Impromptu Shops We know exactly what it's like to have a nearby garage or sidewalk suddenly become a shop! We live in the Mission District of San Francisco! Mark, is that how you're going to sell flowers? Go for it!
hospitality all i can say is "wow!" i hope the kids realize how lucky they are to have these opportunities because you guys are really special! can you ever imagine jenna on a horse???!!!
Terrific photos I am so in awe of your following this dream. I wish we had the opportunity to do something like this when the children were small. Be well. We miss all of you.
My kids are looking at your pictures and reading your blog and they say that they could never do this - they are not that flexible! They are afraid of horses and most farm animals, they think swimming with a flashlight is unbelievable and they don't like ham and cheese. Your kids are great because you are wonderful parents.
RE: Hospitality I'm trying something new -- commenting on a comment. Yes, it's true, they exhibited tremendous hospitality. This family, in particular, but others, too. For example, the Monday after Christmas, Asis was out of food for the animals. Alvaro, the kids and I went and visited a few people around the area to see what we could scare up. Everyone was very generous and really went out of their way to help us and were very interested in giving the kids new fruits to try and showing them interesting things in and around their homes.
hospitality Another great report or a memorable adventure. When I look at the size of the house in the photo above and then the number of people your hosts invited to stay over, I marvel at the sense of hospitality these folks demonstrate -- hard to imagine anyone here (suburbia, USA) with that generous an outlook.
Mazal tov! I just caught up on the many blog entries I had fallen behind. Mazal tov on finding an apartment and a school and on starting to learn Spanish in a more organized way! It sounds like a wonderful adventure so far. Keep it comin'!
Wonderful description of your trip to Asis. I can't yet get over the adventure you guys are having. The kids are so lucky - especially to have parents like you. Keep on having fun! Feliz nuevo ano - or something like that. Yo hablo espanol tambien.
super report Thanks for the report of your Asis adventure. Sounds like everyone had a great time. Perhaps Ellie can learn to sing her Turkey Song in Spanish, to go along with the Chick Song. (Un pavo es un pajaro comico....?) I don't think Ari's ever had such long hair -- looks good. We look forward (noww that you have the technology) to what's going on now that you're back from Asis.
Happy New Year. You adventure sounds like so much fun. Lauryn asks me all the time how Ellie is doing and I show her the great pictures. Continue to have a blast. Stay safe.Hugs and kisses Eileen and Mitch and kids.
la Pura Vida Mark,
Sounds like pura vida has already started to embrace your family! Glad to hear you are making your way through the lesser sensational parts of relocating and moving on to 'digging in'.
Look forward to hearing about the many wonders of CR as things unfold.
Hi ex pats: everything sounds great. meanwhile Yardley is hopping...I went to breakfast with Michelle...she had whitefish, I had eggs...need I say more. Back to school on the 3rd but hospital here I come...tell anyone you care about to keep their animals away from penn for at least several months. Love and hugs and kisses, chrissy et al.
wow so great that you found an apartment! I loved the pics. we just returned from a week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Wish you would be in Costa Rico long enough for us to come and visit!(just how long do you think you will be there?)
Keep the blogs coming!
All is well on Fairfield Road! & in Costa Rica!! Everything sounds wonderful and the pictures are fantastic! We will be keeping an eye on the blog and your family adventure in Costa Rica. The holidays are upon us and it is a great time to be thankful for all that we have both near and far! I’m sure the experience you gain will always be cherished and never replaced - you must continue to share with us all. Be safe and we will see you soon! Happy Holidays! Bruce Stacy Bruce and Brendan!
sounds terrific You can see from the comments on the last two blogs that lots of us yanquis anxiously await each new entry. So, keep them coming, even if they are just quick notes that you manage to squeeze in between fighting off the monkeys and chasing toucans.
You are both nuts. As I sit in my NY office for long hours reviewing documents, I then read your blogs and realize that you are the only people I know who would do something this insane. Then I see a picture of your apartment, and it is bigger and nicer than my NY apartment. I guess if you want a real adventure, come to NY. I love Costa Rica, and hope you see the water safari near the Nicaragua border. There is a great place in the cloud forest you guys will love as well. Good luck. P.S. As a father of two, I particularly like references to kids being cranky, difficult, funny, wonderful, tired, hungry, etc. Makes it all so real.
Still jealous Finally got around to reading everything...Sounds like I had every reason to be jealous. I agree with everyone who has appreciated your writing skills. I don't think this could have been written better (except for "like a rainbow rising out of a thunderstorm" - what was that?) I'm looking forward to reading more.
Wow...you guys have made great progress and seem to be settling in (or at least found home base). I am enjoying reading about your adventures. Can't wait to read about your trip into the mountains.
Amazing!! Every entry I read just makes me more amazed with your experiences. I am truly speechless by all of this. Enjoy your work in the mountains. We all miss you.
Love the Blog Mark and Dara I love the Blog! In the sea of junk emails in my mialbox, I love finding that a new Bortman entry has been posted. Thanks for including me!
New home pic I haven't checked out the gallery yet, but I enjoyed seeing the tiles on the stair risers (Figures I'd notice that, because I'm in the middle of choosing new flooring after a nasty flood in our apartment.).
After reading about the coffee process, I had to go make some in my coffee press. The power of suggestion is alive and well. A friend once brought back come Costa Rican coffee, and I must say that it was pretty tasty.
Mark, thanks for the photo/editing credits to Dara. I love the captioning, Dara, and the kids look wonderful. I can't imagine how you both have the time to write/edit/download, etc., but it's appreciated. Keep it all coming. It's great living this adventure vicariously, but it would be better being there!!! Stay well.
Love you all. Bev and Dave
From the suburbs of Philadelphia, we're venturing out to experience La Pura Vida in Costa Rica! We (that is Mark and Dara (the parents) and Ari and Ellie (the kids - 7 and 4 1/2 years old respectively) are excited to share our adventure with friends and family! ... full info
eli
non-member comment
commenting on a comment
I think your commenting on a comment is a nice touch -- makes the blog a little more conversational. Keep it up.