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Real Estate & Investment News in Costa Rica! November and December 2007 Page 2

  The "State of the Nation" Report Finds
Land Development Threatening to Costa Rica

Costa Rica's Ecosystem is at risk and the perception of the Costa Rica
Government, as being committed to Environmental Conservation Excellence,
is being Challenged by the rampant Infrastructure Development, on Costa
Rica's coastlines, and the lack of enforcement of "land use" laws, for
preserving our sensitive "ecosystems" at the nation's beaches

The State of the Nation, which does annual studies of Costa Rica's Ecosystem,
(was put together 13 years ago and organized by an Independent group of
Scientists).  They are seeing major differences, between what is being
discussed, by the Costa Rican Government and which laws are actually
being implemented and enforced to protect the environment.

The wild economic growth in Tourism, Real Estate and Development, has
pushed the Costa Rica Government, to face up to their responsibility of
Protecting Costa Rica's Environment.

There is a lack of adequate regulation in "Land Use" and "Development" and
the Over Exploitation of "fresh water sources" and Costa Rica's Natural
Resources which are becoming disastrous.

For Example, the "Water Pollution" in Tamarindo Beach, which has come
about with the heavy rains, is because of a "Lack of Regulations and Laws"
in place, concerning Water and Waste Water Management. And not
enforcing Costa Rica's Maritime Laws.

*These same "land use" problems, occurred in Hawaii, Bali and Thailand,
when large Condominiums were built on their Coastlines.  We should be
educating our Ministries of Land and Environment Conservation and
implement New Laws, based on the experiences of those countries,
who have had similar land development challenges.

We have the University of Peace, which teaches "Corporate Social
and Global Responsibility" for the Global Concepts Ecology of the
United Nations.

Why should we expect less, of the Multi-Million Corporate Investors,
who come to Costa Rica, who develop our coast lines, in an
"irresponsible way", taking little or no responsibility, for the people
and ecosystems of Costa Rica?

They are destroying the very reason...
they came here to Costa Rica.

The most prominent Threats of Environmental Damage, are coming from
Costa Rica's Caribbean and Pacific Coastlands. Residential Construction
in the Pacific Provinces of Guanacaste and Puntarenas, increased last
year by 69.5 percent and 44.3 percent respectively. Way above the
National Average of 31 percent. Results of wild, frenzied Development,
have resulted in damage to Costa Rica's rainforests, damage to fragile
Coastal Ecosystems and no protection of the mangrove ecosystems.

The condition of Costa Rica's coastal "fresh water" River Systems is
a Nightmare!  There is over use of the Rivers water and growing
pollution with "human waste".

The Costa Rica Government Has to Act soon, to avoid "irreparable"
damage to the "natural ecosystem coastlines" that have "spawned"
the growth of tourism and real estate developments, catering to wealthy
land owners.

If investors wish to profit from their endeavors in Costa Rica, they
need to take an active role, in preserving our ecosystem, and act
responsibly within the community, by creating waste water
management systems that work, by building structures that blend
in with the rainforests, by not building high rise "monsters" that
look like "boxes" on the skyline.  By helping to build the
infrastructure and quality roads, for the community.

This is not about "greed" this is about "creating" a "unique"
environment, in which animals and plants, can live together in the
same environment, as humans.

And the Costa Rica Government, should be creating a "precedence"
in the way "impact studies" and building construction, can best
work for the country.  They should be setting an example for the
rest of the world.

Each Developer, that wants to develop land in Costa Rica, should
be required to sign an agreement, to comply with "Green Globe 21"
Certification.  "Green Globe 21" provides a certificate system, that
responds directly to the major environmental problems facing the
planet, including the greenhouse effect, over-use of "fresh water"
resources, destruction of biodiversity, production of solid and
biological waste and infrastructure and social responsibility to the
community, they will impact.

Costa Rica's Government, should be working hand-in-hand with this
global organization to ensure that developers comply with land-use
laws, to build a better system, and create a "win-win" situation,
that in the end, will boost everyone's profit, including the environment.
"Green Globe 21" should also develop a program to educate the
Ministries of Environment Conservation and Developers alike, at the
Peace University in Costa Rica.

To Register for The "Green Globe 21" Developer's Certificate:

Go Here:   Green Globe 21:  http://www.greenglobe21.com
                 (Cathy Parsons is the Global Manager of Green Globe 21)
                 (Annalisa Koeman is the Customer Services Manager)
                 (email:  customer.services@greenglobe21.com  )
 

 Real Estate Knowledge:

Few people realize that Costa Rica:

*Is the oldest democracy in the Western Hemisphere.

*Abolished their armed military forces in 1949.

*Has the second highest literacy rate per capita in the world.

*Has a lower infancy mortality rate, than the United States.

*Has the highest percentage of land mass, in protected parks
or reserves, than any other country in the world.

*The Costa Rica Constitution guarantees the rights of foreigners
to own land in Costa Rica.

*Properties are titled and registered in the National Registry.

*Land Transactions are in U.S. Dollars.

*There are no taxes on capital gains in Costa Rica.

*Ownership of land, becomes an offshore investment.
 

 "Eco" Land Turns Into "E-Coli" Land!

Tamarindo in Guanacaste Province
Langosta Beach Town in Costa Rica!

Will the Costa Rica Government Take Action?

Tamarindo's "Human Waste" Contamination problem is pushing action to
be taken, that should have been taken before construction and development
was allowed to build "High Rise" Condominiums and Hotels on the beach.

New laws have to be implemented to protect the health of Costa Rica's people,
and the precious ecosystem of Costa Rica.  (At one time, National Geographic
stated that, "Costa Rica was the most bio-diverse country in the world".

At one time, the Costa Rica Government, was proud to have their country listed
as the most unique, in all the world.

Well, it's time to "Pay the Fiddler".  When the Government and the Multi Million
Dollar Developers, turn their backs on protecting nature, then "Mother Nature"
has nasty little ways of retaliation, like "E-Coli".

Now "Raw Sewage" seeps into Tamarindo's Ocean waters, with pollution 7,000
times - over the limits considered acceptable, by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.  Producing the deadly bacteria, "E-Coli", endangering the lives of human
beings, mammals, bird life and sea life.

Costa Rica Ministry officials, along with the municipality of Santa Cruz
and the National University, will conduct a second analysis, to determine if their
first measures paid off.  The call for further testing resulted, after representatives
from Tamarindo met with Costa Rica's Health Minister, "Maria Luisa Avila", in
San Jose.

"Juan Luis Sanchez", director of the Health Ministry field office in Santa Cruz,
made promises, to take action this week. According to Sanchez, the Ministry
began passing out questionnaires to local homes, condos, hotels and businesses,
to find out the source of the contaminations. The questions ask building owners to provide the age and status, of their own sewage treatment facilities and septic tanks.

After the results of the survey is complete, a team of Costa Rica inspectors will start inspecting the buildings in Tamarindo, (that do not comply with the laws of Costa Rica),
which could be as many as 250 structures.  The "polluters" will be found. The government will issue the sanitary orders, (requiring adequate sewage treatment).

If this does not happen, then Condos, Hotels, Restaurants and buildings could
be closed.  Municipality Mayor, "Jorge Chavarria" says that he has plans to build a sewage treatment facility, but would not say when. When asked, why it wasn't
built yet, he said he had only been in office, for a few months, and that
he could not answer for the previous administration. He admitted, "It is his administration's responsibility and he plans to do it".

The estimated cost for an adequate Sewage Treatment Plant, could cost between
$2 million to $10 million. No one will invest without a cost effective proposal.

Swimmers and Surfers are forewarned, that they risk becoming contaminated with
"E-Coli", if they enter the sea.
 

The Fourth Annual World Fisheries Forum
Costa Rica 2007

The 4th Annual World Fisheries Forum, held at the "Hotel Fiesta" towering
over the Gulf of Nicoya, in Puntarenas, (Costa Rica's most prominent fishing region).

More than 250 fishermen, legal authorities and scientists, from 39
countries, met together this week, to avert what environmental experts call, "A
State of Crisis", in the World's Oceans.

They implemented ways to reduce "by catch" of sea turtles, marine birds and
mammals in the Pacific long line fisheries region. The Puntarenas Declarations,
to be presented to the United Nations, cites 12 actions to take, to create
sustainable fisheries, along with eco-based policies, the reduction of "by catch"
and illegal fishing and Costa Rica law enforcement.

A new  Regional Central America Organization will be created, to permit authorities
to implement responsible management of migratory species, that pass through the
marine territories of various countries.

(WWF), World Wildlife Fund International and the Central American Agua Culture
and fishing Organization (OSPESCA), will also provide support for the new organization.
The director of WWF, Jim Lease, helped sponsor the fisheries forum, stated that,
a global initiative was needed, to change the current irresponsible ways of fishing,
that are damaging and not sustainable.

Executive director of the Costa Rican Fisheries Institute, (INCOPESCA), wants to
create a larger, all encompassing Latin American Commission, working in conjunction
with other Central American countries, to promote sustainable fisheries in the Pacific.

The Commission would prepare Ocean Wide Studies of Migratory fish Species,
and make sure that these species are not being "over-fished" in Central American
countries. They will also create a biological corridor, allowing fish and Marine Mammals
to spawn, migrate and feed freely in the Pacific Ocean.
 

Dutch Magazine Article on Costa Rica

Louis Vuitton in de Jungle

by Martin Choucours
"Miljonair Magazine"

If you come to Costa Rica, then you absolutely must visit:

TORTUGUERO, one of the few spots on earth where you can witness sea turtles
nest or lay their eggs;

ARENAL, the most active volcano in Costa Rica (1630 meters altitude), that belches lava, dust and smoke every single day. Especially at night this is a spectacular show. Beautiful spa-resorts with natural thermal springs (healing!) and lava-mud treatments.

MONTEVERDE, the tropical rainforest at 1.500 meters altitude that is home to 2.500 kinds of plants, 400 different birds, 100 kinds of mammals and 490 different kinds of butterflies. Given the very poor conditions of the roads, Monteverde is difficult to reach, but it is more than worth a visit. The hotel Belmar, built in typical Austrian chalet style, (1.600 meters above sea level) offers you a view that leaves even the most seasoned traveler speechless;

THE PENINSULA OF NICOYA (Playa Tambor / Mal País), offers picturesque hills,
large cattle farms, beautiful bays and beaches. The American jet set has discovered
the coast for buying or building mansions or villas;

PUNTA ISLITA GUANACASTE AND THE FOUR SEASONS PAPAGAYO RESORT,
5-star luxury, that you probably would not expect to find, in this part of the world

To wake up to the screeching of howling monkeys. To hear a volcano thunder as if
there were a storm going on, and which then goes on to spew a shower of ash, fire
and smoke. A volcano such as those described in books.

But also: endless jungles, pearly white sandy beaches, lonely bays and rich flora and fauna that are unique in this world.

Welcome to Costa Rica. During his fourth trip to the New World, Columbus anchored in
the Bay of Cariari in 1502. Deeply impressed by the valuable gifts offered to him by the
Indians, he called the country Costa Rica, which in Spanish means "rich coast".

The name that Christopher Columbus gave this country was well chosen, and still holds
true today in 2006. Costa Rica, situated between Nicaragua and Panama, is only one
and a half times the size of Holland, but it is home to not less than seven per cent of
all biodiversities in the world! Among them are more than 850 kinds of birds and 250
kinds of mammals. A fourth part of the country consists of national parks and natural
reservations.

One third of the only 4 million Ticos, as the Costa Ricans are called, lives in the
Central Valley, where the capital, San José, is also located. But Costa Rica does not
only have extremely rich flora and fauna. Also in other aspects the country, when
compared with other Latin American countries, can be called “rich”.

Because president Don Pepe Figueres, the country’s godfather, abolished the army
in 1949, the country has been able to invest the budget that in other countries is
spent on defense, in a good education and health care system. A lot of money is
also spent on the conservation of nature. The latter is not a coincidental choice,
because tourism, together with the exportation of computer chips, coffee, bananas
and pineapples, is one of the most important sources of revenue for the country.

RESORTS

Although a couple of years ago, Costa Rica was particularly a destination for
thoroughbred eco-tourists, this image is changing very fast. The backpack is
making place for Louis Vuitton, Levi’s is clearing the field for Dolce & Gabbana,
and in more and more places, the bed and breakfasts are making place for
luxury specialists, such as Four Seasons Resort on the Papagayo Peninsula
and Marriott. Along the Pacific coast, resorts have been built over the last years,
for the most "spoiled" tourists.

The exquisite Punta Islita Hotel (5 stars), on the Nicoya Peninsula, for instance,
is a member of the famous group, "Small Luxury Hotels".  The inhospitable trip to
Punta Islita, (because of the hotel’s very remote location, the road to get there
is no fun ride) is “rewarded” immediately upon arrival, because the butler receives
you at your car with cool, wet towelettes. The Ticos know what it is to have to
reach this hotel by car.

LITTLE PEARL

It is not surprising, that 95 per cent of the guests arrive in private jets or airliners,
at the landing strip that is about 5 kilometers away. Punta Islita is known as a
little pearl on the Pacific coast. The setup of the hotel is small-scale (30 rooms,
10 suites and 7 villas), and it is built in the style of the old cattle ranches in the
Guanacaste region, with roofs covered with palm leaves and the trunks of Madera
and Sainillo trees, used for the construction.

Every single room has a splendid view of the ocean and its own hammock. Most
rooms, also have a Jacuzzi in the garden or a private swimming pool. Punta Islita is
built in such a way that, although everybody has an unobstructed view, no guest has
a view of other guests. Privacy guaranteed.

Besides, the hotel also has an impressive spa-program with treatments with lava
mud and vanilla, to massages with warm volcano stones and honey. The largest
villa (220 square meters) with its own swimming pool, kitchen and butler service
will set you back between $500. and $700. dollars per night.

Wine & Dine

LE MONASTERE Restaurant

Top quality cuisine with a magnificent view over the capital San José.
In Le Monastère, you can go to dinner two ways: chic in the restaurant
or "hip" in the underground caves (with live music).


JURGEN’S  RESTAURANT

The “Le Garage” of San José. High quality cuisine. The restaurant
is both elegant and trendy at the same time. A very popular spot
among the upper class.


CHATEAU 1525

Very special for Dutch people, because the restaurant is in the
former Dutch Embassy in Costa Rica, an old castle. The castle
actually houses five different restaurants, each one with its own
ambience and style. You can lounge in the wine cellar or have
French cuisine on the terrace. Chateau 1525 is popular with
well-to-do Costa Ricans and with foreigners. The business is
known for its perfect service and dishes with surprising combinations.

CELEBRITIES

“The bad roads here, have their pros and cons”, says Vice President
Eduardo Villafranca of Punta Islita.  For suppliers it is a disaster of course,
but the hotel management does know how to appreciate the
cheese-with-the-holes, in this remote part of the country. “

Our guests like to be isolated”, says Villafranca with a smile. “Our have no
problems with space and we have no problems with security”. No wonder
Punta Islita is a huge attraction for international celebrities. Some celebrities
on our guest list, are: Catherine Deneuve, Enrique Iglesias, David Hasselhof
and Madonna.

Guests who choose Punta Islita, are contributing to the welfare of the local people.
The hotel has won a series of awards, with its responsible entrepreneurship. Their
philosophy is that a hotel cannot function properly, if its environment is not doing
well also. So, every year six percent of the profit, goes to development projects in
the five surrounding villages, through a foundation. This way, hundreds of thousands
of dollars, together with the money raised by the “partners” of the hotel, are
additionally invested in education, infrastructure and cultural projects.

LUXURY RESERVATION

At the northernmost tip of the Nicoya Peninsula, we have the Four Seasons
luxurious Reservation. It is located on the gulf of Papagayo (parrot). With 153
rooms and villas, it is the smallest Four Seasons resort in the world, but in
comparison with Punta Islita, it is a gigantic resort.

Here, the only luxury-discipline, is the one shaped according to an American model.
Nothing is too crazy, everything is possible and all of that, at the five-star-plus-level.
And prices that normal Ticos can only dream about: $695. dollars per night, for
staying in a standard room, during high season, to $6.800. dollars per night, in the
presidential suite, (392 square meters), with three bedrooms, a private swimming pool
in your own garden, dining room, and ocean view from both sides and with plasma TV screens everywhere.

But also the guests of the Four Seasons, come to Costa Rica, not only for the luxury,
but also for the country’s rich nature. You can take an excursion to the Santa Rosa
National Park, home to monkeys, tapirs, jaguars, dozens of varieties of parrots and
twenty kinds of bats.

There, you also have the property that was confiscated in 1979, from the former Nicaraguan dictator, Somoza. The Reagan administration built a secret
landing strip, on the northern edge of the park, for the CIA, (the so-called Santa
Elena-strip), which was used by general Oliver North and his buddies, for clandestine activities (the Iran-Contra scandal). No American top attraction, although very risqué.

Among the guests of the Four Seasons, there’s Meg Ryan and basketball topper
Michael Jordan. Pop star Pink married motor cross world champion Carey Hart
there. Lisa Marie Presley also came to the party.

The safe surroundings, the splendid climate and the rich flora and fauna, have a
magnetic attraction for the American jet set. In just a few years, the Nicoya Peninsula has become to the Americans, what Marbella is to the Dutch.

BRUCE WILLIS, LISA MARIE PRESLEY, HARRISON FORD, ROD STEWARD,
LEONARDO DI CAPRIO, ROBERT REDFORD AND KEVIN COSTNER, HAVE
ALL RECENTLY BOUGHT A PIECE OF LAND OR A VILLA IN NICOYA.

Hollywood stars and musicians, have discovered the magnificent area with green hills,
large cattle ranches, huge trees and beautiful bays and beaches.

Bruce Willis, Lisa Marie Presley, David Hasselhoff, Harrison Ford, the Olsen Twins,
Kevin Costner and Enrique Iglesias, have all recently acquired a piece of land or a villa
in the most beautiful areas of Nicoya. And if rumors are true, then also megastars
Michael Douglas and Michael Jordan, have chose the well loved region of Tambor in
search of a mansion. This seems to turn the Peninsula into a jet set enclave par excellence.


Buy a (second) house in Costa Rica?

The largest real estate broker in the US, Century 21, is also a market leader in Costa Rica.

For Americans, customer protection comes first, so this also offers European buyers
the required security, such as guarantees and safe deposits, when making down payments.

Real estate buyers in Costa Rica, receive their land in their own names. Costa Rica's
cadastre is a very well functioning entity. The tax system’s top rate of 30% is very
favorable. Transfer tax is between 3.25% and 4.85% of the registered value of the
real estate. This value that is "registered" in the cadastre, is about 20% of the real
commercial value. A pleasant plus point, for people wishing to live there permanently:
Costa Rica, as Switzerland, applied bank secrecy. Revenue and capital of subjects
are not divulged to other countries.

For further information:

Costa Rica Real Estate
Century 21 on the Nicoya Peninsula.
Or Real Estate in Costa Rica
for Real Estate in Costa Rica in general by Century 21.


HOTTEST REAL ESTATE MARKET

Costa Rica, and specifically the Nicoya Peninsula, is booming. President
Jeff Homberger of the NAR (National Association of Realtors), you could call it
the American NVM, recently declared on CNN, that Costa Rica is at the moment,
the "hottest real estate market in the world".

Americans think that Florida, Mexico and Hawaii, have become too expensive to
buy their second home and are deviating to friendly, stable and still dirt cheap Costa Rica.

Also, the largest real estate organization in the world, the American Century21
(7.200 real estate offices in more than 38 countries) is pleasantly amazed, by what
they see happening in Costa Rica. Very seldom have prices in a region risen so
strongly.

SUCCESSFUL

Five years ago, Century21 asked the Dutch businessman, Carlo Köhlinger, to set
up the sale of real estate in the most beautiful spots in Nicoya. The Americans set
their sights on Köhlinger, because he had already managed to carry out a number of extremely successful real estate projects in Nicoya. Köhlinger can hardly keep up
with the requests for land and villas. Coastal areas and bays, such as playa Tambor, Montezuma, Mal País and Costa de Oro, are developing at an incredible pace.

Wealthy and famous Americans stand in line to invest. Even the sober Dutchman
himself, is a bit baffled, by the booming real estate business in this part of Costa Rica.

We met up with Köhlinger, in the 5-star resort, of the Spanish billionaire family Barceló, owners of the equally named hotel chain, (175 hotels in Europe and North
and South America).

Köhlinger is a house guest of Guillermo Barceló, who also has a home in Tambor.
“You will probably not believe this”, says the dry Dutchman. “But the prices of land
rise at an average of fifty per cent per year. Real estate, such as apartments, villas
and mansions increase their value, by approximately twenty percent every year.
And the end of it is not yet in sight.

It is really unbelievable”.

Travel Tip

Martin Air has almost daily connections with Costa Rica. There are alternate stops
in Miami or Orlando. Flying time from Holland is twelve hours. For a little more,
the Star class offers the comfort of business class. For further information: http://www.martinair.nl

The locations described in this report, can be booked, via "Emotions", specialized in
exclusive traveling.

More information:

http://www.emotions.nl 
(Telephone: 020-398.93.93)


Air Taxi

Given the fact, that the road system in Costa Rica, leaves a lot to be desired,
the Dutch entrepreneur, Jos van Veen, has taken the initiative of setting up
an air taxi. TIM Air Travel is a solution for vacationers with deep pockets, who
want to get from A to B fast. Costa Rica has lots of small airstrips, so that
all important tourist destinations, can be reached by air.

For more information:
http://www.Timairtravel.co.cr


PRESTIGIOUS

“Prices here are relatively low, especially in relation to the previous top
destinations like Mexico and Hawaii”, says Köhlinger. In Mexico the price
per square meter, rose from $150. dollars to $1,700. dollars, in ten years’ time.

As a consequence of the highly increased demand, prices in Costa have
also risen, but with the following difference: Costa Rica, is only just beginning.
Köhlinger has no words for it.

“In 2002, a client bought a property in the vicinity of Tambor, for $1.9 million
dollars and sold the same land last year, for $15 million dollars!  I can show
you the documents, if you don’t believe it.

In 2002, another client bought eight hectares in Tango Mar, for $150,000.
dollars. He now sold those same eight hectares, to which nothing at all had
been done, for $1.5 million dollars!”  The example of the prestigious Tambor
Hills development project,  gets the imagination: 7.000 square meters, each
plot brought in $40,000. dollars in 2004, but now they are sold for over $175,000.
dollars!

Christopher Columbus named Costa Rica the “rich coast”.  For many Americans
and some Europeans, this name has proven to be literally true. No matter how
high the dollar gain is in real estate, the first place still goes to Costa Rica’s
rich nature. The eco tourists have gotten company from dollar-investors.
But the Ticos are pragmatic: both things are bringing a lot of foreign capital
into the country. And in the end every Tico is better off for it.



  Mel Gibson Passionate About Preserving Mayan History Rainforest
http://www.star-ecentral.com 

Mel Gibson is selling off his Malibu estate and purchasing a a $24 million
400-acre ranch in Costa Rica. Since filming the epic Apocalypto, Gibson has
fallen in love with the region and sees this new home, as the ideal retreat from Hollywood.

In a recent interview, Gibson also revealed his passion for preserving the history
and environment of the ancient Mayan civilization, by lending his vocal and financial support to the establishment of a 525,000-acre national park. To date, he has
donated more than $500,000 to help protect the area from logging and farming.


Enter the Eco Warrior
http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/9/10/movies/18807086&sec=movies

By ZACK YUSOF

Mel Gibson speaks candidly about matters close to his heart.

Australian Oscar-winning actor and director Mel Gibson, is not your run-of-the-mill Hollywood star. Rather than play the fame game or live a typically hedonistic
celebrity lifestyle, Gibson prefers to keep a low profile and busy himself by putting
his name and money, to a selection of good causes, both environmental and humanitarian.

The man who spent two decades, as a leading man in popular films, like Mad Max
and Lethal Weapon and who directed the ground-breaking and critically acclaimed Braveheart, The Passion of The Christ and Apocalypto, may have courted
controversy in recent times, but the one thing he cannot be accused of is not
being wholly committed, to whatever he strongly believes in.

Playful: Actor Mel Gibson throwing a paper plane he made, during a press
conference, at one of the journalists, after the signing of the MOU between Petra
Group and the Royal Society South-East Asia Rainforest Research program.

Like his good friend and business partner in Malaysia, Petra Group president
and chief executive officer, "Datuk Vinod Sekhar, is quick to point out, during an exclusive interview, at Sekhar’s home in Kuala Lumpur, Gibson walks the talk,
especially when it’s something that he feels passionate about.

For instance, Gibson, who is on a two-week vacation in Malaysia, made his
presence felt, in local environmental circles recently, when he attended the
MOU-signing ceremony, for the conservation of the rainforest, between
Petra Group and the Royal Society South-East Asia Rainforest Research
program.

He also lends his name to Green Rubber Global, a Petra Group firm in the
United States, that operates a tire recycling plant in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Over in the tropical forests of Guatemala, Gibson has risked putting the noses of
the poor rural farmers and loggers out of joint, by lending his vocal and financial
support to the establishment, of a 525,000-acre Mayan national park.

The forest is home to El Mirador, 15 square miles of buried temples and pyramids
first uncovered, by archaeologist Richard Hansen, which could well be the most extensive Mayans ruins uncovered to date. In response to severe opposition from
local villages, Hansen roped Gibson into the Mayan Park project.

To date, the actor/director – who visited El Mirador, to evaluate the site for
Apocalypto – has donated US $500, 000 (RM1.75mil) to Hansen’s work and
agreed to serve on the board of his foundation, and serve as spokesman for
the project.

Charitable nature aside, anyone engaged in a one-on-one chat with Gibson, can
find it somewhat unnerving. When he fixes his famous piercing blue-eyed stare
on you, it’s intimidating, to say the least. He’s affable and polite, without being
too friendly, and seems to size you up, as he speaks.

He has the air of someone, who does not suffer fools gladly. He’s brash, to the
point, and not afraid to call a spade a spade. But he’s also utterly fascinating
once he warms up to a subject.

Get him talking about something he really cares about and he starts to come alive,
with intelligent insights. His eyes twinkle and the gentle burr of a voice, begins to
rise excitedly, as he leans closer to get his point across.

You seem to have been devoting a lot of your time to environmental and humanitarian causes of late. Has the movie business taken a back seat?

Gibson: No, not really. I’ve always had interest in trying to help people. I’m not a
tree hugger or anything, but hey, why not help people or save the planet if you can.
I’ve always liked nature. I had a farm at one point and tried to do things there without using chemicals. If you are in a position to do some good, then it’s really a
no-brainer to get involved in some way

You’re also a share-holder in Green Rubber and regularly attend board meetings.

When I heard about what they were doing, (Green Rubber recycles rubber into a
form of material, that can be reused for most purposes), I thought it was an amazing service to the planet and everyone in it. What a legacy to leave behind.

I’ve seen how the technology works and it’s truly amazing. Petra Group has these foundations and stuff attached to it, so that the proceeds, that come from this
technology, go to cool things, and that’s rare. Most people are too damn greedy
to think about other people.

Why get involved? It’s fun and interesting. It’s like, you invest in an excavation
project in Guatemala and three years later, you get to walk up the steps of the
ancient pyramids that they unearthed. I almost had tears in my eyes.

The Mayan Park Project in Guatemala, is something you’ve been passionate
about for years. What attracted you to it?

I was amazed when I went down there. It just blew my mind. I mean, the greatest archaeological find in the Western Hemisphere, is virtually ignored. You’ve got the
biggest pyramid in the world there; volume-wise, it’s bigger than the biggest one in Egypt.

Up till 1930, they thought it was a volcano. Then they realized it was a very, very
large pyramid and there were others near it, almost as big, and there were 26
large cities in the basin.

They have been perfectly preserved and not been looted. There are libraries;
there are kings, there are tombs. It’s like the Valley of the Kings and yet, nobody
knew about it.

And you know what else? They’re 2,000 years old! People think they didn’t
have pyramids in the neo-classical period. Bullshit! In fact, they had them
bigger than they did later. People are going to start discovering a lot more
things, when they start unearthing this.

There seems to be a fair bit of opposition to the project from the rural farmer
and loggers.

Here’s the deal: the forest is threatened and it’s the last remaining rainforest
in Central America. If it burns and there are fires all around, it’s gone.
People are trying to encroach and log it. Once you put a road in there, it’s over.
All 26 cities will go. You won’t find the libraries, the tombs or who walked
across the Baring Strait from Asia to get there.

I tell you: The Mayans looked like you guys (Asians). In fact, I know a
Mayan shaman, who went to Tibet and spoke his native tongue to a Tibetan
and the guy was like, “Ah!” (Gibson makes a gesture of amazed recognition.)
They had some similar words, that mean the same thing. It’s pretty wild,
when you think about that.

I tell you, these Mayan cities hold the key to a bunch of stuff. And they were sophisticated, like Pompeii. These cities are enormous. These were huge
civilizations. These people who are opposing the project just don’t
understand how important a find this really is. I’ll even give loggers the same
amount of money they’d get for the trees to not touch them and I have done that.

If you turn the forests into tourism, you’d get a hundred-fold what you might get
if you were to log them. I’m putting money into their pockets. A lot of these
people don’t know what is really going on. And they believe a lot of things that
they are told. And there are people who are malicious, people out for short-term
gain. The newspapers are too quick to paint a bad picture of me.

Your fascination with Mayan culture, came to glorious fruition with the excellent Apocalypto. Why make a movie about Mayans shot entirely in Mayan native
tongue?

I was always been intrigued by Mayan culture. Richard Hansen had some really
good theories about the Mayans and why they disappeared, which are in the film.
If you look closely, you can see all the things that dragged their civilization down.
They were destroying their environment and the arability of their soil.

With regards to the language, there are a lot of Mayan dialects. We chose
Yucate, which is being used today. It’s a very colorful language.

With the cast, I made a point of getting people who looked indigenous, like
real Indians, you know. All these people looked like they came from a different
century. I thought the cast looked great. A lot of these people had never done
any acting before. They were mainly carpenters, construction workers and schoolteachers.

The film sets were something else, too. I used the same guy who did the
sets for Braveheart. He oversaw the construction of the city, pyramids and
temples – and did an amazing job. The whole city and the town around it
came alive. It was fully functional, with people actually living in it. People
would go there and get blown away by the set.

We shot the film in Mexico, because they had some nice jungles there. I
found it better to film in the rainforests there, because they had larger trees
and bigger canopies, which kept the undergrowth down, so you had some
depth of vision. In Guatemala, the jungles were too dense. Filming in the
jungles was the hardest part about making the movie.

Like The Passion of The Christ, Apocalypto had its share of controversy.

There’s this historical revisionism that’s going on, kind of like, “That didn’t
happen!” I just don’t get it. Now they are doing it with the Mayan stuff, too.

I read an article, saying my film is historically inaccurate. It’s not meant to
be a historical piece. But there was human sacrifice back in the neo-classical
period, very much so. I did my research, man. I like looking at periods of
history and drawing stories from them. My obligation is not to portray history
to the letter; my obligation is to entertain, educate and, hopefully, lift people
to a higher spiritual plane.

Do you plan to return to acting? Will we see you in an action hero role any
time soon?

I think I’m too old for that, but you never know. I just like telling stories.
Entertainment is valid and I guess, I’ll probably do it again before it’s over.
You know, do something that people won’t get mad with me for. (Laughs)


Mel Gibson Ditches States for a New Ranch in Costa Rica
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/16833/
Mel-moves-to-jungle-to-tame-wild-life

Reports are coming in, that Gibson has purchased a $24 million 400-acre
ranch on the Nicoya Peninsula, in Costa Rica. Already, he’s sold two of his
homes in the United States and sources are reporting, that “he’s planning to
live in his new location, for most of the year.”

Gibson’s move, will endear him to a nation, that is big on conservation.
Costa Rica is famed for the richness and variety of its rainforest and wildlife
and is home, to five per cent of the world’s flora and fauna.

The Ranch is 300 miles away from San Jose. Mel’s new home will no
doubt, feature some green additions. The actor has been active in
eco-friendly initiatives; including starring in, "2006’s Who Killed The
Electric Car" documentary. Recently, he also became a primary
investor, (along with Bruce Willis) in Green Rubber Global.

He’ll also be using his new southern home to scout locations for his
next film, an epic about the Spanish explorer, "Vasco Nunez De Balboa".

The country’s president, Oscar Arias, has already welcomed Gibson
personally. They met in July to discuss a donation the star is offering to
help native groups.

On Monday, July 9, 2007 Mel Gibson visited president of Costa Rica,
Oscar Arias, in his San Jose house. The famous 51-year-old actor and film
director and the president met, to discuss possible humanitarian projects
in Costa Rica , initiated by Mel Gibson. The actor shared his ideas of
making financial donations, in order to support Costa Rican Native Indians.
The meeting of the president and the actor-director, lasted for about an hour.

As President Oscar Arias told reporters, Mel Gibson wanted to support the
indigenous population of the country and came for a visit to find out how to
channel the funds in the best possible way.

According to Arias, the director of the last year's Mayan epic 'Apocalypto',
promised to return to Costa Rica the following month, to make all the
necessary arrangements related to his donation.

As for Mel Gibson himself, he has avoided any communication with the press,
during his prior trips to the country. This time the celebrity spent a few minutes
with reporters answering their questions. Gibson is planning to return later this
month to make the final arrangements.

He has visited Costa Rica several times in recent years and last month
was pictured enjoying himself in a bar in the town of Nicoya. The visit
came, while he was scouting locations for his next film, an epic about
the Spanish explorer," Vasco Nunez De Balboa".

The Hollywood actor-director confirmed the rumors, about him purchasing
a house in Guanacaste located on the Central American nation's Pacific
coast. Gibson jokingly asked the reporters, whether they needed the
address.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/16833/
Mel-moves-to-jungle-to-tame-wild-life


Ever wonder why Ari Gold’s wife on HBO’s hit series, "Entourage"
does not have a first name? Me neither, but according to Perrey Reeves,
who plays “Mrs. Gold” on the show, it’s an HBO tradition to have characters
with nicknames only.

Think “Mr. Big” from "Sex and the City" and you’ll see the connection.
Anyways, the reason she’s making this list, is because of her current
plans down in Costa Rica, to build a Yoga retreat on an “eco-estate”.
According to Perrey, this means “no TVs, no telephones.” Did I
mention it’s a slow news day?

Celebrities in Costa Rica
It took remodeling his Brooklyn, N.Y., home to kick Adrian Grenier from
“Entourage” into high green-activism mode. He went full-on with
solar panels, walls insulated with recycled denim and reclaimed oak floors.

If, during the show’s hiatus, Grenier needs to get in touch with Mrs.
Ari Gold, (aka actress Perrey Reeves), he’d better do it, before she
escapes to her off-the-grid “eco-estate” in Costa Rica, where she lives
with no TV or phone service. (Can’t you just hear Ari freaking out at
the prospect?)

Maybe her new neighbor Mel Gibson, who recently purchased a
$24 million 400-acre ranch in Costa Rica, will also plan to go solar.


*Other Movie Stars who have bought land in Costa Rica include:
Leonardo di Caprio, Sylvester Stallone, Andre Agassi, Paris Hilton
and Michael Owen. Yan March's luxury beachfront home in Mal Pais,
is a Holiday Retreat for Gwyneth Paltrow.


www.watch-trend.com   Actors – Actresses – Musicians – Singers
– Celebrities – Famous People in Costa Rica!


 Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Stayed in Costa Rica,
at the Four Seasons Resort in Papagayo, (Guanacaste Province)
for New Year's Friday, December 29, 2006

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, can't seem to get
enough of this tourist-friendly Central American nation. After spending
Christmas Day here, with Colombian refugees, the Hollywood couple stayed,
to ring in 2007, at the exclusive Four Seasons Resort in Papagayo, on
Costa Rica's northern Pacific coast, La Nacion newspaper reported.

Accompanied by their three children, a nanny and a personal chef, the
Jolie-Pitt entourage, registered as "the Black family," have been staying at
the resort since last Friday, the report said.  Their hotel "stay" at the Four
Seasons Resort, came to $100,000. dollars.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, have three children: 5-year-old Maddox, adopted
from Cambodia; 23-month-old daughter, Zahara, adopted from Ethiopia; and
6-month old daughter, Shiloh, who was born to the couple in May.

The hotel's Web site, describes the facility as "spilling down a lush
mountainside to an isthmus of golden sand," and says room rates range from
$470 to $6,800 a night.

Jolie, 31, and Pitt, 43, spent Christmas Day in Costa Rica with refugee children
and families from Colombia, also part of Jolie's ambassadorship, for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the agency said.

There are about 11,500 refugees in Costa Rica, most of whom fled Colombia
because of the conflict among leftist guerrillas, soldiers and paramilitary forces.

"I am deeply affected by having had the opportunity to be with them," said Costa
Rica's former Culture Minister Guido Saenz, who gave the couple a tour of the
country's art museum. "They have a mixture of physical beauty, great talent
and an altruistic attitude."

Angelina Jolie co-stars in the Universal Pictures drama "The Good
Shepherd" with Matt Damon and Robert De Niro. Brad Pitt, stars in "Babel,"
a Paramount Vantage release.

Angelina Jolie Reveals how she and Brad Pitt fell in Love

Angelina Jolie fell hard for Brad Pitt on the set of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith"
but didn't chase Hollywood's leading hunk, because he was married to his
"best friend," the smoldering actress said, in a jaw-dropping magazine
interview.

In her first in-depth words, about life as half of Tinsel town's first couple,
Angelina Jolie tells Vogue magazine she never wanted to ruin Pitt's marriage,
to actress, “Jennifer Aniston”, it just happened that way.

"I didn't know much about exactly where Brad was, in his personal life, when
they met on the set of "Smith". But it was clear, he was with his best friend,
someone he loves and respects," Jolie said, in a revealing interview, in the
magazine's January issue.  "And so we were both living, I suppose, very
full lives."

Angelina Jolie said, she was committed to life, as a single mom, when she
was paired with Brad Pitt, in the espionage action flick.

"Brad was a huge surprise to me," she said. "I, like most people, had a very
distant impression of him from the media.

"I think we were the last two people, who were looking for a relationship.
I certainly wasn't," she said. "I was quite content to be a single mom."

The "Tomb Raider" babe admitted, she was thrilled working with Brad Pitt
every day, while shooting "Smith" in 2003 and 2004.

"Because of the film, we ended up being brought together, to do all these
crazy things, and I think we found this strange friendship and partnership,
that kind of just suddenly happened. I think a few months in, I realized, 'God,
I can't wait to get to work,' " she said.

"Whether it was shooting a scene or arguing about a scene or gun practice
or dance class or doing stunts — anything we had to do with each other, we
just found a lot of joy in it together and a lot of real teamwork. We just
became kind of a pair."

While Jolie adamantly insisted, she and Brad Pitt, were not seeking to pair
up, the pouty-lipped bombshell, confessed they were tempted to make more
of what they had.

"And it took until, really, the end of the shoot for us, I think, to realize that it
might mean something more, than we'd earlier allowed ourselves to believe,"
Jolie said. "And both knowing that the reality of that, was a big thing,
something that was going to take a lot of serious consideration."

Angelina Jolie said, she and Brad Pitt remained "very, very good friends" after
shooting "Smith." They were resigned to staying nothing more than pals, Jolie
said, until Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, announced their breakup in early 2005.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, filed for divorce that spring, amid rampant
reports, that the Hollywood hunk, had his eye on Angelina Jolie, the whole time.

Vogue didn't directly press Angelina Jolie, on whether she and Pitt fooled
around behind Jennifer Aniston's back.  But Angelina Jolie said she realized,
early on, that she shared a deep, emotional bond with Brad Pitt, before they
formally hooked up after Jennifer Aniston.

Angelina Jolie said, she doesn't plan to marry Brad Pitt, but they're committed
to raising their boy and two girls.

She gave birth to their daughter, Shiloh, earlier this year, after adopting Maddox
from Cambodia, in 2002 and taking in Zahara, from Ethiopia in 2005.

"We both have been married before, so it's not marriage that's necessarily kept
some people together.

"We are legally bound to our children, not to each other, and I think that's the
most important thing," she said.

Jolie said, she hasn't spoken to her dad, actor Jon Voight, for five years.

Although she keeps up with mom Marcheline Bertrand, Jolie said, she doesn't
allow many people into her inner circle.  "I don't trust anyone," Jolie admitted.

"I don't think it's a good thing. This is going to make you think that maybe I
should get some therapy, but trust is such a bizarre word.  I'd like to say, that
I trust my mother, but I also don't know, if she might do something, that she
thinks is in my best interest. Still, "I trust Brad, will never do anything," she said.

But after a few moments, Jolie then added, "I don't know. I don't trust anybody completely."  Angelina Jolie said, she won't wear emotions on her sleeve,
because it wouldn't do her any good. "It's not going to accomplish anything to cry.
It's not going to help you to get a hug!" she said.

"I'm not a hugger. People make fun of me. It's something that I have a hard time
with. If someone hugs me, I hold my breath. Snuggling, cuddling, hugging, crying,
all that stuff makes me very uncomfortable."  Except when it comes to her kids,
the star said.

"Oh, I love hugging my kids," she quickly added. "It's a different thing because you
feel such a genuine grab from them."

The actress, once married to Hollywood bad-boy, Billy Bob Thornton,
conceded that she once lived life too close to the edge.  That all changed
once she had children.

"I'm committed to the future now," Jolie said. "I'm committed to life. I think
definitely before my son, I was a little nihilistic. But once I adopted Mad "Maddox",
I knew I was never going to be intentionally self-destructive again."

Jolie's next big flick, will be portraying the wife, of murdered journalist Daniel
Pearl in "A Mighty Heart." It was a role, that Jennifer Aniston had once said,
she would "love" to play.

Jolie said it was her children, basically Maddox, who ultimately cemented her relationship with Brad Pitt as a family.

One day, Maddox "just out of the blue called him Dad," she said. "It was amazing.
We were playing with cars on the floor of a hotel room, and we both heard it and
didn't say anything and just looked at each other.

"So that was probably the most defining moment, when he decided that we
would all be a family," she said.

Angelina Jolie said, that in addition to Brad Pitt, being a great dad, he has a
"wicked sense of humor" and, "He's a great challenge to me."

"We're constantly in competition with each other," she said. "He's somebody
I admire, based on the way he lives his life."


United States Ambassador Resigns
Now That "Cafta Agreement" is Signed by Costa Rica

U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica, "Mark Langdale" will resign as Ambassador
to Costa Rica, beginning January 1st, 2008.

He will return to the U. S. and be in charge of the George W. Bush Presidential
Library Foundation.  He will oversee the daily operations of the Foundation, including
hiring of staff and construction, on the campus of Southern Methodist University in
Dallas, Texas.

The U.S. Embassy would not say, who will be replacing "Mark Langdale", now that
the "Cafta Agreement" has been signed.


World Responsible Tourism Day - November 14th, 2007
(*Supported by UNWTO)

On this day, we would like to give praise and a special thanks to Costa Rica President,
Oscar Arias, for his visionary initiative, "Peace with Nature" a program that will help
propel Costa Rica, toward "Carbon Neutrality" and other key goals, aimed at creating
a balance in nature, and putting a "stop" to threatening Global Environmental Damage,
to Nature's Ecosystems.


The First Playa Samara "Ultra Light" Air Festival!
(Airpark Costa Rica - Playa Samara - Guanacaste Province)

(November 30th thru December 2nd - 2007) - 3 Days of Beach, Fun and
Flying for the entire family!  Bringing together sky divers and "Ultra Light Pilots"
including a whole package of fun and excitement.

*30% Discount on all flights, during the Air Festival. Discover the world of flying,
and see Costa Rica from the air.

Fly In: A fascinating festival program awaits you, on the ground and in the air,
with: Aerobatic Shows, Aerial Attractions, Live Music, Free style Cuisine and
"Ultra Light" Tours.

Take Off:  Experience thrilling and captivating ways to "Fly", with: Scenic Flights,
Photographic Flights, Pilot Training, and Aircraft Sales.

Stay: at the "Infamous Flying Crocodile Lodge" (9 individually designed cottages
with a/c and mini-bar). Only 5 minutes to the beach!  Restaurant, swimming pool,
tropical gardens, crocodiles and cocktail bar. (phone: 656-8048)

Buy your own personal place in Paradise! Costa Rica's first Airpark, offers you
an exclusive way to live and fly, in a gated community. Runway and ocean view lots
are still available.

How it all Began: German, "Guido Scheidt", lobbied the Costa Rica Government,
to authorize use of "Ultra Light" Aircraft commercially.  Guido, moved to Costa Rica
15 years ago, looking for a place to fly his "Ultra Light".  He settled on Playa Samara,
in the Guanacaste Province, starting a new business, with 2 private airstrips, a hotel,
(The Flying Crocodile Lodge) a flight school and a tour company. He now runs "Ultra
Light" tours, offering air tours of Costa Rica.  For more information: (phone: 656-8048)
Email: flycroco@web.de


Single Mom Announces Massage Franchise Now Open in Costa Rica,
Ireland Next
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/10/prweb562358.htm

Michele Merhib, a certified massage therapist, is the founder of an International
franchise with over 50 locations in the U.S. This single mom of two teenagers
recently announced her first International success by opening a massage studio franchise in Costa Rica and selling the master franchise rights in Ireland.

Highlands Ranch, CO (PRWEB) October 23, 2007 -- Michele Merhib, occupational therapist registered (OTR) and certified massage therapist (CMT), is the founder of
an International franchise, selling over 50 locations in the U.S. This single mom of
two teenagers has reached a level of success most only dream about, after recently announcing the opening of her first therapeutic massage franchise in Costs Rica
and selling the master franchise rights in Ireland.

Born in New York and moving to Oklahoma as a teenager, Michele went on to
receive her Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from the University of
Central Oklahoma in 1984. Michele became a Registered Occupational Therapist
(OTR) after graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science
in Occupational Therapy in 1993. Michele began as a staff therapist working in
hospitals, health care centers and providing home health care to individual clients.

Michele quickly moved into management of a rehabilitation department combining
her business skills, occupational therapy skills and natural leadership ability--little
did she know that these skills combined with her massage therapy training would
lead her to International success beyond her wildest dreams.

Living month-to-month and raising two teenagers, Michele was in search of greater income opportunities and more flexibility in life. While Michele was busy raising her teenagers and managing a rehabilitation department, she sought out massage
therapy to bring some balance and stress reduction to her own life. Michele's
massage therapist wanted to retire and encouraged Michele to buy her business.

This was a small massage practice, with over 100 regular clients, inside a country
club in Aurora, Colorado.

Broke and scraping together enough money for a down payment for the massage business' asking price, Michele got excited about the possibilities, and became a certified massage therapist in July of 2000. She says learning the craft of massage
came easily to her as a result of her previous training.

"Certainly I was nervous to take such a leap, but the decision to start my massage therapy business was the best thing I ever did for my family," says Ms. Merhib.
Within 12 months of buying the business, Michele quickly grew out of her 100
square foot facility and moved into a much larger location. Employing as many
as 25 full-time massage therapists, Michele mastered the necessary business
skills as the demand for her services grew, as she was literally forced to open up
another location because so many people wanted to benefit from therapeutic
massage.

"I rarely advertised. Most of my clients were referred to my business from other
happy clients. We train our staff to give 5-Diamond quality service just like the
high-end resorts and spas, but at an affordable price," Merhib revealed.

Michele's therapeutic massage business, became so successful that multiple corporations asked Michele, if she wanted to take her organization nationwide. She turned them all down. "I enjoy helping people so much and at the same time enjoy providing fellow therapists with a calm, safe and clean environment to practice their
craft. I did not want a faceless corporation, to take the systems I developed and use
it, to treat therapists and customers as just numbers," Merhib reported.

"When the Fitness Together Franchise Corporation (FTFC) approached me, at first
I was very hesitant, but then I did my due diligence and found the success they had achieved, in the personal training industry. I interviewed many of their franchisees and personally spoke with local employees, to understand how the organization treated people - I quickly became convinced that FTFC, was the right organization. I saw the opportunity, to provide thousands of other massage therapists, a great environment
and help millions of people live a better quality of life, through massage. Something
that I just didn't believe the other corporations could help me do."

Today, as the founder of elements therapeutic massage, Michele's organization has
51 locations, with the first international location now open in Costa Rica. They have
also recently sold a master franchise territory in Ireland.

"Locating the right franchisee for a location is one thing, but being able to support
that new business owner, help them set up properly, negotiate the best lease and
have enough clients at their grand opening are entirely different topics. FTFC has
done an amazing job in getting the elements therapeutic massage franchise model started that I have no doubt we can support 4000 locations worldwide, helping
countless millions of people live a better quality of life, through therapeutic massage."

For more information about Michele, or about "Elements Therapeutic Massage",
visit them online at:  www.touchofelements.com
or call 303-663-0880 ext. 24.


The Municipality of San Jose Plans European-Style Terraces and Cafes
for Paseo Colon!

Paseo Colon is being set up for Urban Renewal!  Planned by the Municipality of
San Jose.  New plans for the street include: European-style terraces and cafes
with outdoor seating, trees, old fashion lamp posts, improved sidewalks and new
building facades.

The Municipality will spend an estimated amount of $200,000. to complete the
Urban Renewal Project. On Paseo Colon, the project will run from 24th to 42nd
street. They are anticipating that some of the money for the project, will be raised through a special fund, created to support the project.

"Johnny Araya", the mayor of San Jose, revealed he plans to uplift the city, to
encourage more tourism, for San Jose. They are currently in the planning stage,
and will meet with Restaurant Owners and businesses, the first of the year to
discuss "renovation ideas" for Paseo Colon.

The Project leaders will create new renovations, of many of the abandoned buildings
and vacant lots, to make room for new Restaurants and Cafes, bars and boutiques.

Local businesses, have security concerns, and would like to increase security in
the area, especially at night. The project will be a long awaited "Welcoming Site"
into the city of San Jose!

The Province of Puntarenas is also undergoing Urban Renewal Projects, they
plan to invest $8 million in Urban Renovations and Improved Infrastructure, to
increase access by land and sea.

A large amount of money will go towards renovating all the Ports in Puntarenas, for
the Ferries and Cruise Ships and tourists. They will also construct a tree-lined bike
path and sidewalk, from Barranca to La Angostura, and build a boulevard and fair
grounds in Esparza.

Final touches to the project, would include revamping the railroad and the construction
of several piers and jetties, so that tourists and locals alike, can enjoy the views of the Golf of Nicoya.


Panama & Costa Rica Real Estate Map

Encuentra24.com executives announced their new updated inclusion, an interactive
real estate map for Panama and Costa Rica featuring available for-rent or for-sale property locations.

Panama City, Panama (PRWEB) November 8, 2007 -- Swiss Panama Group, Corp. operators of Encuentra24.com and Inmobiliaria24.com announced the recent inclusion of a new map location search tool, for Panama and Costa Rica properties, listed in both websites.

Encuentra24.com and Inmobiliaria24.com are both multiple listings service or classifieds websites, the later site, specializes solely in real estate listings.

This new interactive map, features available real estate properties, pin-points its exact location, shows a small photo, price and links to the complete ad posted in the Encuentra24.com or Inmobiliaria24.com Panama's and Costa Rica real estate MLS.

More than 350,000 of their monthly users, (70% Spanish speakers and 30% English speakers), are able to freely search for mountain properties listings and research access roads, lakes, and proximity to other towns through the map tool.

The development of a feature, which layers the familiar Google Map, allows buyers a satellite and/or hybrid view, and to zoom in, on the newly updated Panama and Costa Rica Real Estate map.

For the creative staff of Swiss Panama Group, whom are usually open to work with online tools and websites, such as Youtube.com videos, Condo.com mls, etc., integrating Google map to the real estate listing search was smart choice.

The real estate map was developed following the Encuentra24.com two year anniversary. Since 10th of October, 2005, Panama owners and realtors, have been able to register and post for-sale and for-rent property listings in the web-service.

Furthermore, the executives announced plans to work on expanding media alliances, enter into other Latin-American markets, and to develop franchising models, to share the successful tool.

Continue to Page 3
Costa Rica Real Estate News and Investments


 

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