Beautiful house Larry. Could be the Jaco area is a different world than
rural Guanecaste.
Hope she continues to have a better experience than I did. May be that the
gringo population in Jaco has grown to the point that they are isolated from
the common folk.
I've lived in a few different countries (3 Balkan, 3 African, 1 Central
American) and visited a bunch of others without the benefits of a good expat
community and a couple that did (2 Middle Eastern), and it makes a world of
difference.
My opinions and frustrations about CR were based on my experiences.
MMC

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"MMC" wrote in news:X_Tyg.5994$Wi.3438
@tornado.tampabay.rr.com:

Ticos are second to only Nigerians as the most thieving bunch of
^&%$'s as I've ever personally seen.


Isn't that interesting. This is my friend's second house in Hermosa Jaco
and she hasn't said a word about being ripped off. When she built both
houses, she hired a Costa Rican architect, Costa Rican contractor and all
the work on both houses was done by local workers who did a beautiful job
on both. She takes this to an extreme. The teak all the beams in the
houses are made from came hand hewn from local stock. All the metal
fixtures possible, like the hanging pot holders in her kitchen, cabinet
hinges and handles, beautiful door hinges, handles, and the surrounding
fences are all made by the local blacksmith of wrought iron, each a work
of art that must have taken him hundreds of hours. The stonework inside
and out, itself, is more art than just stones. I thought someone left
some Mayan Temple stonemasons behind...(c;

I can't imagine her living down there in an atmosphere you describe. Of
course, Hermosa is very heavily populated with a generous Gringo
population the locals depend on for their living, so that may change the
conditions in this village.

Now if she could only get a HOME TELEPHONE! You have to wait for someone
to DIE before a number gets freed up for you....or whoever has floated to
the top of the list. Lots of cellphone use there....

Ah, I see she has put up new pictures of her new house on her website.
Take a look:
http://www.jacowebs.com/
Kelie used to live on a sailboat, here in Charleston....(on topic)...(c;
Now that this house is done, I wonder when she'll start building the
next, like the first time....hee hee. She's quite a girl, Kelie.....

"MMC" wrote in
:

I've lived in a few different countries (3 Balkan, 3 African, 1
Central American) and visited a bunch of others without the benefits
of a good expat community and a couple that did (2 Middle Eastern),
and it makes a world of difference.


Me, too! I lived in Tehran, Iran from 1977 to 1979, leaving 28 days before
the Shah did. (Gunfire at breakfast just down the street isn't any fun at
all.) I loved Iran, beautiful place. The scene out my apartment window
was of Mt Tochal to the left and Mt Damavand, the highest point in the
Middle East at 18,000+ ft to the right, the snow blowing off it when the
temperature in the street was 100F. Most Americans have no idea how VAST
Iran is. I worked for the Iranian Air Force. Built IAF it's main
calibration laboratory in support of the SIGINT/ELINT mission keeping an
eye on the Iraqi and Afghan borders from mountain top monitoring posts and
C-130's full of equipment. Too bad I'll never be able to go back. My
apartment building looks like I left it on Google Earth, but Doshen-Tappeh
AFB looks rather deserted on the sat photos.

I worked on US Navy ships in Bahrain and have touristed Kuwait, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia and the Emirates a bit.

Now that's a coincidence! My next door neighbor's father was with the
Embassy, packed up the family and scooted right about the time the Shah
left!
I don't know the neighbor's maiden name but could find out if you'd be
interested.
I was on the USS Harold E. Holt (FF 1074) Gonzo Station during the blockade.
MMC

"Larry" wrote in message
...
"MMC" wrote in
:

I've lived in a few different countries (3 Balkan, 3 African, 1
Central American) and visited a bunch of others without the benefits
of a good expat community and a couple that did (2 Middle Eastern),
and it makes a world of difference.


Me, too! I lived in Tehran, Iran from 1977 to 1979, leaving 28 days
before
the Shah did. (Gunfire at breakfast just down the street isn't any fun at
all.) I loved Iran, beautiful place. The scene out my apartment window
was of Mt Tochal to the left and Mt Damavand, the highest point in the
Middle East at 18,000+ ft to the right, the snow blowing off it when the
temperature in the street was 100F. Most Americans have no idea how VAST
Iran is. I worked for the Iranian Air Force. Built IAF it's main
calibration laboratory in support of the SIGINT/ELINT mission keeping an
eye on the Iraqi and Afghan borders from mountain top monitoring posts and
C-130's full of equipment. Too bad I'll never be able to go back. My
apartment building looks like I left it on Google Earth, but Doshen-Tappeh
AFB looks rather deserted on the sat photos.

I worked on US Navy ships in Bahrain and have touristed Kuwait, Qatar,
Saudi Arabia and the Emirates a bit.