Kenneth Meneses participated in the Special Olympic World Winter Games in Austria (2017). He won the gold medal in the 4×100 meters relay athletics competition. Kenneth has been competing in athletics, snowshoeing, and bocce since 2013. He has won several medals, but unfortunately he lost them in a fire that consumed his family's home in 2015. He has won 12 medals between national and regional competitions.

One day, the presenters of ESPN told the athlete that his coach had a surprise for him. The coach came in holding a board with replicas of the medals he lost. Kenneth was unable to hide his emotions as tears began to flow: "I'm very thankful with Special Olympics and the Olympic Games for giving me the motivation to continue moving forward" he said.

The Costa Rican delegation is composed of 20 athletes and has won a total of 5 gold medals and one bronze in this event.

Guaitil ceramic, one of the Costa Rica's signature in the artisan souvenirs market, comes from the town of the same name (center of the Nicoya peninsula). The town's dozens of households make a living throwing vases, plates, pots, jars and pitchers by using techniques handed down from generation to generation. Several artisans have begun to use a pottery wheel over the past decade. The wheel represents a more efficient change from the entirely hand-thrown process once used exclusively.

The pottery was once entirely used for just cooking in kitchens. These days, it's more likely to see tourist buying this pottery and looking for the perfect souvenir from their trip to Costa Rica. To make these signature pieces of art, the artisans use clay extracted from about one meter below the topsoil, strained to remove stones, dried and then pulverized with a wooden mortar and pestle. The resulting powder is mixed with water and very fine freshwater sand. On the exterior of each piece, hand painting is accomplished with natural dyes.

Animal designs such as bats, toads, turtles, iguanas, serpents are favorite decorations on the pottery, just as they have been since precolumbian times; although a few avant garde artisans are experimenting with modern designs, too. Polishing each piece with a graphite stone puts the finishing touch on the work.

Costa Rican Tamales: They are boiled plantain leaves stuffed with a cornmeal mix, saffron rice, pork, and a variety of beans and vegetables. Tamales taste best freshly homemade. They are customarily only made for special occasion such as Christmas or a wedding, which means that a lot of love and time was put into their making.

Empanadas: They are fried or baked dough filled with cheese, beans, potatoes or chicken. They are popular as a snack between classes at schools or meals and are best eaten with a bit of hot sauce.

Carnitas: They are pieces of beef on a stick, grilled over an open hubcap-grill fire. People eat them by sliding a bit off  between a tortilla.

Bizcochos: They are baked cheese and cornmeal dough rings. You can buy bags of bizcochos from grocery stores, but they are of much better quality if homemade or bought straight from a small bizcocho factory.

INGREDIENTS:

∎ 1/2 cup red bell peppers, chopped or minced
∎ 2 lbs. very fresh sea bass, cut into cubes.
∎  1 cup lemon juice, freshly squeezed
∎  1 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
∎  1 cup lime juice, freshly squeezed
∎ 1/2 cup parsley, finely chopped
∎  1/2 cup vegetable or olive oil
∎  1/2 cup red onion, chopped
∎  salt and pepper to tase

PREPARATION

First, place the sea bass in a stainless steel or glass bowl and pour the lime and lemon juices over the fish. Second, cover and let it sit for one hour. Third add the onions, red bell peppers, parsley and cilantro. Then, mix it well and cover to refrigerate for at least two hours. After this, add olive or vegetable oil, salt, pepper to taste before serving it. Finally, ceviche may be served on a portion of lettuce or with crackers.

When planning a visit to Costa Rica, something importan to take into consideration is the national holidays. It would be a shame to come when almost everything is closed. For example, if someone plans to come during Holy week, it is important to know that most of the local offices, banks, government offices and many stores will be closed because this is an opportunity for most local people to relax at the beach or mountains around the country.

Therefore, Costa Rica people usually stay at most of the all-inclusive beach or mountain hotels during the entire Holy week as well as during other national holidays. These national mass migrations to beach and mountain spots make it very difficult for foreign visitors to find a convenient hotel. I addition, most of the time rental car agencies do not have appropriate cars.

During Christmas and on new year's eve, it is very common to see popular hotels near the beaches and mountains crowded with local tourists. In fact, these times of the year are also on record as the most expensive times to visit Costa Rica. So as a recommendation, foreign visitors should book those dates in advance in order to avoid inconvenience when visiting national tourist spots.

The biggest damage to life on Earth comes from global warming. Rich industrialized countries have been burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas for about 150 years, pumping out vast quantities of carbon dioxide (CO₂) traps heat from the sun and causes the Earth and the atmosphere to get warmer which is called the greenhouse effect.
The high level of carbon emissions in the atmosphere lead to climate changes. For example, oceans and seas to rise, which threatens low coastal regions and islands. In addition, the weather is becoming more unpredictable, with severe storms full of heavy rain, strong winds, floods and unexpected high sea waves. Another effect of global warming is a rise in the number of endangered species. Many animals and plants could become extinct if their habitat is altered.
The majority of scientists agree that there is an urgent need to cut carbon emissions  around the world. In fact, in order to reduce the effects of global warming, people need to develop and use different sources of energy worldwide. So some scientists advocate nuclear power, while others stress the importance of renewable energy such as wind, hydro and solar power.

The experience of traveling on a cruise ship is a very good adventure. Beyond the dizziness that some usually present on a cruise, the fun goes beyond a simple trip. You can choose the itinerary you want to have and plan in advance stops  with longer stays. The personnel on board usually organize events that allow the stay of the crew to go beyond a simple transfer. Shows with singers and dancers and even dance classes can be taken during the trip.
Betting in casinos, taking a swim in the pool, and even surfing are some options offered by cruises today. Visiting several islands in the Caribbean or going through the Mediterranean is more pleasant if done in a ship. It allows people to dock in several ports and get off to know the emblematic sites of each city.
In the travel market, the options are numerous in terms of the destinations offered by cruise ships. Depending on your budget, you can plan your trip. The destinations go around the Caribbean and the Greek islands.
It is advisable to investigate the best dates to visit the place of your dreams, in addition to the weather conditions.