5 years ago we took photos and video of the town, the site, the surrounding area and the drive in.
The internet cafe is gone, and there are actually houses along the way, but the video gives you a feel for the place.
Oh ya - you don't need to look for the palm tree as the marker for the right turn - they actually have named the roads and put up signs!
You can check out the video on the blog or direct on Youtube
I also connected to videos on Costa Rican bridges - these horror shows are quickly becoming a thing of the past - Thank God!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
The News from Robert
The engineer is working on revised blueprints and we should have the new documents by April 20.
They are going to level the lot by April 15, which means it will be ready for staking the house when Lisle is there on May 3.
Probably means we are behind schedule by 90 days since they can't make permit application until the drawings are complete and that won't be until Lisle returns them at the beginning of May.
Oh well - what would a project be without delays - just need to maintain the forward momentum!
They are going to level the lot by April 15, which means it will be ready for staking the house when Lisle is there on May 3.
Probably means we are behind schedule by 90 days since they can't make permit application until the drawings are complete and that won't be until Lisle returns them at the beginning of May.
Oh well - what would a project be without delays - just need to maintain the forward momentum!
Friday, April 2, 2010
April Already
The time continues to fly!
It has been 2 months since we signed the contract. Blueprint review is done and we now wait for permits. At this point - mid to late May construction start, although they will be levelling the site before the end of April.
Lisle has a ticket to head to Ojochal on May 1 for a week. The right time to see that they have levelled things and placed the house correctly - the urban legend is that the staked one of their early projects backwards (not much you can do once the wall start going up!).
There is time with Robert booked for the site stuff and Lisle is looking to meet with Sheila to start discussions about the other end of the project - I know it is early, but if there are decisions that need to be made now, or ones that with some conversation we can pass off to her to make as needed - all the better.
Lisle has asked our son James to go with him. James has never been on our vacations so we thought it might be a good chance for him to get to know the place. He is a bit fussed as he has just started a new part time job and doesn't want to rock the boat. We'll see what happens there.
Have yet to receive any feedback on our notations on the blueprints - they are not great about communications. Will need to send an email asking for confirmation on the process.
Spring seems to have become summer here - at least for today, so I think it is time to venture outside and enjoy the warmth.
It has been 2 months since we signed the contract. Blueprint review is done and we now wait for permits. At this point - mid to late May construction start, although they will be levelling the site before the end of April.
Lisle has a ticket to head to Ojochal on May 1 for a week. The right time to see that they have levelled things and placed the house correctly - the urban legend is that the staked one of their early projects backwards (not much you can do once the wall start going up!).
There is time with Robert booked for the site stuff and Lisle is looking to meet with Sheila to start discussions about the other end of the project - I know it is early, but if there are decisions that need to be made now, or ones that with some conversation we can pass off to her to make as needed - all the better.
Lisle has asked our son James to go with him. James has never been on our vacations so we thought it might be a good chance for him to get to know the place. He is a bit fussed as he has just started a new part time job and doesn't want to rock the boat. We'll see what happens there.
Have yet to receive any feedback on our notations on the blueprints - they are not great about communications. Will need to send an email asking for confirmation on the process.
Spring seems to have become summer here - at least for today, so I think it is time to venture outside and enjoy the warmth.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Putting it all together
So we have been in touch with Sheila who offers a turnkey solution to outfitting your house once construction is finished.
She and her associate will organize appliances, furniture, art, towels, plates, cutlery, etc, etc, etc. She has questionnaires and full home contents checklists. I guess there is more to it than arriving with some clothes and moving in!
She has done this for a number of houses with rave reviews.
She noted recently that most of her clients she has never met until all was complete - I find that scary - it was bad enough designing the house based on a questionnaire, but my picking my sofa or art - not sure I am ready to trust that to a stranger no matter how good her taste.
Think we will try to connect face-to-face on the next trip. This will need some thought - a great service - better than trying to schlep stuff around the country yourself - it's not like you go to Sleep Country and a bed arrives that afternoon! But giving up all that control makes me nervous. Well there is time to ponder this one.
She and her associate will organize appliances, furniture, art, towels, plates, cutlery, etc, etc, etc. She has questionnaires and full home contents checklists. I guess there is more to it than arriving with some clothes and moving in!
She has done this for a number of houses with rave reviews.
She noted recently that most of her clients she has never met until all was complete - I find that scary - it was bad enough designing the house based on a questionnaire, but my picking my sofa or art - not sure I am ready to trust that to a stranger no matter how good her taste.
Think we will try to connect face-to-face on the next trip. This will need some thought - a great service - better than trying to schlep stuff around the country yourself - it's not like you go to Sleep Country and a bed arrives that afternoon! But giving up all that control makes me nervous. Well there is time to ponder this one.
News + Kitchen and Floors
The news - blueprints arrived in Ojochal Tuesday morning
2 months for permits, but will start site work in advance of that.
Looks like a trip will happen last week of April - first week of May to see the site and confirm the house location etc.
In the meantime, we have been working on some of the details
Kitchen - need to specify cabinet size and compostion
2 months for permits, but will start site work in advance of that.
Looks like a trip will happen last week of April - first week of May to see the site and confirm the house location etc.
In the meantime, we have been working on some of the details
Kitchen - need to specify cabinet size and compostion
Floor Tiles - need to specify any special pattern of tile placement - two options for the main floor entryway and stair, and one for the second floor landing. We are thinking all the same tile - just the change in pattern. May do some sort of contrasting board on the patio - haven't turned our full thoughts to that yet
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Blueprints Revisited
A tale of passion, relationships and men - ok, it's not Victorian England!
Anyhow - they are ready for shipping - here's the full package.
Anyhow - they are ready for shipping - here's the full package.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Blueprints - Check!
Monday March 8
A deceptively thin tube of paper arrived at my office via courier. Excitedly I opened the package and unrolled the 17 pages.
The first page said it all. A relatively small drawing of the house and pool situated on the lot - WOW!
A deceptively thin tube of paper arrived at my office via courier. Excitedly I opened the package and unrolled the 17 pages.
The first page said it all. A relatively small drawing of the house and pool situated on the lot - WOW!
That was followed by floor plans, detailed dimensions, elevations, cross-sections, stair details, foundation plans, column plans, IKEA-like instructions on house assembly, beam plans, plumbing and electrical. Quite the package - Quite the task.
When I got home, Lisle rolled them out on his desk and said "what's all this, I thought we had to look at lights and switches - are there instructions?"
Of course there are no instructions and lots to think about. Time for some wine.
Tuesday we copied them - does anyone know how expensive a 24 x 36 copy is - oh my god!
Wednesday and Thursday we contemplated them - flipping through some pages, not really knowing where to start.
Friday - beer with friends - drawings can wait!
Bright and early Saturday morning I dug in. Clear the dining room table. Relocate my laptop. Pens. Markers. Coffee. Sleeping cat off the drawings.
Well let's start from the very beginning - a very good place to start - when you read you begin with ABC with blueprints you begin with Acabados Generales (I did mention everything is in Spanish!). It is sort of a legend - symbols used on the drawings that actually mean something - - LISLE!! -- can you go to GOOGLE and translate this!
Starting at the beginning and working through page by page - overall great but
- why is the roof overhanging the pool?
- why is the spiral stair off centre in the tower?
- where did the giant bi-fold doors in the bedroom come from?
- rearrange the bathrooms - what were we thinking!!
- where did that window go?
- all these doors open backwards!
With everything but electrical reviewed, and sticky notes all over, Claudio - our architectural superhero - arrived at 4 to help us through.
Red pen in hand Claudio went page by page asking us about the notes and making corrections or notations on the drawings (even though we made several copies, we were too afraid to actually write on these without permission of someone who knew what they were doing). 2 hours later - all done. Claudio can go, and I am confident enough to take on the electrical myself (or at least with the help of my son who actually knows how to read electrical plans and circuit diagrams).
The red marking continued into Saturday night and resumed on Sunday. There, all done. Now to actually document this in some way that makes sure we and they understand all the scribbles. Sunday evening - the summary table complete!
Monday - a second look - OH - What about ... The list is outstanding things appears.
Tuesday - the list of outstanding things is done - documented, discarded, or put on the list of things to deal with later
So, today - Wednesday March 17 (Happy St. Patrick's Day) copy the revised drawings, final check, bundle up and ready for shipping back to Ojochal.
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