Two Little Expats: 2013-09-01

The "slip 'n slide" approach to property viewing

When you're viewing a lovely, somewhat remote property and the owner asks, "Would you like to see the 100 foot waterfall?" - before answering "Yes!", I STRONGLY recommend first asking, "Is there a trail?"

Driving to the property in a '75 Land Cruiser.

Because if there is no trail AND you have to walk downhill to the waterfall AND if there have been torrential rains in the past 24 hours - you'll be sliding in the mud straight down nature's original "slip 'n slide", wildly grabbing for any tree-hanging vines (the best when available), ferns, and bushes to break the fall.

Then you ooh and aah at some water careening over a cliff down to the bottom of this cavern, laughing at the muddy water spraying all over your face and clothes - only to pull your muddy ass and water-logged shoes up the same, impossible slope once again.

Dang, my Aching Back!!

Inching SLOWLY past the property guard.

By the way, we really liked this property and I fell in love with the owners (which is not uncommon). The property consists of 15 acres partly in pasture, partly overgrown/wooded coffee, surrounded on 3 sides with one stream, one river and one creek emerging from a spring on the property, and including two waterfalls: 60 and 100 feet high. No house, though various nice home sites. Decent 1 mile long gravel road leading to the property from the main road. Less than 10 miles to the regional town. Access to city water and electric. Appears to have internet and phone signal. Asking price is $90,000.

We're not making any decisions yet about the property. But I suspect we'll pass on it for personal reasons. I DO like it though.

"The pasture is where the cows live."

A nice hilltop to build a house. Indisputable.

We head into the woods.
Ricardo tells Little Richie ,"Enough with the Land Cruiser driving."

All alone, Little Richie proudly drove the car down onto the property.
Beaming smile!!


Notice: mini skirt, plastic sandals and a huge machete in a designer leather sheath. She's ready for some serious action.

After decades as a coffee finca,
regenerating a natural forest also takes decades.

Timber bamboo growing down by the spring.
This is a large clump of "bambusa handholdii."

Ricardo asked if we wanted to see the falls. We answered that maybe just a view of the river would be nice. He said that he thought that might be possible - and off we tromped.

We lack photos of the actual descent to the waterfalls because on the way down I didn't want to deal with the camera with muddy hands and slippery ground. Apparently Jeff felt the same way.

Part way down the muddy slope I felt sorry for Maria Eugenia in her little plastic sandals and mini skirt. I thought maybe she was just doing this to accompany me. Nope, she said would be perfectly happy to charge down with the men.

Oh really? Well then honey, let's do it!! And off we went again, down that God-forsaken mountainside to the bottom.

The first waterfall.

Yep, Little Richie's thinking about taking a dip.
He ended up soaking wet minutes later.

Costa Rican Gothic.

The "big" river forms the northern property line
and drains into the mighty Rio Coto Brus.

This gal knows her way around.

Starr in her best Bat Cave crouch. Yes, bats were flying around wildly
during this picture taking though none were injured in the process.

The "plano" shows the property boundaries.
I see a water faucet, what do you see?

And on the same day, we went to . . .

Federico's Medicinal Plant Garden:

Federico works in San Vito. His mother was an indigeneous woman and his father "white" (whatever that is). He learned all about indigenous plant medicine from his grand parents. In the last 50 years his people have become itinerant coffee workers, losing most of their knowledge of medicinal plants along with their ancient culture.