A National Tragedy

ISSUE #631: Oct. 16-22, 2016

2016-10-24

Brian Timmons, Newsletter Author
Brian Timmons

Dear friends,

When I started Residencias Los Jardines, I started writing a weekly newsletter -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 re-sales and rental availability. Some readers may be interested in this information.

Brian Timmons
Developer / Property manager
Residencias Los Jardines

Web: https://www.residenciaslosjardines.com
Emails: info@residenciaslosjardines.com
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com

Featured
rentals & sales

Paradisus Condos / Rohrmoser
FOR SALE / RENT
Visit our website

Paradisus Condos - click to visit

Each of the units consists of two bedrooms / two bathrooms, and a large living/dining/kitchen area. The floor plan of each of these units has eliminated the optional "den / office" divider. The result is a larger area offering more flexible furniture arrangements while still maintaining the option of including an office area. At 105m2 plus two parking spots each and storage locker, they offer a great opportunity for someone seeking views, security, central location, and first class, all round living...

PRICE REDUCTION
Semi furnished unit: For sale: $235,000
Fully furnished unit: For sale: $245,000
Floor 12 -west view

More Opportunities
rentals & sales

DEEP DISCOUNT,
Condominio Santa Lucia, Tres Rios

FOR SALE / EXECUTIVE HOME
Visit our website

Price reduction: $490,000 $520,000 (Appraised: $800,000)
6 bedrooms
5 bathrooms
610 m2 (6,500 sf)
2 Story
2 Car garage

Market activity
sales & rentals

Sales: Unit #107 For Sale... Condition has been met. Closing date has been established. Unit #114 is now listed for sale.

Rentals: Paradisus: Nothing available
Los Jardines: Units #112 and #106A are available for rent.

Residencias Los Jardines
property management, rentals & re-sales

FOR SALE
Unit #106A: $ 165,000 / See Unit
Unit #107: $ 205,000 / Conditional offer has been accepted / See Unit
Unit #114: $ 199,000 / See Unit

FOR RENT
Unit #106A: $ 1,200 mo. / Immediately / See Unit
Unit #112: $ 1,250 mo. / Immediately / See Unit

For sale

UNIT #106A
FOR SALE
$165,000

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1250
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: Apartment
Furnished: Yes

This is a fully furnished 2-bedroom unit situated in a 2-story building, which has two units on the ground floor and two units on the 2nd. floor. Each unit is the same size (1,250sf) divided into 800 sf of interior space and 450 sf of covered front and back terraces. Units 106A and B are on the ground floor; Units 106 C and D are on the 2nd. Floor. The solid masonry demising wall (common wall) as well as the 5" concrete slab prevent sound transference.

UNIT #107
FOR SALE
$205,000 / Conditional offer accepted

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1716
Total area (Sq M): 158
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2.5
Floor(s): 2
Type: Detached
Furnished: Yes

This 1,716 sf. (plus parking for one car) two story, detached house, with three terraces, two bedrooms (one on each floor) and upstairs master suite is a beautiful home. This home consists of two VERY large bedrooms (one on each floor) with en-suite bathrooms and a powder room, each with large closets with extensive built-ins for personal organization. The vaulted living room and ground floor bedroom ceilings as well as the master bedroom on the 2nd floor, provide a feeling of grandeur while allowing the warmer air to rise and exit through the ceiling ventilating system. There are three TVs (one in each bedroom and one in the living room.) This is a beautiful home. There is a rough-in for a dishwasher in the kitchen area.

UNIT #114
FOR SALE
$199,000

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): Single floor
Type: Attached
Furnished: Yes

This 1,290 sf. (plus covered parking for one car and two lockers 67 sf.) single story, semi detached house, with garden terrace, two bedrooms is a beautiful executive style home. This home consists of two large bedrooms one with six piece en-suite bathroom with additional access to separate full shower. Each bedroom has large closets with extensive built-ins for personal organization. The vaulted living room and bathroom ceilings provide a feeling of grandeur while allowing the warmer air to rise and exit through the ceiling ventilating system. There are four TVs (one in each bedroom, one in the living room and one in breakfast / dinning room.) This is a beautiful well appointed home.

For rent

UNIT #106A
FOR RENT
$1,200 mo. / Immediately

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1250
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1
Type: Apartment
Furnished: Yes

This is a fully furnished 2-bedroom unit situated in a 2-story building, which has two units on the ground floor and two units on the 2nd. floor. Each unit is the same size (1,250sf) divided into 800 sf of interior space and 450 sf of covered front and back terraces. Units 106A and B are on the ground floor; Units 106 C and D are on the 2nd. Floor. The solid masonry demising wall (common wall) as well as the 5” concrete slab prevent sound transference.

UNIT #112
FOR RENT
$1,250 mo. / Immediately

Total Area (Sq Ft): 1290
Total area (Sq M): 120
Bedrooms: 2
Bathrooms: 2
Floor(s): 1 Story
Type: Attached
Furnished: Yes

This 1,290 sf single floor home includes a 300 sf front terrace plus parking for one car. It is attached on two sides by a 6 inch cement demising (common) wall, which prevents sound transfer.

Our Lives

Weather: Some pretty heavy rains throughout the country.

National Tragedy: The lead story below. A bus loaded with retirees on a goodwill mission goes out of control and tumbles 60' killing and injuring many. The cause? don't know for sure. Reports are that the driver couldn't down shift, the brakes failed because they were too hot... was it driver error (driver is dead)?, was it poor maintenance?

News Items of the Weeknews

Comments

1. National Tragedy: This is horrible...

2. Ticos are bad drivers: This is not "news" but what is interesting is that on average there are two train-car accidents per week / that drivers don't know the laws / that drivers do not recognize danger... exactly my experience

3. Cops fired: corruption is not news either but on average, the nation looses 40 cops per month for various reasons... that means a lot of recruiting and training... well, not much training unfortunately.

4. Cheap Flights in Central America: This is welcome but the name "Wingo" leaves me unimpressed and skeptical.

5. Solis and travel: Half a year away traveling... on the country's money... or borrowed money as the case is... must be nice...

1. Costa Ricans pull together in face of bus disaster
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The response Thursday to a bus disaster showed the country at its best. Not only did the Cruz Roja, fire fighters, hospital workers and police demonstrate their training, but even farm workers and hotel employees pitched in.

The mishap claimed 12 lives and injured the rest of the 31 persons on the bus. The northbound bus went out of control on a two-lane highway known for dangerous curves just a kilometer short of Cariblanco in the mountains north of Heredia.

The bus passengers were Universidad Nacional retirees who were planning to do social work on a native reserve near Guatuso. They experienced some seconds of panic as the bus weaved to both sides of the highway before it slipped off a steep drop and rolled.

The crash tore the roof off the bus and exposed the dead and injured inside.

The Cruz Roja rescue workers faced a confusing situation as they arrived. So did fire fighters who frequently respond to such incidents.

The injured were sorted, and those severely hurt were transported to the Hospital de San Carlos or by air to other hospitals. Others were treated temporarily at the scene.

At Hospital México in La Uruca, the medical staff and attendants were participating in a disaster drill involving helicopter transportation. So there were plenty of hands when the five of the most badly hurt began arriving by helicopter. Two patients went to Hospital San Juan de Dios in San José.

Some of the air transportation was by private medical helicopters whose crews pitched in.

One woman victim died after arrival at the San Carlos hospital. There were four men and seven women dead at the scene. Judicial investigators said later they were having trouble verifying names of the dead because most of the passengers did not carry identification. By late evening the Morgue Judicial said that all but one person, a woman, had been identified. The youngest was 42 and the oldest was 85.

Many of the dead suffered severe head injuries as the bus rolled down a slope that was estimated to be about 40 meters, about 130 feet, and the impact tore off the roof.

Even before the last of the injured were removed from the scene, the call went out for blood. The Banco Nacional de Sangre said that the immediate need for blood was met in a short time as donors showed up. But staffers said they would work Saturday, too.

The government has declared three days of national mourning. President Luis Guillermo Solís ordered that the nation’s flags be flown at half staff for three days, starting Thursday.

The driver of the commercial bus has not been identified. A Universidad Nacional official said that the trip was a private one arranged by an association of retirees. The group left from Heredia Cento.

The investigation most certainly will include a detailed study of the bus steering system as well as the brakes.

2. Ticos are bad drivers

On average, motorists collide with trains twice a week. The problem is that motorists don’t pay attention to the possible dangers despite warnings. This lack of attention spills over to every aspect of motoring skills according to deputy director of traffic police, Felipe Venegas, who says CR motorists are misinformed about driving laws with little regard to speeds or road markings. CR Hoy

3. More than a dozen policemen fired

In the past year, the Ministry of Public Security has had to fire 26 police officers due to the ministry’s “lack of confidence,” in them. Most of the firings revolved around some sort of corruption such as the two officers who were caught on video taking merchandise in a commercial warehouse last week. Overall, the ministry loses 40 cops a month for various reasons. CR Hoy

4. New airlines offers cheap flights

Beginning in December, a new low-cost airline called Wingo will connect Costa Rica with Panamá and Guatemala. Round trip tickets are available for between $124 and $156. You can find out more about Wingo at their website www.wingo.com. La Nación

5. Solís travels lead all presidents

With another year and half left of his presidency, Luis Guillermo Solís has already spent more days traveling abroad (146) than any other president. One legislator proposes severe cuts in travel expenses for the president. But Solís argues his travels have been productive and recently paid off with donations by China and the U.S. of aircraft to help fight drug traffickers. La Nación

FOR RENTAL OR SALES INFORMATION
ON ANY OF THE ABOVE, CONTACT:

Brian C. Timmons
Property Manager RLJ and Newsletter Author

Costa Rica:
Cell: (+ 506) 8305-3965
Land line: (+506) 2282-4142 Ext. 101

Canada:
VOIP: (+416) 461-2203

Web: https://www.residenciaslosjardines.com
Emails: info@residenciaslosjardines.com
ResidenciasPropertyManagement@gmail.com

 
Previous reports

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

Contáctenos