tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50221264879375001122024-03-12T18:34:19.265-06:00Desvenain Jungle BlogA detailed account of the Desvenain family's attempt to build a small jungle retreat in southern Costa Rica.The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-59631416064376359782009-10-02T15:19:00.002-06:002009-10-02T15:22:19.237-06:00Morphose Logo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SsZuuMcRoUI/AAAAAAAAADI/1P2A7S5zOdU/s1600-h/logo+pic.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 232px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SsZuuMcRoUI/AAAAAAAAADI/1P2A7S5zOdU/s320/logo+pic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388115744088236354" /></a>The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-75276276879838368242009-09-15T21:41:00.001-06:002009-09-15T21:44:03.324-06:00The Devil is in the DetailsOver the past few weeks, we’ve begun to understand why houses here in our corner of Costa Rica all look more or less the same. The truth of the matter is, design options are severely limited by the supplies the hardware stores are able to stock. Basic building materials are easy to find ~ concrete, wood, nails, tubing ~ but special items needed to finish a “non traditional” house are about as easy to find as a Democrat in South Carolina. <br /><br />For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been searching for the hardware to make our sliding doors actually slide and shut. We were finally able to find one company that imports rails and rollers from Italy, so the sliding issue has been resolved, but we’re still struggling to figure out how to keep the doors shut. We found one nice “American style” mechanism with a simple butterfly lock at a specialty store in San Jose, but at more than $1,000 to outfit our 18 doors, we need to go to Plan B! Patrick is considering altering another mechanism he found with super glue, but glue and locks aren’t usually a very good combination. We’re starting to wonder if we really need doors after all…<br /><br />We’ve had similar problems finding the length of glass we need for our restaurant windows and the nails we need to construct our deck. It took more than a week to receive our exterior paint (special order from San Jose), and when we realized we needed a darker color, we were reluctant to change for fear of the delay. <br /><br />Needless to say, we’re in the final stage of construction and are almost done. Unfortunately, we don’t quite know how long “almost” is going to last, but we’re hoping to resolve these devilish details sometime before Hell freezes over.The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-55313357845101214842009-08-21T16:35:00.001-06:002009-08-21T16:38:44.305-06:00Making an EntranceFrom an early age, those of us from societies where consumerism reigns supreme learn the importance of packaging in promoting products in the marketplace. We beg for the cereal with the coolest super hero on the box, and despite parental warnings, we inevitably judge books by their covers.
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<br />Here in the Southern Zone of Costa Rica, where there are few books to choose from, and bags of rice all look more or less the same, people generally just take what they can get without much concern for packaging. The same holds true for restaurants. Of the handful of dining establishments within an hour´s driving distance from our place, you´d be hard-pressed to find one that didn´t have a standard-issue neon beer sign hanging over its door with the restaurant´s name in small block lettering -- a free gift from the beer company in exchange for supplying the local bubbly.
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<br />Despite our desire to blend in with the local community and follow established norms and customs, we have decided to do things a little differently with regard to packaging our jungle retreat. Our customers will get their first impression of Morphose from the road, so we have made a concerted effort to have our entryway reflect the quality experience we intend to deliver. The gate is made with the same teak and sandstone as our restaurant and has a similar Asian design. To create a welcoming feel, we have removed the fencing that once encircled the property and replaced it with a border of miniature Birds of Paradise.
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<br />So far, we seem to have succeeded in generating positive buzz about our new place. Now, when describing the location of our property to new acquaintances, there´s an immediate recognition when I mention our gate. One day, I drove up to the entrance to find a truck full of people having a picnic. At first I thought they might be delivering some construction material, but I quickly realized they had simply chosen our entrance as a pretty place to stop and eat. When I mentioned this encounter to Patrick, he chuckled and told me that he had heard that our entryway has become sort of a Lover´s Lane for local teenagers on weekend nights!
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<br />We can only hope that the clients we attract with our special ¨packaging¨ will be genuinely happy with the surprise they´ll find inside.
<br />The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-45005772473572839572009-07-19T23:36:00.003-06:002009-07-20T08:58:57.214-06:00Home StretchWe just returned from a summer break back to the States, which served a variety of different purposes. In addition to allowing us to reconnect with family and friends and restock our supplies of familiar over the counter remedies (Who can explain why Jiff peanut butter and Pepperidge Farm cookies are readily available here, but Pepto Bismol and Advil are not?), this trip unexpectedly launched the pre~operation phase of our new business. With some time away from the daily diversions on the worksite, the reality began to set in that in just four months, the doors of <strong>Morphose</strong> should be officially open for business.<br /><br />One indication of our evolution in thinking was the contents of our suitcases on our flight back to San Jose. This time, instead of exclusively packing khaki colored clothing and waterproof wear, I returned with a few dresses and skirts, appropriate to my future role as Hostess~With~The~Mostest. One entire suitcase was filled with Ikea feather pillows, comforters and mattress pads (<em>impossible</em> to find here), in anticipation of live bodies actually inhabiting our guesthouse. We also managed to fit in a few sets of curtains, a selection of chopping knives, and special hardware to build our own McMorphose playground. (As a side note to the previous post, another very large suitcase was crammed with light fixtures. Go figure!).<br /><br />Our stateside book purchases are additional evidence of the mental shift that has occurred. Patrick has been pouring over Daniel Boulud’s new cookbook, and I am now the proud owner of “How to Open and Operate a Bed & Breakfast”. While Pat has been pondering how to prepare <em>sugar cane grilled shrimp with peanut sauce</em> without the authentic Asian fish sauce the recipe calls for, I’m taking quizzes on how often our shower curtain gets changed and the microwave gets cleaned (Good thing there’s still time to improve my score!).<br /><br />Since returning to Costa Rica, we’ve taken some important steps toward readying ourselves for opening day. We’ve met with a CPA who has walked us through the intricacies of the Costa Rican tax system (including an explanation of the annual “culture tax”), and we now know how to identify an illegitimate sales receipt. We have also hired a graphic designer friend to start working on a logo and marketing materials, including developing our new website.<br /><br />So, ready or not, the time has come to stop thinking of our place as a construction project and start thinking of it as a restaurant and guesthouse. Our adrenaline levels are cranked up, and with a mixture of both excitement and absolute panic, we’ve started mentally preparing for the arrival of our first curious customers.The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-71576957028540580672009-06-13T08:09:00.001-06:002009-06-13T08:24:47.645-06:00Shelter from the Rain<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SjO1DS59o2I/AAAAAAAAAC4/Ororlt_twIU/s1600-h/After!.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346816250838098786" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 231px" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SjO1DS59o2I/AAAAAAAAAC4/Ororlt_twIU/s320/After!.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SjO1DLkfeVI/AAAAAAAAACw/R_PVBfotyBM/s1600-h/Before....jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346816248868993362" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 212px" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SjO1DLkfeVI/AAAAAAAAACw/R_PVBfotyBM/s320/Before....jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-1846181549838387772009-06-13T07:42:00.002-06:002009-06-13T07:48:43.951-06:00San Jose: Marital Boot CampBefore the marriage of my Catholic friends, I remember hearing about their required “Pre~Cana” counseling sessions, which were meant to prepare them for marriage and to identify areas of difference that may become a source of future conflict. I would like to propose an alternative to pre~marital counseling, which I call Marital Bliss Boot Camp. Loosely modeled on the reality show, “Survivor”, my boot camp would place couples in real~world situations that would put considerable stress on any normal marriage. If the couples pass the challenges they are given and survive the weekend without splitting up, they get the green light to go waltzing down the aisle. If not, they get to save thousands on a pricey wedding and an even pricier divorce settlement. <br /><br />The couple’s First Challenge (testing Role Expectations, Interpersonal Communication, Risk Management, and Accepting the Faults of Your Spouse) would be to drive over the <em>Cerro de la Muerte</em> (The Mountain Of Death) to get to San Jose. The “highway” is a shoulderless, slick, two lane road with dangerous curves and occasional rockslides, that climbs to an altitude of 11,500 feet. The road is a main thoroughfare for slow, smelly trucks transporting goods to and from San Jose. If the couple can agree 1) who should drive, and 2) when to pass the dozens of trucks they will encounter (keep in mind the slippery, curviness of the road…) AND are able to engage in some meaningful conversation during the two hour trek, they pass their first test and get to continue on.<br /><br />The Second Challenge (exploring Interpersonal Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Accepting the Faults of Your Spouse) would be for the couple to find their hotel. They would be given directions and a map, but that wouldn’t matter, because there are no street signs in San Jose. If, after repeatedly asking for directions (“Do you know the way to San Jose?”) and realizing that nobody knows where anything is anyway, they agree to pay a taxi to lead them to their hotel, then they pass Challenge Two.<br /><br />Challenge Three (focusing on Finances, Conflict Resolution, Religion and Philosophy, and Accepting the Faults of your Spouse) entails an all~day shopping excursion to find exterior lamp fixtures for a new Balinese style house. The couple must navigate their way to five different lighting shops (see Challenge Number Two), and then agree on a fixture. The challenge is that they have a limited budget, and the only affordable fixtures are ugly and cheaply made. Throughout the day, the couple will have ample opportunity to explore issues of religion (as in, “Oh my God, that is soooo ugly!,” and “ I swear to God, if you don’t put that lamp down, I’m going to scream!”). If couples can choose a fixture without telling each other to go to Hell, their relationship is still alive.<br /><br />Challenge Four (exploring Interest and Activities, Finances, Sexuality, and Accepting the Faults of your Spouse) requires the couple to decide on an evening activity after their grueling day of shopping. The challenge is that they are NOT allowed to go back to the hotel to crash in front of the TV (they’ve been living in the boondocks for the past three months, and have been severely culturally and culinarily deprived!). If they agree to start by throwing back a couple of martinis at the poshest lounge they can find, followed by an abundant sushi dinner and can relax enough to (at least) give each other a kiss goodnight, then they have survived Marital Bliss Boot Camp, and will live happily ever after… hopefully far, far away from San Jose!The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-91403602257192125552009-05-21T07:51:00.000-06:002009-05-21T07:53:45.004-06:00Off the GridPart of the beauty of our property is that it’s located in an area where there is very little development. Its steep mountain terrain is unsuitable for farming, and there are very few places flat enough to build. On the positive side, we’re surrounded by forest, filled with animals, birds and towering trees. On the negative side, the population density is not high enough for our cash~strapped municipality to justify connecting our area with water, telephone or electricity.<br /><br />Now, you might think us crazy for building a restaurant and guest house totally off the grid. Well, I though so, too, until Patrick and I took a trip to Uganda in late 2007 and stayed at some of the most wonderful, disconnected, out~of~the~way hotels. They were fully~functional solar and generator powered places that had river water or rainwater pumped into their rooms. If they could do it in the middle of the bush (much farther away than we are from big towns with services), then we certainly could, too!<br /><br />For us, telephone service isn’t a major issue because we do have cell phone reception on our property. With wireless internet service, we should be able to manage all the company’s business over the airwaves. Water is a trickier issue, but with an average of 15 feet of water falling annually in our rainforest, we aren’t too terribly concerned. We have installed huge, 3,000 gallon water tanks next to each of our buildings which will collect rainwater from our roofs. We’ve built small pump houses that will be equipped with filtration systems to provide all the water we’ll need. If we do happen to have an exceptionally dry period (like we did this year from January through April), we can easily have an outside company deliver water by truck to fill our tanks. <br /><br />Electricity has been our biggest challenge to date ~ mostly because of the cost involved than anything else. Ideally, we would have liked to install solar panels to supply our energy needs, but the price tag for that was out of our range (especially considering we would have needed a back~up generator during the rainy season). Our second choice would have been to install underground electrical lines, which would have been much more aesthetically pleasing, as well as safer for our wildlife. Unfortunately, that too, was cost prohibitive (not to mention it would have taken eons to dig through our rocky ground!). So, we are currently undertaking the private installation of 20 poles to bring power the 1.5 km from our closest electrified neighbor to our new place. Despite the fact they are above ground, we are taking some comfort in the fact that the lines will be covered with a special insulation to protect our furry friends. <br /><br />Throughout this process of infrastructure development, we’ve gained a new appreciation for public services. Yet again, we’ve realized how lucky we’ve been in our (past) lives to have been able to take hot running water, high speed Internet and lamp light for granted. Still, there’s no substitute for a candlelit dinner to enhance the romance of the rainforest!The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-15394113979664938102009-04-22T23:18:00.004-06:002009-04-22T23:27:16.501-06:00The Name GameSince we arrived last year, we’ve been referring to our project as “<strong>Petit Paradis</strong>,” or in English, “Little Paradise.” As time has gone by, we’ve realized that name doesn’t quite convey what we want to say about our place. While we do believe that we’re sitting on a slice of paradise, we want a name that’s more subtle, creative and evocative (and is easy to say when answering the phone). We are now in the process of finding that perfect name, and we need help!!<br /><br />One theme that we’re exploring is <em>transformation</em>. Both Patrick and I would like for our guests to feel transformed after spending time with us here. Our hope is that the Gringos who stay with us will detach from their hectic lifestyles and be able to relax and reconnect with nature. For the Costa Ricans who visit our restaurant, we hope they will enjoy being exposed to new cuisine and architecture, and also have a chance to spend time in the forest in a part of the country where much of the land has been converted into fields and pastures. An obvious symbol of transformation is the butterfly, and we have some of the most beautiful butterflies flittering all around our property. One possible name we are therefore considering is <strong>Morphose</strong>, which is French for morphosis. Since the beautiful blue Morpho butterfly is one of the species found on our property, there is an appealing double entendre to this name. Along the same line, <strong>Crysálida</strong> (Spanish for chrysalis) has a nice ring to it. Another more obscure possibility is <strong>Ovidio </strong>(or <strong>Ovidio’s</strong>), which is Spanish for Ovid, the Greek author of <em>Metamorphoses</em>.<br /><br />Another theme we find intriguing is the idea of interconnectedness, which our rainforest ecosystem demonstrates so well. Unfortunately, the name <strong>Symbiosis</strong> was already taken by a restaurant down the street from us, but we’re still looking for other possibilities. It would be great if we could find a more elegant expression of <strong>Food Chain</strong>, which would be quite a clever name for a restaurant in the wilderness!<br /><br />We’re also exploring names that reflect the idea that our forest contains different spiritual forces. In Greek mythology, <strong>Meliai</strong> were nymphs who inhabited the trees, and <strong>Kodama</strong> is the name for similar Japanese tree spirits. <strong>Ambrosia</strong> (or <strong>Ambroisie</strong> in French), the name of one of the Hyades nymphs who are said to bring rain, would be an apt name for a rainforest restaurant. Calling our restaurant Ambrosia might be seen as pretentious, however, and we wouldn’t want to create expectations that we might not be able to meet! Finally, the Chinese belief in ch’i, or “the life force that flows through water, earth and all living things”, appeals to Patrick and me. Harmonizing ch’i energy is the purpose of feng shui, and we have (unintentionally) incorporated some elements of feng shui into our Asian~style building designs. The name <strong>Sheng ch’i</strong>, meaning “vibrant strong energy,” is a possibility, although answering the phone, “Bon soir, Sheng ch’i” might sound a bit too bizarre !<br /><br />We would like to solicit as many comments and suggestions on this matter from anyone and EVERYONE reading this blog. We need your help finding a big name for our little piece of paradise. Thanks in advance!<br /><br />P.S. As a sidebar to this post about names, Lucas seems to have acquired a new nickname at school: “Lucas Peluca,” which in Spanish means something like “Lucas the Wig~Head.” The irony is that when choosing Luc’s name, we consciously selected one that (we thought) would work well in English, Spanish and French. Let’s hope we do better this time around!The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-47332036847498415622009-04-10T21:37:00.002-06:002009-05-21T07:56:18.992-06:00School DaysLast month, both Lucas and I went back to school. Luc began nursery school, or “<em>materno</em>”, in the little school at the center of our village (800 meters from our house, according to our postal address). All we needed to show was a copy of Luc’s birth certificate showing that he was at least four and four months old ; his passport; and a record of his immunizations for him to be allowed to attend. I’d be surprised if it’s that easy for immigrant children to enroll in American schools!<br /><br />We had originally intended for him to go to a larger school in a nearby town, which is closer to our future home. That school is well~equipped with computers, a music room, and foreign language instruction, but the one thing it lacked was a teacher for Luc’s class! Apparently, the teacher from last year is on maternity leave, and rather than replacing her, the central administrators in San Jose decided just to let the kids wait ~ for three months or more! We decided that wasn’t going to work for us, so we enrolled him in the small school down the road. He’s very happy to be with all his friends from the neighborhood, and we’re happy his teacher has the patience of a saint! School has greatly improved his Spanish, and he has already learned a whole repertoire of adorable children’s songs.<br /><br />If I were a typical Costa Rican mom, I’d walk a mile back and forth to bring Luc to school every morning at 6:30 (school starts at 7:00), and then back again to be there when school gets out at 10:30. But, since I’m a lazy Gringa with a car (and don’t particularly enjoying tromping down a muddy road at the crack of dawn), my Mitsubishi has become San Gabriel’s new school bus. On our route, we manage to pick up nine crisply uniformed neighborhood kids. It’s a tight squeeze, but I don’t have the heart to pass anyone by.<br /><br />Now that I have a few hours to myself each day, I decided to use some of that time volunteering at the local high school. I presented my teaching qualifications at a meeting of the English Department and suggested several ways that I could help. After promising that I wouldn’t bail out on them halfway through the school year, the teachers agreed to take me up on my offer. Now I’m teaching two mornings a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The high school has the same problem as the elementary school, with teachers not having been hired yet, so I actually have four of my own classes until the “real” teacher shows up. Most of my students are happy to have the chance to practice with a native English speaker, and I love feeling like I’m back in my element. Just a few hours in front of a classroom has made all the difference.<br /><br />In addition to adding structure to our lives, school has helped both Luc and me feel more a part of our little community. It’s hard to be an outsider when you’re attending parent meetings and schlepping half the class home. The other day, we joined in a pick up soccer game for the first time since we moved here. We knew the kids and they knew us, and we laughed and played and acted like our own, true, silly selves. Finally!The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-49032220353766328452009-04-10T21:11:00.000-06:002009-04-10T21:14:17.572-06:00First Day of School<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SeALCIjqrEI/AAAAAAAAACI/hh_rOPBalDs/s1600-h/Schoolboy.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SeALCIjqrEI/AAAAAAAAACI/hh_rOPBalDs/s320/Schoolboy.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-47271950836889288792009-03-29T20:08:00.003-06:002009-04-10T21:36:58.676-06:00Interior DesigningBone or “blanco”? Large tank or small? High seat or low? Who would have thought so many decisions could go into simply choosing a toilet! Pat and I went to San Jose recently looking forward to starting the process of designing the interior of our homes and restaurant, but our excitement waned as we were confronted with walls upon walls of faucet handles, shower heads, light fixtures and tile samples. Talk about sensory overload!<br /><br />It helped that we had the somewhat limited mission of finding “acabados” or “finishings”, for the bathrooms and kitchens. Window treatments, door hardware, and wall paint were thankfully set aside for a future date. Our task was further simplified by the fact that our range of choices here in Costa Rica is much more limited than it would have been in the United States. Using a Costa Rican design magazine (<em>Su Casa</em>) as our guide, we compiled a list of about eight design centers in San Jose that we knew would have the quality products we were looking for. Compared to the eight million design centers in the Greater Washington area, we thought we’d be in pretty good shape. Well, we thought wrong.<br /><br />First of all, the idea of choosing permanent fixtures without being able to “try them on”, is really rather daunting. Pat had a minor freak~out on our first shopping day, and was rendered completely incapable of making any decisions. He kept asking over and over, “But how do we <em>know</em> that this will look right ?”. The best answer I could come up with was, “We don’t, but we have to choose <em>something</em>. We’re just going to have to trust our guts and get something we like… and we can’t go too terribly wrong with beige.” The urgency of the situation helped push Pat into high gear, and by the second day, we were able to make considerable progress.<br /><br />Our second major obstacle is our bank account. As our architect has commented on more than one occasion, we’re trying to build a million dollar home on a million Costa Rican colones budget (exchange rate 560 to 1!). So, although we continually gravitate toward the onyx sink basins and custom Italian tiling, the sticker shock brings us back to reality. We try to make ourselves feel better by thinking how difficult those fancy surfaces are to maintain, and how impractical they would be in a public restaurant (but it doesn't really help).<br /><br />By the end of our trip (among other things) we had chosen:<br />Seven bathroom sinks<br />Six fountain lights<br />Five possible floor tiles<br />Four low~flush toilets<br />Three types of faucets<br />Two office chairs<br />And a painted lamp with a toucan in a tree!The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-81863715289318053022009-03-07T07:39:00.002-06:002009-03-07T07:45:43.409-06:00Asian AccentsOver the past three weeks, we’ve been fortunate to have had visitors from both sides of our family come to see our project take shape. While entertaining has impeded my blogging process a bit (OK, a lot!), thankfully our construction team has continued to be productive. <br /><br />If I’ve been successful in posting the two pictures below, you can see that our walls are now completely up. We can walk from room to room debating what piece of furniture will go where, and comparing the views from each of the four bedrooms. We served the first bottle of wine in our “open air” restaurant to my parents while they were here, and we had fun imagining our future life as we watched the sun set into the ocean. <br /><br />We are now looking forward to the <em>Roof Raising</em> phase of construction, which will begin next week. As I’ve described earlier, we’ve designed our buildings in a Balinese style, which is characterized by high (5 meter), steep (70 degree) roofs with exposed rattan and rafters, held up with tree trunk~sized pillars. In preparation, we've put an improvised saw mill into operation to slice our teak trees into carefully measured posts and beams. We are now the proud owners of an industrial strength sander, which will (supposedly) pay for itself within a couple of weeks. If all else fails with the restaurant and guesthouse, the carpentry business might offer a good a fall~back option!<br /><br />In order to get an authentic Balinese look (and because some materials are simply not available here), we have been working with two Asian importers to provide the supplies we need. We’ve ordered all the rattan for the roof, sandstone for our gate and water feature, custom wall sculptures, and carved doors directly from Bali. We’re crossing our fingers that the rattan shipment will arrive on schedule, since any delay could bring construction to a halt. We’re cutting things a little close here, but we think the rattan will give our buildings that special something that will make people want to come take a look. As they say in Costa Rica, “Ojala que si”!The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-46655817991393963352009-03-06T14:11:00.001-06:002009-03-06T14:15:12.218-06:00We Have Walls! (Restaurant above and house below)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SbGEBzRfHaI/AAAAAAAAACA/w2BQ_rP7HCA/s1600-h/DSC_2440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SbGEBzRfHaI/AAAAAAAAACA/w2BQ_rP7HCA/s320/DSC_2440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310170602124811682" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SbGEBb36kBI/AAAAAAAAAB4/8v-N2F_4zKA/s1600-h/DSC_2433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SbGEBb36kBI/AAAAAAAAAB4/8v-N2F_4zKA/s320/DSC_2433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310170595843543058" border="0" /></a>The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-21099234785875482552009-02-10T00:15:00.001-06:002009-02-10T00:18:25.462-06:00A Harsh BlowThe weather in Costa Rican can be summed up in one word: Extreme. From September through the beginning of December, hardly a day passed without at least one good downpour. Since the beginning of January, however, we’ve barely felt a drop, and the ground has become dusty, dry and cracked. We are now in the middle of Costa Rican summer, and there’s no question now that we’re just ten degrees above the equator. <br /><br />Apparently, it’s not unusual for the winds to pick up here in summertime, as evidenced by the kite salesmen who have recently emerged selling their wares next to wide open soccer fields. Last week, though, the winds were completely out of the ordinary, reaching speeds of 60 miles per hour due to the arrival of a Caribbean cold front. The winds were strongest for us last Wednesday night, when we were awakened by loud banging noises. We assumed that parts of our tin roof were just flapping about enthusiastically. As it turns out, the racket was coming from the car port which was about to become completely unhinged. We’re still not quite sure how exactly it happened, but one large gust picked up the entire structure and carried it clear over our roof to the other side of the house. It landed right outside the bedroom window where Lucas and I were clinging to each other with our eyes squeezed shut (which was a shame, because it would have been really cool to see the garage in flight!). Of course, Patrick, being a man, was compelled to go out and survey the damage immediately, which made me wish the <em>Worst Case Scenario</em> guys had included something about dodging flying sheet metal in a wind storm. Thankfully, the cars were untouched, but the satellite dish has seen better days!<br /> <br />As if losing the garage weren’t bad enough, we were in for a terrible shock when we arrived at our property the following day. It was as if a hurricane had ripped through the place, uprooting trees by the dozens, splitting huge branches and defoliating the entire forest. It was almost as though a micro~system had developed in that particular location, which intensified the destruction ten~fold. After all the care we have taken over the past six months to beautify the property and to protect the trees and plants, it was like a punch in the gut. More than a few tears were shed that day. <br /><br />The good news is that nothing on our construction site was damaged, and the main road is still accessible. Luckily, growth happens quickly in a rainforest, and with the rains that are sure to come eventually, the leaves will be back in no time. On the bright side (and we haven’t given up looking for it!), our views to the ocean (which we were reluctant to clear on our own) have improved quite considerably. Mother Nature works in mysterious ways.The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-68950601956656055682009-02-10T00:00:00.000-06:002009-02-10T00:03:21.996-06:00Wind Damage<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SZEYqRlkg2I/AAAAAAAAABo/IluOIz1Yuk4/s1600-h/wind+damage2.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SZEYqRlkg2I/AAAAAAAAABo/IluOIz1Yuk4/s320/wind+damage2.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-70264367854632082712009-01-28T00:12:00.002-06:002009-01-28T00:16:37.769-06:00Taking ShapeAfter four weeks of construction, the transformation of our property has been nothing less than amazing. We now have three foundations laid, and tubing for water and electricity has been put into place. We can walk through each building, room by room, and imagine what it will be like to actually live there. Little by little, this is all turning into reality.<br /><br />Getting to this point in the process so quickly has not been easy. For one thing, our property is located in an area called <em>Fila de Cal</em>, or <em>Line of Calcium</em>, referring to our mountainside. In other words, we’re building on top of huge quantities of solid rock. Apparently, sledge hammers are in short supply (or cost to much to use), so our foundations were dug mostly with pick axes and muscle power. The work was so cumbersome, I could barely watch... Because the terrain posed such a challenge, Patrick suggested to our contractor that he hire more guys to get the job done. Pat rounded up an extra ten men in our small town, and set them all to work. Unemployment in our region is a problem, so for days after that, we received a steady stream of visitors who heard that we were hiring. We now have thirty guys on site, which makes the place hum with activity from every direction. <br /><br />Although we’ve hired a General Contractor for the construction, Patrick goes to the site every day to answer questions and make sure the materials (which we are supplying) are on hand when they’re needed. I’m not convinced he needs to be there every day, but he can’t seem to tear himself away. He has caught some small mistakes, so it’s probably best that he’s there keeping a watchful eye. <br /><br />Lucas is also thrilled to be part of the excitement. He loves being able to “help”, and thankfully, the guys are tolerant of his efforts. One thing about Costa Rica is that everyone has a big family with lots of kids, so people are very patient with youngsters. Sometimes, Lucas gets a little too excited ~ Last week, I turned around to find him rubbing cement mix all over his head and body! <br /><br />So far, the weather has been cooperating, and we’ve only had one big rain shower. The ground is staying dry, which means it’s not as heavy, and the cement has been setting quickly. The sun is hot on the workers’ shoulders, but they seem more accustomed to it than we are. Pat knew what he was doing when he started construction in January. <br /><br />We’re continuing to cross our fingers and knock on wood, but so far things have been coming off without a hitch. Stay tuned: Next week, walls!The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-24055504251792132292009-01-23T17:01:00.000-06:002009-01-23T17:04:30.569-06:00Laying the Restaurant Foundation<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SXpM_Oa7U9I/AAAAAAAAABg/llnexfcb2II/s1600-h/DSC_1968.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SXpM_Oa7U9I/AAAAAAAAABg/llnexfcb2II/s320/DSC_1968.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-7111548469058791932009-01-23T16:56:00.000-06:002009-01-23T16:58:23.313-06:00Patrick Dispensing Construction Advice<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SXpLjs7moZI/AAAAAAAAABY/6A6LhCWZ87U/s1600-h/DSC_1976.JPG"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SXpLjs7moZI/AAAAAAAAABY/6A6LhCWZ87U/s320/DSC_1976.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-2191934605567756112009-01-09T22:49:00.002-06:002009-01-09T22:52:15.449-06:00Breaking GroundAfter six months of prepping and planning, we finally broke ground this week on the three buildings that will make up our jungle mountain retreat. We’ve been dreaming about this for so many years now, that it’s hard to believe that it’s actually happening! Seeing the buildings take shape on the ground is both exciting and, to be honest, a little daunting. There’s no turning back now, and if all goes as planned, we’ll be in business by this time next year (Yikes!).<br /><br />Getting everything ready for construction to start was a huge undertaking that almost put Patrick in the loony bin. Among his biggest tasks was finishing the entry road through our property leading to our restaurant and bungalow. This involved finding affordable gravel and having truckloads of it transported (by a rented Mack truck) and distributed (by a rented backhoe). An extended rainy season delayed the work since heavy machinery doesn’t operate well in mud! Thankfully, the road was finished just under the wire.<br /><br />Once the road was complete, we were able to transport materials in to build temporary living quarters for our construction workers. Unlike in the United States where builders return home every night, here, they often spend the entire week sleeping on site. On our future parking lot, we now have a large shack~like structure, complete with bunk beds and a kitchen. We’re thrilled that the work crew includes women who prepare lunch and coffee breaks each day! <br /><br />The drivable road also makes possible delivery of the wood we need for our walls and roof. Finding the 150 teak trees we need occupied the majority of Patrick’s time for more than a month. He visited dozens of plantations (by foot, car, and on horseback!) before he found the quality and quantity we require. Throughout the process, I was continuously amazed by Pat’s negotiating skills (in Spanish no less) that allowed us to avoid paying inflated “Gringo prices”.<br /><br />As if all this wasn’t enough, Pat also secured all our building permits and had our water source approved by the health authorities. Finding and connecting water was another major undertaking since we don't have access to the public water supply. Luckily, a generous neighbor with underground springs has agreed to give us rights to his water. This, combined with collected rainwater, should fill our tanks and sustain us through the dry season.<br /><br />So, in a country where people say everything takes longer than anticipated, Patrick has managed to keep things on schedule in order to adhere to our desired start date. Having done that, our roofs should be raised before the light rains begin in April, and the structures should be finished completely before the September/October deluges. It’s in our contractor’s hands now, and I just hope his are as capable as my husband’s have been :)The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-50998968192748997862009-01-06T16:41:00.000-06:002009-01-06T16:43:54.587-06:00<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SWPeqOL8oOI/AAAAAAAAABI/dkDwPmqg_SU/s1600-h/Construction+Site.JPG"><img style="CLEAR: both; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_4qiUQPe4R0U/SWPeqOL8oOI/AAAAAAAAABI/dkDwPmqg_SU/s320/Construction+Site.JPG" border="0" /></a><div style='clear:both; text-align:LEFT'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-61002209356534360312008-12-23T16:07:00.003-06:002009-01-06T15:47:21.511-06:00Home for the HolidaysIf anyone out there actually happens to be following this blog, you will have noticed that I recently took a short hiatus. From the day before Thanksgiving to the eighth of December, I (Kate) traveled back to the United States to begin the process of gaining Costa Rican residency for our family. Combining official business with family time and apple pie took some finesse, but overall, it proved to be quite an efficient use of a precious plane ticket.<br /><br />Almost immediately upon entering the U.S., I was struck by the differences between the life we’ve been living for the past six months, and the life we left behind. For me, the biggest shock was to be back where I could communicate effortlessly with anyone from my fellow airline passengers, to the waitress at Starbucks, to the conductor on the train. I realized how much more connected I feel to the world when I can share a quick joke with a stranger, and how my limited Spanish language abilities have been stifling my personality and hindering my happiness. New Year’s Resolution #1: start taking formal language lessons and become fluent by the end of next year.<br /><br />Secondly, after living in a developing country for an extended period of time, I seem to have become hyper conscious of U.S. consumerism. I found the sheer number of stores to be overwhelming, and the amount of money flying out of people’s pockets inconceivable. Granted, I did more than my share of shopping and eating out at fancy restaurants, but I felt a heightened awareness every time the cash register went cha~ching.<br /><br />Another indication that Costa Rica is slowly permeating into my system included my inability to acclimatize to the cold weather. Did I really spend four college winters in upstate New York without turning into an ice cube? Celebrating Christmas on the beach instead of in front of a crackling fireplace is going to take some getting used to, but we’re looking forward to creating some new tropical traditions.<br /><br />By the time I arrived at the Costa Rican Embassy in Washington, DC to submit our paperwork to become permanent residents, I realized Costa Rica had become a greater part of me than I had been willing to admit. I felt I was asking to be accepted by a country that I truly wanted to be associated with, rather than simply going though the legal motions. Although we still have a long way to go, Costa Rica <em><strong>is</strong></em> slowly becoming our home, and I have to admit that I’m glad to be back. It turns out it’s where my heart is after all.The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-17550128326985552082008-11-18T20:23:00.001-06:002008-11-18T20:30:29.093-06:00The Proof is in the PoopWhen I was in the Second Grade, our teacher asked us to write down what we wanted to do when we grew up. I wrote (and I still have the paper to prove it) that someday I wanted to go to the jungle to study monkeys. More than thirty years later, there I was in the jungle last weekend helping two American researchers gather information on the endangered squirrel monkeys that frequent our property. Coincidence? I think not!<br /><br />To be completely honest, the Jane Goodall experience I imagined as a child didn’t quite measure up to reality. For starters, the monkeys didn’t cooperate and pulled a complete no~show. The researchers were good~natured and understanding, but I felt like an embarrassed mother being stood up by her truant teenagers. Thankfully, on our search for the little rascals, we came across a fruiting tree where they had recently eaten. Under the tree, we found precisely what the researchers were looking for ~ Monkey Poop!<br /><br />It turns out that the poop contains ethelial cells from the intestinal lining from which DNA can be extracted. With it, the researchers will be able to tell whether deforestation that occurred in Costa Rica in the 1930’s and 40’s led to increased inbreeding among squirrel monkeys. If such negative consequences of deforestation can be proven, the stronger the case against continued destruction of the squirrel monkey habitat. It may sound hard to believe that so much can be determined by a tiny stool sample, but I shit you not.<br /><br />In the hours I spent with the researchers staring up at empty trees, I learned some interesting information about our fuzzy cousins. For example, how do you tell a female squirrel monkey from a male? The female is the one with long Elvis sideburns (naturally!). Of all primates, which one has the fastest metabolism for its body size? That would be our little friend the squirrel monkey, of course. With the holidays upon us, feel free to keep these gems up your sleeve to spice up any flagging cocktail conversation.<br /><br />In all seriousness, Patrick and I feel pretty fortunate to have squirrel monkeys as visitors to our property and will continue to do whatever we can to ensure their continued survival. For myself, I feel fortunate to have been able to fulfill one of my life~long dreams. It just goes to show parents and teachers that even the most outlandish of their children’s aspirations should never be poo~pooed :)The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-49060543340478351812008-11-08T06:43:00.001-06:002008-11-08T06:46:45.994-06:00Transported TraditionsOver the course of the past week, we’ve faced the challenge of celebrating two very American traditions ~ Halloween and Election Day ~ as expats in a foreign land. I am happy to report that on both occasions, what we lacked in authenticity, we more than made up for in enthusiasm.<br /><br />Halloween was a particularly <strong>tricky</strong>, given the fact that in Costa Ricans perceive it as a day for devil~worshipers. Churches of all denominations preach its evil, and warn their congregations against participating in festivities. Despite attempts to convince my friends that I’ve never seen a baby sacrificed or witnessed any other satanic rituals on Halloween, they would still have no part of it. Thankfully, one of our Gringa friends had more luck with her neighbors. She was able to persuade ten of them to pass out candy to our kids (provided, of course, that she supply the candy!). <br /><br />Once we had Trick~or~Treat lined up, we had to come up with costumes. What I’ve always loved about Halloween is its creative element, and this year offered a great opportunity for my inner Martha Stewart. With no <em>Target</em> costume aisles for thousands of miles around, I bought some felt, threaded a needle, and started sewing. Thankfully, Luc wanted to be Baby Jaguar from the Diego cartoon, and not something complicated like Chewy the Wookie. In the end, it might not have looked as good as a store~bought costume, but I’m sure I had as much fun making it as he had wearing it.<br /><br />Election Day for me has always been a day to celebrate, and this year was certainly no exception. The main difference this time was that my election day happened on October 28th, the day my absentee ballot arrived. Given the precariousness of mail delivery here, I nearly hurdled myself over the post office counter when I saw that it had arrived on schedule. It was such a great feeling to vote in this historic election and be counted as an American even though I’m so far from home. Absentee voting is a privilege that Costa Ricans do not have, and it’s one that I will no longer take for granted. The only thing I missed (apart from the long lines) was receiving my “I Voted” sticker to wear proudly throughout the day.<br /><br />With CNN tuned in non~stop in our house once the polls had closed, November 4th played out for us quite a lot like it might have in the States (thankfully we live in the Central Time Zone). Although we missed celebrating with crowds in the streets upon Obama’s victory, we joined thousands of Americans living abroad in raising our heads up high and feeling genuinely proud again of who we are and where we come from.The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-18824867788481933132008-10-26T20:36:00.002-06:002008-10-26T20:40:24.503-06:00Financial MattersConsidering the current state of the world economy, I thought it might be appropriate to dedicate this week’s blog entry to financial matters, particularly an examination of our monthly outlays. Following is a list of our expenses:<br /><br />Rent $ 150 (Yes, we know we’re pretty lucky in this regard)<br />Electricity $ 32<br />Telephone $ 73<br />Internet $ 42<br />Satellite TV $ 24<br />Water $ 10<br />Gasoline $ 450 (at about $5.20 per gallon!)<br />Groceries $ 400<br /><br />Because we live in the tropics, we don’t pay anything to heat our house, and the gas we use for our stove is a minimal expense. We don’t currently have any insurance costs, mostly because we haven’t figured out yet how exactly we should handle this. For now, we have a private doctor who charges $40.00 per visit, but emergency medical insurance will probably need to be factored in eventually. We don’t have Lucas in daycare anymore (a $2,000 a month savings!), but when we do have a babysitter, it costs about $2.00 per hour. <br /><br />So, overall, our expenditures here are considerably less than they were in the U.S. (with the exception of gasoline). This is a good thing, especially considering we’re currently <em>UNEMPLOYED</em>. Having been in the travel and restaurant industries in the States (can you say non~recession proof industries?), we’re pretty sure we would have eventually been UNEMPLOYED there, too. This makes spending down our savings a bit more palatable. At least we’re spending it slower here than we would be there. Wait, we didn’t <em>have</em> any savings there…The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5022126487937500112.post-8891994316293914452008-10-16T16:18:00.003-06:002008-10-28T19:21:50.133-06:00A Week's WorkDespite the ceaseless rain (where the heck does it all COME from?!), we’re still managing to drag ourselves out from under the covers and continue our work on Petit Paradis. We’ve slowed down a little bit since it’s too soggy to do much on the property, but there’s still enough to do to keep us occupied. I should preface things by saying that Patrick continues to be the driving force behind the project and is doing most of the hard work. I’m keeping Lucas out of his way as best as I can, and I’m also serving as official sounding board (one that probably talks back <em>way</em> too much!).<br /><br />Our first order of business continues to be the search for just the right contracting company to construct our buildings. We’ve spoken with nine different companies ~ both from our area and from San Jose ~ who we believe could do the job. We’ve walked most of them through our property with our preliminary site plans, and we’ll be sending the detailed construction plans for them to bid on next week. If the stars are in alignment, at least one of them will come back with a bid that’s within our budget.<br /><br />Because our budget is probably much tighter than it should be, we’re trying to find as many cost~saving measures as we can. One of those things is finding and purchasing the construction materials ourselves (rather than paying the contractor’s markup!). Patrick has been meeting with the owners of all the hardware stores in the area to see what kind of deals they’re prepared to offer to get our business. In addition, we’ve been sussing out a variety of different wood suppliers. Because the Costa Rican government is (rightfully) protecting more and more of its beautiful hardwoods, it has become difficult to find large quantities of permitted wood. We’ve got a couple of good leads on reasonably~priced teak which would be a nice wood with which to build.<br /><br />Another project we’ve been working on is our landscaping. Last week, the owner of the largest nursery in the region walked with us through our property to help us decide what we should plant and where. Armed with our books on tropical ornamentals, we’ve developed a preliminary list of bromeliads, heliconias, orchids, lilies, fruit trees and flowering bushes to order. I’ve appointed myself head~gardner, but it’ll be another month yet before I can do anything besides make mud pies.<br /><br />Finally, and maybe most importantly, Patrick has started talking with the electric company to see if we can convince them to bring power to our property, which is currently off the grid. In response to our initial request, they’ve agreed to do a study, which we’ve decided to interpret as a positive response. Our preference would be to go solar (which we’re also exploring), but we’re afraid it will be out of our price range. With luck (and with a certain environmentally~friendly president in the White House), by the time Lucas inherits this place, maybe the price of solar technology will have come down enough to make it affordable. Go Barak!The Desvenain Familyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17398980543798640047noreply@blogger.com0