Ticos crowd 4S stores for Apple's iPhone

The countdown is over. As expected, dozens of people waited anxiously for several hours, to Kölbi stores, Claro and Movistar, opened its doors at midnight to first acquire the latest model of Apple, the iPhone 4S.

ICE shops were quite attendance, despite the unusual hour.In San Pedro, near midnight, about 150 ticos waiting to buy the new phone. In Multiplaza Escazú, at the same time, there were approximately 80 people, which amounts to the store at Plaza Real Kölbi, Alajuela. Different case was in the store on Paseo Colón course, where there were fewer than ten people for sale from 12 am Meanwhile, at the local awaited Second Avenue Movistar cell by about 15 people.

The store in Mulitplaza Kölbi Esazú, sold its first iPhone 4S, white at 12:10 am today to Cindy Hidalgo, who queued for hours ifs. "I'm too excited and could not wait until tomorrow to buy it," said Hidalgo. Those who lined up outside branches of Kölbi, claimed that ICE offers the best pricing packages.

"ICE is all they have best prices and I do not trade it for the world," said Adrian Zamora, who was at the shop in San Pedro. Moreover, Thomas Ferrara, who waited to open the doors of Movistar, argued that the store plans are more comfortable and the products are of better quality. Buyers also lined up at branches course. For Erick Ostaszynski, the new phone in the store is "a gift".

The 4S has a more powerful processor, and the new operating system i0S 5, an 8-megapixel upgraded camera, storage and the icloud Nueba with new voice recognition system known as Siri.

Another advantage offered by the new Apple cell phone is that users will not have to worry about being charged the phone frequently, as this consumes little battery.

Those wishing to Acquire the new phone, the common requirements in the various telephone companies are reporting to an original salary and employer's copy of the order, automatic debit membership (PAR) credit card the monthly contracted plan and a record card Credit.

Fresh bread and cookies from Hanna's home in El Castillo, Costa Rica

 Hannah is a local artist here in El Castillo, Costa Rica. What a great place to live.

'Tis the season to duck the municipal inspector

Deck the halls with boughs of holly and don't forget the chain saw. For it is the season to do all those construction jobs while municipal inspectors are on vacation.

This is the season to whack down that tree in the wrong place or put a quick addition on the home.

Municipal inspections are spotty at best, but this week in residential areas all over the country, homeowners are doing those jobs without benefit of municipal permits.

According to one set of instructions for what is called minor jobs, municipalities require permits for even painting a home. Also needed are permits for doing sidewalk reconstruction and rebuilding portons or those metal fences that protect most homes.

The permits even are required for construction of private mausoleums in cemeteries.

For even the most minor work some nine documents are required and special insurance is required after the permit is issued. So what is clear is why residents sidestep the law when the inspector is away.

Most municipalities this week are open for payment of bills or other indoor work. Meanwhile, outside, workers are feverishly mixing concrete, digging drain lines and chopping down trees.

Heaven help the homeowner who wants to do major work legally, such as add a carport. That requires far more additional paperwork, including disclosure of from where the money is coming to do the job.

So in keeping with the Costa Rican tradition that it is better to seek forgiveness than permission, the Christmas holidays and Holy Week are not vacation times for day laborers who mix the concrete, repair the roof or install a new porton.

The only danger is if an unhappy neighbor filed a complaint with the municipality when inspectors are again on the job. Still most understand that there is a big gap between the law and practice. They are likely to overlook the indiscretion if the work is done correctly.

Highway expansion will create delays in Peñas Blancas

Work to expand the access road to four lanes at the border crossing of Peñas Blancas will begin next week, and is expected to cause delays while the $1 million construction project continues. Work is expected to be complete during the first half of the year and will eventually reduce backups of 7 kilometers that often appear at the border.