Costa Rica real estate ….. bargains!

At the moment, it’s a buyer’s market in Costa Rica; it is a great time to take advantage of the opportunities in real estate.  Although many properties have not dropped in price, most sellers are quite willing to negotiate.  Some even offer short term financing as an incentive to buyers.  

If you have been toying with the idea of investing in property or buying a home in Costa Rica, check out these listings that have been greatly reduced in price.  If the dream of living the good life in Costa Rica has ever flitted through your head, maybe one of these “deals” will make your dream a reality.  (P.S.  If you are from the US, health care in Costa Rica is excellent AND very affordable.)

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Happy Mother’s Day!

Feliz dia de la madre!  August 15th is Mother’s Day in Costa Rica, a day nearly as important as Christmas and Easter.   I spent the afternoon celebrating the day with wonderful tico friends, Hugo and Elia.  All the siblings in the family brought gifts for their mother, as well as for their sisters and sisters-in-law.  The men did all the cooking and serving (the food was delicious!).  Elia is a woman I respect and for whom I have great affection.  She raised her own children and those of a sister who was unable to take care for her own.  She sewed all their clothes and managed to make ends meet on her husband’s meager earnings as a carpenter.  Her children have grown to be responsible, respectful adults and they adore their mother. 

Happy Mother's Day, Elia!

Some years ago, one of their daughters got divorced and moved back home with her young son.  They were welcomed with open arms.  Hugo did some remodeling to their home to make things nicer for his daughter and grandson.  Another daughter and her husband lived in a tiny apartment Hugo built behind their house.  When the parents sold their home, they built a new one on a good sized lot and the daughter who no longer had an apartment to live in, built a house on the same property.  Unfortunately, when the family moved, they moved out of my neighborhood.  I still miss them, especially when I pass by their old house — now a Chinese restaurant.  There never was a time when I’d walk by that my friend wouldn’t holler at me to come in for coffee or lunch if she saw me.  How we would laugh and laugh!  Through the years, Hugo and Elia have included me in several family events and I feel very fortunate to be considered part of their family.

Happy Mother’s Day, Elia!  You deserve it.

Poetry in motion

Simply stunning and breath-taking (I’d drown!) video of synchronized swimming performed by Spain’s world championship women’s team.  I couldn’t tell if the women had sprouted gills, but they must have.  Pure symmetry and sheer beauty.  Not a belly flop in sight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_VkkCP64KM&feature=fvsr

Romería update …..

La Negrita was flown by helicopter to towns this past weekend to accomodate those who would have made the pilgrimage to Cartago on August 2nd.  They were prohibited from doing so by the Minister of Health who cancelled the annual event due to the threat of the H1N1 virus.

August 2nd Pilgrimage to Cartago

Due to the H1N1 virus, the annual pilgrimage – romería – to Cartago was cancelled this year.  I was told that a statue of the Virgin of Los Angeles would be carried through towns, but I don’t know if that is a rumor or the truth.  Over a million people make the annual trek to Cartago, many of them on their knees.  Without a doubt, there will be fewer sore feet tomorrow morning than there were last year!