I knew that when I returned from the States I would be moving. What you say! But you love your house and your garden and Orosi. Yes that is all true but you forget the number one thing about me. I have a gypsy heart and when the heart says move, I move.
While I was in the States my trusty helpers Jose, Emilio, Ziomara and Katherine kept their eyes open. When I returned we got serious and I found a place in Cartago, near Ziomara, that I thought would work for me but it didn't work out. We found it very difficult to find a place that was furnished, in a safe area, close to the bus and in my price range. I also didn't want a mountain to climb.
Friday Jose came to take me again to Cartago because I was still thinking of that area. I told him as long as it was a safe area I would take away the requirement of bus nearby. There are tons of taxi and quite reasonable. He said he wanted to show me something before we went to Cartago to see if I had any interest. We headed in the opposite direction, but not too far. We went past the electrical plant and left at the church. Past the terminal which is the end of the line for the buses. The road turned to gravel. The houses were farther apart. He pulled up to a gate, which was locked and showed me a house that sits in the middle of a big yard. There is a creek, tons of big rocks and you can hear the river. The area and river are called Rio Macho. Jose went down the fence a little ways and opened a little gate and said " Come, it is an adventure." We climbed over the rocks and creek - well, he did and I slipped and got my pants muddy. The property is owned by people who live in town - get this, across the street from me and I hadn't met them or given them cookies. He works for the electric company. We looked around, checked out the coffee plantation next door which his father owns and headed back to town to change pants and see if we could get a key.
I changed and went out to meet Jose and he called me over. I met the owner, I will figure out his name soon, and we took their son, Brandon, and their nephew, Joseph, back with us. They are young men in their 20's who are going to University for English. The parents speak very little English.
So, the house. They have been working on it slowly and weren't ready to rent it. Jose knew about it because when they put the new roof on he bought the old material. Now they are going to speed up the work. The bottom of the walls are stone then logs. In some places you could see out between the logs but they are putting strips of wood over all those areas. There aren't ceilings really, just the roof. It reminds me of my friend Kaye's lake home but maybe 20-30 years ago. The kitchen is pretty much a sink but since the kitchen is so important to me, we are working on that. They are lovely people and willing to do anything I need. It will take a bit of time but I will do my best to be patient. I believe the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. I love the deck in the back and will spend a lot of time there. There are all kinds of fruit trees and I can plant anywhere I want. There is an area to the right of the house where I am going to start. One day soon Jose and his workers will come and get my bags of dirt and all the plants I am taking with me and get things started. The property is very large and there aren't any neighbors really close. None at all on one side or behind. The mountain is across the street. And did I mention I can hear the river. I love the sound. Birds and birds and birds and butterflies and we will see what else.
The river at the back
From the road
Just really needs window boxes
The deck. They are working so their supplies and equipment
Next door is a coffee plantation and I have already been told I will be taught coffee picking late this year and how to take it to the cup to drink.
The biggest surprise - I have found the best sidewalk in all of Costa Rica right outside my door. The electric company, ICE, put it in so that people could walk safe and it goes for miles. It is about 300 meters - about 3 long blocks - to the bus and there is a little store along the way. It will be farther for anything else so I will have to be organized when I go to town. We will do the crochet ladies at Jeanette's and I will continue with the craft ladies.
Now, the pièce de résistance. Saturday when we went back to visit with the owners and give them an idea what I wanted or needed, they took me for a walk. Out the back, over rocks, through coffee plants and there, at the edge of the property, is my very own spot on the river. This time I wore tennis shoes so I didn't slip and had a hand to help me all the time. It is a short walk and a beautiful spot. They say the water is very cold but people do go in. Or, I can sit and read. The spot on the river where people go swimming and there are wonderful big rocks is only 700 meters up my wonderful sidewalk.
How could I resist! I have paid rent for 3 months and will be moving little by little with a lot of help over the next 2 weeks. And in case you are wondering what this paradise is costing me, it is $400.00 a month including all my utilities. It is furnished and they are going to add a stove with an oven and a clothes washer. There is already a refrigerator. By the way, when a house here says furnished that may just mean it has cupboards in the kitchen. Unfurnished has nothing but a sink. This has overstuffed furniture in the living room - really comfortable, a bed in each bedroom (2) whatever I want for tables. No cupboards in the kitchen area but my shelving units will work for now. There is a wardrobe in one of the bedrooms. The deck is covered and I will have furniture and my hammock. We can already see thanksgiving dinner there.
