OHMCR The Best Costa Rica Travel Guide

Through out the entire week, hundreds of Costa Ricans started off early on their pilgrimage to the Basilica in Cartago.  Home to Costa Rica’s patron saint, the Virgin of Los Angeles, the Basilica of Cartago is ready to receive its thousands of visitors by August 2nd.

Every year, thousands of faithful believers in the Virgin of Los Angeles walk hundreds of miles to pay a visit to the Virgin as a promise for granted favors and miracles.  This year, the local media has been following the journey of a group of people which left from the southernmost region of Costa Rica.

The group has been walking for almost 5 days now and has finally reached the most difficult part of their journey.  The Cerro de la Muerte, or Mountain of Death, is one of the routes highest peaks and receives its name by the hundreds of travelers who lost their lives during the colonial era.  The extreme low temperatures, icy rain and thick fog were the cause of deaths for those unfortunate travelers who couldn’t make it past the cold.

The group from Golfito and San Vito expects to reach Cartago on time by Saturday.  One of the pilgrims fervently prayed to the Virgin to please help his mother who had to undergo surgery for a tumor.  His mother’s operation was successful and he is keeping his promise to La Negrita as the Virgin is affectively called due to her dark complexion.

Another woman is carrying out a promise for her friend who was close to death due to a pulmonary infection.  A farmer from the remote southern lands is making the pilgrimage so that the Virgin will help him pass his math test from his home schooling program and opt for a high school degree.

Sussy McAllsiter, a Canadian who moved to Costa Rica with her husband decided to make the pilgrimage with her new neighbors in order to learn more about the tradition and customs of the Costa Rican Catholics.  She has mentioned that what impresses her is the sense of comradery and union among the people.

Starting Friday, the main streets in the central valley will be filled with thousands of pilgrims on their way to Cartago.  Extra caution and patience will be needed when getting from place to place.

written by fernando \\ tags: Basilica of Cartago, Cerro de la Muerte, Costa Rican Catholics, San Vito, Virgin of Los Angeles

The year 2008 marks the celebration of two centuries of coffee production in Costa Rica. Organizers wish to educate the people about the importance of coffee production to the development of Costa Rica as a nation.

Coffee represents one of Costa Ricas pillars for development which took off during the second half of the 1800. The Costa Rican Coffee Institute (Icafe) has organized an art exhibit which represents coffee importance to Costa Rica.

The exhibit will take place in Costa Rica National Museum and will display 16 out of 25 pieces of artwork which have won the art category for the yearly Grano de Oro Contest since 1988. The exhibit will be on display until July 31st.

The event has been dubbed ?200 Years of Costa Rican Coffee: Celebrating Our Lands Natural Flavor and seeks to transmit knowledge and sensitivity towards coffee as well as its economical, social and cultural contribution to the country.

Costa Rica affectionately calls the coffee bean Grano de Oro which translates to Golden Bean due to its importance to the country development. Each year, the Costa Rican Coffee Institute holds the Grano de Oro Contest which includes the categories of art and music among others.

The coffee bean was brought from Cuba to Costa Rica in 1808 by the Spanish governor Tomas de Acosta, 13 years prior to Costa Rica independence from Spain. Costa Rican coffee bean is 100% Arabic and its main consumers include the U.S followed by Europe.

written by fernando \\ tags: Cerro de la Muerte, Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve