http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Central America Caribbean , Costa Rica , Alajuela , San Ramon en-us Sun, 06 Dec 09 11:25:57 +0000 Sun, 06 Dec 09 11:25:57 +0000 I just realized that I had not published my blog from July But here it is September and I am moving into my house in 8 days. There are still finishing touches to be completed but my household goods will be delivered this Friday and I will take up permanent residence on Sept. 16th. The whole construction process has been so wonderfully managed by my Tico friend who is bilingual. Without his he http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-435063.html Itrsquos been a little while since I wrote so I thought Irsquod take the time once again to share my thoughts with whomever is ready thismdashhopefully many people. I get many emails from people. Most are from people who want to be here others are already here and want to learn more about San Ramon where I live and others just want to get to know other people in the area. Whatever t http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-412576.html When will the rains comeWersquove had some spurts of rain lately and I would have that thought that by now the rainy season would be in full force with the typical afternoonearly evening showers but we have not seen that yet. Maybe Irsquom just forgetting as I enter mine fifth rainy season in Costa Rica. Irsquom sort of hoping they come soon even though most people that realize I prefer http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-399558.html Itrsquos been since March 2008 that I updated my blog. Thatrsquos over a year I didnrsquot realize it had been so long. So just to get a few facts straight1. Irsquom still alive and well.2. Irsquom still here in San Ramon Costa Rica3. The BB is still heremdashand we now have superduper high speed Internet.4. Irsquom still doing tours and real estate development.5. And I http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-398068.html I visited the site of my casita in Baho La Paz last week. When I was there in February the bulldozer was not able to complete the land leveling NO trees were removed because of the heavy rains. But now 1 12 months later all the walls are up the crown is being finished and the roof starts this week. It is becoming VERY real this move anticipated to take place sometime this summer. I http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-393615.html The train is leaving the station I am retiring at the end of June and moving to the Baho La Paz area as soon as my house is ready for occupancy. Although I have become dear friends with several Tico families in the area I also still want to reach out to other North Americans in the area just to create a network of friends and acquaintances and to seek advice too.I am a retiring university p http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-382655.html Being a former restaurant owner and foodie I love learning about local foods. Costa Rica is blessed with some of the best fruits vegetables fish etc. in the world but local cuisine is sometimes lacking creativity and strong flavors.Since moving to the country my neighbor Mariellas has been inspirational in teaching me some local favorites. We just planted an organic vegetable garden that both http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-380236.html Thursday Costa Rica had a major earthquake. The current information is 23 are dead 11 are missing and 2300 people have been left homeless. The epicenter was near Poas Volcano just a few hours from my home in San Ramon. President Arias declared some areas uninhabitable in the future. There were photos of people walking away with just a garbage bag filled with a few possessions with all else lost. http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-380235.html Preston and Andrew took us to the properties that they have in San Ramon. They are so beautiful they don't look real. One property had a lot with this incredible tree that looked like something out of a movie. Piper wanted that lot... it would make for an amazing back yard... http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-354186.html Sunday in Costa Rica and that means... football What Yep. Mark is a huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan and Preston our other tour host is a rabid Buffalo Bills fan. Preston usually comes to the BB to watch games so he was quite happy to discover that the current guests were all in favor of watching the games. We called Mark's parents after the game mostly just to tell them we were able to watch it http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-347650.html Wake up with the sun...and the chickens. You could hear these big hens in their coop as they rustled around chortling to themselves and then letting loose with a bock bock bock bock BGAWK The shower is huge cool features include colorful tiles and a slightly sloped floor leading to a drain in the corner of the shower instead of the center... we like this system much better than our Ameri http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-347555.html Staying at Angel Valley Farm Bed Breakfast. We'll be taking the Boomer's Tour but it doesn't start until Monday. Piper is the first young person they've had on the tour. One other couple is with us Lou and Lorraine. We all hit it off immediately and as we are going to be in close quarters for a week I am sure we were all secretly thankful.We're met at the BB by Mae she's the resident Chef http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-347553.html Our first trip to Costa Rica. I fell in love as the plane was landing. I've never seen a more beautiful place. We took only carryon bags so immigration and customs was no big deal. We were met at the airport by our BB's driver Kenneth and Pietro an indispensable gentleman with a warm smile and engaging manner who served as our translator initial tour guide man about town and general genie http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-347400.html Irsquom heading back to San Ramon tomorrow July 4th after spending some time in my other home Ithaca NY. Irsquom in NYC at the moment the ultimate contrast to San Ramon.When I was growing up in the 1960rsquos the United States and NYC was the land of opportunity for working and middle class people. Now the rich are richer and life is challenging for most. Watching the news leaves you wi http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-340678.html Today is Costa Rica Independence Day a festive colorful celebration. San Ramon is rocking with parades costumes music and general festivities. On this day in 1821 Costa Rica declared itrsquos independence from Spain. It is a treat to live in a country that has used itrsquos independence to create a vibrant democracy with no military national health care and education for all. It is neithe http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-340676.html As someone who has spent most of his life in cities and college towns it remains an unexpected turn to own an organic coffee and fruit farm. These are THE crops of Costa Rica and before tourism and foreign investment became such a powerful part of the economy coffee and bananas ruled.My farm in El Empalme has an amazing ocean view and the sunset in the Pacific is an inspiring experience. El Empa http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-267713.html Yes I realize it's been a very long time since I've updated this blog but today I realized a new benefit to keeping it updated more frequently. This morning as I went to greet a Canadian family who showed interested in one of our communities she surprised me with a jar of REAL maple syrup. Pleasantly surprised I asked her How did you know I loved maple syrup. She responded I read your blo http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-258065.html Itrsquos hard to live in Costa Rica and not get to the beach frequently. Even if those of us living the Central Valley complain about the heat and humidity too many tourists and higher prices it is still fun to get to the beach. This is definitely a benefit of living heremdashbeing only about one hour from the coast and 1.5 hours from a nice white sand beach. I wish I could go more often http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-252132.html In Costa Rica there is only one sport hellip soccerfutbol. So watching the NFL is an exotic mysterious thing for Ticos. For me and a very small group of friends it is a pleasure when it is time for the NFL playoffs and Super Bowl. Herersquos an idea of what itrsquos likehellipLast Saturday after a hard day of working I went home to watch the Patriots and Jaguars game but things don http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-238438.html Since I moved to Costa Rica and have been keeping up this blog I have been writing a ldquoyearend reviewrdquo which is essentially my take on the preceding 12 months. With the holidays here and everything going on I thought Irsquod get it done nowmdashwell now meant I started it several weeks ago but I finally finished it today. So here goes and itrsquos bound to be longwindedL http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Alajuela/San-Ramon/blog-230114.html