January 2008 Update

January 2008

Our New Years Eve Party was a huge success. We had about 250 people here at one time-party went from 5pm till 4am. Our gardener’s family provided cooking and support. We had enough beer and food and our band was very well liked. The big surprise was that someone had arranged for Disney level fireworks at midnight on the next lot--it was truly amazing. The preparations were stressful as usual—up till that morning we were not able to find bartenders—then builder Bob who made the tables for our beer garden offered his professional bartending skills and saved us. Our brewer had brought the beer from San Jose and was here to help with beer problems and did some bartending. We have a new bartender, Paula, a Costa Rican from San Jose. We like her and she likes us—so far so good. We are now preparing for our Feb.2nd anniversary.

The beer garden is terrific. It gives us shade during the day and it is great to see people there in the evening. . Joe’s ranchito, which he calls his office, is a great space down the hill in the jungle. We had some metal stairs made so we and our friends can get down there safely—it is quite an incline over 20 steps—and it is a very peaceful space.

We continue to have trouble with the car. One evening we were driving back from Nicoya and it died. I flagged down the first car and 2 young Costa Rican women stopped and went home to bring back their brothers. Joe stayed with the brothers who jumpstarted the car with a quad and drove it to a gas station using flashlights to keep the battery draw low. I went with the women to call our mechanic. I expected him to send a tow truck but he came himself—a 45 minute drive. He is a Canadian and he had fixed our alternator the week before and he said “I stand behind my work.” Once I knew he was coming I had a pleasant time with the family drinking wine and talking. Then they drove me to Joe who was now in the gas station and as soon as I got there we saw our mechanic on the road and were able to flag him down. He helped us get home and he lent me his car on and off for over a week while the alternator was sent to San Jose for servicing. With all the car problems and being busy I have not been to the Internet in two weeks.

I started volunteering one morning per week at EBAIS, the state run clinic. I am mainly observing and the staff is very welcoming. Last week I gave a short presentation to the Friends of Nosara about my woman’s health project. This is a local group who has set up a 503c, a way for people in the US to donate money and take it off their taxes. I have to begin the process of setting the group up as a Costa Rican non-governmental organization—then I am fairly hopeful that they will give me money. It is not easy to get things done here.

Joe wrote an article for Voice of Nosara. The Title is: “Against All Reason: Why I moved to Nosara.” It is on the Blog—check it out. We had to pay to have it printed because of the length but it is well written and will serve as an ad for the pub. Please read it and tell us what you think. It is good to hear from everyone.

We are into the dry season and the winds blow strong at times. It is sunny and in the 80’s. The skies are blue and the air is warm and clean. Come and visit. Write when you can—I love to hear how everyone is doing. Happy New Year, Love Helena and Joe