—Life & Times—
2009-01-31
NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER: +506 8345 8018 - JAN KOZAK, MARKETING MANAGER
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 availability. 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.
Sales: None this week -- several inquiries and showings. This weekend, we expect about 12 people to review Los Jardines -- some of these will be interested in El Dorado.
Financing: Chinese lead: our representative hasn't yet had a meeting with the officials. The Chinese New Year has altered the work schedule of the embassy staff.
Stewart Title did, however, contact us. They say they have banks willing to lend 60%-70% loan to value, 25 year amortization, Interest at 12-13%, 5% mortgage arranging fee, life insurance, and I'm sure a whole host of other things -- full legal fees as suggested by the legal profession, title insurance by Stewart Title, and, and, and. We did not start a serious discussion with them as it is too early; the options may be very different when we are in a position to be seriously discussed.
We have been contacted by Banco Nacional. They have been given federal funds to recapitalize them and to provide liquidity to the local market. It seems that this is related to their role. They seem to be doing a survey of developers to determine the need for funding. We will be setting up a meeting with them.Permit Applications: Waiting--SETENA--D1--we wait and that will probably be the story until the end of January.We will be submitting information to another government regulatory branch--INVU--soon. We signed some papers required by SETENA and MINAET.
Construction: We did get the decision from SETENA to proceed with several small projects--quebrada termination and road for erosion control; the bridge over the stream, and the retaining wall (back of the Maya Tower) and a few other smaller things. We'll sign off on these decision next week and begin tendering them. We are in no hurry so it will be a little effort. It cost us two computers that are to be "donated" to some government body plus another contribution to a "reforestation program". The road to our goal is filled with many "potholes".
Texas Hold'em: Mr. Poker Star scored again and received a public whipping. Now he says he's going on a cruise (guess who's paying for this). The good news, however, is that he won't be around for next week's game so.....
Small Shade Ranchos--Large Pool: Both are now repaired and look great. We've also been doing some small maintenance -- stucco work, replacing missing tile, cement stops for car parking spots, finishing a 4' section of sidewalk, etc.
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
January 30, 2009
Costa Rica to hold haute cuisine cook-off
(The Tico Times) Tico chefs will start polishing up their chops for “Maestro culinario,” a gourmet cooking contest, which organizers officially launched Wednesday.
Read
January 30, 2009
Grupo Nación, Merck downsizing workforces in Costa Rica
(The Tico Times) Two prominent companies in Costa Rica, publisher Grupo Nación and pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp & Dohme, announced department cutbacks and layoffs this week.
Read
January 29, 2009
Costa Rica earthquake aftermath: return to normalcy slow and painful
(Los Angeles Times) Tourists have gotten out of Costa Rica safely but residents and business owners are still reeling in the aftermath of the 6.2-magnitude earthquake that shook the Central American nation Jan. 8, killing at least 23 people and destroying more than 400 homes.
Read
January 29, 2009
Costa Rica traffic law sees 1st big bump in the road
(The Tico Times) A woman arrested with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit is temporarily off the hook after a judge suspended all reckless driving trials until discrepancies between the newly passed Traffic Law and the country's Penal Code can be resolved.
Read
January 29, 2009
Euro café buyers sniffing around Costa Rica
(The Tico Times) With pen and paper in hand and an abundance of cameras in tow, a group of coffee connoisseurs, mostly from Europe, have been making their way through Costa Rica this week.
Read
January 29, 2009
With 7 million new trees, Costa Rica's breathing easier
(The Tico Times) Seven million trees were planted in Costa Rica last year, and both the government and residents plan to do the same this year.
Read
Weather: continued glorious weather with sometimes strong winds which are whipping up the Kirebe dust.
Standing Prime Rib of Beef: Where to find it has been a mystery for all of us for years. I decided to get serious about it and three of us went off armed with a picture of the cut of beef we were looking for. There does not seem to be a Spanish phrase for it--it is a cut of beef which does not exist in CR or ??????? Anyway, one restaurant food purveyor (Belca) recognized it. They had an 11k piece of US Choice for C11,200 k. bones removed. Total for the roast was around $140......We made a 2nd stop at Don Fernando's a specialty meet store. They too had some but from CR--at C6,500k bone in. According to the service staff, it had been aged 8 days; only about half the time I'd like to see. We'll do the US Choice cut sometime but will need to sell tickets. I also saw frozen scalops and Dungeness crab.Time Out Tavern (Escazu) continues to serve up great fish and chips, hamburgers, and chicken wings. I had the chili nachos this time--best nachos I've ever had. My only complaint (?) was that there was too much food--the plate would have easily fed two to three people. I mentioned this to the owner who said I could order a 1/2 order--now that I know, I will and then plan on sharing that with Lita. Their business is thriving and well it should.
Brian, Lita, Hugo, irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot, and the newbies — Chico and Chica.
Jan Kozak, Marketing Manager
Hacienda El Dorado
Rio Oro, Santa Ana
Costa Rica
Web: www.eldoradocostarica.com
E-mail: info@eldoradocostarica.com
MSN: jan.kozak.jr@hotmail.com
Skype: jan.kozak.jr
Tel (US) (+1) 647-477-5825
Cell: (+506) 8345 8018
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