March 2014 updates

On Saturday March 15, 2014 Serenity Gardens Eco Village had their first community party. Serenity currently only has 6 residents but as a “Thank You” to Serenity's crew who make this a beautiful place we invited the workers and their families for an afternoon barbecue. We had around 50 people, good food and lots of smiles. Even with a language barrier we all had a wonderful time.

Serenity Gardens' first community party.  Look carefully in the background, many heads back there!

Of course the weather was good, it is the dry season after all!

Man! Can those guys cook chicken!!! They built a wood fire, put a very large kettle over the fire, added oil to the pot and when good and hot in went the chicken and spices. Wow! Us Norte Americanos were shocked! Now that is chicken!

Our Tico Chicken Cooks, they will be invited back!

Aldemar, Juan and Steve built a walkway across some rocks to easily get to the falls. There is a nice swimming hole at the bottom of the falls. I must admit it is a bit chilly. We like the hot springs more! I heard there are some hot springs somewhere around the southern zone but haven't been there yet. Northern CR has many hot springs, but then they also have many volcanoes!

 These falls are right next to our rental house.  Walkway built this week to make access easier.

Diane standing in the river, yes really in the river...

getting ready to dive!

Aldemar and his crew spent the week beautifying things around here in honor of our guests. They polished up the river trail to the jungle gazebo, adding gravel to the walking trail.

Our house is coming along. Basement is almost finished except for the sand plaster inside and stucco on the outside. First floor concrete is poured and steel beaming has started to be erected. I was shocked when I saw how tall the architect made the walls and ceilings; seems too tall to me but then warm air rises...

Our builders, some of them live nearby and are excited to have work.  Others come from San Isidro and live on site Monday thru Friday.  No cement trucks here, all cement mixed on site. 

 Back breaking work!

View of basement and new steel going up on top of first floor.

Update since I wrote about the party:

We have been getting return visits and receiving food gifts from the Ticos that attended the party. This is really neat! We have gotten plantain, a pineapple, lunch from Aldemar's mom, and a dessert when we stopped by to thank a family for the pineapple. Now that was interesting! We don't speak much Spanish and they don't speak English at all. Here we are sitting at their table trying to converse with the little Spanish we know. I loved it! I had wanted an adventure and we are getting it.

 

Aldemar has really added color and fullness to our lives by introducing us to many of his family. With family up and down this mountain road, we have been meeting so many of our neighbors through Aldemar. I don't think I have ever met such a happy family. They are always smiling! His mom and dad always talk away in Spanish when we pick up our milk twice a week; doesn't matter to them that we are often totally confused, smiling but shrugging our shoulders. They are just happy to see us and want to tell us stuff. And to be honest, we are happy to see them too!

Last night we were invited to a birthday party at one of Aldemar's brother's house. So interesting! We had a most delicious fish dinner, a special toast to the two who had birthdays with an unusual drink (can't even begin to remember what we were told it is called) and chocolate birthday cake. The cake was similar to what we would have in the US but the rest of the food and drink was typical Tico style.

We are enjoying being included in Tico events and making new friends.  Aldemar told us that for years this area has been depressed without jobs and now that Serenity is getting built "they are excited and happy that the Americans and Canadians are coming."  And once the village is built there will still be jobs with all the residents here wanting all types of work to be done.  I have been asked numerous times if I need a housekeeper.  Maybe when I am in my "grande" house.

Today Aldemar took us to his boyhood swimming spot. Nice waterfalls, rocks, and a huge swimming hole at the bottom of the main falls. Even John went swimming. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to take family and friends there! I will get pictures another time, we didn't take the camera.

Welcome Gina and Norm!!

Some friends we met through our farm came to visit this past week and pick out their own lot in Serenity Gardens. Mostly they stayed at OSA (the sister community) but did spend a night here so we could take them to San Isidro's Farmers Market and show them around. They love Serenity and didn't want to leave. So very excited! Gina and Norm are younger than us so they aren't ready to retire but this gives them a good goal to aim and plan for; they are hoping to build in 3 years. Since they know (much sooner than we did) that moving to Costa Rica is in their future they can plan and wisely move ahead.