How to earn a living from Costa Rica

How to Earn a Living Online from a Foreign Country
At one time employment opportunities in a foreign country were extremely limited, especially if you weren’t fluent in the language of that particular country. Today however, the Internet has completely opened up the earning potential of expatriates around the world. It is now possible for people to earn a living online, all you need is a computer, access to the Internet and the courage to put yourself out there.
If you have limited Internet, or a dial-up connection, your potential to earn money online will be more limited than if you have a fast, reliable connection. If you hope to work for clients in some online capacity, your clients will expect you to be able to receive/respond to email at least on a daily basis. Some clients may even expect you to have some form of IM or telephone contact such as msn or Skype so you will also require a computer that can handle this kind of technology.
The last thing you need before you get started is somewhere you can receive funds. The options for this will depend on the country in which you are living, but if possible you should open a PayPal account so that the clients can pay your fees into this and you can then transfer the money into your regular bank account.
Once you have the computer, reliable Internet, and a PayPal account, you then need to decide what kind of work you want to do. Do you want to work for others, or would you prefer to set up your own business? First of all consider the skills and knowledge base you possess. Is it possible to find work in the same field that you had in your home country? If not, can you use the knowledge you have from that job to create a niche for yourself?
One of the biggest opportunities for people to earn a living online is in the web technology field. Many people are looking to set up websites or blogs and will employ someone with experience in this field. If you know your CSS from your HTML, then this can be a very lucrative form of employment with freelance websites such as elance.com full of projects that need your experience. If you have this kind of skill and experience but prefer to work for yourself, set up a business offering web design and support. This can be done for relatively little cost creating a good quality website that will act as your online showroom and portfolio. Make sure you also have a blog that you update regularly with entries that are keyworded with the search terms people will use when they are looking for someone to design or redesign their online presence. Once your website is ready, surf around the Internet and find some business websites that are current but look outdated. Send out an email query to the business owner asking if they would be interested in your redesigning their site to make it more appealing to visitors. As with old style cold calling using the telephone, the response rate won’t be high, but the ones that you do get will probably lead to other online earning potential, especially if you have copywriting experience.
Writing is another great way you can earn a living online. Whether you are someone who has a specific area of expertise such as grant or resume writing, or you just have a way with the written word that others find appealing you can turn this into a regular income. Set yourself up as a freelance writer, and find websites that offer this kind of work. The kind of money you can expect to make will vary depending on what is required. Some clients who offer work to freelance writers online are looking for high quantity/low quality work for as small a budget as possible. There are others however who understand that their online reputation rests in the hands of a good copywriter and are willing to pay for this. A freelance writer who earns their living online can expect to have both kinds of clients – the trick is to balance the two so that you create enough money to make at least your monthly minimum.
If you have a specific area of knowledge expertise, such as in a school based subject, or even a professional area such as relationships or medicine, you can earn a living online as a coach or tutor. You could offer one-on-one counseling or tuition, create programs of study on specific topics and charge a separate amount for each course – or a site wide monthly subscription fee. As with the web design business, create a website that will showcase your skills and regularly maintain this by adding new content at least weekly, then identify established websites that have a newsletter targeting your demographic – for instance, in the case of school based subjects, parents or mothers. Find out what you can do with that site in order to get your services mentioned in their newsletter – this may require you to invest a small amount of money to place a small advertisement in the newsletter, or the site may accept articles on themes they are interested in and which will allow you to have a small bio and website link at their site.
Transcription is another online employment opportunity offering a regular income especially if you have a medical or legal background. You will need to purchase a foot pedal and download software to cope with the transcription files, but this is the only financial investment you will need for this kind of work. If you have a clear speaking voice and a good microphone, you could also consider looking for voice-over work. Freelance sites such vworker.com often have this kind of project available.
There are other kinds of work you can do on the Internet, such as filling in surveys but these are unlikely to make you enough to earn a living. There are other so called opportunities to work from home that will land in your email box and which will usually require you to purchase information which is often an outdated list of contact addresses you could find for free by trawling through the local Yellow Pages. If you are living in a foreign country, and want to make a living online, with a little time and thought, you can make it happen without falling for the email scams.

http:www.PacificLots.com

How to Earn a Living Online from Anywhere - Costa Rica

for more information on how to earna living online go here

http://www.pacificlots.com/Costa-Rica-Blog/

Paradise Post
2007 Recap
Inside this issue you’ll Updates from the Osa
find information on:
News From Ojochal, Costa Rica
and Beyond
Local and National News
Restaurant Reviews
Traditional dishes
Businesses in Ojochal
Parks and nature reserves
in our area
Animals of Costa Rica
Hotels in Ojochal
The Ylang-Ylang tree
Mennonites in Costa
Rica
Our General Sales
Manager
Construction updates
Who’s buying and
moving into our area
And more....
•••••
••••
•
••
•
Costa Rica Aims to Be First
“Carbon Neutral” Country
The Costa Rican government
is developing plans to begin offsetting
all of the country’s carbon dioxide
emissions, the news service La Nación
reported on February 21. Environment
and Energy Minister Roberto Dobles said
Costa Rica aims to reach this
goal using budgeting, laws, and
incentives, including measures
to promote biofuels, hybrid
vehicles, and clean energy.
Another key component of the
national strategy will be a “CNeutral”
label to certify that tourism and
certain industrial practices mitigate all
of the carbon dioxide they emit.
Under the new certification
system, tourists and businesses will
be charged a voluntary “tax” to offset
their carbon emissions, with one ton
of carbon valued at $10, according
to La Nación. The money will be used
to fund conservation, reforestation,
and research in protected areas. To
augment the development of C-Neutral,
the country is cultivating a carbon
certificate market that aims to not only
boost carbon capture and storage in the
nation’s forests, but also
help maintain their scenic
beauty.
In 2002, Costa
Rica’s carbon dioxide
emissions from fossil fuels
totaled 5.8 million metric
tons, according to the Carbon Dioxide
Information Analysis Center, ranking
it 108th in the world. Delegates at
a recent United Nations meeting in
Nairobi, Kenya, noted that they were
watching Costa Rica’s initiative and
hope to replicate it in other regions.
Common Bird in the USA
Common Bird in Costa Rica
Welcome to Paradise Post. The Tres
Rios school has started a new recycling
program. The children are currently
collecting recyclables from restaurants
in the Ojochal area and will soon be
providing drop off points throughout the
town.
We’re happy to report that
we’ve gotten our own pharmacy located
in the Maison Tropicale Commercial
Center. We’re also waiting with mouths
watering for Marcella and Sylvain’s new
venture, Citrus Restaurant and Lounge
opening later this year. In addition we’re
expecting a new furniture and home
décor store, Royal Palm Interiors, to
open in early January.
The biggest news this year is
that the hotly debated CAFTA (Central
American Free Trade Agreement) has
been ratified by a very close margin of
51-48. Voter turnout was a record 60%
and there have been strong arguments
for and against the referendum for
several months. The next step is
enacting 12 laws by the end of February
to put Costa Rica in compliance with the
treaty.
Please contact me if you’re
interested in receiving future newsletters
at Kristina@PacificLots.com or at
305-295-0136 Pura Vida!
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
Paradise Post
How Happy are We?
Costa Rica ranks 3rd among 178
countries on the New Economics
Foundation’s Happy Planet Index
(HPI) which rates human well-being
and environmental impact. The index
is designed to challenge well known
indexes such as the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) and the Human
Development Index (HDI) which do not
take sustainability into account. The
HPI also recognizes that people would
rather be happy and healthy than rich.
Each country’s HPI value is a
function of its average subjective life
satisfaction, life expectancy at birth and
ecological footprint per capita.
More information can be found at:
www.neweconomics.org and
www.happyplanetindex.org
More Flights Coming to Costa Rica
Due to the increasing desirability as a
prime tourist destination additional
airlines are continuing to add Costa
Rica as a regular route. This additional
competition allows consumers more
route choices as well as lower fares.
Spirit Airlines has been flying direct
from Fort Lauderdale, Florida for several
months now and continues to offer
unbelievable bargains. Last week there
was a short window in which they were
offering round trip flights for only $16!
Customer service may be spotty and
the midnight arrivals and departures
are certainly not ideal. However, for a
rate that low it’s difficult to complain.
According to the Costa Rican Tourism
Institute (ICT) Civil Aviation has
additionally given the go ahead for Spirit
Airlines to open a route between Los
Angeles and San Jose.
Frontier Airlines recently
announced that they’ll be starting
service to Costa Rica this coming
November. They’ll be flying a route
between Denver International Airport
and Juan Santamaría International
Airport, San Jose offering roundtrip
service scheduled on Monday,
Wednesday, Friday and Sunday aboard
their new fleet of Airbus A319s.
Delta Airlines has also
announced new nonstop flights
from New York’s John F. Kennedy
International Airport to Costa Rica
effective mid February 2008. They’ll
be flying direct into San Jose as well as
Liberia, Costa Rica.
Also, beginning in December
of this year American Airlines is adding
direct service from Fort Lauderdale.
More information on fares and
schedules is available at:
www.spiritair.com
www.frontierairlines.com
www.delta.com
www.aa.com
A New International Airport in the
According to an article in La Nation
on March 29th the government has
chosen land five kilometers from Sierpe
to construct the new international
airport. A study done by the Director
of Civil Aviation and the international
consultant Guillermo Alvarez confirmed
that the property is free of obstacles
and has suitable terrain for supporting
an airport. The investigation confirmed
other analysis that had been carried out
in 2005 when the Department of Airport
Civil Aviation chose that particular
property over several alternative sites.
Viviana Martin, President of
the Technical Council of Civil Aviation
(CTAC), said that the land belongs to the
Institute of Agrarian Development and
that they’ve prepared an agreement to
relinquish the property. Martin affirmed
that after the appropriation of the land
and the airspace the Organization of
International Civil Aviation will prepare
the master plan and further evaluate the
ecological impact of the new terminal.
Martin expects that at the
end of this year the master plan will
be complete and they will be ready to
begin to plan the construction process.
“Our objective is that the airport will be
in operation by the year 2010”, said
Martin.
Southern Zone is Becoming a Reality
Commute Before Costa Rica
Commute After
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
How Does Costa
Rica Rate?
According to the recently released
“Environmental Performance
Index”, a joint study between Yale and
Columbia Universities, Costa Rica is
in much better environmental shape
than many may have guessed. Costa
Rica ranks 2nd to Canada in overall
environmental performance in the
Americas and first in water resources
and sustainable energy. Indoor air
pollution seems to be a problem with
the percentage of households using
solid fuels fairly high. For the full
indexes visit:
http://www.yale.edu/epi
Women in Politics
Costa Rica, through a series of
laws passed to ensure women were
represented within the political system,
has made tremendous strides in that
direction. By 2002, the percentage
of women municipal legislators in
Costa Rica was higher than any
other democratically elected national
legislature in the world. According
to the latest figures from the Inter-
Parliamentary Union (IPU) Costa Rica
has gone from 16 percent to 39 percent
of women in the national legislatures,
ranking 4th worldwide.
In the United States women make up only 16% of the membership of the
Senate as well as 16% of the U.S. House of Representatives. According to the Inter-
Parliamentary Union, out of 133 countries studied, the United States ranks below
the world average at 67th, right behind Zimbabwe, Panama and El Salvador.
Top officials at the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the
Caribbean women’s conference stated that countries which have more women in
national legislative bodies tend to have stronger gender-equality laws.
Despite Costa Rican “Machismo” women are well represented
as elected government officials.
“The concept of democracy
will only assume true and dynamic
significance when political policies
and national legislation are
decided upon jointly by men and
women with equitable regard for
the interests and aptitudes of both
halves of the population.” The IPU
Council
Paradise Post
Papayas – Also known as PawPaw, Mamao or Tree Melon
There’s nothing like a tree ripened Papaya, though many of us have never tasted
one. Most supermarket Papayas were picked before they’d had a chance to ripen.
Until you have experienced a tree ripe Papaya, you won’t really know how great a
Papaya can taste.
Papayas are one of the easiest tropical fruits to grow. The plants grow well
in almost any soil and add a tropical look to any garden. To grow Papaya, take the
seed from a Papaya and remove the small gelatin sack that surrounds the seed.
Allow the seed to dry for a few days and then plant in soil. Water as needed but
do not over water. Papayas will reach a height of 10-12 feet within two years of
planting. You need both male and female plants to set fruit. Papayas originated in
southern Mexico or northern Central America but are now grown in tropical climates
worldwide.
Papayas aid digestion and are high in Vitamin A and C. They also contain
high amounts of potassium, calcium, iron, thiamine, niacin and riboflavin. Pick
fruit when it begins to yellow, store fruit for up to 3 weeks if refrigerated but only
refrigerate fruit that is ripe. The flesh and leaves contain papain, an enzyme that
digests protein. It is used in meat tenderizers as well as to clarify beer. The yellow
fiber-less flesh is creamy and firm. Seeds from Papaya may be dried and ground and
have a peppercorn like flavor. Papayas are great in smoothies, salsas or chutneys.
Green Papayas may also be steamed and eaten like squash.
Papaya and Pineapple Juice Makes 2 (12 ounce) servings
2 cups of pineapple juice
2 cups of papaya
2 tbsp of honey
1 tbsp of lemon juice
Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Cover and blend on high until smooth.
Typical beach crowd
in the USA
Typical beach crowd
in Southern Costa Rica
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
Paradise Post
Exotica – Gastronomie Dans la Jungle
The culinary scene on Coast Ballena is
what you would expect it to be—that is, a
bit of a mixed bag with great local food
at cheap prices and expatriate chefs
renowned in their homeland who can’t
get good ingredients. There are several
restaurants that indeed deliver great
quality food, and you will be reading
about them in future issues of the
Paradise Post.
Ojochal is known along Coast
Ballena for having the best restaurants.
In fact, it is not uncommon to find
people making the drive from Dominical
to Ojochal to sample the best cuisine
around. One restaurant in Ojochal
clearly stands out. Lucy and Robert
Levesque’s Exotica Restaurante would
set a mark of culinary excellence and
personal grace anywhere on the globe.
As you drive up to Exotica on the
main Ojochal road, don’t be discouraged
by the traditional Pilsen beer sign that
bears the Exotica name. When you
enter the dining area, you will see that
it does have the traditional outdoor
configuration of the Costa Rican soda.
However, what is also clear is that Lucy
and Robert have gone to such great
lengths to dress up the atmosphere
in elegance that this is a restaurant
for quiet chic dining. The candles,
centerpieces, and music—among other
things—give a comfortable flair that
comforts the soul.
The grace of the restaurant
is further accentuated when you
meet Lucy, who lives life to smile and
serve her clientele. If you make a late
reservation you may even be able to sit
down with Lucy to talk with her about
the positive jolly perspectives she has on
living after having been in Costa Rica for
over 10 years.
Upon opening the menu,
you will peruse quite an extensive
assortment of world cuisine with a slight
bias toward Costa Rican ingredients.
For starters, try the generous blue
cheese salad, with the best assortment
of greens around. The pâté is also to
die for. Finally, the Vietnamese chicken
soup will make you feel like you are in a
jungle in Laos and not in Ojochal.
There are about 20 main
courses that grace the pages of the
menu, and all of them are worth a
try. However, there is a consensus
assortment of preferred dishes. The
duck loin with orange sauce is a
standout, cooked to perfection to
order with an always delightfully crispy
skin. The most popular dish in the
restaurant is the filet mignon, the best
cut of beef to be found for at least 100
kilometers. The bourguignon sauce is
the popular choice for the filet mignon,
but the other sauces (green pepper and
mustard) are fantastic as well. Seafood
is all wonderful
with choices of
such delightful
sauces as garlic
butter and banana
curry. A sleeper on
the menu is the stroganoff. This heavy
cream-based dish with fresh tomatoes
and extremely openhanded use of basil
make this one a real treat.
On to the desserts—Lucy has
a catering business on the side called
Dulce Lucy (Sweet Lucy), and the name
is well deserved. Desserts are Lucy’s
personal passion. The thick and rich
brownie with ice cream is the popular
choice. The mint velvet pie is an
extremely refreshing frozen treat with a
chocolate crust. Lucy’s specialty sugar
pie with a sweet custard filling and
traditional pie crust is another delight.
A separate lunch menu is
served and is of equal quality and value.
Highlights are a warm goat cheese
salad, lasagna, and a creamy seafood
soup in a flakey bread bowl.
The culinary experience at
Exotica is not to be missed. You will
feel warmed by the positive atmosphere
and filled with the exquisite food. The
quality is unparalleled and compulsively
consistent. On Costa Ballena, nothing
could be better. (Closed Sundays)
The Ojochal Ghost Connoisseur
La Parcela- Deluxe Oceanfront Dining
Whether visiting or living on the Ballena
Coast, you absolutely must turn west
off the Costanera at the La Parcela sign
on the south end of Dominicalito bay at
least once. Then you may go back every
day until you leave. To offer a disclaimer
to the competing restaurants in the
area, La Parcela offers the unique treat
of higher-end Costa Rican food along
with amazing hospitality and a killer
ocean view toward the Osa Peninsula,
all at the right price, the combination of
which fetch the 4-star rating.
The short private road to La
Parcella is stunning, with elevated
views of Dominicalito Bay and the
fishing boats that regularly park there
between outings. When you arrive
at the restaurant, the wait staff will
undoubtedly greet you with the smiles
and warmth you might expect from a 4
or 5-star restaurant in the states. Some
of them have been working there as long
as 20 years, and they take wonderful
pride in their work. You will then be
seated at a table with an staggering
ocean view, which is safe to say since
virtually every seat has one.
Once seated, order the tuna
tartar, some of the freshest seared
tuna you’ve ever tasted marinated
in a ginger and soy sauce with diced
avocado. Alternatively, try the amazingly
fresh ceviche the way only Costa
Ricans can make it. Wash your starters
down with a guanabana shake, very
characteristic and delightfully sweet.
On to the entrees, the main course
tuna is an amazingly generous portion
of Asian-cooked catch with wasabi and
noodles. For that matter, all the fish
dishes are delicious and fresh. If you’re
not counting calories, order the club,
which is a grilled chicken club quesadilla
with some of the best fries you’ll get
anywhere. It’s just huge! Pass a side
order of yucca (called cassava in the
States) around the table, deep-fried
and served with a side of Thousand
Island sauce. The grand finale should
be the flaming show of bananas flambé
prepared tableside.
When we’re on the Ballena
Coast, we consume at least every other
lunch at La Parcela. The combination of
great view, service, and food is tough to
beat for the price. Don’t miss it!
The Ojochal Ghost Connoisseur
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
Maracatú-Tropical Natural Cuisine
Hundreds of inches of rain fall every
year in the Southern Pacific Zone. One
would think the area would be laden
with the freshest, largest, and juiciest
vegetables in existence. Well, for the
most part, not so. Unless you catch the
vegetables literally upon delivery, you’ll
be much more impressed with the fruits.
Maracatú to the rescue! At
the risk of being lynched, I will call this
high-end bar food with an emphasis on
glorifying the many wonderful flavors
that can be found in vegetarian cuisine.
The quality of the ingredients that go
into the plates really stand out at this
Rasta-reggae-vegetarian bar/restaurant.
It is also extremely evident that the chef
knows his preparation.
First and foremost at Maracatú
are two dishes—the fish tacos, which
are the best I may ever have tasted and
the super nachos, in which the lack of
a meat would be apparent if it weren’t
for the fact that they are just so darned
good without it! Start with these two,
and you will walk away a believer.
Once you become addicted
to Maracatú, you can go back for the
Maracatú Bowl, an enormous salad
with an impressive assortment of crispy
colorful vegetables, to which you can
add several rare toppings such as
seaweed and flax seeds. Also wonderful
is the Tomato Basil Eggplant, which
is essentially an Eggplant Parmigiana
without the breading.
The fish specials change daily
and oscillate between tuna and dorado
(mahi mahi) filets served in various
preparations. They appear quite
expensive (~$10 U.S.) relative to the rest
of the menu, but if you choose tuna, it
will be the thickest and freshest filet you
will get in the area. It ends up being a
great value.
Oh, and if you think it will be
a good compliment to your dish, order
extra guacamole with everything. It’s
just wonderful.
As with most restaurants,
Maracatú does deserve a couple of
caveats. The fish specials sometimes
come with an inordinate amount of
sauce. You may want to ask for less
sauce or have them put it on the side,
especially if you find out from your server
the sauce of the day is soy based. I’ve
had some pretty salty fish dishes there
on occasion.
Moreover, skip the hummus.
Its more-watery-than-usual consistency
makes it rather unsatisfying. There are
also some flavors in it that don’t belong,
but it’s been so long since I’ve ordered it
that I can’t readily describe them.
Finally, if you loath or even have
a mild aversion to reggae music, I must
warn you that it’s all they play there, and
the volume is higher than you might be
used to when you are sitting to a meal.
For a reasonable high quality
lunch, there are few eateries in the
Southern Zone that beat Maracatú. Oh,
by the way, I
am virtually the
antithesis of a
vegetarian.
The
Ojochal Ghost
Connoisseur
Costa Rican Ceviche
1 lb firm white fish
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
4 or 5 sprigs of cilantro
1 small (¾”, 2 cm) hot chili
about 8 limes (enough for at least ¾ cup
of juice)
¼ teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste
Cut fish into ½” cubes. Mince the onion,
garlic, and chili coarsely. Chop the cilantro
very finely. Juice the limes and strain
to remove the pulp and seeds.
Shrimp can be substituted for the fish.
Mix all of the ingredients and refrigerate
tightly covered for at least 3 hours.
Serve with corn tortillas, tortilla chips, or
crackers.
Paradise Post
Ceviche - A Costa Rican Staple
If you’ve never had Costa Rican
ceviche you’re in for a treat. Locals
use only the freshest seafood,
marinate it in lime juice and serve it at
most local restaurants and roadside
stands. Shrimp, corvine (sea bass),
cooked squid and conch are some of
the choices available. Citric acid from
the fruit causes the seafood to “cook”
without heat. The result tastes more
like a cooked dish than sushi. There
are many variations of ceviche and in
Costa Rica the preparations in addition
to the seafood typically include; minced
onions, cilantro, finely minced peppers
with Tabasco sauce on the side. Oftentimes
served with crackers, ceviche is
low in calories and high in flavor. As an
extra bonus it’s typically only a dollar or
two per cup. You can find some of the
tastiest ceviche along the Costanera
just before Ojochal.
Gallo Pinto: The
National Dish of Costa Rica
Gallo Pinto with eggs a la Buena Vista-
Gallo Pinto “Spotted Rooster” is considered
the national dish of Costa Rica.
It consists of black beans and rice as
well as onion, peppers and cilantro. Patricia
Vega, a PhD of history and a professor
at the University of Costa Rica,
has undergone a study on the origin
and traditions of the local dish. Pico
Gallo originated on the banana plantations
of the Caribbean coast in 1940
where Costa Ricans worked alongside
Nicaraguans who commonly ate a rice
and beans dish which included ingredients
that were difficult to prepare.
When the Costa Rican’s returned to
San Jose they began to modify the dish
into what it is today.
It’s highly nutritious may be
served for breakfast lunch or dinner.
No trip to Costa Rica is complete
without enjoying it at least once.
“One cannot think well,
love well, sleep well, if
one has not dined well.”
Virginia Woolf
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
Paradise Post
Chirripo Homegrown
When most of us think of Costa Rica it is the bucolic countryside, towering
forests, teeming waterways and incredible animal and marine life that win our
hearts and imaginations. When visiting or moving to this country we all would
like to conduct ourselves in a way that is supportive of this image. As we have
learned from new levels of public awareness in our home countries, chemical
based, modern day agriculture which is also being practiced in Costa Rica is a
threat to that natural environment. If you are living here or just visiting there is
an alternative. By ordering your food from Chirripo Homegrown, you will be using
your purchasing power to support local farmers and to become part of a growing
movement that promotes farmer welfare, environmental stewardship, good health
and fresh, delicious food. They offer weekly opportunities to purchase fruits and
vegetables, free-range meat and dairy, sustainable sourced fish, bulk staples
and loads of other ethically produced products. In addition they offer an array of
gift and artisan items providing beautiful and ethical keepsakes for you and your
family. For more information or to place an order please contact them at the
addresses below.
Cosecha Casera Chirripo/Chirripo Homegrown
…connecting conscious consumers and sustainable producers
Cellular 506 365 4040
Love the look of thatch but not
crazy about the expense, the bugs and
upkeep? A product that’s been on the
market for almost 10 years may be your
perfect solution. Artificial thatching with
guaranteed durability that’s water-tight
and UV protected.
A company based out of Canada
has developed a unique patented product
to use as an alternative to the fragile
and endangered leaves typically used
in thatch roofing. This polymer roofing
material is suitable for a simple bungalow
or a hotel complex and the product needs
virtually no upkeep.
To hear testimonials from
customers all over Costa Rica or for more
information on a solution that is both
beautiful and affordable contact Robert at
the Ojochal internet café or at costarica@
palmex-international.com
More information is also available
at www.Palmex-CostaRica.com or at www.
Palmex-International.com.
A New Internet
Solution Has Arrived!
CR Satellite Services Inc. now
provides ICE approved low cost high
speed internet satellite services for
communities and individuals alike.
They have the expertise to offer internet
and VoIP service to individuals directly
or by installation of a WAN to tie in a
community of homes. For individuals
desiring their own service, a single
stand-alone satellite earth station can
be purchased for as little as $5800.
For those located in proximity to a CR
Satellite distributor (who provides the
satellite earth station for others to use
in combination with additional wireless
network equipment installed by CR
Satellite), they pay an additional monthly
charge on top of the satellite internet
monthly service fee thus avoiding the
upfront capital cost of the earth station
equipment.
They also offer a variety of
individual high speed satellite internet
services for as low as $69 per month.
Recommended Economy services are
only $84 per month allowing quicker
download and internet surfing speed
than in standard local internet cafes.
Downlink capacity is 128 kbps/uplink
is 64 kbps with a CR Satellite quad
compression technology giving you the
capability and feel of up to 512/256.
They offer a range of other services from
Enhanced service to Business Class
Satellite Internet service for $317 per
month for power users such as day stock
traders or others who require real-time
data feeds at high confirmed information
rates.
CR Satellite is also pleased to provide
Enhanced VoIP Phone service which
offers you a North American phone
number and unlimited calling for $25
per month with the purchase of internet
services.
The proprietors are committed to
contributing time and money to the local
community donating 10% of all profits
to schools and housing infrastructure
in the area. For more information or
inquiries on how to be a distributor
check them out at www.crsatellite.com
or contact: Dean at 011-506-364-6360,
installations@crsatellite.com or Cliff at
1-403-875-2166, sales@crsatellite.com.
Thinking Thatch?
A Mango Tree
for under $5?
Dreaming of a tropical garden?
Viveros La Bonita, a full service
nursery has sprung up on the
Costanera to fulfill the growing
needs of residents moving in to the
area. Owned by a local Tico family
Viveros La Bonita has been offering
an abundance of tropical plants,
palms and trees since 1973 (and
yes, they do have mango trees for
under $5). The staff is friendly and
accommodating and in addition to
providing low cost tropical foliage
they offer an entire landscaping
packing including design and
installation. They’re based out
of San Isidro de Perez Zelodón
and are located throughout Costa
Rica. This is the 6th retail outlet
for Viveros La Bonita. You can find
more information at
www.viveroslabonita.net.
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
Nicolas and France, owners of
Crocodive in Ojochal, have been
providing locals and tourists with
exciting as well as serene diving
and snorkeling expeditions since
2006. Nicolas has been diving
for 20 years and has been an
instructor for the past 3. He’s
dove all over the world including
the Caribbean and the challenging
dives of Newfoundland. However,
he prefers Costa Rica for the
variety and beauty of the ocean
life.
They were both born
in Quebec and moved to Costa
Rica from Montreal. Nicolas was
working as an electrician and
France owned a large nursing
home. After visiting Costa Rica
repeatedly for the past 5 years
they decided to take the plunge
and move here full time a year ago.
They had fallen in love with the
warm climate and pristine nature.
They’ve since found their new life
suits them perfectly. They don’t
miss the pressures of Canada and
it’s been a beneficial and relaxing
change for both of them.
On their days off they
enjoy playing with their 3 dogs
and while Nicolas likes reading,
backgammon and learning
everything he can about diving,
France has been studying Pilates
and is known to be a terrific cook.
For more information or
sign up for a trip contact France
and Nicolas at info@crocodive.com
or at 011-506-786-5270.
Paradise Post
Caño Island
Caño Island
Biological Reserve is
one of Costa Rica’s
well known national
parks. The island is
located off the Osa
Peninsula in the
Pacific ocean directly
west of Drake Bay.
It’s the exposed part of an underwater
mountain thrown up by an ancient
collision of the two tectonic plates on
either side of Costa Rica. The center
of the island features a plateau 295
feet high, covered by evergreen trees
reaching heights of 164 feet. The border
consists of white sandy beaches. There
is a wide and well maintained trail going
up to a lookout and an archaeological
site.
Caño Island harbors a pre-
Columbian cemetery and many
tombs and artifacts are found in the
undergrowth including granite spheres
(bolas) which have remained a mystery
since their discovery. The sizes of
these ancient relics range from that
of a baseball to a Volkswagen bus
and can weigh as much as 16 tons.
The stones are believed to have been
carved between 200 BC and 1500 AD.
Nobody knows exactly how they were
constructed or what they were used
for. Since being discovered in 1940
they’ve been relocated throughout the
country (there are even a couple in US
museums) adding to the difficulty in
decyphiring their purpose.
Only about ten species of birds
call Caño Island home, including cattle
egret, common black hawk, osprey,
brown booby and northern phalarope.
The mammals that can be found here
include: opossum, paca, boa constrictor,
brown tree frog and the transparent tree
frog. Also found here are locust, wild fig,
wild cocoa, rubber trees, wild strangler,
cow trees, fern B, trumpet trees, plus
more than 158 varieties of plants.
The real beauty of Caño Island
is not found on its land, but underwater.
The Caño Island’s waters are some of
the bluest in the country and are home
to a spectacular variety of stunning
marine flora and fauna as well as coral
reefs. The island is surrounded by five
platforms of low coral
reefs and has recently
moved into the spotlight
as one of the world’s
best diving locations.
Both snorkeling and
scuba diving found here
are some of the best in
all of Costa Rica. During
the dry season, visibility
can be up to eighty feet enabling visitors
to see the amazing amount and variety
of sea life thriving there. With fantastic
underwater visibility you may see
turtles, dolphins, stingrays, manta rays,
moray eels, barracudas, tuna, snapper
and grouper swimming alongside a
variety sharks and humpback or pilot
whales.
In 1973 the island was leased
to a Spanish developer with plans
to build a megaresort. The island,
however, was heroically saved by an
outburst of popular displeasure and
named Reserva Biológica Isla Cańo.
It’s currently administered as part of
Corcovado National Park.
Admission is $8 and the ranger
station is open for visitors from 8 a.m. to
4 p.m. daily. Reservations are required
as the number of daily visitors is limited.
Several dive operators, including
Crocodive in Ojochal, can arrange trips
to visit the island.
Stone sphere in the courtyard of
the National Museum of Costa Rica
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
Yanán Duarte Monge – Guide Extraordinaire
One touch of
nature makes the
whole world kin.
~William
Shakespeare
Oro Verde is dedicated to preserving the rainforest and has been family owned
for more than 50 years.
Legend has it that Pepo “Macho”
Duarte was told to purchase the
land many years ago by a crazy black
dog who hung out at the town watering
hole. Macho was small in stature but
big on ambition. He originally farmed
the land to provide for his family and 10
years ago his 6 sons transformed the
farm into a private nature reserve.
Consisting of 150 hectacres
(374 acres) of primary and secondary
rainforest Oro Verde (meaning Green
Gold) offers guided tours, horseback
riding and terrific birding. Home to
more than 200 species of birds it’s not
uncommon to spot toucans, parrots and
many other colorful species. You may
encounter one of three types of monkeys;
howler, white-face capuchin, and
spider. Harder to spot are the sloths,
ocelots, anteaters, and coatis. Trails are
dotted with blue morpho butterflies as
well as a myriad of interesting reptiles
and insects.
Located just south of Ojochal at
an elevation of 1,000 to 2,200 feet. Oro
Verde overlooks Ballena Marine National
Park and stunning beaches.
Oro Verde offers a variety of morning
and afternoon guided hiking and birding
tours as well as horseback tours through
the rainforest or to the Morete River waterfalls.
For more information call (506)
743-8072 or visit:
www.costarica-birding-oroverde.com
Paradise Post
Hacienda Baru: National Wildlife Refuge
What initially was a cattle
ranch has evolved into a private wildlife
refuge of over 800 acres of rainforest,
mangrove swamps and sandy beaches
reputed to be one of the best bird
watching locations in the world. Jack
Ewing and his wife Diane relocated from
Colorado to Costa Rica thirty seven years
ago with the initial plan to raise cattle
and horses and quickly adjusted their
plans to preserve and restore the flora
and fauna native to the area.
The trails provide close
encounters with white faced monkeys,
coatis, sloths, armadillos, anteaters
and more. If you’re very lucky you may
catch a glimpse of a Jaguarundi (a wild
cat in danger of extinction). You’ll spot
a kaleidoscope of butterflies as well
as a myriad of birds including toucans,
parrots, hawks and bats (oh wait… those
aren’t birds).
They offer guided hikes and
canopy tours and also have an orchid
and butterfly garden. They also have
six guest cabins available for those
who would like to spend the night. The
cabins are equipped with a kitchenette,
bathroom with hot water shower, fans,
lock-box and refrigerator. They have a
restaurant serving pasta, seafood and
chicken dishes as well as breakfast.
You can reach them at 506-
787-0003 or find more information at
www.haciendabaru.com. If you happen
to run into Jack while you’re visiting ask
him about his unairconditioned flight
from Miami with 37 very sweaty and
irritable cows and bulls. And, be sure
to say hello to Shirley and Pedro at the
front desk.
Researchers have shown
that humpback whales traveling
between breeding grounds off
the west coast of Costa Rica and
feeding grounds off Antarctica
clocked up to more than 8,000
km on one leg of their journey
- the largest recorded journey by
any individual mammal.
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
The Highly Unusual Life of a Sloth
Sloths (locally called perezoso
which means lazy) are relatively longlived,
sometimes living for more than
twenty years. They spend their entire
existence hanging suspended from the
boughs of trees. The animal moves by
advancing one limb at a time in a slow,
deliberate fashion.
The sloths body temperature
drops almost to the temperature of its
surroundings at night, and much like
cold-blooded reptiles, the sloth needs to
take in the sun’s rays to bring its temperature
back to normal. Sloths descend to
the ground only about once each week
in order to defecate. When placed on the
ground they lie on their backs or crawl
with the greatest difficulty.
The sloth sleeps up to 18 hours
a day, curled up with the feet drawn
close together and the head placed between
the forelimbs. In this position the
animal resembles a stump of a bough
and is relatively well camouflaged from
the assault of natural enemies such as
the harpy eagle. An incrustation of a
green alga, which forms in the hair of
some species and makes them indistinguishable
from the surrounding foliage
and moss, affords additional protection.
It feeds chiefly on foliage and shoots,
which are pulled within reach of the
mouth with typical slow movements.
Females screech to attract
males, which have a bare orange patch
on their back. Actual copulation has
been observed to last as long as 48
hours. Females spend half of their adult
lives pregnant and each year the female
produces a single offspring.
Female sloths aren’t very
sentimental. If a baby tumbles out of
the tree its calls will go unheeded. When
a juvenile reaches six months of age
the mother simply turns her tail on her
youngster which inherits her home range
of trees. You
can find sloths
in the cecropia
trees which
form one of
their favorite
food staples.
Paradise Post
The
Scarlet
Macaw
The Scarlet Macaw, one of the most
beautiful Macaws, lives high in the trees
gracing forest canopies from Mexico to
central South America.
This brilliantly colored macaw
is the only one found on the Pacific side
of Costa Rica, and it rarely flies on the
Caribbean side. Macaws are the largest
parrots in the Americas, and the Scarlet
Macaw is distinct both in color and
shape. It’s bold colors include bright red,
blue and yellow. It has a large powerful
bill for cracking tough seed coats and
nuts.
The scarlet macaw noisily flies
high over the canopy and their travels
may range far both daily and seasonally.
Their loud, resonant, boisterous calls
can often be heard as they fly, but they
are usually quiet while feeding. Pairs,
trios, or small family groups are often
seen, but these may sometimes merge
into flocks of 25 or even 50 individuals.
The Scarlet Macaw nests in
large holes in tall living or dead trees;
they do not dig these holes, but rely
on finding cavities that are high off the
ground and have vertical entrances.
Finding enough of such trees can be a
limiting factor for these birds to maintain
populations in an area. A macaw pair will
lay 1-2 eggs per season in such a nest
and raise them together. These macaws
are serially monogamous, but they may
change mates after several seasons.
In 1900, these parrots could
still be readily seen in forests throughout
Costa Rica; by 1950, due to habitat
destruction, they were essentially
absent from the Caribbean slope. They
have also suffered from the pet trade;
fortunately, today they are protected in
every country in which they live.
Their favorite food is the almond
sized and shaped seed of Terminalia
Catappa tree.They can be rapid foragers.
A flock of 10 birds can carpet the ground
with three hundred of these fruits in a
single hour as they look for the seeds.
The Frogs of Costa Rica
Poster
animals of
Costa Rica,
frogs are
being heavily
researched
and abound
throughout the country. 39 species can
be found here. Ones that are poisonous
are brightly colored to warn away
predators. The red-eyed tree frog is one
of the most famous. It is bright green
above with blue sides, a white belly,
orange hands and feet and red eyes.
Other striking Costa Rican frogs include
the blue jeans poison dart frog (bright
red with vivid blue legs) and the green
and black poison dart frog (beautiful
lime green with black splotches).
Although they have skinny legs,
suggesting weak muscles, they are
excellent jumpers. Their adhesive toe
pads allow them to climb even vertical
surfaces. Most are nocturnal, emerging
at night to forage for insects and to
pursue romantic interests. One species
actually attach their eggs to tree leaves
over water and as the eggs hatch the
tadpoles drop into the water below.
Others lay 2000 or more eggs per clutch
which hatch in 2 to 6 days. Since fish
eat frog eggs survival chances are
increased for frogs that can find “fishless
water”. Poison dart frogs lay their eggs
in forest litter and then transport them
to the water tanks of bromeliads.
Costa Rican frogs use several
methods to deter predation; cryptic
coloring that allows them to blend into
their environments, rapid leaping, loud
startling screams when grabbed by
predators and poisons. One species
produces skin toxins that cause
sneezing in people even if they are
not handling a frog and that cause
pain and paralysis when ingested or
when penetrating the body via an open
wound. The toxin that poison dart frogs
secrete is due to their diet of alkaloid
rich insects. In captivity these frogs lose
their toxidity when they are fed insects
that are not rich in alkaloids.
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
If you’re looking for a beautiful
and relaxing place to stay you should
consider a new guest house in Ojochal.
“El Buena Vista” is located on the
Perezoso road only a couple of minutes
from the center of town. Each studio
has a private bathroom, kitchenette
and dining room while the standard
rooms come
equipped
with private
bathrooms
and
refrigerators.
Some rooms
are air
conditioned
and all have
a private
sunset
terrace with
spectacular
sunset views over the Pacific Ocean.
The proprietors Josée and
Marco are originally from Montreal and
relocated to Costa Rica with their two
young boys two years ago. Josée spent
several years as a school teacher and
Paradise Post
Marco was the manager for the National
Electric Company. They’ve since found
their new life is quite rewarding and are
happy to share their experiences with
newcomers.
If you’d like to get your
adrenaline surging, their business
partner, Maxime, is an expert paraglider
who offers
tandem flights
over the tropical
canopy. He’s
happy to
coordinate an
adventure trip for
you.
Rates
run from $70 to
$80 per night
and include
a continental
breakfast. You
can find more information on their
website at www.elbuenavista.com
or contact them at 506-786-5295.
El Buena Vista
If close to nature yet not
too far off the beaten
track is your thing Hotel
Villas Gaia may be just
what you’re looking for.
They offer 14 separate, spacious casitas
(cabins) nestled in the jungle. The
casitas are furnished with orthopedic
queen and single beds, reading lamps,
night tables, ceiling fans, and bathrooms
with solar hot water. Most of the casitas
are additionally equipped with airconditioning.
Sitting on your private
terrace you may catch sight of sloths,
toucans and monkeys as one hotel guest
attests.
Casitas accommodate up to
3 people with one two-bedroom casita
which can comfortably accommodate
up to 7 people. The hotel is equipped
with a beautiful ocean view swimming
pool, private jungle trail to the beach of
Playa Tortuga and a restaurant serving
tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner with
a full bar. They’re located just off the
Costanera before the entrance to the
town of Ojochal with easy access to Oro
Verde, Hacienda Barú, Ballena Marine
National Park, Caño Island Biological
Reserve, Corcovado National Park, the
mangroves of Terraba-Sierpe rivers,
waterfalls, rainforest, beaches, villages
and much more. They’re happy to
coordinate excursions to fit your interests
at the front desk. It’s a beautiful place
for both couples or families.
The congenial proprietor,
Luuc, is originally from Holland had has
recently celebrated his 10th year with
Villas Gaia. Be sure to say hello if you
see him.
Standard rates range from $75
($85 for air conditioning) with a $15 per
night charge for an additional single bed.
The two bedroom casita is $135 per
night. Rates include tax and there are
also package rates available.
You can find more information
on their website at www.villasgaia.com
or at (506) 786-5044.
Hotel Villas Gaia
Ylang-Ylang
If you’ve ever been fortunate
enough to be lounging poolside at
the Ventana del Pacifico guest house
you’ve probably caught a whiff of the
intoxicating scent of one of our ylangylang
trees. These trees are among the
most celebrated flowering trees in the
world. Easy to propagate and grow in
our fertile Costa Rican soil the ylangylang
(pronounced ee-lang ee-lang)
produces the oil which is said to be one
of the primary ingredients of Chanel 5.
The tall and willowy tropical
tree, native to Asia, displays clusters of
large star-shaped flowers on downwarddrooping
branches. These unusual
flowers range in color from white to
pink to yellow to yellowish green. Their
fragrance is fresh and floral, sweet
and seductive, exciting and exotic. This
refreshing scent is relaxing, almost
intoxicating.
The Philippine origin of the word
comes from alang ilang, which means
“flowers that flutter in the wind.” People
have used ylang ylang in a variety of
ways throughout history. In China the
fragrance was used to purify the robes
of the mandarin (a member of an elite
or powerful group or class). The purified
robes were then placed into a chest
made from fragrant wood. Only when
a special occasion required their use
did the robes come out from the chest.
When they were removed, the scent was
still strong, in fact, some of these chests
have been found in modern times, and
the scent, although faint, can still be
detected centuries later.
Ylang-ylang has long been
considered an aphrodisiac. In Indonesia
there is an ancient tradition that
continues today of spreading the
ylang ylang flowers across the beds
of newlywed couples. The oil is used
frequently in perfumes as well as
in aromatherapy and many people
use the oil to help with a number of
ailments. It is said to help reduce high
blood pressure, alleviate anxiety and
tension, and help with
heart palpitations. It
also can help against
depression, impotence,
insomnia and insect
bites.
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
emphasis on disaster relief, peace and
voluntary service. Persecuted in Europe
during the seventeenth century they are
now living peacefully throughout the
world. There are several classifications
within the Mennonite faith today and
there is a wide scope of worship,
doctrine and traditions among them.
Some of the all natural, handmade
goods for sale include:
Cheese, yogurt and butter.
Banana Bread.
Carrot cake.
Pies including berry.
Cakes including chocolate.
Cinnamon rolls and donuts.
Bread (a wide variety).
Cookies including:
oatmeal, gingerbread, chocolate chip
and peanut butter.
Paradise Post
If you’re lucky enough to find yourself
in our village on a Friday be sure to stop
at the entrance to town. You’ll find a
delightful young man selling some of the
tastiest treats and freshest dairy goods
in Costa Rica.
Joel Yoder, is a Mennonite who
lives with his wife and baby daughter
along with about 75 others in a small
community southwest of Ojochal. He’s
enjoyed traveling to several states in
the USA, was born in Costa Rica and is
fluent in English, Spanish and a dialect
of German. Joel values hard work and
when he’s not selling his farm fresh
goods you can usually find him working
in his dairy. Perhaps because he’s never
idle he’s able to stay so thin despite
indulging in scrumptious pastries.
With more than 1.5 million
Mennonites worldwide, 2500 call
Costa Rica home. They place a strong
Joel Yoder with Pie
Fresh Baked Goods Available in Ojochal
Meet Patrick Langille
Patrick, the General Sales
Manager for Ventana del Pacifico, has
a Masters Unlimited Tonnage Captain’s
license and is also a commercial airline
pilot. He’s lived all over the Caribbean
for about 12-years, has captained
numerous mega-yachts and flew briefly
for Air BVI out of Tortola. His switch
to land development happened when
he was hired as a marine consultant
on large marina projects by Dynaman
July Construction Update from Ventana del Pacifico
Phase 1 has 2 existing homes.
Phase 2 has 8 existing homes.
Phase 3 has 5 existing homes plus 7 condos.
Phase 4 has 7 existing homes.
Phase 5 has 11 existing homes with 2 designs in process.
Phase 6 has 6 existing homes, 3 homes virtually complete, 3 more at the roof line, 4 ready to begin construction and 4
in the design stage.
Phase 8 has 2 homes almost complete, 1 home at the roof line and 5 in construction.
Phase 9 has 5 homes waiting for a building permit and 8 homes being designed.
Phase 10 has 12 homes in the design stage.
Phase 11 has 4 homes in the design stage.
For those of you curious about what homes have been built and what’s on tap for Ventana del Pacifico Robert Laroche, from our
design and building department, has thoughtfully compiled an update for us.
Enterprises
(Miami) in
Barbados, St.
Lucia, Antigua
and St. Martin/
St. Maarten. The project in St. Martin
ended in his partnering in a 1400 unit
housing development called Mary’s
Fancy Plantation. He then built and ran
his own marina in St. Maarten called
La Palapa. He was also the general
manager of both The Moorings and
Go Vacation Yacht Charter companies.
Before coming to Costa Rica, he was
working for Hughes Aero Structures as
Quality Assurance Manager for
Bombardier Aerospace in Scandinavia,
living in Stockholm Sweden. He’s been
with VDP now for 5-years and came to
CR as his fiancé Sheila was one of the
original buyer’s and purchased 12-years
ago in Phase 1. They moved into their
own house in Phase 5 last June and
currently own 5 properties with VDP.
His hobbies are anything to do with the
water and or boats!
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
We’d like to offer a warm welcome to
Dick and Linda of Connecticut, new
owners in Phase 10.
Both Dick and Linda grew up
in the Jamestown/Chautauqua Lake
area of NY. Linda taught elementary
school for several years which included
gifted and special needs students. Dick
spent virtually all of his professional
life at universities and institutions
whose focus is scientific research
(wildlife conservation and marine and
atmospheric pollution). He retired early
from Columbia University in 2002 having
served as Assoc Dean of the Law School
and then for as VP and then signed
on at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center as VP for Development where he
remains today. Dick has this to say about
their Costa Rica experience:
“Our family has always had
a love of the ocean and at one point
was fortunate to live in Bermuda.
Looking back it was a special time
for our family. We were exposed to
a unique lifestyle and way of life that
harkens back to a time when life was
simpler and family and community were
important. A former colleague built a
home in Costa Rica and encouraged
me to check it out. Having spent
time working in conservation I was
impressed about what I learned about
Ventana and the importance placed
on responsible development and
the environment. We did some
homework and became convinced
that the Ojochal area, because of the
proximity to the mountains and ocean
coupled with tremendous bio diversity
and an enlightened development
perspective, was the place to be. When
I visited I had a chance to meet several
members of the Ventana staff as
well as other members of the greater
Ojochal community and was impressed
by their sincerity and friendliness and
overall sense of community. It reminded
me of our life in Bermuda. Finally, I
had heard enough stories about the
pitfalls of trying to oversee construction
of a vacation home in absentia that
made the “one stop shopping” offered
by Ventana very attractive. Our
expectation is that our new home will
be a family retreat to be enjoyed by the
entire family for years to come.”
Dick and Linda are a terrific
addition to the community and we are
very fortunate that they’ll be joining us.
Welcome to the Neighborhood
“I was impressed
about what I learned
about Ventana and
the importance
placed on responsible
development and the
environment.”
Paradise Post
We’d like to welcome new owners Kevin, Jeanne and Jackson. Kevin is originally
from Connecticut and Jeanne grew up in Florida. They were married in New York City
and lived there for three years. They opened and operated an indoor miniature golf
course in Manhattan. In 1991, they sold their business and moved to St. Petersburg,
Florida where Jeanne worked as a Trust Administrator and Kevin entered the insurance
business. Jeanne eventually quit working to stay home with their son, Jackson,
who is now 12 years old. Kevin is currently an Executive Vice President for American
Strategic Insurance.
Kevin, Jeanne and Jackson love to travel and experience new places. They
visited Costa Rica for the first time this past March and fell in love with it. They love
the beauty, the tranquility, the wildlife and the kindness of its people. They knew they
wanted to own a home in Costa Rica for a place to vacation and, eventually, live for
part of the year. They hope to begin building on their lot in Phase 9 next year.
We’d like to welcome Paul, Melissa
and Drew to our community. They’re
currently living in Pennsylvania. Paul
has been in the insurance business
“There is more to life than
increasing its speed.”
Gandhi
for 31 years. He has a BS in Business
Administration from Clarion University, in
Pa. His hobbies are golf, golf and more
golf! Melissa was also in the insurance
business (she represented a different
company) for almost 20 yrs. When she
had Drew she decided to stay at home
with him. She’s currently a substitute
teacher with a BS degree in Business
Administration from Geneva College in
PA. Melissa’s hobbies are gardening,
reading and golf. Paul and Melissa both
also enjoy being a spectator at Drew’s
various sports games, racquetball and
being in the outdoors.
Drew is 10 and in the 5th
grade at a local Christian school called
Bellevelle Mennonite School. He enjoys
playing on the soccer, swim and baseball
teams. He plays the piano and loves the
outdoors too. He’s also a golfer.
Drew is the greatest joy in their
lives. All three of them enjoy traveling
and are planning on building a home in
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300
Welcome to the Neighborhood
We would also like to introduce some new faces to our sales team: Jay White and
Bija Satterlee. Both avid world travellers, they have chosen beautiful Costa Rica as
their “destination of choice” for both investment and retirement. They own several
lots at Ventana del Pacifico and are planning their first house build in the spring
of ‘08. Jay is a 20 year Navy flight officer, who has travelled extensivelly throughout
his career, and finds Costa Rica both relaxing and exciting. He is a successful
businessman in Boston, with involvement in real estate and owns several fast food
franchises. Bija has travelled
the world during her competitive
ballroom dance career,
but fell in love with Costa Rica
on her visit several years ago.
She has since spent extended
periods of time there, travelling
the country as an ecotourist,
and with her eye to
real estate. She is a Realtor
in Massachusetts and knows
good value when she sees it.
“In my opinion, after researching
all of Costa Rica, I find the
southern Pacific zone to be
not only my favorite place in
the country, but the area most ripe for property appreciation.”
Santa and Mrs. Claus of the North
Pole have chosen to build a second
home in our area. They recently visited
Costa Rica and had a fantastic
time. Their vacation property will be
Rutchailo Verde and they’re hoping
to start construction as soon as the
Christmas season is complete. You
better be good!
We’d also like to welcome Dave and Jackie. They both grew up in Western New York and
were high school sweethearts marrying shortly after graduation (25 years in November). They
currently reside in Florida and have three great kids, Dave Jr who is in the AirForce and is
getting married in February, Stephanie who is married and has two children of her own, and
Mike who works with Dave in the family business.
Dave owns his own business and Jackie is a teacher. They’re “empty nesters” right
now although the nest isn’t always empty. They wanted to look for a place to have a vacation
home as well as a place to retire that is both beautiful and serene. Dave always wanted to
live on an island. He loves the ocean and beaches and such. Jackie, on the other hand, loves
the mountains and rivers. They found that Costa Rica gives each of them the elements of
nature that they love. They’ve also found that the people in Costa Rica are gracious and kind.
Jackie had this to say about their experience “We had a wonderful time and cannot
wait to go back again. We had a great time before we went to the guest house. We stayed a
few days at El Buena Vista. They truly do have a beautiful view. The company and accommodations
were great. We went on a “guided tour” with Kristina and Steve and they are great guides. We didn’t exactly do the touristy
stuff, which was our goal. We wanted to see the area where we were contemplating a purchase to see if it was for us. The
more of Costa Rica we saw before going to the guest house, the more excited we were to see what kinds of lots were available
that would suit both our tastes and desires (we didn’t need it but we did want it). We had a good time at the guest house; plenty
of good food, wine and company. Our intention was to buy just one lot however the more we saw the more we liked. We ended up
buying two lots. One was akin to a trek into the jungle and up a mountain and you couldn’t see the whole thing but Dave just had
to have it. “My” lot was a no brainer. It is a 9 ocean view and a 10 mountain view. Breathtaking no matter which direction you
choose to look. I am very excited about getting into the building process. We are extremely pleased that we now have a vested
interest in such a special place. The whole process was fun and exciting. The journey isn’t over yet. We have only just begun.”
“We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we
take a little of each other everywhere.”
~Tim McGraw
www.PacificLots.com “Where the Mountains Meet the Sea” 877-481-0300