NO MORE SPAM and Independence Day for Costa Rica

I spend all my time deleting comments from my blog from those that sell everything you can imagine to directing my readers to sex sites in Japan or WHEREVER.

To my readers, I am working my way back. It took me three days to figure out how to sign back on to Blogger. They have done something and now I can't access my account "at will". Somehow, accidentally, I got back on. Miracle of miracles. Also, my new Hewlett Packard bad ass computer got fried from the power surges. Yes, I have a UPS but obviously ICE has greater power (ICE- our source of electricity).

I'm so far behind, I haven't blogged about all the things that keep happening.

Here's one, I rushed to Jaco to see the Independence Parade and they didn't have it on Jaco strip as usual. It was at some undisclosed location known only to those that were "in the know" or passed by and saw the small precession. Money's tight all over I guess, but judging by other's response, some things we NEED to keep traditional for all to see, LIKE THE PARADE!!

I did get to see the "running of the torch". It brought tears to my eyes and chill bumps seeing these kids run down the highway. VIVA COSTA RICA!!!

Independence Day Parade in Jaco

It was a beautiful day for a parade and the Jaco townspeople turned out onto main street to participate and watch the traditional parade.
If you didn't get to see it, I have tons of photos here at this site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ticamachatourscostarica/sets/72157607316231851/detail/
You can view them as a slideshow at Flickr (upper right corner). Enjoy!

Parade of Faroles

Promptly at 6 o'clock this evening, the local people gathered in downtown Jaco began singing the national anthem. The entire country is on time for this event and the anthem is sung across the country in unison at 6 sharp. Amazing. It was fascinated to watch all the children with their parents participating in this beautiful tradition. It ended with the fireworks at the park. It was an early night tonight for the youngsters. Tomorrow is the big parade for Independence Day.

Freedom Torch

The celebration for Independence Day commenced this morning with the Lighting of the Torch. Runners carry torches throughout Costa Rica symbolizing how the message of liberation was announced back in 1821 when Costa Rica became independent from Spain. They will be greeted by the President when they reach Cartago which was the capital of Costa Rica at that time.

At 6:00 p.m. the entire country comes to a halt and everyone joins in to sing the national anthem. Following the anthem, sirens announce the beginning of the parade of faroles, homemade lanterns. The faroles are family projects the children carry walking through the streets. Some are constructed to look like houses, others resemble globes and lanterns. All are aglow and are carried proudly as the children parade down the street. Then the fireworks begin. This is just the pre-celebration for the big parade event tomorrow - Independence Day for Costa Rica.