Leda told told us that she started the business in 1989 but was rather vague as to why she had done so (I would normally blame this imprecision in understanding on my poor Spanglish interviewing techniques but this time I had my Spanish teacher along for help).

Nevertheless, as an old business consultant, I find it hard to believe that an entrepreneur such as Leda doesn't remember how she got into the business; perhaps some one just asked her to get some ice for a party and the whole thing just got carried away,

In the first days of her business she barely averaged sales of 3 bags per day. Later in the conversation she stated that in the beginning she sold about 3 bags per day but sales now average from 800-1,000 bags per day. "I had no idea that it would grow to be so large."

(Besides all of the stuff to the right, she's the best looking President I've ever seen - forget all the politics mi amor, let's do lunch!)

Laura Wins!

As expected, Laura Chinchilla won the national election on February 7 (Super Bowl Sunday). She came away with 47% of the vote and, under the Costa Rican constitution, no runoff is necessary unless one receives less than 40% of the vote. She beat her nearest opponent, Otton Solis, by more than 20 points. Senora Chinchilla's party, the PLN (Partido Liberacion National), also won the most seats in La Assemblea but came up a few short of the required 29 to have an absolute majority. Alliances will be required, probably with Senor Solis' party.

Here's a biography on Sra. Chinchilla (actually I think she's single) from Wikipedia: "Chinchilla graduated from the University of Costa Rica, and received her Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University. Prior to entering politics, Chinchilla worked as a consultant in Latin America and Africa, specializing in judicial reform and public security issues. She went on to serve in the José María Figueres Olsen administration as vice-minister for public security (1994–1996) and minister of public security (1996–1998). From 2002 to 2006, she served in the National Assembly as a deputy for the Province of San José. (like Los Angeles and New York, the lead city here is also a province or state - Ed.)"

Chinchilla was one of two vice-presidents elected under the second Arias administration (2006–2010). She resigned the vice-presidency in 2008 in order to prepare her run for the presidency in 2010. On 7 June 2009 she won the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) primary with a 15% margin over her nearest rival, and was thus endorsed as the party's presidential candidate.

Sra. Chinchilla has promised to tackle violent crime, a growing issue in Costa Rica. "The biggest challenge we face is criminality, violence and drug-trafficking", Ms Chinchilla, 50, told her supporters. Let's hope she lives up to her campaign slogan: "Firme y Honesta"

The Festival de Quepos takes place mostly at the town's Paquita fair grounds about 10 kilometers north of the town's center. There one finds some permanent facilities including a bull ring and large dance/night club building. The rest of the land is open space suitable for the inevitable carnival rides and numerous food stands one finds at these things. Our contingent was happy to see the food purveyors as we arrived at 6:30 PM famished enough to eat an iguana raw. After satiating our hunger on plates of meat chunks stir fried with fresh vegetables and on other goodies (Pizza Hut was there), we made the grand tour and review of all the other fair offerings, the first major stop being the boxing ring.

Boxing is a favorite sport in Costa Rica. I find this interesting and a bit strange as the people are more gentle and non-aggresive than any I've previously encountered or lived with. Yet, they love their boxing and have both male and female competitors. We saw both in Paquita at the festival.

So, for 10-15 minutes the bull runs back and forth and across the ring chasing muchachos who scurry up the fence when attacked and just miss being widened for easy suppository deposit. Eventually, a couple of vaqueros, mounted on beautiful, well-groomed horses, do the lariat thing and coax the bull back into the pen, often reluctantly as senor bull is highly pissed by that time.

One bull was decidedly against retreat and kept dropping to his knees and laying on his stomach to avoid being let into the pen. The bull following him, a more intelligent variety, when led to the pen, walked right through without any resistance. He had had enough of the amateur rodeo dudes.

First let's just say this place is a breadth of fresh air, literally. Perched atop Super Mas, there is a porch running the width of the restaurant which can seat about 10 people at a counter which overlooks the city and busy bus station. This is a great people-watching place where it is a poor lunch when only three people you know pass below.

In a more figurative sense, ACAI is also a breadth of fresh air for the lunch trade. With the closing of Sargento's (see Episode 14 in the Archives), choices for sandwiches and light lunch fare had been limited to two bars catering to gringo barachos (er, excuse me, patrons). Yes, there are many local restaurants that offer the proverbial Tico sandwich usually consisting of lettuce, tomato, cheese and either shredded beef or ham - sort of a light grinder or hero. They are tasty but unfortunately there is little variation in sandwich offerings within or among the places that serve them.