Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
Hola Scott… I wrote a message to that email but so far no reply
Is there another link to their website ?
Tnx JoDiego, call them machistas, proud people, but yes I have been invited and more than once. I have been coming to CR back and forth for 8 years, and it is not the place here to tell you all my stories, but I have seen more than once the guys paying the bill for inviting me, and also my friends when they were visiting, and that bill would cost him more than half of his wages of the week. Also I went every morning to the only restaurant of the beach for a coffee while I was building . The owner always comes with a Pinto con Huevos, and there is no way she would let me pay.
Of course if from times to times I invite my peones on friday after work, I have to leave after 2 beers or they will drink on me all evening…. For them, 2 beers or 12 beers is the same, meaning they are as happy of being invited…and because of that, they will be willing to work even harder to please me.
They also invite me to a casado at lunch time because they know otherwise I will not have time to eat. It is public knowledge there that I hate to cook. Call it friendship or not, I call it family……pueblo…I am not insecure to be taken advantage of, opposite, I always tell them I am the one to abuse, and they just smile and say: Nunca dejes aprobecharse pues para nosotros es un placer !!!
Maybe we just did not meet the same people !!!
Hasta Luego
JoSorry but I cannot agree with Diego, at least it is not my experience. If the Ticos expect you to pay the bill at the restaurant, it is because you did not make things clear before !! I arrived in CR in September, a few days after my birthday, and my Tico friends were waiting for me with many gifts, one had even built a little rancho at the beach because he knew I had dreamed of it in my last stay and did not have time to build it before I leave. They are the ones who invite me for a beer or a meal.
I think all you need to remember to get along with Ticos is to treat them with respect, and NEVER ever let them know you think they are wrong. For example, if they do something you asked for, and it is not what you were expecting, you don’t tell it is not okay, but maybe you have changed your mind as to how it should be, and he can help you fix it the other way. Ticos never insult or screem, but they will let you know otherwise if you did wrong.
Yes they think all foreigners are richers than they are, but they like to talk about the difference of culture, and they understand the money hard earned in our homeland, and the cost of living is different. They will always forgive the mistakes from the difference of culture if you don’t pretend to be better than they are…just different. It is not true that one cannot have real Tico Friends. I could write a book about all they have already done for me, without expecting nothing in return…
If you don’t come here with the fear they will all take advantage of you, they won’t.
Good luck, and I am sure you will have a very good experience in Costa Rica.
JoMiss Arlene, Just like you I used to be crazy scared of snakes, scorpions, ants, spiders and last year during the building, landscaping process of my property,within just a few weeks, I ran into all those above. I think we are more affraid of what we don’t know.
One incident, I was cleaning all the old wood that my constructors had taken away from the previous house, and I almost caught a 2 meters quaker snake in my hands thinking it was a piece of wood….. That poor kid was so scared of me he craweled as fast as his full belly permitted…..then there was a scorpion in my window…….I screamed, but there were so many people to make fun of me, I realized it was no problem….Other thing, I live right next to crocodile river……and even that, we get used to it. I would not go swimming with them, but I go fishing on the shore, surrounded by my new friends………oh, you can call me Tarzan
Hasta Luego JoHola, All that seems very complicated, and if I see it from the people point of view, I would say it is now better to have a colones saving account than US. The only reason is because the interest rate for colones is better and since it is not devaluating compare to USD.
I’m not a professional investor, but that is what happened since last october….now the question is when they will reevaluate the colones, it could drop big time !! JoHola, I like to buy pay my exit tax long before I leave, often the Day I arrive. I just let the card with my passport and when it is time to go, I don’t have to wait in line to pay….and I’m sure I won’t be short of money to pay it… Jo
Hola… Funny, I had a phonecall from a builder here in Canada who wants me to visit his workshop. He has been building prefab houses here for years, and now has made a prototype fo export in Mexico. He already sold some there. He asked me to go see if those house could meet Costa Rican standards. Haven’t seen it yet, but I can give more info if anyone interested. Jo
In San Ramon, and on the main street from San Ramon to Puntarenas, you will see MANY bamboo furniture stores….and many bamboo trees as well !!! I bought a table with glass top and 4 chairs there for 200$. Was it expensive ? I thought it was a good deal.
Hasta Luego JoGenincr, could you tell me more about it? To wire, I have to go to my bank in Canada and sign the papers, with the swift number of my BNCR. What do I need to do that directly on internet, and what are the costs of your canadian bank ?
Thanx JoHola,
He builds boats on the Pacific Coast, on the way to Puntarenas:
mlarski@cogeco.ca Phone number 506-391-6560
Good luck
JoMr Woody, I would hope that as well !!! I bought that property like 4 years ago, just before the moratorium on the concessions all over Costa Rica. The lot is empty now, but my friends in Parrita told me Minae approved the plano regulador in Palo Seco and it is a matter of weeks before everything is ok….
… Actually I have heard that last January…but of course I know I could have paid off someone at the municipality for paperworks to be approved faster, still I believe being honest and patient will be worthwhile in time. I have waited that long, what are a few weeks (months)more ?Besides, I know some properties had the concession papers in order, even before the moratorium, and I like to believe they are the ones who are building right now…. If not, I wish them good luck !!!
Hasta Luego
JoHello, I met Mariette when she was the owner of Pelican, a little hotel in Esterillos. She sold a few years ago, and since then, she has been helping friends and former clients to buy or rent in the area. She has been a huge help for me when I bought in Palo Seco.
Speaking of which, I have heard for months(years) that the concessions would be granted within a few weeks. Can’t wait to build my dreeeeem home too…but one learns to be patient here verdad !!!! So welcome neighbor, and cheers to the day we will have a frozen Imperial on OUR beach !!!!!
Hasta Luego
JoHello mrWoody,
Just curious to know how is your concession process doing ? It could take a while before you have all the permits to build in Palo Seco.
Besides, I have a friend who has been living in the area for the last 15 years. She helps people with all the paperworks, she can help you with a local constructor, architect, she can supervise your construction for you if you cannot be there all the time during the process.
She speaks french, english and spanish. You can write and ask for more information at
marietta234@yahoo.es or call at 506-778-8408
Hasta Luego
JoBill, Cannot you just go to the municipality and see for yourself that plan where they have that new road, and then you can see if your building is too close or not.
I had a situation like that a few years ago. The plans changed and I lost the first 10 meters of my lot because the municipality thought they would enlarge the road…one day…eventuallyThey did not do anything so far, and it is not likely they will ever do anything. But that 10 meters is off limits for me to build. It doesn’t make much difference for me to build a little further from the beach, I have quite enough space. What about you ? Cannot you change the building location, just to make sure it is not on the way of their plan ? I think it would be much easier than trying to have papers signed at the muni.
I also think there must be a plano regulador and this is how they know there will be a larger road. Maybe it is not approved yet, but you still can go check it out at the city office…. From what I understand, your property is in a concession area, and I don’t understand how the municipality can grant permits without plano, let alone concession….we learn everyday !!!!!
Good Luck
JoBill,
Is there a plano regulador for that area ? If yes, you are intitled to go see it, and you will know where the boundaries are for that road. If there is no plano regulador accepted for that area, I don’t think the municipality will give you any building permits.
Besides, I assume you would not want your new construction to be right next to the road, so if you assume the 6 meters missing for the new road will be right on your property, that will help you chose your building site on your land……If you build this way, and the road never gets to be done, the worst will be for you to have a little larger front garden
Just an idea
Hasta Luego
Jo
