IDB Approves $250M for Electricity Sector in Costa Rica

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced it had approved $250 million in financing for Costa Rica's electricity sector. Nearly $98 million will go to the Reventazón Hydroelectric Project, and the remainder will go toward investments in improving state power company ICE's electricity generation, transmission, and distribution capacities. IDB aims to improve the quality of energy and improve coverage in rural areas, according to press.

In May, ICE said it plans to invest $9 billion over the next 12 years in the nation’s power sector, with the majority to go toward generation in hydro, thermal, and geothermal. And IDB is further involved in the region, announcing earlier this year joint investments with the Japan International Cooperation Agency targeted up to $600 million in green energy renewable and energy efficiency projects in Central America and the Caribbean.
Costa Rica derives 12 percent (163 MW) of its electricity production from geothermal energy, the GEA noted in its recent “Geothermal: International Market Overview Report.” In fact, it was one of 39 countries identified in 1999 by GEA as having the potential to meet 100% of their electricity needs through domestic geothermal resources.
The majority of countries in Central America have developed a portion of their geothermal resources for utility scale power production. In Central America rapid economic growth, increasing dependence on imported fossil fuels, and a push to overcome regional fragmentation through the SIEPAC (Sistema de Interconexion Electrica para America Central) transmission interconnection have created the need for the development of the region’s renewable resources, the
international overview report noted.
This article was originally published in GEA's Geothermal Energy Weekly and was republished with permission.

Colonia Blanca Cabalgata

A couple of weeks ago we received an invitation from our neighbors to attend the Colonia Blanca Cabalgata.  Who can turn down beer, good food, friends and a party!!!  Colonia Blanca is nice little Tico Town about 15 kilometers from our house or about a 2 hour horse ride.  So early one weekend morning I met up with my neighbors son and off we went with one horse in tow. We met up with Goyito and his son  about 3 kilometers from house. 

After a few stops on the way to BS with whomever (Ticos love to BS and catch up with friends and neighbors especially the country folks).  We arrived in Colonia Blanca for registration which includes a few cerveza and more visiting.  I was the only English speaking person which is interesting but I got by with my Spanglish!

Lined up and waiting to hit the trail! Finally after the usual delays waiting for riders, we left at about 1:00 PM which was about 2 hours later than scheduled! With more than 120 riders we were off to explore the Colonia Blanca countryside.

Here we are at the midway point to stop for bocas, beer and more visiting!

Of course if you are going to have a party you gotta have a sound system even if there is no power.  So what do you do - you find someone with the world's largest boom box - speakers on top - power plant in front:-)                                                          

The ride was quite spectacular and not for the faint of heart as we went up and down some very steep hills and crossed several mid size rivers.  Our sure footed trusty Tico horses came through in style.

After a long day in the saddle - my little buddy reflecting :-)   All of 6 years old this little guy rode like a trooper!  He rode with us all the way to Colonia Blanca, then throughout the entire Cabalgata, but did not make the return trip.

We arrived back at Colonia Blanca about 4:30 PM.  About 5:00 it was time to head home as darkness hits shortly after 6:00 PM.  We rode as fast as we could but could not beat nightfall.  We came to the junction in the trail and had to decide whether to take the short cut or the long way which was a much better trail. After a little discussion Claudio, and I decided to take the short cut and save an hour. The jungle at night is one dark, scary place!   This was my first time experience on horses in absolute black dark as we rode through the jungle with all its sounds and sights - all we could see were the fire flys.  I literally could not see my hand in front of my face but our horses negotiated the slippery trail up and down without mishap.  I was truly impressed and thankful.  Next time I am bringing my headlamp:-)  If you ever have the chance to take part in a Cabalgata - do it, you will never forget the experience.  Till next time - Happy Trails and Pura Vida! 

San Jorge Fiesta 2012

 Organized Confusion at the San Jorge Cabalgata :-) 

Chicharrones and Cerveza:-) 

Dancing Horses!  

 

Bull Riding and Improvisados 

Another Successful San Jorge Fiesta!

The end of March saw another successful 3-day Fiesta de Torros hosted by our small pueblo of San Jorge (population 50-75 depending on the time of year.) The fiesta featured bull riding every night and we were entertained by some exceptional bulls and riders this year, although I believe the bulls won by a large margin.  See the video on the sidebar for a look at the performance.  Note the fellows running around after the bull, called improvisados - they prove their manliness by seeing how close they can get to the angry bull – there are not many old, bold improvisados in Costa Rica!   The music was provided by a local high school band bused in for the occasion. Every night featured salsa dancing and great typical food cooked over the open fire.  Nothing like arroz con pollo cooked over a smoky fire!    Sunday morning featured an early morning mountain bike ride with both short and long distance courses - a great way to start the day after too much cerveza the night before!  Later on in the afternoon the cabalgata (horse trail ride) took place.  These are great events scheduled to start at 11:00 AM but never really getting going till 2:00 PM (Tico time).  Cabalgatas are a hoot with lots of visiting before, during and after the ride.   The ride is usually 2-3 hours in length with a halfway stop to eat chicharrones and have a cerveza or two.  Check out the video on the sidebar showcasing how the Ticos train their horses to dance to music.  After the ride there are draw prizes along with more visiting, food and partying.  This is the 3^rd year that Donna and I have contributed as volunteers and financially to the San Jorge Fiesta de Torros, alongside our Tico neighbors.  If you plan to visit Costa Rica in the future, we really recommend you make it a priority to attend one of the many Fiestas de Torros that all towns, big or small, stage each year.

San Jorge BBQ  mmmmmm! Recently we were invited to our neighbor's home for a good old fashioned pig BBQ - Costa Rican style!!  This is not your sit down dinner as we experience in Canada or the US rather this is an all afternoon event!  Early in the morning the neighbors butcher a nice fat young pig.  They then stoke the wood fires in a 45 gallon drum.  First course is the best of all in my mind - chicharrones!!!  Chicharrones are the skin of the pig deep fried in hot oil.  Similar to piggy puffs but much better.  These fried pieces of pig skin with some meat and fat attached are to die for (literally).  I am sure the cholestrol level goes through the roof but they are very tasty.  Along with the chicharrones comes the traditional Costa Rica dishes of  pico de gallo (tomatoe, onions, culatro, peppers mixed with mandarine juice), plantain and or yuca.  So this somewhat offsets the chicharrone effect :-)  After a little visiting, a few cervezas or a taste or two of Scotch the next course is ready - deep fried pork pieces.  Another tasty delicacy!  More visiting, cerveza, scotch and then the finer pieces of  pork are BBQ over the open wood fire.  Definitely not your vegetarian meal here.  Finally as the evening approaches the best of the best are put on the smokey wood fire - pork ribs!!!  These are the best ribs we have ever tasted - Tony Romas has nothing on these babies!  Slow cooked over an open fire.  Washed down with ice cold cerveza or whatever.  This is definitely a meat lovers afternoon of munching but never miss the chance to attend these little get togethers!  Often these events are held for birthdays, holidays or just as a chance for friends and family to get together - PURA VIDA!

San Jorge de Bagaces

March 30-31 & April 1

Friday March 30:

Riding of the Bulls 6:00 pm

Dance and Crowning of the Rodeo Queen 7:00 pm

Saturday March 31:

Coffee with the Village Founders 2:00 pm.

Riding of the Bulls 6:00 pm

Dance 7:00 pm to 1:00 am

Sunday April 1:

Mountain Bike Race 8:00 am

Cabalgata (Horse Ride) 11:00 am

Riding of the Bulls 6:00 pm

Featuring traditional Costa Rican food cooked over wood stoves available every day, including: 

tamales , picadillo de papaya, carne asada, vigorones  

and much more …..

Peligroso! Very Dangerous! The Most Dangerous Snake in Costa Rica

If you are walking in the jungle and smell the fragrance of dog poo!  Be careful as these are the early warnings of a Fer de Lance - the most dangerous snake in Costa Rica.  Apparently their venom smells like dog poop. This is a picture of a dead Fer de Lance.  One of our our neighbours was clearing brush with a machete when he came across this fellow about 1.2 meters in length.  He killed it with his shovel.   Normally these snakes are shy and will get out of the way but sometimes they can become quite agressive and that is not a good thing!  I have travelled a lot of miles by horse, on quad, on foot and of course by car and I have only seen one of these babies.  Thats a good thing!  They are quite pretty for a snake and their skin is almost velveteen. Hence their spanish name terciopelo - 3 skins!

German airline will land first in Guanacaste

Air Berlin has decided to include for the first time to Costa Rica in its list of destinations 2011-2012.The first trip will be held on 12 November this year. The route will go to the International Airport Daniel Oduber in Liberia and is from Düsseldorf, Germany with a stopover in Cancun, Mexico and Tourism Minister Allan Flores says in an official statement that this achievement is the result of negotiations held in March at the ITB tourism fair in Berlin. This flight represents the first route between Liberia and Germany and will generate a significant increase in tourist arrivals to the country, “ Flores. In order of importance, Germany is the second largest European market for Costa Rica, surpassed by Spain. Second the Yearbook of Tourism ICT -2010, for that year, Liberia Airport received a total of 225.224 visitors. Of this total are 1.029 from Germany. AirBerlin is the second largest airline in Germany and flies to 163 destinations in 39countries.