Progress Report

December 24 - January 1, 2006 // CONSTRUCTION LOG #116

Contact phone numbers

Internet Phone:
New York: 315-279-6711
Toronto: 416-907-5758 // 416-461-2203

Costa Rica:
Cell: 506-305-3965
Land: 506-282-4142 Ext. 101

NOTE: the New York and Toronto numbers are "local calls" for people in the area codes; calls from outside the area code will be billed at the normal rate from the caller's area code to either the "315" or the "416" area code.

NOTE: NOW THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT IS ESSENTIALLY FINISHED, THE LOG WILL FOCUS MORE ON THE RIO ORO DEVELOPMENT. IT WILL BE INFORMATIVE TO THOSE PLANNING ON BUILDING, THOSE LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PURCHASE OR TO LEASE, AND FOR THOSE WONDERING WHAT EXPATS DO IN COSTA RICA AND THE LIFESTYLE OF TWO ORDINARY PEOPLE.

Pictures: none-but I found my camera

CONSTRUCTION

Rio Oro Development: We are closed for the holidays. The architect and I will work a way on modifying the conceptual design next week.

Residencias Los Jardines:

Rentals:

Unit 110: leased

Unit 121: Two story, 2 bedroom, 2 1/2 bathrooms including Jacuzzi, terrace facing east looking at the sunrise and the mountains. 1,650sf. Beautifully furnished - $1,500 to $1,600 mo.

Unit 123: A beautifully situated unit nicely furnished is available for lease - $1,650 mo. this two bedroom unit with 2nd. floor terrace overlooks the lighted garden and one swimming pool as well as the mountains.

Unit 126: One bedroom studio unit with full kitchen and terrace. Lots of built-ins and very well furnished. Approx. 400 sf plus 200 sf of outdoor terrace. Rate depends on length of lease but probably around $650-$750.

Resales:

Unit 106B: 1 / 2 bedroom, two bathroom, two terraces (east and west) 1,250sf. Fully furnished. $150K.
Note: vendor owns another unit.

Unit 108: 2 floors, 2 bedrooms (one on each level), 2 1/2 bathrooms, Jacuzzi, walk-in vault, executive class furnishings including a 42" plasma TV, east facing terrace looking over the large pool and mountains and a ground floor back terrace for outside, private dining. $270K.

Unit 120: single floor, 1,300 sf, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, executive furnishings throughout, beautifully decorated. $190K.

Note: Same owner for both 108 and 120; the owner wants to sell one of the two units.

OUR LIVES

A delicious Christmas Eve dinner of roast lamb and marinated chicken for those not liking lamb, This was preceded by the traditional CR tamale and some homemade CR eggnog. This feast was followed the next day by a traditional turkey dinner on Christmas Day-both meals enjoyed with friends. We've dined on leftovers ever since and have now worked our way down to nothing. There were lots of individual fireworks displays Christmas eve from 8 through midnight. From our balcony we could see in three directions and it seemed that where ever we looked something was happening in the sky. While I've never seen fireworks sold here, it seems to be readily available. A surprising variety, as well. We asked some local people who had fireworks where they had purchased them and they directed us to a Chinese restaurant in Santa Ana. We now have a few for New Years Eve... and speaking of New Year's Eve, we had a traditional meal of baked ham, scalloped potatoes, cole slaw, baked beans, flan, and magnums of champagne. All night long there were little displays, like ours, of fireworks. Around 11:30- 12:15, the sky was ablaze with lots and lots of displays -a number of very large displays, and many smaller ones. We were surrounded by these displays on three sides. During this time, I could see at least thirty different launch sites at any given time. It was incredible -some close by, some mid ground and others in the distance. I don't remember it being as intense in years previous. I think it was a good year for Costa Rica and the central valley.

New Year's Day will find us around the pool eating leftover ham with Swiss cheese sandwiches as well as more champagne and beer. We have a family arriving at the airport today who I'll retrieve in the afternoon. They've stayed here before and this year are again looking at 4 months reprieve from N. Am. and will continue to figure out how they can sustain their lifestyle here. Lita got her necklace to complete her new jewelry set-we'll see how long she can keep it all together. Months ago, I had asked an investor friend who has access to jewelry and who had started this whole jewelry series by giving her a gold and diamond bracelet for her 50th birthday and (which has endeared her to him ever since and upped the ante for me), for the missing pieces. . and to Dan, I'm (and Lita) is forever grateful!

Brian, Lita, Hugo and irreverent Vicka, the pigeon toed parrot.

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