The Power of Paper: el parte dos

Jan 28, 2010 | Bureaucracy, Driving

Like the last time I ventured alone into the disturbing netherworld of Costa Rican bureaucracies, by the end of this adventure (trying to get Morgan his driver's permit) I got back home wanting to cry, then choke something, with just a smidge of incredulity thrown...

DESPERATE Sellers

Jan 22, 2010 | Real Estate

Seriously desperate. Not I'm-a-real-estate-broker-looking-for-a-sale desperate (like in regular real estate sales' pitches), but two honest-to-God I'm-a-seller-and-gotta-sell-this-house desperate. So seriously desperate, the sellers said I could say...

I Can’t Tell You Where I Was Last Weekend

Jan 18, 2010 | Mountain Getaway

Because then I’d have to kill you. You know Scott Oliver, right? He’s been writing these last few months about how he found the primo spot for a getaway home (which he built) waaaaay out in the Costa Rica countryside in a secret location that is a perfect...

The Real Scoop on the Coop

Jan 16, 2010 | Chickens

Ok, I was exaggerating a bit on the $500 egg. It will actually be quite reasonable, well under $200 for that first delicious huevo! And that's including chicks, feed and coop materials. It does not include the 20-hours of labor (max) to build the coop, but it was...

A Thing of Beauty

Jan 12, 2010 | Chickens

… is a joy forever. Last night, I had to carry the chickens into the new coop and they were not happy about being there. This morning, they wouldn't come out! They were busy pecking at everything, finding ants in the straw…And, of course, the minute I...

Expats Working in Costa Rica

Jan 8, 2010 | CR: Working

A reader writes: Good Morning! I came across your blog while looking up some info on the Costa Rica expat. Following a recent trip to the country, (coupled with a not-so-recent desire to check out and start over someplace new,) I find myself obsessed with researching...