House for Sale!

Today's post is to help a friend sell her home here in Berlin.  Sherry lost her husband in a motor cycle accident just a few days before we arrived.  She is now trying to sell her home.  The home is similar to what we are hoping to build and she also has some coffee plants.  The acreage is smaller than ours and in beautiful condition.  We are able to see her entry gate from our building site and can walk there in a few minutes!  Pass the information along.  Although we will miss having her as our neighbor, we want to help her out at this difficult time.

San Ramon O.V. Home 3/2, Guest house,coffee farm. Type: O.V. Home Location: Berlin- San Ramon Size: 2000 sf. Home & 900 sf. Guest house on 3 Acres. Price: $265,000.Reduced,NOW $240,000. Property Code: 217 Full Description:2000ft home, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, over 1200 ft- covered balcony, 2 car garage with storage room. Built to seismic standards (2007)  (concrete and rebar). Fine finishing throughout - American standards,  Laurel wood ceilings inside and outside, Marble-granite counter tops,  ceramic tile throughout, Stainless steel gas-electric appliances. Guest House, 900 sq ft, 1 bedroom, 1 bath , Living room and dinning  room, Counter top gas stove, has same finishing as Main  Residence. Includes-Fridge, Gas stove, washer- dryer - some appliances still under  warranty!  Almost completely furnished with Guanacaste & Cenizaro furniture.  Private road, secure location, Property is fenced and  gated with security door, Hectare of fertile land with  already producing coffee farm, chicken coop, horse shelter, All types of fruit producing trees, bananas, plantains, sweet lemon, limes, oranges, mandarin oranges, mangoes and 2 avocado trees, Professionally  landscaped, palms and other types of fauna.  Land-home is titled, free and clear and in a S.A. corporation, for easy transfer, Property taxes are up-to-date and approximately  $200/year. 45 MINS TO BEACH 15 MINS TO RINCON DE MORA 20 MINS TO SAN RAMOND Sorry the photos are such a scattered mess. They wouldn't go where I asked them to. :)

Update on the Property & the BANANAS!

This beautiful view from our rental is so spectacular and our property has an even closer view, wow! Yesterday was the clearest I've ever seen the ocean.  Can you see the boats!

These weeds were all cut down and burned the last time we were here in February of 2011! They are so tall and so invasive that getting rid of them will be the first job our our coffee worker, Roberto!  We are told that we need to cut them down, spray with something that will kill them and then plant a special grass that doesn't grow very tall but has very deep roots.  These weeds are around the area we have leveled for our house and the new grass will help with erosion.  

Look!  We really do have bananas!!  We can hardly wait to chop them down and eat them! Each time we go to the property they are getting bigger.  It is so interesting how quickly they seem to grow, and on that note I am going to bed!  It is now 8:50 p.m. and past my bed time!!  Boy has our life changed!!   Chow!

Tamales at Flor's!

We've talked about Flor and her Soda and here it is.  As you approach at night it is all lit up and ready for customers.  Walk down a few cement steps and you are there.

Flor is the pretty lady on the left with the big smile.  The young woman in the center is her daughter, Elizabeth.  Of course you know who the person on the right is with the warm sweater on!!

Here they are making the most wonderful Cerviche!  It is made in a 5 gallon bucket with -Fish, Lemon Juice,  Ginger Ale, Salt and Sugar!!  Amazing!!

Now it's time to start making Tamales!!  We arrived about 5:30 p.m. and Flor and Elizabeth were already busy making up the ingredients required. Flor was stirring a huge bucket of corn meal mush on the stove and Elizabeth was chopping peppers, carrots and meat, all of which was specially prepared and cooked.  There was rice and lots of banana leaves too.  

The Tamales start with 2 pieces of banana leaves, 3 scoops of mush, 1 T. rice, 1 carrot and either chicken or pork.  Elizabeth wrapped them up and started a pile that grew to about 50 or 60 Tamales.

Now it's my turn!

Whoops! We ran out of banana leaves!  No problem for Flor!  She zips by us with her machete and comes back with a bunch of banana leaves.  Next, she starts a small fire next to the soda and waves the leaves over the flames.  Once she is finished we tear the leaves off the stem, wash them and start making moreTamales.

The last step to the process is to put two of the tamales together and tie them with a string she has created from an onion bag!!  And I thought I was thrifty!  

It was a fun night and a great way to celebrate hiring Roberto, our new coffee worker, who is Elizabeth's husband.  We were sent home with lots of tamales and had them for dinner the next night. They were wonderful!

Visitors to the Casa!

Thursday on our trip to San Ramon to finally open our bank account, we met Arden and Mei  who had been on a tour of Costa Rica with a group of people interested in possibly moving here. By the way, we opened our account and received our debit cards!!  YEAH!  Back to Arden and Mei!  We chatted over coffee at La Duquesa where we ran into them and, of course, told them how beautiful Berlin is.  Before we parted we had made plans for them to come visit and see our beautiful vista!  It was a fun day including a trip to Palmares and lunch.

Our other visitor was four legged!  There seems to be a weak spot in the fence and Momma Cow decided the grass was greener on the other side!  Earlier today the Calf trotted by our window headed up the road.  I ran after him and stomped on his rope and Don lead him back to where he belongs.  With a little effort, Don patched the hole in the fence, at least for awhile!

Look What We See!

We wanted to share some of the beautiful views we see every day out our front window!  It is never the same and even when socked in with fog is beautiful.  The other nigh, while walking home, we tried to get photos of all the lights of the towns we see off in the distance among the hills.  Unfortunately, our little camera just didn't do the trick

Well, the Roses are officially Coffee Farmers!  As of Friday last week we even have an employee.  We hired Roberto to work our coffee and teach us how to work it as well.  He was highly recommended by an Expat we know here and the Tico who works for him.  Since hiring him, we have only heard good things and look forward to learning enough Spanish that we are able to communicate without a translator.  Roberto is very patient with us and works very hard to understand what the heck we are trying to tell him.  Tomorrow we are going to San Ramon to sign him up for CAJA (Medical Insurance) and INS (Like Workmen's Comp) which we have to pay.  We are also hoping to sign ourselves up at CAJA and make a visit to ICE (Costa Rica's Government Electricity) to take one of the many steps to getting our electricity problems worked out.

Last week we had our first visitor.  There was a small knock on the door and when we opened it Flor was standing there with a big smile and a hug!  We have know Flor ever since staying here with Danilo and Maria in 2011.   Flor has a Soda, a small restaurant usually part of someone's home.  She also cleans at the local School.  The reason I am telling you about Flor and her visit is because she had a very specific purpose in visiting.  As usual, the Roses didn't have a clue because our Spanish is still very lacking.  While in the process of interviewing Roberot (with a translator) we realized that Flor had come to tell us that the man we were thinking of hiring was her son-in-law and sheweanted to put in a good word for him!!  We were thrilled as we adore Flor. Now the tell us we are family!  Don loves it because Flor feeds him every time he stops by the Soda!

A Walk to the Finca

This afternoon we walked to the Cafe Finca (our property) as it is picking season and there is lots of activity along the road.  People were dropping their coffee at the Receivers where they it is weighed and graded.   Just as we were about to turn down our road we saw this group of pickers using a horse to transport the coffee.  

While at the Finca we discovered that a couple of our banana trees are producing bananas!   YEAH!  I can hardly wait to pick and eat them!  If you look carefully you can see the rather graphic growth that is sprouting out.  This growth is where the bananas will start to grow.  Each time we go by we will up date you on the progress of our first bananas!

Look, Don's Milking the Cow!

Early this morning we followed Marcella, Rosalin, Luis,  Alis,  and his friend to the "barn" to milk the cow.  As you can see, Don sat right down and started to milk and seemed to be enjoying the whole experience.  Marcella is looking on with a grin on her face because Don's efforts are producing a small stream of milk!

Rosalin, Marcella's Mother, is the super milker of the family and the one who usually does the job.

stoic

She is a two fisted  milker who can fill a 5 gallon plastic container in no time!  We are very impressed and love their sense of humor.  They truly enjoyed  watching Don milk, as did I.Marcella's Son,  Alis, was busy playing computer games on the phone with his friend. He is very sweet and later in the day while I was Skyping with my friend Ginny, he came by with this beautify Hydrangea!

Finally, when the humans have most of the milk the little calf gets to have some breakfast.  Roselin says that in 4 days the calf will be out in the pasture eating grass!Locked out for the day!

The Coffee Finca!

One quick view on the way to the coffee finca.  We have made a number of trips to the coffee since arriving and the views along the way are as breathtaking as they are from our property.  

Norm and Collie Bonin, who have lived in Berlin for 4 years, have been a wealth of information for us and we are grateful for their friendship.  They have some coffee plants with a partner that are being worked by Mario.  Mario is also their gardener and we asked if he would take a look at our coffee and let us know where we stand and what needs to be done.  Our friend Danilo, who sold us the property, has been taking care of our plants for us and we are very grateful to him.  However, with the language difficulties talking to Mario with Norm's help was easier than talking to Danilo at the time.  We are planning a meeting for this Tuesday with Danilo and Josee (translator and friend) to talk coffee and future plans!  

Norm came along to translate on Wednesday, the 7th of November @ 6:30 a.m. and we were very impressed with Mario and the information he had to offer.  Not only about our coffee, which he says is "Bueno, but needs work", but about what to do with other parts of our property to prevent erosion and numerous other suggestions and tips.  It was a good experience and we are looking forward to learning about being coffee farmers!

This meeting also made us realize that we need to be shopping for a truck, not a car.  So.... we are now looking for a good work truck.  Jorge tells us that the truck of choice in Costa Rica is the Toyota Hilox which is not available in the States.  It is similar to the Toyota Land Cruiser found in the U.S. but has added heavy suspension, bigger engine and gated flatbed. Jorge, a Tico friend of Norms, and an automobile mechanic, has been a wonderful resource and very patient with our changing needs.  His wife, Grettel, teaches Spanish in their home near Jorge's shop and we are seriously considering lessons!

Isn't our coffee beautiful!

Just a note!  As I am writing this blog it is pouring outside and Don and I have to speak loudly to hear each other over the noise on the roof.  Our doors and windows are all open and people walk by with umbrellas.  Amazing!

We DO Know the Way to San Jose!

Yes, Rooster, we do know the way to San Jose!!  Take the 6:20 a.m. to San Ramon for 500 Colonies or $1.00, walk to the other Parada and purchase a ticket to San Jose for 1,125 Colonies or $2.20 each.  You will arrive in San Jose about 1  hour later where, on this day, we grabbed a cab to the DMV called COSEVI.
Before heading to San Jose we realized that we needed to make a stop in San Ramon because the Dr. there said we did not need a blood test.  WRONG!  After much sign language and "discussion" we convinced the people at the clinic we did need a blood test and wanted it now!!  "O.K., O.K. follow me!"  At this point we were lead a number of blocks from where we had the exam to the clinic for a blood test!  We began to wonder if the reason we didn't need a blood test was because our guide didn't want to make the trip!  Blood drawn and typed we went to the hardware store for more copies and then off to San Jose to get our fingerprints for Residency and our Costa Rican drivers license!

As our appointment for fingerprinting was at 6:45 a.m. we needed to spend one night in San Jose and decided to try to get our drivers license the day we arrived.  We have previously stayed at the Hotel Ritz, pictured here, and made reservations to spend Tuesday, November 6th, there.

Arriving at the COSEVI we were met with long lines but with time to spare as the door closed at 11:00 a.,m.  Joe had advised us to go by all the people in line to the very front on the right and there would be the line for the Expats.  What luck, we were the only ones there so...no waiting!!  Unfortunately, our luck quickly ran out.  The gentleman at the window asked for our Residency card and we, of course, had to tell him we had none!  "No Residency, No License!"

Needless to say, he was adamant and we left feeling a little discouraged realizing what I, Sharon, had heard from another Expat outside the bank the day before was true!  Costa Rica had just passed a law requiring Expats to have Residency before being able to receive a license!!!   Welcome to Costa Rica!!

At 6:45 the next day, after a rather lengthy cab  ride to La Uruca, we met with Mayane, the sister and partner of Javier, who was going to guide us through the fingerprint process for our Residency requirements.  She was amazing!!  With broken English and our poor to no Spanish, we had our photos taken, were given 3 copies, passed by long lines once again and, after filling out a questionnaire that Mayane had, and waiting a while, we were invited to sit with an official.  The official, since we do not speak Spanish, took the necessary information from our questionnaire we had pewcioualy filled out.  That step completed, we went to the next step where we were fingerprinted!  Off to wash our hands, thank you for the towel Mayane, and this part of our Residency requirement is completed with great efficiency  We are very grateful to Mayane and Javier and cannot imagine going through this process without their help.

Now off to the Attorney to sign the contract needed for Javier to do the necessary work to complete our Residence requirements.  It also included appointing Mayane and Javier Powers of Attorney to present our paperwork to the Consulate.  Javier was at one time the Immigration Consulate for the United States and is quite qualified for this type of work.  After signing and, of course, making many copies, including ours, Mayane dropped us back at the hotel. In the middle of waiting for fingerprinting I realized that I had left my phone in the room charging!  UGH!!  Thanks to Joe and his wonderful roommate, Max, my phone was rescued and kept safe by Carlos at the desk!  Thank you Carols!

A very Costa Rican building in downtown San Jose.

We are now on our own with a little time to explore San Jose.  The new stadium, where the previously mentioned soccer game between Alajuela and San Jose was held, was built by the Chinese government as a gift in return for Costa Rica allowing China to build a Chinatown in downtown San Jose.  

The photos above are of artwork in the new Chinatown.  

Although this is a Costa Rican church, it too is located in what is to be Chinatown.  Actually, the work that has been done looks wonderful.  However, there are some concerns about Chinatown becoming a drug haven.

While walking the streets of San Jose we came across this beautiful Trumpet Vine and grabbed a small piece to try starting at home.  We did look a little silly with this cutting sitting in a Coca Cola cup on the side of our backpack!  The Roses stand out on the buses, however, even without a cutting!

Busy Going Through the Process!

We want you to meet a few of the wonderful family members who are renting us our casa.  Marcella, the lady who usually lives in the casa with her family, was not there at the time. Her Dad,       , Mother, Roselin and her Brother, Dario are pictured here with me. We had stopped by, unfortunately interrupting the big soccer game between Alajuela and San Jose.  It is our understanding they are big rivals being located right next to each other. The Chavarria family was rooting for San Jose and San Jose lost!  Dario, the young man next to me, is wonderful with English and very patient with all our many questions.

La Duquesa is a bakery, restaurant, here in Costa Rica that we visit frequently when arriving in San Ramon before 7 a.m.  It's a great place for a coffee and a bathroom stop before getting down to business.  At times we have also blogged there as they have WIFI.  

The place we catch and depart from the bus in San Ramon is called the Parada.  It's quite amazing to watch all the people and buses move, usually smoothly, through this rather small space almost like a ballet.

It has been quite awhile since our last posting and we have been very busy!  Norm Bonin graciously took us to the bank to meet the Manager, Roy, and get us started on opening a bank account.  After 3 visits and a trip to the attorney, we are hoping to have our debit cards and our account next Thursday!  We are told this is a normal experience.  Applying for our drivers license has not been so successful.  Although we needed to go to San Jose to apply, there were a number of steps we could cover in San Ramon to save time.  Thanks to our friend, Joe Tursi, who had been through the process and shared all the requirements we successfully had our physical,  made 3 copies, blood test, made 3 copies and also made the required copies of our passport and current drivers license.  At this point we were feeling pretty proud of how well we had completed the necessary steps and acquired the necessary copies.   At this point we returned home with our usual load of groceries and "stuff" sure we were prepared for our two day trip to San Jose.

A look at Moma and Baby. Both doing well although in need of a bath after rolling in the mud.

Yesterday we took the bus to San Ramon @ about 1:00 p.m. to do a little shopping.  On the way down, Don ended up sitting with Donillo's brother and had a nice chat. The bus is fun as we always seem to meet people we know and make new friends.  It's amazing the number of silly things you need that you don't have--except for in storage.  We went to a hardware store, department store, discount store and, of course, the grocery store.  It is quite a challenge riding the bus with 15 eggs, milk, bread and numerous other essentials!  Coming home it was so foggy we couldn't see far enough ahead to buzz for our stop and pulled the cord too early.  Fortunately, the bus driver knew we were the gringos and where we needed to get off and didn't stop!  The bus actually stops right in front of our house!!  We had fun wandering around and found almost everything we needed and have already started a new list.  We are both looking forward to Saturday market and lots of fruits and vegetables!

These are various times of day and the variety of weather conditions we experience.  The sky is constantly changing and yesterday we even felt a few rain drops.

Today at 3 we have an "appointment" with the bank to try to open and account.  Norm, a friend here in Berlin, is taking us to town and helping us through the process.  We have been advised to bring our HUD from selling our house, 1099 from Social Security and our Passports!  Norm also mentioned that appointments here aren't like in the states and there is no guarantee of getting an account!

On the 6th of November we need to be at an appointment in San Jose @ 6:45 a.m. to be fingerprinted for our Residency Requirements.  We are meeting  Mayanye there, who is the sister of the man handling our Residency paperwork, Javier.  Tuesday morning we will get the 6 a.m. bus to from Berlin to San Ramon and then take a bus to San Jose.  As there is no way for us to get to San Jose at that early hour of the morning we will be spending the night in San Jose.

While we are there, we will be meeting with Joe Tursi, also from NC.  If possible, we will attempt to apply for our drivers licenses.  Joe has sent us a list a mile long of paper work and steps we need to go through to end up with a Costa Rica drivers license.  

The last 2 mornings I, Sharon, have been walking about 4 miles up and down the hills with 2 Maria's. One is the friend we stayed with our last visit and the other is her friend.  Today they are going to church and we won't be walking.

HOLA!  HOLA!  We've just been interrupted by a couple young men with a truck full of vegetables! What fun!  We bought sweet potatoes, potatoes, onions, papaya and a pineapple for $8.00 and it was   just outside our door!  They said they come by every Friday, we love it!!  Now we don't have to carry so much on the bus when we go to the Saturday Market in San Ramon on Saturday!!

One sad note!  Upon arriving in Berlin we learned that our close neighbor, also a North American, Mark, had been killed on a motorcycle just ten days before.  There are many motorcycles here as gas is expensive.  We see many young people here riding motorcycles with no helmets and we worry about their safety.