And More Roof

This seems to take longer than building the whole structure - but they are almost there.  I think it is actually that my patience is diminishing as the excitement builds.

MORE ROOF!

even with continuing rain they keep going

Ramping Up For Our Next Visit

We are headed back to Ojochal on December 27.

This trip will be our last before the house is done.  It will also be the first trip with my son.  James is 26, and has not vacationed with us in Costa Rica before (it has always been our chance to escape).

So there are lots of thoughts about what this will be like.

It is important to include James in this, as we are rapidly making this a regular part of our life - a home, friends, community - so he needs to know what that is about and hopefully feel at home as well.  It will also give us an excuse to be tourists in the area - snorkeling, zipline, river tour - Can't wait!!

We are also stocking up on things - the kitchen faucet, the salt water chlorine generator, etc.  I think we will feel like Santa heading south.

And So It Goes

Well the work on the house continues - despite another rainy week.  We see photos, but little changes as they put in the electrical boxes and such details - a photo of an electrical box isn't very sexy!

But then there is news of visible progress - the final roof is going on !!

News Worthy

It is amazing our little piece of paradise can be so quickly thrust into the spotlight.  Combine a hurricane with a border dispute and you have Costa Rica in the global news every day!

News closer to home (Ojochal) is that life is returning to normal.  The workers were trapped on our site for a full week - while they had good shelter and did continue to work I suspect rations were running very low!

Next trip is confirmed for December 27 - January 10

A Breather

Well, according to the news and to the messages from friends, the rain has stopped.  But life is hardly back to normal.

The southern zone is completely cut off from San Jose, except by air and "virtually no road has been left untouched".  Roads have either collapsed or are blocked by landslides (the better of the two for restoring traffic).  Stores are rapidly running out of supplies.  Over 20 deaths and 2000 are in shelters after homes have disappeared in landslides.

No reports of damage to our or others homes, but a vacant lot nearby apparently disappeared into the valley - the road just ends at a great gully!

Say a prayer of sorrow, thanks, courage and hope!

OMG!

The last few days have been catastrophic for the whole country as the rain has been relentless.  A state of emergency is in effect and the schools are closed, roads are impassable, bridges are failing and landslides have killed many and damaged much.

 

 

• The Turrucares Bailey bridge, the bridge replacing the fallen bridge in October last year killing five, fell under the force the water, choking off traffic between Puriscal and Orotina
• The road connecting Manuel Antonio and Quepos sank. The area south of the Mimmo's hotel is completely cut off from Quepos, trapping tourists, residents and workers.
• The Interamericana Sur in the area of Cerro de la Muerte is completely closed.
• The Costanera Sur near Palmar Sus is closed.
• The Interamericana Norte, north of Naranjo is with "paso regulado" as work crews clean up debris and mud from the road
• Monte de Aguacate (old road to Jacó) with partial and total closures
• Ruta 32 (San José - Limón) with paso regulado
• Ruta 27 (San José - Caldera) is with paso regulado in some sections

The rescue and recovery efforts in the mountains of Escazú have been suspended as the rains began to fall again minutes after 3pm. The head of the Comisión Nacional de Emergencias (CNE), as well as the Bomberos and Cruz Roja, decided to call off all operations for time being, hopefully resuming before nightfall, if not in the morning daylight.
So far a total of 20 bodies have been recovered, while 12 to 15 still missing and presumed buried under the heavy rocks, rubble and mud that extends one kilometre from the cerro Pico Blanco to the area known as La Lajas, in El Carmen de Escazú.

Meanwhile, east of Escazú, in the area of Aserrí and Acosta, residents there are living through their own nightmare, as landslides and running water have cut off communities.
The roads in Aserrí have turned into rivers. Many are literally cut off from their neighbours.

The national weather service is calling for at last 18 more hours of intense rain, adding to the national tragedy that is affecting many communities in the Central Valley, including Cartago and the Central Pacific areas of Parrita.

Water Power

This was the Pacific Coast Highway about a mile north of Ojochal.  Washed away by the rain.  And they said the Dry Season was starting!!  Apparently it will be 'repaired' by Thursday.