Dec 28 – The House

Before chores and socializing, we needed to see the house.



It really is amazing to have it all coming together as we expected. A quick tour for James – front entrance, his room (the guest room), where the ‘spiral’ stair will go (currently occupied by a ladder), the living area, the outdoor patio.

The pool is cinder block, and half full of water – yukky

OMG – stairs! The back stairs to the upper terrace are done – and wonderful.

A quick trip up and there is the master suite and terrace – and the view – I love it, I love it, I love it!

Think we noted some issues – oh the details – but that is for later discussion with Robert.

Dec 28

Well, December 27 was a long travel day. Out of bed at 5:30am - - flight Toronto – San Salvador – San Jose - - car rental - - 4 hour drive south.



We reached Ojochal at 9:15 pm - - Pizza and beer was a very good thing – Stephan’s restaurant (El Jardin Tortuga) feels like a treehouse and is the perfect place to start the vacation and feel like you are back in the jungle.


I could tell James was a little unnerved. It was already getting dark when we left San Jose, so sort of felt like he had been kidnapped and driven to some foreign place and plunked down. I think beer and pizza helped.


Headed to the house and found it without incident and crashed into bed – it was just after 10.


This morning was beautiful – sunny and mostly clear. Coffee, unpacking.


James got his first sight of the jungle, the mountains and the ocean – he actually said “wow”.

So now for the realities – no cell service at the house (or at least I cant get any on my BB), internet access is tenuous (satellite, hardwired and flaky cable), and there is no hot water.


Jan and Sonya arrived and solved the hot water issue, and we gave them Christmas goodies – something very odd about Christmas Stockings and red woollen mittens in the tropics.


The rest of the morning was taken with chores – grocery shopping, banking, socializing (everyone you pass on the road that you know, requires a quick chat) - - lunch at the Restaurante Pinuellas (fried fish platter and great roadside Ceviche) – and then CERVEZAS!


Bocas Coronado is a local watering hole right at the ocean – great view of the river, island and ocean beyond – it is a gathering spot. I have never quite experience the social atmosphere that exists in Ojochal – all are welcome, all are friends, or soon will be. Talk is of parties and Christmas, home building and local politics.


So after beer, home for a quick swim, siesta and then dinner at Exotica (our fav!). Lucy is always so welcoming. Home and bed – all by 9:00 pm. Another full day!


I didn’t even mention our trip to the house! Next post!

A Structure Complete

TA DA!! 

Do you think it looks like we planned?

While we have not received official word, the roof and gutters are in place and the exterior appears to be finished.  The site has been cleared of the construction rubble and equipment (that could just be that they cleaned up before a two week Christmas break).

We expect the tiles and interior work to start in the new year - all very exciting.

We will soon see for ourselves - only a week until the start of our tropical respite.

Morning Thoughts

I woke up this morning thinking about Christmas and Costa Rica

What a treat to spend Christmas in the cold and New Years in the jungle!

Fortunately as Costa Rica is our gift giving this year, the amount of pre-Christmas turmoil is much less - a good thing given my work schedule and the demands on Lisle's time assisting his father.

I even found a way to minimize decorating - I bought a cardboard tree - quite a neat little thing!

Colour Crisis Averted

Apparently the Mauve was cement board they were using - I was beginning to think we were going to have to act out Priscilla, Queen of the Jungle!!

Mauve!

By the way ... Karen sent a message late last week that things were progressing nicely and they had started the painting.  She commented that she quite liked the mauve colour.

Mauve!?  The outside is yellow - the inside is off white.   Mauve!?

No further communication - I hope it was just the morning light!!

Inside Outside Upside Down

It really feels like we have detailed every aspect of the house.  Not that I am complaining, because if we don't say - this is what it should look like - then we will be frustrated when it doesn't turn out right.  Plus we have spent so much effort getting the overall form to suit our function, the details need the same attention.

So ... among details of floor layout, wall tiles in the bathrooms, glass block wall and the detailed size and composition of each kitchen cabinet ... some more visual aspects of the decisions ...

Doors
Front Entry

Interior

Staircase style

A neat little pattern for the floor in the entry

The Kitchen