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Thanks for reminding me and you are correct I had forgotten your names. There were so many people and my facilities were really inadequate to accommodate but that did not mean anything. We all had a great time and after it was over I was exhausted. Every year I say we will not do it again, then people tell me like you have said in your post that they met a lot of people when they were here.
This year we are doing it a little different because we have been blessed with so many families in the area. During 2003 untl about 2006 there were not very many families here. Mostly people coming for the winter break and not really set up to do any cooking. Now it is much different, but Charles and I still enjoy sharing our Thanksgiving.
Thanks for posting that information about what is going on weather and flood wise up North. I’ve had several people write and ask me about what is happening because they have made reservations for some of the hotels in that area.
Please stop in to chat or have lunch when you are in the area or passing by. We like to show our place off so if you have visiting guest that you are bringing to Grecia, give us a call and stop in.
I’ve lived in Costa Rica for about 5 years and Pinto beans, Navy beans, black eye peas are hard to find. I really miss the three bean soup. You can get a large variety of beans from Panama but not here in Costa Rica in most places. I usually get beans when I go to the USA or have someone bring them when they come.
That sort of goes with the smoked turkey and ham hocks, collard greens and all that good stuff. You can find mustards but no collards. Costa Ricans eat some small white beans, black beans and I think the people in Limon eat red beans. I may have missed something but from my observation you can not find those other beans here in most stores.
No, I dont remember the initials, but I am almost positive if you give me your name and tell me what year you came I will remember you.
Thanks every one for the very kind words and praises. Play Hermosa, please check with TICO Times and AMCosta Rica. They have updated information on conditions in the flood areas. Costa Rica board of tourism is not publishing a lot of information because they want the tourism dollars. So make sure you check before you go. I think the embassy also can provide you with information.
It is so funny that we have so many people on this forum that have been to Grecia and also who live in Grecia and they can not seem to tell you what there is to see here. First of all the little city of Grecia is very unique and pretty, the friendliness of the people is just amazing. That in itself is a tourist novelty, but inside Grecia they have a beaurtiful church you can visit it has a lot of history. Then you can adventure to Sarchi which is just about 6-10 KM from the center of Grecia, this is where you will see a lot of wood handicraft, in fact the areas close by have little hidden wood crafting shops that will allow you the privilege, to stop in. The are not pretty little shops but the actual work shops where people are making the items you see in stores here in Costa Rica and also stores througout the USA. I saw a Nebraska furniture container loading up in Sarchi. The Nicraguan artistes who work crafting wicker and bambo are located in Sarchi and the neighboring town of Narango, in fact you can go to Palmares and visit little factories and see how they carve out beautiful pieces of furniture and artifacts in small areas. It is amazing such beautiful art work comes out of these tiny little shabby buildings.
Then you can venture to Zarcero where you will see the topiary display in the town square. Each town has a main church in the center and each church is a story.
From Grecia, you can also go to the Poas Volcano which is about a 60 minute drive climbing the mountain, with a lot of curves and the scenery is awesome. You will be compelled to take pictures with every turn. Grecia is at the altitude of about 4000 feet and the Poas Volcano is about 8,000 ft. After climbing that high do not fail to go visit the wonderful La Paz waterfall gardens and also in this area is the Doka Coffee farm.
RowenaThese are just a few things you can visit from Grecia, there are many it is just according to what your need is. Also there is golfing but most courses are close to San Jose. There are a few golf courses at some of the beach resorts. There is one close to San Jose which is about 45 minutes from Grecia, just check this link.
If you visit Panama you can load up on almost everything you miss from the USA. Even to include greens and corn meal. They have lima beans, pinto beans, the mixed bean soup. They have almost everything you want, so if you have to make the 3 day trip out of country take a large suitcase and a cooler. I’ve made many trips and it is worth it if you take a few suitcases or if you drive your car and just load it with every thing from food to cheap clothing, dishes and many items. I shop until I drop when in Panama. Hair products are plentiful, face creams and just a ton of products that we can not get here or that are so very expensive here.
There is one that I am going seeing here in Grecia, he is very good and he speaks English. He also has an office in Alajuela and San Jose. His name is Maurice Acupuncturist 360 9800
Thank you for the information. We have a small B&B and I was thinking about allowing a company to book rooms for me. The only reason I did not is because they want a chunk of money for commission. One person told me that some of these agencies aften book people when they know you have no room. That leaves you to face the upset traveler. You have helped me to make my decision not to allow anyone to make reservations for me. I will have the potential guest to contact me directly. You have saved me a lot of frustration and perhaps some money losses.
Your local church, yes the community church. They usually have people that are looking for work. Some house wives that have grown children and want something to do for an income. You can check with your local community of ministers or priest.
Stay away from women that can get pregnant. That sounds crazy but you have to pay for non work time. I’ve always hired women in their 40’s most who have grown children. They are far better workers and more reliable. They have less of an opportunity to be hired.
The country a person comes from or does not come from is no guarantee of having a good quality worker. Some workers of other countries seem to work harder and are more dedicated. They really need the job and are welling to work.
Alachner,
Thanks for your words, they were just great and right on. Many of us are here to not only receive benefits, but also to be a benefit to Costa Rica. I have never lived in a country that put out a welcome mat for foreigners. In most countries they have some things they do not like about the foreign invasion. We felt like that when the Arabs started buying properties in major States and cities in the US. Usually the problem is one that impacts a State and not the entire country as here in Costa Rica. Thank you for your words, you explained it better then most.
I’m a little angry myself, because it just seems that we have done some things without much thought. One of our favorite sayings is,”if this was in California do you know what it would sale for” It is not in California, it is in Costa Rica and the cost of police service is low, the cost of education is low, there are no sewers in most areas, no gas lines, some areas do not have garbage pick up, the streets are not paved and there are no street lights in most areas. The services are just not here and those services have a big effect on the price of housing and land. This is not California, where the medium income is $80,000.
Of course if I’m selling land to you and you tell me the price is not bad. The next guy will raise his price and they will keep on raising it waiting for people to get off the planes telling them that the price is not to high. Based on that information my place is worth about 1,000,000. which is really ridiculous, but just offer it to me and see how fast I move (smile). Thanks for such a nice explanation.
That is one thing I like about Costa Rica. They have made provisions for their workers. Not as in the US the workers get nothing. We could be paying our maid service 4,000 colone per day and working them 12 hours a day. That is the law, you can work them for a maximum of 12 hours.
We came here with no agenda, our goal at this stage of life is to enjoy life. It is important that the people around us are able to feed their families. We have added benefits because they have been with us for a couple years and it does not seem as if they will be working for anyone else any time soon. So we want them to have the benefit of giving us those years of good service.
Our contractors are happy to come to work and it has worked for us. They have helped us build a reputation and we have many returning guest. Our guest are comfortable, they dont have the fear of being robbed. We have had guest leave money in the rooms and return to find it where they left it. You get that from people who are able to feed their families. It is very tempting to steal when you are unable to feed and cloth your family.
Yes, we are begining to get profitable. We could have been more profitable if we would not have selected to only be known word of mouth or from the internet. We made a decision not to post signs. It pays in the long run, we dont have people stealing towels and other things. Our quality of clientel is better and therefore it minimzes problems.
We have time to grow our business and guide it in the direction we want it to go. It is just what you make it and what you have in mind.
We are treating our contractors this way because of our investing in them for what our business is going to be. We are building relationships in hopes that we will profit and those we have working for us will also profit.
Yes we are able to pay the bills and make changes. Our first 4 years have been totally reinvesting into our business. We are looking at adding more accommodations here at the guest house in another year. This year was the first year we had to turn guest away. Our business has grown so we have leased three houses and furnished them for vacation rentals and for our over flow. Praise God we had overflow this year.
To me a business is a hands on operation and in order to be profitable you have to have a passion for the business. You have to find something that makes your B&B different then others.
For us it is our breakfast,service, and clean facilities. We are not the fanciest, we do not have a swimming pool, nor are we the cheapest.
You have to find your passion for this business. Anyone can open a B&B and offer people a place to stay. There are a lot of them around.
If you want to enjoy Costa Rica the easier you make things the more comfortable you will be. Profit may take some time but if you are consistant and run a good operation the business is there.
Currently, in the US houses are not selling, so today we are seeing more visitors that are coming for a few weeks to check Costa Rica out.
We have been through many cycles in these few years. In Costa Rica things change rapidly so you are always having to stay sharp and keep updated on events that would effect your business.
Forgive me for being long winded.
Wish you a lot of success. It is a great business and you meet some very special people. Attitude is 99% of your success or failure.
Speaking of Costa Rican being put out of the market. My Costa Rican friend is building a home for $35.00 a square meter and the North Americans are building for $65.00 a square meter. There are several homes built tico style that are being sold for $25,000 to 35,000.
There is a changing time in Costa Rica more people are being educated and more of them will be affluent. The Costa Rica we see today is quickly changing. How can you put people on a guilt trip for purchasing what people are selling.
There are two properties one on each side of me that are for sale. The owners are Costa Rican and the price they have put on the land is outrageous for a North American. It is crazy, but they will leave the price just as is, in hopes that a nut will come by and purchase the land. They think the nut is me.
The guy on the right of me has 1,000 meters of land and the rest is rock going down the slope to the river. He has divided that 1,000 meters into 3 lots, for a total price of $30,000. He thought he would scare us into purchasing it. He said that people getting help from the government to purchase land and build a house would be buying the land. Well it has not happened, so who is the bad person, the one who sales or the one who buys.
It does sound to good to be true but, from what Ive been reading in the papers. There are a lot of empty homes and condos. They cost money and the builders and lenders have created a way to fill those houses. Make sure you as a future tennant/owner remember you have the power of bargain on your side.
Great marketing, this slow time will not last forever.
Thank you Scott, there is so much potential here for quality businesses. Good accommodations in Costa Rica are not plentiful, we have many accommodations but they are not the quality they should be.
A quality B&B can be very successful, this is the begining of the boom. Those who get in first and do quality business will build a reputation that they can enjoy the fruits of in years to come.
