http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JXvhVHbfcQ
(Rigoberta Menchu)

1.) /s/ en español Guatemalteco

-la /s/ es aguda y se escucha muy claramente  en cualquier posición

-la pronunciación de la /s/ en español Guatemalteco es semejante y casi idéntica al español Mexicano.

Ejemplos del video:

Dos-→ [dos] (0:10)

Reacciones -→ [re.aɣ.’sjion.es] (0:11)

Los-→ [los] (0:15)

Hermanos-→ [eɾ.’man.os] (0:16)

Ese→ [‘e.se] (0:19)

Ellos→ [‘e.ʝos] (0:22)

Necesario–→ [ne.se.’sa.ɾjo] (0:25)

Padres-→ [‘pa.ðɾes] (0:26)

Muertos-→ [‘mweɾ.tos] (0:27)

Otros-→ [‘o.tɾos] (0:28)

2.) Nasales

Hay asimilación en el español Guatemalteco.

•Es muy similar al español Mexicano.

•Ejemplos del video:

–Años [‘a.ɲos] (1:23)

–America [a.’me.ɾi.ka] (2:22)

–Indio [‘in̪ .djo] (2:50)

–Impunidad [im.pu.ni.’dað] (3:25)

–Importantes [im.poɾ.’tan̪.tes] (3:46)

–En esa [eɳ.’e.sa] (4:56)

3.) No hay confusión entre la /r/ y /l/ en posición final de silaba en el español Guatemalteco

ejemplos:

hermanos—[eɾ.'ma.nos].(0:16)

muertos—-[mweɾ.tos] (0:27)

largos—['laɾ.ɣos] (0:43)

Si hay diferenciación entre la /r/ trill y /r/ flap

ejemplos del /r/ trill:

reacciones — [re.ak.'sjo.nes] (0:10)

relaciona —[re.ak.'sjo.na] (0:40)

riquezas —[ri.'ke.sas] (3:36)
4.) Las reglas de los /b d g/’s en Guatemala y México son iguales.  Siempre se puede oírlos – los sonidos son fuertes, por eso nunca son aproximantes.

—        /b d g/, en posiciones iniciales y después de nasales, son oclusivas: [b], [d], [g],

(0:27) mundo à [‘mun̪.do]
(5:26) volveré à            [bol.βe.’ɾe]

—        /b d g/, en otras posiciones, son fricativas: [β], [ð], [ɣ]

(0:07 ) corrido à           [ko.’ri.ðo]
(1:51) igual à                [i.’ɣwal]
(1:53) sobrevivimos à   [so.βre.βi.’βi.mos]
5.)

—         En el español guatemalteco hay un fuerte consonantismo.  A diferencia del ingles, /p t k/ nunca son aspiradas. La “t” es también dental.

—        Tambien son yeistas, pronunciando la “y” o “ll” como el sonido [ʝ] o “yuh.”

—        Ejemplos:

—        Tuve [‘tu.βe.] (0:12)                 brillo [‘bɾi.ʝo] (2:16)

—        Nunca [‘nun.ka]  (0:50)            haya [a.ʝa] (2:48)

—        Siempre [‘sjem.pɾe] (0:53)

Last Thursday November 19th was a meeting in Sta Cruz in the Hotel Calle Alcala were the Government presented the company Inypsa who was selected (bidding) by the government to do the Plano Regulador for Guanacaste and its individual Cantons. Inypsa is a Company from Spain with 40 years experience , worldwide active with more than 450 employees. Inypsa  just started about a month ago and will work with the local government and organisations and the people  to complete the Plano Regulador (Regulator Plan, Zoning Plan). This first meeting was mainly to listen and collect information with representatives from the cantons like Santa Cruz, Carrillo, Nicoya, Hojancha y Nandayure beside others.

Supervisor is the Consultant from Catastro y Registro Lic. Ph.D. Manuel Arguello Rodriguez and assisting to Organize the project is Yesenia Matamoros Azofeifa. At the  beginning of the meeting was a presentation by Lic. Manuel Arguello R. by using google earth to explain the different areas within Guanacaste.

It will take about 1 year to establish and approve this Plano Regulador so in Jan 2011 it can be implemented.

The presentation was followed by teamwork, dividing the participants in 2 groups with each group having at list one person of each canton representing it. The goal was to find basic points of the development and the future perspective with it´s current conditions and difficulties including the Municipalities.  There was a discussion with opinions, critic, alternatives and also the characteristics of each sub region of each Canton

After lunch the groups worked by Cantons on geographic aspects as well as hydrological, economical, social, ambient with the existing and future development. Also the individual characteristics of each Canton and it´s people followed by a presentation of each Canton to the rest of the participants.

It was motivating to see such a professional team with enthusiastic Ticos and Ticas working on the future development of Guanacaste. There is another company name Bipsa who will be in charge of just the coastal areas, but both are supervised by the same Department and will work together. Stay tuned

by: law-costarica.com

Temporary Residences as ‘Rentista’: proves of 2500$ monthly (for yourself and family, children under 25 years old) Temporary Residences as retired: 1000$ monthly. The papers for the Temporary residences have to be presented in the Embassy or Consulate of Costa Rica. Those are granted for maximum two years and can be prolonged or renewed for another two more years. After 3 years the permanent residency can be obtained.

All resident (temporarily or permanent) have to contribute to social security!!!

If not no extension will be granted. If a foreigner stays more than the 90 days he will have to pay a 100$ per month being irregular before leaving the country; in case he doesn’t he will not enter the country for the triple of the period he has been irregular.

A tourist to enter the country will have to show the return ticket and proves of financial funds for the stay.

New memorandum effective at the Immigration Department in Costa Rica that allows you to obtain the residency as investor with the certification of owning a property with a registered value above 200,000$.

by: insidecostarica

The Us dollar dropped almost ¢9 colones overnight, dropping to ¢554.38 for the buy and ¢563.23 for the sell against the Costa Rican Colon. The exchange rate on Tuesday was ¢564.39 and ¢573.03, respectively, dropping ¢8.64 colones overnight, as published by the Banco Central de Costa Rica (BCCR).

It was evident before the banks closed for business on Tuesday that a sharp drop was coming overnight, when some banks, like Scotiabank, were posting their rates at ¢554 for the buy and ¢562 for the sell.

The dollar has dropped more than ¢30 colones since the middle of September, when the buy was ¢585.87 and sell ¢595.59 on September 18.

The BCCR (Central Bank) says the changes are based on supply and demand, based on the excess or lack of dollars in the market.

Today’s exchange rate is slight above the rate on November 11, 2008, when the buy was ¢551.18 and the sell ¢560.98.

Experts say that the fall could continue as more dollars in the market place and lower demand means a drop in price. Other experts say that this could also be a sign of a permanent condition, while others say that there could be greater volatility in the coming weeks that in the past eight months.

On Friday, October 30, RIU Hotels & Resorts celebrated the Grand Opening of the Riu Guanacaste, its first hotel in Costa Rica. The Ceremony was attended by the President of the Republic of Costa Rica and Nobel Prize Winner, Oscar Arias Sanchez, as well as the Minister of Tourism, Allan Flores, the Minister of Health, Maria Luisa Avila, and the Minister of the Presidency, Rodrigo Arias. Relevant personalities from politic and economic fields, local and media representatives, as well as partners and friends attended the ceremony.

“Finally we count with a hotel in this wonderful country, a world example of sustainability and nature preservation. If to this we add the kindness and warm character of its people, the result is a magnificent tourism future” stated Carmen Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts, during her opening speech. In her final words she expressed to the authorities and guests what a great honor it was that they accepted to celebrate the opening with them. Luis Riu, CEO of RIU Hotels & Resorts also attended the ceremony along with over 400 guests.

The Riu Guanacaste hotel opened in one of the most beautiful destinations on Central America’s Pacific coast, where the sea and rain forest commingle to create an extraordinary landscape. The new hotel is located right on Matapalo beach in the captivating region of Guanacaste. With 701 rooms, the new resort offers RIU’s acclaimed 24-hour All-Inclusive service, succulent cuisine in its four restaurants and an extensive offering for events in its five conference halls.

The hotel’s four restaurants present a wide array of options. ‘Liberia’, its main restaurant, offers a buffet featuring international cuisine with dishes prepared right on the spot as well as themed dinners three times a week. The hotel also features three specialty à la carte restaurants: ‘Furama’ with Asian cuisine, ‘La Toscana’ with Italian cuisine and lastly, the Ocotal Grill-Steakhouse. Furthermore, guests can enjoy cocktails, soft drinks and snacks in the hotel’s five bars.

The hotel features a large swimming pool for adults with a built-in jacuzzi and a pool for children. The offering for our youngest guests is completed by a children’s playground and miniclub, whereas adults are able to use the full-feature Renova spa in which the gym, sauna and jacuzzi are free of charge.

Evenings at the Riu Guanacaste also brim with fun-filled options at its Pacha nightclub and casino.

The Riu Guanacaste hotel boasts a large, flexible space for meetings equipped to host all types of events. There are five halls in all, four of which measure 445 square metres and seat up to 120 people each, whereas the fifth one measures more than 900 square metres and can host events for up to 250 people. All of them have partitions and together can be turned into one single room for large-scale events of up to 730 people in its more than 2,700 square metres of space.

Free wireless internet access is available in the hotel lobby as well as in the convention centre.

Hi Everyone,
My brother Michael Dixon has disappeared while on holidays in Costa Rica. He was reportedly last seen leaving his hotel walking toward Playa Tamarindo on October 19th. His hotel room was found undisturbed, all of his belongings accounted for. My cousins and I are currently in Tamarindo in order to look for Michael with the help of the local authorities, the British authorities, the Red Cross, and lots of volunteers. We would really need your help! Friends, colleagues and family of Michael all around the world have organized to support the search. Although Costa is far, here are the things you can do to help find Michael. – Donate now! The family needs legal assistance, lodging, transportation, flyers, communication, … and professional search assistance doesn’t come cheap. –
 
Please help us in our search by clicking on the link. Every little counts and each contribution will be greatly appreciated.
 
http://fundraisers.everyclick.com/info.xq?id=1131350&fundraiser-name=Lucie-Blackman-Trust&tb=1
 
 
You can also help with our search by forwarding this message to all your contacts! – joining the support group on Facebook: “Help Find Michael Dixon”, posting it on your wall and asking others to join. In just one week time, we went from 0 to 1400 members! The support group will keep you posted about the search for Michael and regularly launches request for help: translation, calling around, diplomatic and press contacts, funding, … – The world press has picked up Michael’s disappearance: BBC, Sky News, Standaard, De Morgen, Het Nieuwsblad, Het Laatste Nieuws, and many Spanish-speaking media like El País all feature articles about Michael. Look them up (Google Michael Dixon journalist) and add your comments to show you care! – Talk about this to people you know. Help often comes from unexpected corners! – Don’t hesitate to contact one of us in the support group if you have experience in this kind of searches! Thanks in advance for your help. Let us all hope we find Michael soon
 
Thank you for your support
–
David Dixon

by: floridatoday.com

Quicker air routes, cheaper flights and less expensive surfboard fees are giving Central Florida surfers an economical way to catch some waves off the coasts of Costa Rica and other Central America surfing hot spots.

Tonight at Orlando International Airport, Central America-based TACA will introduce its new three day-a-week direct flights to Costa Rica — with a brief stop at the airline’s hub in El Salvador — beginning Nov. 1.

TACA joins JetBlue which began daily direct flights to Costa Rica this past spring.

“It actually opens the market,” Carol Holland of Surf Express International in Cocoa Beach said. “El Salvador has a great airport for connections, and this opens it up to Panama and Nicaragua.”

Round-trip flights will cost about $250 with a $50 fee for a surfboard bag each way. Flights leave at 6 a.m. from Orlando on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, and arrive in El Salvador at 7:45 a.m. before touching down in San Jose, Costa Rica, at 9:45 a.m.

Flights coming back to Orlando arrive at 11:05 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

“That sounds like a decent flight, for sure,” said Sebastian Inlet regular Travis Beckmann, who today competes in Canada’s Coldwater Classic. “I usually go with JetBlue direct from Orlando to San Jose. But (this) flight is cheap and so are the board prices.”

When Martinair’s one-of-a-kind direct flight to Costa Rica (with free surfboard travel) pulled out of the Orlando market early last year, surfers were left with unpopular options, such as leaving from Miami, arranging connecting flights and/or paying excessive surfboard fees, some ranging as high as $150 upwards to $300 each way. Continental even put an embargo on boards.

“This summer, Costa Rica dropped big time,” said Holland, whose son, Todd, is a former ASP World Tour surfer. “Fortunately, Nicaragua and Indonesia picked up. Some of (the slowdown) was due to the economy, and the prices; some was due to longevity. Like Cancun was once the hot spot, a lot of people have been to Costa Rica already, so they wanted to go somewhere different.”

It’s also been a slow travel summer for Michele Francis, co-owner of Worldwide Adventures Inc. in Satellite Beach. But the new TACA flights excite her.

“TACA is a very good flight, with good service, good food and comfortable seats,” she said. “El Salvador itself is a great surfing hot spot. I found it’s much cheaper, though, to fly to Costa Rica (and connect) than it is to fly straight to El Salvador.”

JetBlue’s three-hour direct flight also is gaining popularity, although longboards are not allowed.

“They charge $50 a board, and they will open the (board)bag,” Holland laughed. “TACA charges the same, but they don’t open the bag.

“You remember, we were once paying $348 from Miami to San Jose, just so we could take ‘free’ boards. Now, the airlines have to compensate some way when the airfares dropped.”

Besides TACA’s $235 flight, Francis said she could not find any other flight from Miami to Costa Rica for less than $400. American Airlines hub in Miami, charges $100 a board each way.

Incidentally, KLM-owned Martinair returned its Orlando to Amsterdam non-stop service last Thursday with a 274-seat aircraft. The company will offer three flights a week with a potential $54 million economic impact to the central Florida region.

At many restaurants in Mexico, when you ask for water, you may be referring to a fresh fruit infused water.  Agua de Jamaica (Hisbiscus flower tea), Limonada (Lemonade), Tamarindo (Tamarind), Mango, Orchata (Rice Water) and watermelon are some of the variations that I have tried.  This recipes’ version is not authentic to Mexico but should be… It’s entirely refreshing with a kick of ginger that surprises! I serve it at all of our Carne Asada cookouts now!
1 gallon watermelon, seedless
4  small limes or 2 large
1 C sugar
2 teaspoons crystallised ginger pieces (found in the spice section of most major food markets)

Blend watermelon, sugar, lime and ginger until smooth. You can also use watermelon with seeds and allow the seeds to sink to the bottom of the glass.  Serve cold.

A este lo cache con las manos en la masa cuando le iba a bajar una lanita a ese pobre vendedor.. nos gustaría un México sin Mordidas!!!

Chutneys

Tomato Chutney

Tamarind Chutney

Bell Pepper Chutney

Coriander Chutney

Cilantro Chutney

Tamarind Chutney 2

Costa Rican legislators have approved a tax on luxury homes that will help eradicate “precarios” (shantytowns), although it is not known yet how much money the tax will raise and how it will actually be used.

The luxury home tax is for a period of 10 years and is applied to all homes valued at more than ¢110 million colones ($187,000 at the current exchange rate). The tax applies only to the value of the construction and not the land that the homes sit on.

x

It will be calculated as following:

• Between ¢100 million and ¢250 million = 0.25%.
• Above ¢250 million and up to ¢500 million = 0.30%.
• Above ¢500 million and up to ¢750 million = 0.35%.
• Above ¢750 million and up to ¢1.000 million = 0.40%.
• Aove ¢1.000 million and up to ¢1.250 million = 0.45%.
• Above ¢1.250 million and up to ¢1.500 million = 0.50%.
• Above ¢1.500 million = 0.55%

The new tax is to be paid on a yearly basis starting with the last quarter of year 2009 and would be due between the 1^st and  the 15^th of January of each year.  It is the obligation of the owner to declare the value of their property with the ‘Administracion Tributario’ of their jurisdiction.

Anyone who spends time on 5th Ave has seen, and probably tasted, the dulce de tamarindo. Today the sweets appeared on a blog called Eating in Translation, which features “fascinating food from New York City and sometimes farther afield.” You can find the gentleman mentioned on 5th nearly everyday–sometimes near the new Duane Reade, sometimes a few blocks north.

Brand new between Tamarindo and Villareal and open from Mo-Fr 8-12am and 1-5:30pm.

They serve the area from Sugar beach to Hernandez and still have some PO boxes available.  The phone number  is 26530676 and the web page for more info about their improved services including the new and faster EMS courier service and Exporta facil (Export easy) is www.correos.go.cr

Guanacaste has many beautiful beaches, some are very known, others not so much. Among the three most visited beaches in Guanacaste province are:

1. TAMARINDO BEACH

Playa Tamarindo is located on the Pacific Coast, it is one of the most touristic beaches in the Guanacaste area. The area has a lot to offer besides its crystal clear ocean, exquisite nature and stunning sunsets. Go surfing, fishing, visit a spa, rent a car, stay at a friendly bed and breakfast, luxurious hotel, the options are endless. It has a wide range of accommodations such as hotels, bed and breakfasts, beach house rentals, condominiums; activities such as fishing, diving, sailing, surfing, horseback riding.

2. SAMARA BEACH

Playa Samara is one of the top touristic sites for Tico to enjoy their vacations. The beach with shallow waters are protected by a coral reef, and it has beutiful pale sand beach. It is ideal for tranquil swimming, and snorkeling, especially in the Matapalo area, just 2 km along the Samara Beach. Visitors can also go to an small island called Chora Island, using kayaks to see the wide variety of marine birds. There are many different types of hotels and cabins, and many different tours of the area.

3. CONCHAL BEACH

Playa Conchal is situated in the North West side of the Guanacaste Province. It is considered by many to be one of the most exotic beaches on the Costa Rican Pacific side. Its name comes from its white sand created by millions of crushed shells. Playa Conchal, a 4 kilometer wide beach, is just 2 km from Playa Brasilito or 10 minutes walk. This beach is ideal from swimming and snorkeling because of its clear waters and fantastic marine life; it is know two have the clearest waters of the Pacific side of the country. Among the activities that take place in the area are deep sea fishing, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking, canopy, spa treatments, golf, visiting the estuary, etc.

Visit Costa Rica

Here is a recent study given to the government (Setena) regarding  a possible solution. There are 33 pages in Spanish,

see here and stay tuned:  GeoCadEstudio

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