The Setback Drama Ends

» NOTES

When I started Residencias Los Jardines, I started writing a weekly news letter —determined to tell all the good, bad, and the ugly. I knew some readers would be interested in the construction process. I expected others might be interested in the lifestyle of two people who had decided to live outside the box. For others, the adventures of lita, the parrot and the cat took on an entertainment saga all its own.

Residencias Los Jardines is finished. We periodically have resales and rental availabilty. Some readers may be interested in this information.

More and more, the content will be dominated by events of our new project, "El Dorado" for short. While the future is always uncertain, I again aim to tell it like it happens —the good, the bad, and the ugly, and that is what follows.

In an effort to make the format more interesting and visually appealing and to field inquiries re. El Dorado, the news letter is now being distributed by Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager, Hacienda El Dorado. I will remain the author.

» MARKETING, WEBSITE & SALES

Marketing: We are still evaluating going to a similar RE expo in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sales: We are still working on the two from last week; No new sales this week.

Website: We are awaiting the addition of another section to our website—the optional upgrades.

» CONSTRUCTION LOG

River Setback: Several weeks ago we realized there was a significant difference in the setback required from the stream.  The architect had used a 10 m setback; the drawings he should have used for reference clearly stated 15m.  When we became aware of this, we were less than happy.  Paul started working with another person in whom we have  more confidence.  After several tries, the official setback has now been established at 10 m.  There are some areas yet where we need more discussions with the officials.  The architect had gambled with our money and our credibility.  We're not in the gambling business; this should have been settled months ago.

» RESIDENCIAS LOS JARDINES

For Sale:

Nothing available at the moment

For Lease:

Unit 113—UNFURNISHED (kitchen appliances are included) – Leased

Unit 120—Furnished: 1,300 sf (127 m2), single level, 2 bedroom each with Queen beds, 2 bathrooms, beautifully furnished with wall unit, 42" flat screen TV + two standard TVs, DW, clothes washer/dryer, vaulted ceilings, ceiling fans, etc. $1,350 mo.

Unit 109—Furnished: 1,500 sf (140m2), single floor, beautifully furnished with leather furniture and granite tables, wall unit, built in office area, large open concept LR.DR,Office,Ktch,, two bedrooms each with queen beds,  two bathrooms, terrace storage room,  detached--$1,600 mo.

Unit 107—Furnished: 1,716 sf (158 m2), two story, 2 1/2 bathrooms, separate built-in office area, private terrace, ground floor bedroom with 2 matrimonial beds and ensuite washroom, 2nd. floor master suite with east and west terrace, master bath with corner Jacuzzi, shower, bidet, large kitchen. $1,600 mo.

» NEWS FROM COSTA RICA

If your browser does not support the hyperlinks below, you can view the COSTA RICA NEWS section on our website from the following URL:

https://www.eldoradocostarica.com/English/News/index.php

There are also new articles posted in Spanish on the following URL:

https://www.eldoradocostarica.com/Spanish/News/index.php

February 29, 2008
More Funds for the Environment
(La Nacion) The National System of Conservation Areas increased its budget fro 2008 by 28 percent, in comparison to last year’s.
Read

February 29, 2008
Ties with Israel
(La Nacion) The Israeli Ambassador Ehud Eitam, tried to soothe the likely deterioration of the relations between his country and Costa Rica, resulting from the establishment of relations between the Central American nation and the Palestinian Authority.
Read

February 29, 2008
German Investment
(La Nacion) A delegation of German businessmen visited Costa Rica aiming at eventual investment here.
Read

February 29, 2008
$72.5 Million for Limon
(La Nacion) The World Bank pledged granting Costa Rica $72.5 million for the modernization of the Caribbean city port of Limon.
Read

February 29, 2008
Plane Lost 65 Years Ago
(La Nacion) The debris of a Vultee BT-13 Valiant belonging to the Chilean Air Force and lost in 1943 were found in the Costa Rican Central Mountain Range.
Read

February 29, 2008
A Sea of Black T-shirts
(La Nacion) Saprissa Stadium in San Jose hosted a concert by Iron Maiden.
Read

February 29, 2008
Cell Phones in Costa Rica to Die
(Costa Rica News) From the start of this coming Sunday starting at 12.01am mobile phones in Costa Rica will be cut off from their service.
Read

February 28, 2008
Costa Rica Says Finances Set to Resist US Downturn
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Feb. 28 (Reuters) - Costa Rica expects to maintain healthy government finances despite a downturn in the economy of the United States, its main trading partner, Treasury Minister Guillermo Zuniga said on Thursday.
Read

February 27, 2008
Costa Rica Dry Season to be Cut Short by La Niña
(Costa Rica News) Costa Rican meteorologists expect the rainy season, or the Costa Rican winter, to come early this year to the Central Valley and the Pacfic due to certain climate conditions including La Niña phenomenon.
Read

February 27, 2008
Missing WWII Plane Found in Costa Rica
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (AP) — Farmers in the mountains of Costa Rica found a Chilean air force plane that disappeared during World War II while flying from Texas to Chile.
Read

February 27, 2008
Implementation of CAFTA in Costa Rica delayed until Oct. 1
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica (The Associated Press): Costa Rica has until Oct. 1 to implement the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the U.S., the president said Wednesday.
Read

February 25, 2008
Will a Recession in the US hurt Costa Rica?
(Costa Rica News) With house prices plummeting in the US and the Credit Crunch only crunching even more, should Costa Rica be taking precautionary plans to diversify its tourism advertising and trade to other countries world-wide?
Read

February 25, 2008
AJC Criticizes Costa Rica Recognition of Palestinian State
(American Jewish Committee) The American Jewish Committee is dismayed by the decision of Costa Rica to establish diplomatic relations with the “State of Palestine.”
Read

February 25, 2008
Costa Rica's Youth Struggle with Age-Old Problems
(The Tico Times) Young people in Costa Rica have trouble finishing school and finding jobs. Many distrust politicians, and gender lines still divide them.
Read

February 25, 2008
Costa Rican Electronics Retailer Buys Competitor
(The Tico Times) Costa Rica's largest electronics group has purchased one of its few remaining competitors.
Read

February 24, 2008
Costa Rica's Jade Museum to Get New Home
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the National Insurance Institute (INS) have announced plans to create a new home for the Jade Museum, a popular San José tourist attraction.
Read

» OUR LIVES

Weather: Both Lita and I are suffering through colds probably from the rapid change in climates and being confined to airplanes and airports.

Samara / Carillo: Several days after returning from Canada, family arrived. They wanted to go to the beach. We went to our favorite beach area. While always beautiful, it's always hotter than I like. This area has lagged behind other beach areas in development as it is further from the Liberia airport and a good hike from San Jose. Having said that, I did notice a number of dump trucks and a number of new houses being built. A significant road is being pushed through to Punta Islita.

Emergency Care Like It Should Be: Saturday morning after our return, I was awakened at 6:30am by a loud knocking on my door. One of our residents had an obvious problem and asked me to take him to CIMA hospital—5 min. away. Off we went. Direct to EMERGENCY where I parked, the admitting girl pointed us to the proper door, the emergency nurses directed us to a gurney and while Joe was lying down she was getting the story and hooking him up to monitors.—total time from parking to gurney—30 seconds; I took his documents, admitted him—passport number, credit card, phone number—1 min. later, I returned to the gurney and a DOCTOR was in attendance. He was stabilized. I waited a bit; a specialist was called, I left. The problem: an uncontrollable nose bleed; initial diagnosis—he had taken too many Excedrin's (aspirin based) pills to control a headache the day before and perhaps a higher than normal blood pressure caused the problem.

In every emergency experience I had in Toronto, I waited in the admitting area for a long time, the admitting process took much longer, I was placed on a gurney in a hallway, and would wait for hours before being seen by a doctor.

Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies— Chico and Chica.