World Cup Fever Begins.

We had made an appointment today with an estate agent, or Realtor as they are known here, to take photographs of La Casita to advertise it for rental purposes.

She was booked to come between noon and 1pm.

Mid-morning, we got a call from her to say she would not be able to make it today and could we re-schedule for tomorrow instead? Because ...

Well, give her some credit, she was extremely up-front and honest with us: her reason for not being able to attend was ... the World Cup! She was meeting her friends at the Lizard Lounge for a few beers and to watch the match on the Big Screen.

Costa Rica is three hours behind San Paulo! Only the Opening Ceremony was taking place at that time. The football itself wouldn't start for a couple of hours yet, plus La Sele were not even playing in the opening match!

Can you imagine an estate agent in England not making an appointment because the World Cup was about to begin in a few hours?

To be honest we were not that bothered - we were sat in a nearby bar, trying to get internet connection, as well as watching the football coverage. We found it quite funny really. 

As the Tico's say, Pura Vida!

Super Bowl XLVIII

Today, February 2nd 2014 is 'Super Bowl Sunday'.

A day that many Americans believe should be incorporated into a national three day holiday. A day where where many cite its ability to unite America's different cultures, races and religions. A day where more food is consumed in the States than on any other day of the year, bar Thanksgiving. A day where even churches sometimes cancel their afternoon and evening services. 

At the risk of offending my fellow expatriates here in CR, most of whom are either American or Canadian (are Canadians interested in the Super Bowl?),  what does Super Bowl mean to us British?

Like myself, I don't think many Brits know too much about the Super Bowl, other than it is the final match of the season. To be perfectly honest, I don't think many of them are particularly interested either. I think you will find that most of us British people just don't really see the point of American Football. But why is that?

Firstly, it is not 'football'; as the word suggests, 'football' involves feet kicking a ball, not running with it.

Secondly, running with a ball is a game known as Rugby.

In my humble opinion, American Football is really,

• rugby for wimps - look at all the padding those American boys wear! 
• rugby with minimal playing time - always stopping for this, that and the other!

(Said in a very pathetic voice, with big puppy-dog eyes, "Sorry, please don't hate me, it's only a bit of fun" :))

This year then, as we are much more exposed to the Super Bowl, we have decided rather than dismiss it for all the above failings, we are going to embrace it; well the boys and I are at least - DH is not one for sports that involves a team. Ok, so maybe 'embrace' is too stong a word ... I think perhaps 'feign some interest' is more the term I am looking for. 

Obviously a trip to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey is not on the cards (note to my friends back home, that this is where the game is being held), but instead we plan a quick beer at one of the many bars that is screening the game live. Having no idea of whom to support, we have opted for the Seattle Seahawks as opposed to the Denver Broncos, for no other reason that DH's sister and her family live near Seattle. 

May the best team win!

La Sele are through to Brazil 2014

Just a quick post tonight.

La Sele, otherwise known as the Costa Rica national football team, are through to Brazil 2014. 

According to Wikipedia, they are the third most successful team in Central America.

Finally, a bit of Latino spirit is evident in these laid back people! What with defeating the USA on home turf on Friday night, San Jose and the whole of Costa Rica has gone football crazy tonight! Avenida Segundo (2nd Street) is full of partying Ticos, all dancing in the street waving their flags. Cars are maniacally  driving around the city, tooting their horns, flashing their hazard lights (if they have any bulbs in them), waving even more national flags. The city actually looks and sounds alive tonight! Music can be heard drifting through the air from the numerous bars that can be found in the city and people are actually wandering through the usually deserted streets.

Celebrations in La Sele's locker room in Kingston, Jamaica, are being aired continuously on the national television screens. There is also a constant stream of videos of partying Ticos in various towns around the country. What is noticeable from these images however, is that unlike the UK, this nation seems to be celebrating without the aid of beer!! I am sure that the amber nectar will be consumed long into the night tonight, but for the moment, the Ticos are just too excited to stop beeping those car horns!

House Hunting in Playa de Coco

So after five days in the city, we moved down to the coast, to our chosen
destination, Playa de Coco, Guanacaste, north-west of Costa Rica.
(Note to self, I really must start taking some photographs and upload them!)

First task is to find somewhere to rent long-term; we can't live in our holiday rental apartment for ever, however warm and inviting the pool is! I think we looked at roughly ten different properties in about three days, some of which where great whereas others were .... Interesting! In one house I think they were starting up their own national collection of dead wasps and flies. In another, all sorts of cultures were being grown both inside and outside the fridge - Kim and Aggie would have a field day! I hope not to compare too much with the British way, as it is so different, but the Costa Rican people could learn a thing or two about presenting a house; even opening a window might help shift those properties, let alone a good clean. 

The realtor, Mari, whom we went on some of the viewings with, is in her mid-twenties I guess, and she owns the agency. A bi-lingual Costa Rican who speaks so, so, so fast in both Spanish and American, (I'm sorry, but with her accent, I really can't say she speaks the Queens English), that we both struggle with what she is saying in either language. Every time her mobile phone rings, of which she juggles about three, she immediately stops whatever she is doing to answer it, and then paces up and down like a madman jabbering instructions to the person on the end of the line. If the floor was made of stone, rather than ceramic tiles, I think Mari would wear them down very quickly. 

DH likes her because her skirts are rather short; naturally he denies this saying it is her knowledge of real estate and the surrounding area that he appreciates. Hmmm, silly bugger! However its obviously an office where uniform is not obligatory, unlike other places of work in CR, as her brother, Mauricio, rocks up wearing surf shorts and flip-flops! A very cool laid back surfer dude, who also paces a great deal when on the phone, but it is he who shows the best properties ultimately.

Armed with a long list of pros and cons, we all discussed our favourite properties: there was Tim's house, high on the hill, wonderful view, cool breeze drifting throughout, garage, open living space, permission to have an animal, but only a plunge pool. (Tim was from Florida and knew about house presentation as he had some ribs smoking on the barbie). Youngest son (YS from now on) campaigned strongly for the Golf House - large garden and room for a game of football and his goalie net to be erected; Eldest Son (ES) reasonably keen as hoping for a quad bike, which he thought would be useful to get around the golf course! 

A winner was eventually decided and a deal was struck. A four bedroom house in a small condominium of just twelve other properties will be our place of residence for the next year. We have a pool right next to our house, albeit a shared one, and a small gym. most importantly though, we have a view of the PACIFIC OCEAN!! I have never totally understood the desire for a sea view, probably because I have never lived by the sea before. But wow, totally amazing. We took a trip up there in the evening too and it is even more spectacular in the dark; all the little lights on the boats bobbing up and down on the water. Very impressive!

Back to the condo, it seems that only three of the other properties are regularly occupied, with the others still for sale or rent, so with any luck we will have the pool to ourselves mostly. It will be an experience living in a condo as we are used to our own space, but hopefully we won't aggravate and annoy the other residents too much with our noise!!

All I need to do now is take some photos and upload them. Oh yes, and move in!