The coronavirus pandemic has impacted daily life in Costa Rica
which has declared a State of Emergency and enacted sweeping measures to slow its spread
Here&#8217;s what you should know as the day begins:
Police turned away a private tour bus loaded with approximately 60 foreign visitors who were attempting to visit the Basílica Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles in Cartago
The tourists — and their private tour company — were not complying with sanitary measures established by the Health Ministry
as are all religious centers throughout Costa Rica.)
&#8220;The bus driver and some of the foreigners were immediately approached
and they were asked to leave,&#8221; the Public Security Ministry said
The Public Security Ministry did not provide the nationalities of the tourists
but the agency said the majority of the visitors were elderly adults
Churches are among the establishments closed throughout Costa Rica in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19
Other establishments must operate at 50% capacity
and the Health Ministry has asked elderly adults to remain home whenever possible
Costa Rica sent a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) asking that the agency create &#8220;a repository of existing knowledge related to diagnostic tests
drugs or vaccines&#8221; related to the novel coronavirus
member countries would have access to the intellectual property for technologies to detect
Read the letter from President Carlos Alvarado and Health Minister Daniel Salas below:
— Carlos Alvarado Quesada (@CarlosAlvQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosAlvQ/status/1242559114011709441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2020</a>
<a href="https://www.presidencia.go.cr/comunicados/2020/03/costa-rica-submits-proposal-for-who-to-facilitate-access-to-technologies-to-combat-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Click here</a> to read the full communication from Casa Presidencial
The Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT) and the Costa Rican Social Security System (CCSS
or Caja) are seeking hotels that are willing to provide their facilities to house COVID-19 patients
The hotels would be compensated &#8220;through a contract that establishes a rental rate per room isolation area per established period plus a consumption fee,&#8221; according to ICT
The facilities would be used to serve stable patients who have been forced into a quarantine due to COVID-2019
Costa Rica currently has 14 people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases
and Health Minister Daniel Salas has said he expects that number to increase over the coming weeks
Interested hoteliers can <a href="https://www.ict.go.cr/es/servicios-institucionales/material-de-apoyo-coronavirus-sector-turismo.html#pacientes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a> to learn more
If you&#8217;re interested in supporting Costa Rican businesses and communities during this crisis, <a href="https://katherinestanleyobando.com/costa-rica-and-covid-19/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here for ideas</a>