Folks,
We’re really sick of hotel living at this stage. But the great news is that we have today got an apartment and will be moving into it next Sunday!
Hotel living
========
We’re in La Amistad hotel since moving back from Manuel Antonio. It’s ok, but after a while you really need your own place. In particular, a kitchen. The joy of being able to buy something in the very well-stocked supermarkets and cooking it. Rather than always resorting to the very limited restaurant scene.
Meeting with Shane & Sophia
======================
Last Sunday, we met up with Shane from somewhere near Drogheda, and his English friend Sophia. It was brilliant to talk to people who’ve done all this already. They recommended finding a job first, and then choosing an area for an apartment that suits. Sophia also had information on language schools, an English language theatre group and a writers group. We arranged to meet up with Shane and his work colleagues in the suburb of Heredia on Thursday. It was a VERY drunken night that ended up with Jack singing ‘Downtown’ at a local karaoke.
Addresses
=======
One of the strangest aspects of Costa Rica is that they don’t really do addresses, although the downtown area is organised on a grid system, with Avenidas north to south, and Calles east to west. There is an Avenida Central and a Calle central, and the odd and even numbers then go off in different directions. But addresses never use these numbers. They give directions from the nearest landmark! This hotel, for example, is on the junction of Avenida 11 and Calle 15. But the address is “From Calderón Guardia Hospital 100m west”. And 100m doesn’t necessarily mean 100 metres. It means one block, regardless of size! For this reason, foreigners (or gringos as we’re called, although that should only apply to Americans) usually hire out “Apartados” or post office boxes.
Work
====
I sent my CV out to a number of language schools, and have an interview in one in Heredia tomorrow. Although they’re not taking full-time staff on I’m told by Shane and his colleagues that they wouldn’t be interviewing me if they didn’t have something in mind. So fingers crossed!
Our apartment
==========
We’re so tired of hotel living that we decided to look for an apartment in Heredia even though we haven’t work yet. Even if it’s just for the first few months. We spent a thoroughly disheartening day wandering around and looking in papers and on supermarket noticeboards. On the way home I bought the English language Tico Times, and found an ad for a furnished apartment in Heredia, with phone (like gold-dust here, a long story for another time), internet connection, washing machine, TV and cable. We went there today and it’s fine. It beats the hotel hands down and it will do for now. So we’re really delighted and moving in on Sunday 1 May.
We’re off now to meet the other Irish guy, Fionn tonight. Fingers crossed or pray to your God for my interview tomorrow.
Keep in touch.
Until next week!
Adios,
Éamon & Jack
Sunday, April 24, 2005
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Iguana on a hot tin roof
Folks,
We’ve had a great week. We went to Manuel Antonio and had a wonderful time on the beautiful pacific coast. The update is slightly longer, but will be back to normal next week!
Getting there
=========
As ever, the journey to Manuel Antonio was not without event! Our taxi to the airport should have taken 20 minutes, but took 45 as a truck had crashed into a bus on the motorway. We got there with minutes to spare. The domestic terminal is a tiny hot overcrowded building right next to the tarmac. When we went onto the tarmac to board, we were confronted with a tiny 6-seater Cessna! It was so small that Jack had to travel in the co-pilot’s seat, with the steering thing moving around in front of him. It was so small that the plane was buffeted about with every little gust of wind. I was so nervous. But the views were incredible. Especially when we came out of the cloud and saw the pacific coast for the first time.
Manuel Antonio
============
Our flight was to Quepos, and it was a short drive by bus to our hotel. We had a small villa up the hill looking over the rain forest to the pacific. There were extensive grounds, patrolled by many squabbling iguanas. In fact, we were woken each morning by the sounds of an iguana clambering across our villa’s tin roof. Manuel Antonio is a popular coastal resort, popular with American’s, gays, and (I guess) gay Americans. It was a short stroll to the beach, and we went there every day.
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
========================
The highlight was our visit to the national park in MA. It was just a walk from our hotel, and it was magnificent. We just followed the trail paths and saw a turtle swimming off the beach, three snakes, a family of monkeys passing in the trees overhead, a couple of sloths high up in the trees, iguanas, cicadas, a racoon, and lots of strange red-legged crabs. To cap it all, we discovered a small secluded beach that we had entirely to ourselves and skinny-dipped in the warmest sea water I’ve ever encountered.
Ollie’s Folly
=========
One of the most interesting places we visited for a meal and a drink was a restaurant and bar built around and inside an old war plane. It was purchased by Oliver North as part of the Iran/Contra deal to support the contras during the war in neighbouring Nicaragua. It was captured in Costa Rica before it got to Nicaragua and is now known as Ollie’s Folly. The restaurant is around the plane, including under the wings, and the bar was inside the plane itself.
Back to San José
============
The flight back was less eventful, given that it was an enormous 12-seater plane. I know we’ve given San José a bad press in our last email, but we’re now going to check out the outer, wealthier, suburbs. We’ll probably have to live here for a few months anyway until we get oriented. Also, the Irish mafia is coming to the rescue. We had a couple of contacts leaving. One is a guy called Liam Branigan, who some of you may know. He used to work in Irish Life, although I don’t know him myself. Anyway, he’s now in Cuba, but has put us in contact with a friend of his, Fionn, who’s in Cuba for the week, but will be back Friday. I’ve also contacted a guy called Shane, who was in the same language school as me, a couple of years before. He’s now living and working here, and we’re heading off to meet him at six.
It will be great to talk to someone with experience of the place, and we’re logging off now to compile a pile of questions to ask him.
Keep in touch. Don’t be afraid to send reply emails! We’re hungry for news!
Until next week!
Adios,
Éamon & Jack
We’ve had a great week. We went to Manuel Antonio and had a wonderful time on the beautiful pacific coast. The update is slightly longer, but will be back to normal next week!
Getting there
=========
As ever, the journey to Manuel Antonio was not without event! Our taxi to the airport should have taken 20 minutes, but took 45 as a truck had crashed into a bus on the motorway. We got there with minutes to spare. The domestic terminal is a tiny hot overcrowded building right next to the tarmac. When we went onto the tarmac to board, we were confronted with a tiny 6-seater Cessna! It was so small that Jack had to travel in the co-pilot’s seat, with the steering thing moving around in front of him. It was so small that the plane was buffeted about with every little gust of wind. I was so nervous. But the views were incredible. Especially when we came out of the cloud and saw the pacific coast for the first time.
Manuel Antonio
============
Our flight was to Quepos, and it was a short drive by bus to our hotel. We had a small villa up the hill looking over the rain forest to the pacific. There were extensive grounds, patrolled by many squabbling iguanas. In fact, we were woken each morning by the sounds of an iguana clambering across our villa’s tin roof. Manuel Antonio is a popular coastal resort, popular with American’s, gays, and (I guess) gay Americans. It was a short stroll to the beach, and we went there every day.
Parque Nacional Manuel Antonio
========================
The highlight was our visit to the national park in MA. It was just a walk from our hotel, and it was magnificent. We just followed the trail paths and saw a turtle swimming off the beach, three snakes, a family of monkeys passing in the trees overhead, a couple of sloths high up in the trees, iguanas, cicadas, a racoon, and lots of strange red-legged crabs. To cap it all, we discovered a small secluded beach that we had entirely to ourselves and skinny-dipped in the warmest sea water I’ve ever encountered.
Ollie’s Folly
=========
One of the most interesting places we visited for a meal and a drink was a restaurant and bar built around and inside an old war plane. It was purchased by Oliver North as part of the Iran/Contra deal to support the contras during the war in neighbouring Nicaragua. It was captured in Costa Rica before it got to Nicaragua and is now known as Ollie’s Folly. The restaurant is around the plane, including under the wings, and the bar was inside the plane itself.
Back to San José
============
The flight back was less eventful, given that it was an enormous 12-seater plane. I know we’ve given San José a bad press in our last email, but we’re now going to check out the outer, wealthier, suburbs. We’ll probably have to live here for a few months anyway until we get oriented. Also, the Irish mafia is coming to the rescue. We had a couple of contacts leaving. One is a guy called Liam Branigan, who some of you may know. He used to work in Irish Life, although I don’t know him myself. Anyway, he’s now in Cuba, but has put us in contact with a friend of his, Fionn, who’s in Cuba for the week, but will be back Friday. I’ve also contacted a guy called Shane, who was in the same language school as me, a couple of years before. He’s now living and working here, and we’re heading off to meet him at six.
It will be great to talk to someone with experience of the place, and we’re logging off now to compile a pile of questions to ask him.
Keep in touch. Don’t be afraid to send reply emails! We’re hungry for news!
Until next week!
Adios,
Éamon & Jack
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Finally here
Folks,
Hi, well we’re finally here. I’m writing from our hotel room in San José.
The journey
=========
We were exhausted after our flights. We had a 6 hour 40 minute flight to New York, followed by a one hour 40 minute flight to Atlanta, and then a final 3 and a half hour flight to San José. All with breaks in between. All in all we were travelling for around 24 hours.
Leaving Ireland
===========
We fairly much got everything done leaving Ireland. The house was cleaned, emptied and handed over to the estate agent. The car was returned to Irish Life on the way to the airport!
San José
======
After all the planning, packing, stress and travelling we’re finally here in San José, and I have to say that, to be honest, it’s a bit of a disappointment. I had read beforehand that it’s a pretty uninspiring city. On first impressions that’s a bit of an understatement. As Jack put it, it’s a hole! It looks very old fashioned. Everything seems to have been built in the sixties. There is a lot of poverty. Loads of homeless living in cardboard boxes, literally. It’s quite dirty and polluted. There’s some quite obvious prostitution. All in all, it looks to qualify for ‘hole’ status. We did venture out to some of the suburbs, which are a definite improvement on downtown. Still, given that it’s where we’re likely to be living because of the language schools (and there are lots of them), it seems a shame given that the rest of the country is so beautiful.
Travels continue
============
Anyway, for the moment we’re not making definite plans. We’re on holidays, and still recovering from the last few weeks. We are flying to Quepos on the Pacific Coast tomorrow, and staying in a villa in Manual Antonio, a popular tourist town. Hopefully we will chill out for a week before deciding what the next stage is.
The weather
=========
It’s been quite mild, but not hot, all week. There was a warm wind as we arrived, and it’s mostly been cloudy. As the week’s gone on though, there have been some showers, and I think that it’s clearly the beginning of the rainy season. I’m expecting that when it gets going there’s going to be an awful lot of rain. I’ve never seen gullies in the street as big as the ones here. I saw one small woman standing in one, using the pavement as a counter to sell handbags, it was that deep!!
Anyway, it’s now after midnight, and, guess what! We’re packing again! Keep in touch. Until next week!
Adios,
Éamon & Jack
Hi, well we’re finally here. I’m writing from our hotel room in San José.
The journey
=========
We were exhausted after our flights. We had a 6 hour 40 minute flight to New York, followed by a one hour 40 minute flight to Atlanta, and then a final 3 and a half hour flight to San José. All with breaks in between. All in all we were travelling for around 24 hours.
Leaving Ireland
===========
We fairly much got everything done leaving Ireland. The house was cleaned, emptied and handed over to the estate agent. The car was returned to Irish Life on the way to the airport!
San José
======
After all the planning, packing, stress and travelling we’re finally here in San José, and I have to say that, to be honest, it’s a bit of a disappointment. I had read beforehand that it’s a pretty uninspiring city. On first impressions that’s a bit of an understatement. As Jack put it, it’s a hole! It looks very old fashioned. Everything seems to have been built in the sixties. There is a lot of poverty. Loads of homeless living in cardboard boxes, literally. It’s quite dirty and polluted. There’s some quite obvious prostitution. All in all, it looks to qualify for ‘hole’ status. We did venture out to some of the suburbs, which are a definite improvement on downtown. Still, given that it’s where we’re likely to be living because of the language schools (and there are lots of them), it seems a shame given that the rest of the country is so beautiful.
Travels continue
============
Anyway, for the moment we’re not making definite plans. We’re on holidays, and still recovering from the last few weeks. We are flying to Quepos on the Pacific Coast tomorrow, and staying in a villa in Manual Antonio, a popular tourist town. Hopefully we will chill out for a week before deciding what the next stage is.
The weather
=========
It’s been quite mild, but not hot, all week. There was a warm wind as we arrived, and it’s mostly been cloudy. As the week’s gone on though, there have been some showers, and I think that it’s clearly the beginning of the rainy season. I’m expecting that when it gets going there’s going to be an awful lot of rain. I’ve never seen gullies in the street as big as the ones here. I saw one small woman standing in one, using the pavement as a counter to sell handbags, it was that deep!!
Anyway, it’s now after midnight, and, guess what! We’re packing again! Keep in touch. Until next week!
Adios,
Éamon & Jack
Monday, April 04, 2005
Tired and emotional
This week has really been a rollercoaster. We’re exhausted. I honestly had no idea how stressful it would be to get the house emptied and everything moved to storage, while at the same time saying goodbye to friends and family.
The house?
========
I’m letting the house. I’m going through an agency, so basically I’m just meeting the girl from there at 11 this morning, and it will just be a matter of handing her the key and they’ll do the rest. It’s fairly empty at this stage, and we’re staying at a friend’s tonight so that we can leave it ready for viewing.
Friday’s booze-up
=============
By the time it came to the booze-up on Friday I was wrecked, stressed and felt that I needed it like a hole in the head. But I have to say I really enjoyed it, and it was great seeing so many of our friends and family there. I only wish I had more time to spend with people individually, rather than flitting around, but what can you do.
Not dead yet
=========
I’ve been very touched by the emails, cards and text messages I’ve received from friends. My mother was looking at the cards and said “Isn’t it great to get these sort of tributes when you’re not dead yet”. I’m also touched by how helpful people have been, offering storage, or to do a trip with my stuff to my mother’s in Ennis. I won’t forget how good people have been.
Last hurrah
========
In addition to the booze-up on Friday, we were down in Ennis on Monday, Leitrim to say goodbye to Jack’s sister and family on Wednesday. We went to see Hal in the village on Saturday, and Kaiser Chiefs in the Ambassador last night. It turns out the lads from Hal are going to New York tomorrow also, quite possibly on the same flight.
Here we go, here we go…
===================
So, tomorrow it is. 10:45 flight from Dublin to New York, followed by flights to Atlanta and then San José, Costa Rica. Arriving about 20:30 local time. Our first three weeks will be a holiday, touring the country. So should have lots to tell you next week. Dashing off now to get the last of the stuff out of the house before the estate agent gets here!!
Adios,
Éamon & Jack
The house?
========
I’m letting the house. I’m going through an agency, so basically I’m just meeting the girl from there at 11 this morning, and it will just be a matter of handing her the key and they’ll do the rest. It’s fairly empty at this stage, and we’re staying at a friend’s tonight so that we can leave it ready for viewing.
Friday’s booze-up
=============
By the time it came to the booze-up on Friday I was wrecked, stressed and felt that I needed it like a hole in the head. But I have to say I really enjoyed it, and it was great seeing so many of our friends and family there. I only wish I had more time to spend with people individually, rather than flitting around, but what can you do.
Not dead yet
=========
I’ve been very touched by the emails, cards and text messages I’ve received from friends. My mother was looking at the cards and said “Isn’t it great to get these sort of tributes when you’re not dead yet”. I’m also touched by how helpful people have been, offering storage, or to do a trip with my stuff to my mother’s in Ennis. I won’t forget how good people have been.
Last hurrah
========
In addition to the booze-up on Friday, we were down in Ennis on Monday, Leitrim to say goodbye to Jack’s sister and family on Wednesday. We went to see Hal in the village on Saturday, and Kaiser Chiefs in the Ambassador last night. It turns out the lads from Hal are going to New York tomorrow also, quite possibly on the same flight.
Here we go, here we go…
===================
So, tomorrow it is. 10:45 flight from Dublin to New York, followed by flights to Atlanta and then San José, Costa Rica. Arriving about 20:30 local time. Our first three weeks will be a holiday, touring the country. So should have lots to tell you next week. Dashing off now to get the last of the stuff out of the house before the estate agent gets here!!
Adios,
Éamon & Jack
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
