Happy New Year 2010

Nosara—January 2010

Happy New Year. We spent a good part of the month of December organizing our 3rd annual New Years Eve party. Joe put together several music compilations, listening with his new ipod and new full size headphones to the hundreds of songs I acquired in New York. He is now caught up with popular US and British music from the last 10 years.

The party began at 5pm with trickles of people coming early to see the sunset. El Fenix, our new friends from Refugio del sol did the food—their specialty being pulled pork barbeque. The rock and roll bluesy band set up and Joe started the dance music selections. As people continued to arrive we alternated the lively dance music with the band—the first time we had drums up here. The moon was full, the temperature was about 80 degrees and there were constant breezes. Our blonde bartenders in sexy black dresses kept the crowd at the main bar engaged with speedy service and lively conversation. We had a second outdoor bar for Irish car bombs and three Tico boys worked non stop bussing, stocking, and washing glasses. There were about 250 people throughout the evening eating drinking and talking when they were not dancing. All our regulars came with their families and friends and many thanked us for hosting the event. About half the group cleared out after midnight to go to the Tropicana discotheque in Nosara village—we were told that buses had been hired to shuttle people from the tourist area at Playa Guiones to the Black Sheep and then on to the Tropicana where the festivities continued till daylight—our party was over by 2 which was fine for us.

Life in paradise is good. I swim almost every day which is the ideal mid day activity for the tropical heat. I drive the quad up and down the mountain and it is a perfect vehicle for the rugged terrain. I drive 10 minutes to Pelada Beach often where I can update my NY times, etc on my new ipod touch for reading later. My new smart phone gives me some internet access—it may need to be configured which may mean long talks with the phone company.

Our major focus is going toward selling the house—doing our own marketing and networking since realtors have not been active. We are on some web sites, will be on more and may have interested some realtors who market in the states. . We will continue to court local realtors since potential buyers may go to them. Selling your property here is a full time job and most people seem to do it without realtors.

I am aiming to be back in New York in April at Beth Israel Hospital if there is a spot for me—unless we sell, and then I do not know. We are going to San Carlos next week to look at property and to San Jose later in the month for Joe’s medical appt.

Come and visit while we are still here. They will pave the roads this year and it will be different—better for the locals (we now have a gas station) but not as pristine and natural.

Love, Helena and Joe