Weekend in Turrialba, Shillmac's Photos
May 8th, 2009, 03:35 AM
#21
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Toni, thanks. It's always fun getting new birds. Picked up just a couple this time, but it was a thrill. Well, actually I got about 5 new ones. The sunbittern was fun, but didn't get as good a look as I'd like. The 2 little Tody Flycathers building their nest--that was priceless. They were only about 3 feet from me.
May 8th, 2009, 06:07 PM
#25
Thanks shillmac and volcanogirl.
Just got in from a long walk carrying a broom stick handle so I could squeeze it as I walked..... have to learn to make a fist again !
I sure am going to enjoy that view from shillmac front porch.!
I will bring a case of Imperial.
Yeah where is tully hiding...she does not go to Costa Rica until mid June !
Just got in from a long walk carrying a broom stick handle so I could squeeze it as I walked..... have to learn to make a fist again !
I sure am going to enjoy that view from shillmac front porch.!
I will bring a case of Imperial.
Yeah where is tully hiding...she does not go to Costa Rica until mid June !
May 9th, 2009, 03:03 AM
#26
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Shillmac, what a fabulous site you have for a home!! That view would have me drinking mucho imperials on too regular a basis and spouting poetry from my favourite romantic poets! My husband and I have often talked about doing the same thing in Costa Rica. Can you give me a bit of an overview of how difficult (or not so difficult) it has been dealing with real estate in Costa Rica? What's the market like down there now? Absolutely loved your photos!!!!!
May 16th, 2009, 11:37 AM
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Hey Jill!
I'm late to the party (as usual). I've been out of town on my long-anticipated Peru trip (it was really wonderful!).
Your pictures are terrific and your property looks phenomenal! I'd like to hear a little bit about your real estate purchasing experience in CR also. I guess I can pick your brain next month, can't I?
I'm late to the party (as usual). I've been out of town on my long-anticipated Peru trip (it was really wonderful!).
Your pictures are terrific and your property looks phenomenal! I'd like to hear a little bit about your real estate purchasing experience in CR also. I guess I can pick your brain next month, can't I?
May 16th, 2009, 09:03 PM
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cam--wow! That Peru trip slipped up on me. Have you posted a review yet? I can imagine it was terrific and can't wait to hear all about it. Our real estate purchasing isn't complete yet. But it should be by the time we meet up. And I'm counting the days!
costaricalover, poetry. . .I may be moved to do the same. "I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree". . .
I really don't know much about the market. I do know that we are paying about $4.50 or $5.00 per sq. meter, and I think that is typical for the area where we are purchasing. Beachfront or beachviews on the Pacific side may run up to $100 or more per sq. meter, so. . ..
And then too, buying in an area that is in the middle of a development boom poses special types of problems. Problems that certainly don't appeal to me, like increased crime, greater chance of shady real estate deals, etc.
For us, so far it has been simple. We contacted Stewart Title in San Jose for a good attorney recommendation. That part is important, and I decided to go with Stewart and their recommendation as being reliable. The attorney was very quick to take the property description and do all that needed to be done in order for us to proceed (determining clear title, etc).
The only glitch that we have run into so far has been in turning over the money for the purchase. We only found out at the last minute that we couldn't use a personal check (I should have asked earlier or should have been advised earlier) and that a wire transfer or certified check would be necessary. So we didn't have time to get that lined out before I was scheduled to leave on May 1. The attorney said he could do a special power of attorney somehow in order for us to go ahead and seal the deal, but I wasn't sure about that and we decided to not do anything "special"; just to wait and get ourselves situated so that we can get it done when we return June 11. We are trying to be as careful as we know how to be. Probably we will arrange with our bank the details of the wire transfer before we go. Then when we meet in the attorney's office in San Jose, we'll place a phone call at the time we need the transfer to be made. Something like that.
There has recently been a little property glitch in that we need to push the slope back another 2 meters and have learned that the property line doesn't go back quite as far as we were told it did. Not a big deal, talking about a few feet, but we will need to get that resolved because we need the extra to build on that upper part of the slope. The architect nor the engineer think it will be a problem, so we'll just need to work it out with the owners. Hopefully it will be okay. If not, we'll improvise our plan somehow to make it work.
From what others have told me, there will be headaches from start to finish, mostly small stuff. We are prepared for that mentally, and hope for the best. I was very impressed with the architects we met and the engineer. The architect is a young woman who has done some planning for the people we are buying from and she was very personable, married to a guy from the U.S. that was also personable. I liked them both. She brought an engineer along with her to meet us. He was married to an architect as well. All of them instilled confidence with me right off the bat and it has been easy corresponding with them since we arrived home. So it feels right. Hope that will be worth something.
Driving around the small little villages in the area, I notice no bars on the windows; you know how rare THAT is in Costa Rica. And we hear good things from the local people about their own sense of security and the lack of problems of that nature. We are up a partially private road that leads to the birding lodge, and although we are just off that road, we will be obscured somewhat. One of the guides has also agreed to housesit for us some (he and his wife) during the times that we are back in the U.S.
Our plan is to eventually settle into a schedule that will look something like this: Feb-March May-mid July Sept.-Oct
in Costa Rica. The rest of the year we will be in the U.S. with the longest time at home being during the holidays, also the time of our granddaughters' birthdays.
That's the long and the short of it as we know it at this time. We pray the good Lord will grant us a few more years to see it to fruition and enjoy it!
costaricalover, poetry. . .I may be moved to do the same. "I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree". . .
I really don't know much about the market. I do know that we are paying about $4.50 or $5.00 per sq. meter, and I think that is typical for the area where we are purchasing. Beachfront or beachviews on the Pacific side may run up to $100 or more per sq. meter, so. . ..
And then too, buying in an area that is in the middle of a development boom poses special types of problems. Problems that certainly don't appeal to me, like increased crime, greater chance of shady real estate deals, etc.
For us, so far it has been simple. We contacted Stewart Title in San Jose for a good attorney recommendation. That part is important, and I decided to go with Stewart and their recommendation as being reliable. The attorney was very quick to take the property description and do all that needed to be done in order for us to proceed (determining clear title, etc).
The only glitch that we have run into so far has been in turning over the money for the purchase. We only found out at the last minute that we couldn't use a personal check (I should have asked earlier or should have been advised earlier) and that a wire transfer or certified check would be necessary. So we didn't have time to get that lined out before I was scheduled to leave on May 1. The attorney said he could do a special power of attorney somehow in order for us to go ahead and seal the deal, but I wasn't sure about that and we decided to not do anything "special"; just to wait and get ourselves situated so that we can get it done when we return June 11. We are trying to be as careful as we know how to be. Probably we will arrange with our bank the details of the wire transfer before we go. Then when we meet in the attorney's office in San Jose, we'll place a phone call at the time we need the transfer to be made. Something like that.
There has recently been a little property glitch in that we need to push the slope back another 2 meters and have learned that the property line doesn't go back quite as far as we were told it did. Not a big deal, talking about a few feet, but we will need to get that resolved because we need the extra to build on that upper part of the slope. The architect nor the engineer think it will be a problem, so we'll just need to work it out with the owners. Hopefully it will be okay. If not, we'll improvise our plan somehow to make it work.
From what others have told me, there will be headaches from start to finish, mostly small stuff. We are prepared for that mentally, and hope for the best. I was very impressed with the architects we met and the engineer. The architect is a young woman who has done some planning for the people we are buying from and she was very personable, married to a guy from the U.S. that was also personable. I liked them both. She brought an engineer along with her to meet us. He was married to an architect as well. All of them instilled confidence with me right off the bat and it has been easy corresponding with them since we arrived home. So it feels right. Hope that will be worth something.
Driving around the small little villages in the area, I notice no bars on the windows; you know how rare THAT is in Costa Rica. And we hear good things from the local people about their own sense of security and the lack of problems of that nature. We are up a partially private road that leads to the birding lodge, and although we are just off that road, we will be obscured somewhat. One of the guides has also agreed to housesit for us some (he and his wife) during the times that we are back in the U.S.
Our plan is to eventually settle into a schedule that will look something like this: Feb-March May-mid July Sept.-Oct
in Costa Rica. The rest of the year we will be in the U.S. with the longest time at home being during the holidays, also the time of our granddaughters' birthdays.
That's the long and the short of it as we know it at this time. We pray the good Lord will grant us a few more years to see it to fruition and enjoy it!
May 16th, 2009, 10:29 PM
#29
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It's all very exciting Jill! I'm sure all the little headaches along the way will be worth it once the house is completed and you have a chance to settle in. You've developed such an affinity for Costa Rica over the years that it makes perfect sense you would own a place there. I wish you many years to thoroughly enjoy it!
I've only been home from Peru for a few days and am currently wading through my photos and getting them organized online. How many different shots can one take of Machu Picchu, you ask? Apparently quite a few based on my collection! I haven't started a trip report yet, but plan to in the next few days.
I had a really great time, and was really bummed to board the plane to come home (had that let down of knowing I was heading back to the daily routine, which isn't nearly as fun as being immersed in an amazing, exotic travel experience). Then I remembered that I'm going to Costa Rica next month and the doldrums went away!
I've only been home from Peru for a few days and am currently wading through my photos and getting them organized online. How many different shots can one take of Machu Picchu, you ask? Apparently quite a few based on my collection! I haven't started a trip report yet, but plan to in the next few days.
I had a really great time, and was really bummed to board the plane to come home (had that let down of knowing I was heading back to the daily routine, which isn't nearly as fun as being immersed in an amazing, exotic travel experience). Then I remembered that I'm going to Costa Rica next month and the doldrums went away!
May 17th, 2009, 05:36 AM
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hi cam, welcome back! Post over here when you get your report & pics together, looking forward to seeing them. Yes, CR is right around the corner now, you'll be packing again before you know it.
jill I'm betting you won't have any problems finding house-sitters
jill I'm betting you won't have any problems finding house-sitters
May 17th, 2009, 07:59 AM
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I'll definitely let you know when I've got my Peru stuff organized, tully. It was pretty amazing. You should put it on your 'To Go' list if you're the least bit interested in ruins and dramatic mountain scenery. The people were incredibly nice as well.
I'm very excited for CR. Looking at Jill's photos got me totally psyched (as if I needed any help...). Can't wait to meet up with you guys!
I'm very excited for CR. Looking at Jill's photos got me totally psyched (as if I needed any help...). Can't wait to meet up with you guys!
May 18th, 2009, 06:00 PM
#32
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Oh Yeah. Big on my list. Peru, Machu Picchu, Galapagos, Eduador in general. Someday perhaps. . .
Hoping to experience Argentina sometime in 2010. Perhaps November. I've got Mendoza and Iguasu Falls on the mind, and our daughter is really interested in that area as well. So we are working on "the kitty". If it doesn't get robbed to fund part of this year's over-extension!
We travel addicts always put our happy faces back on as long as another one is lined up, don't we?! It's all fun--even the little long weekend ones where you drink in every moment as if there were no tomorrow! See you soon. . . 
Hoping to experience Argentina sometime in 2010. Perhaps November. I've got Mendoza and Iguasu Falls on the mind, and our daughter is really interested in that area as well. So we are working on "the kitty". If it doesn't get robbed to fund part of this year's over-extension!
We travel addicts always put our happy faces back on as long as another one is lined up, don't we?!
It's all fun--even the little long weekend ones where you drink in every moment as if there were no tomorrow! See you soon. . .
May 18th, 2009, 06:24 PM
#33
okay okay shillmac ,I will help you with your South America trip.!
Yes, tully , it is about time you quit hiding. I was wondering where you went.
About one month and your off to Costa Rica ..
Take care
Percy
Yes, tully , it is about time you quit hiding. I was wondering where you went.
About one month and your off to Costa Rica ..
Take care
Percy
May 19th, 2009, 03:53 AM
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shillmac remind me to tell you about a wonderful Iguazu hotel I came across! And yes, planning makes my world go round, ha! I'm already thinking of October and next spring as well!
Percy I have been hiding in plain sight Yes 30 days from today! You're going to pop down and buy a round, right?
cam I've always been anxious of the altitude, was it an issue?
Percy I have been hiding in plain sight
Yes 30 days from today! You're going to pop down and buy a round, right?cam I've always been anxious of the altitude, was it an issue?
May 19th, 2009, 06:07 AM
#36
tully
Of course I will buy you a drink
If I don't make it down........just give me the phone number ( in Costa Rica) and I will call in drinks for you and bill it to my Mastercard !!
Of course I will buy you a drink
If I don't make it down........just give me the phone number ( in Costa Rica) and I will call in drinks for you and bill it to my Mastercard !!
May 19th, 2009, 03:45 PM
#38
Well,
motmot and tully.... it would be my pleasue to buy you both drinks!! Anytime !
motmot and tully.... it would be my pleasue to buy you both drinks!! Anytime !
