Weekend in Guatemala

I just got back from a weekend trip to Guatemala. I went to Chichicastanega with a friend of mine. Chichicastanega is a huge textile area in Guatemala. These little native people hand weave and make tons of things.

I got some really cools saints and blankets. The town is primitive and the hotels a little scary but in general Chichicastanaga is safe-no stealing, and shockingly nobody smokes cigarettes. I had a wonderful time and leanred a lot. The ticket out of San Jose, CR was $130!

JACO

Selling Selling Selling. Ahhh.. things are finally moving again in Jaco. I Love this town! It is a small town that you meet people from all over the world and it is alwaysd so busy and full of life. Jaco, Jaco!

FORECLOSURES

Hello everybody. Let me be your "go to girl" for foreclosures in Costa Rica (there really isn't anyone else hitting this market) Basically the foreclosure market is difficult to touch because there is no official place to check for them. Well, my company and I have made it possible, doing the work for you and making it secure with Stewart Title. Email me for more info. You don;t want to pass up these opportunities!

Weekend of Activities

“What’s do you do here,” Is a question I get asked by foreigners all the time when thinking about retiring here. Well what are you in to? Is my thoughts. There is surfing, gardening, hiking, hanging at the beach, golfing, and..My favorite, horse activities.

News flash, Costa Rica is the second largest exporter of PRE (Pure Raza Espanol AKA Andalusion) Horses after Spain. The horses, for those who don’t know were ridden by royals into war in the time of Kings and are still used in Bull fighting today. I have one that is PRE and I have a pinto that is of PRE decent. I went to the annual horse show this weekend and check out some of the beauties there!

Home made airconditioning

It's been tried and tested-it works and cools quickly

Supplies

• two bags of ice



• one medium sized cooler



• one fan

Simple put the bags of ice in the cooler (leave the top open) and adjust the fan to blow air directly in the cooler and ....whalah....refreshing cool air comes out for quite some time.

Bet you didn't know that little trick! I didn't either, my freind told me.

It's hot under the Costa Rican Sun

Are you burning up? It is blazing hot here today. Do you not have airconditioning well here is the solution to make it through the afternoon heat.

After the jump...

Rumors-Will the Lion Roar in Jaco Soon??

Guess what I hear is officially coming to our area-in a location that would be wonderful and really needs it?????????????????????????????????

WHATS NEW IN THE LAWS OF COSTA RICA

BE CAREFUL DRIVING PEOPLE! WE IN COSTA RICA WENT FROM NEARLY NO LAWS IN COSTA RICA TO SOME VERY STRICT DRIVING RESTRICTIONS-ALTHOUGH IF YOU SAW THE DRIVING BEFORE YOU WOULD SAY IT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED. READ BELOW TO GET A FEEL FOR THE POINTS AND $ THAT WILL BE AT STAKE. AND TAKE IN MIND THE EXCHANGE RATE APPROX 570 COLONES TO A DOLLAR


¢227.000 + 50 points in some cases

- Driving over 120 km/h
- Driving under the influence of alcohol blood level of between 0.50 and 0.75
- Driving under the influence of narcotics
- Illegal Passing
- Driving without a license or learner's permit
- Driving with a suspended license
- Driving a pirate (gypsy) taxi
- Not using a child restraint for children 12 years of age and under
- Transporting dangerous material without a permit


¢170.250 + 20 points in some cases

- Driving in excess of 20 km/h over the posted limit
- Driving faster than 25 km/h in a school zone
- Making an illegal "U" turn
- Runing a red light or stop sign
- Talking on a cellular phone while driving
- Bus drivers taking on/letting off passengers on non approved bus stop
- Driving a vehicle with the wrong license plates
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Not having the "marchamo" (circulating) permit current


¢113.500 + 15 points in some cases

- Passing on the right
- Driving too slow in the passing lane
- Driving a heavy vehicle without reflectors
- Overcrowding a punblic vehicle
- Altering a VIN number
- Driving on a beach


¢90.800 + 10 points in some cases

- Failure to give the right of way
- Motorcyclists and passengers without a helmet
- Too many people in a private passenger vehicle
- Driving without a windshield, obstructed visibility and tinted windows
- Driving a racing car on a public road
- Parking illegally in handicapped spot
- Blowing a horn excessively within 100 metres of a hospital
- Taxi drivers not using a meter or altering a meter


¢68.100 + 5 points in some cases

- Following too closely
- Driving with an expired license
- Driving with a foreign drivers license for more than 3 months
- Vehicle not having a license plate


¢45.500 + 5 points in some cases

- Driving without a license (license was left home, etc)
- Driving without vehicle registration
- Bus and taxi drivers insulting to customers
- Pedestrians jaywalking

¢27.000 + 5 or 10 points in some cases

- Blaring speakers outside of a vehicle
- Using a siren or flashing emergency lights without authority
- Driving a vehicle without a muffler
- Throwing garbage from a vehicle
- Driving in restricted area of San José

Price Reduction in a Development you need to know about (positive)

This home is located in the very exclusive community of Valle Perdido. This is the closest (to the beach) and most accessible development in the mountains around Jaco. The development has taken its time finishing all the roads (concrete) and selling their 5,000 + square meter lot some at a time over the last 15 years. This means very minimal impact on the environment and a well thought project. It paid off!
There is no other development who has 4, million $ + homes being constructed privately by the owners of the lots. The views are spectacular and the value will always be there in this development. There is currently only one lot to sell!

An owner there is selling this home and just dropped his price. Although the home is small it is finished beautifully and you are set in complete privacy of the hills.

Asking Price: $260,000

Dental Care/Dermatologist treatments in Costa Rica

So.. Costa Rica is renown for there medical care and services. Lately I have decided to go and give some things a try. Number one I had a wisdom tooth pulled and a giant cavity filled.

I was so, happy with the work. For my wisdom tooth I had to have surgery because the root was curved. I swear to god I didn’t feel a thing and the next day I was eating steak. I hardly got any sympathy from my boyfriend. If you need a dental recommendation please let me know and I’ll put you in contact with my wonderful dentist with a clean American style office. The wisdom tooth removal was $120 (and that was surgery)! PiperRenner@hotmail.com

A picture of the tooth with the giant cavity (it was like half the tooth and I was a millimeter from getting root canal) is above

Second, a good friend of mine wanted to have some youthful treatments for better looking skin. I went along for the ride and asked the surgeon what he thinks I could do (not that I need anyting!). He said I could use a light laser peel (laser fractial) to even out my skin tone because the sun is so strong here and I am so light that I have some sun damage. I was in a fun $ spending mood so I said okay. Once again I didn’t feel a thing. They put me out. Later that night I felt like I had the wickedest sunburn ever but then the next day the sunburn pain went away, and now I have a pattern on my face. It has started to peel away (which it is supposed to do) and the new skin is as soft as a baby. I have yet to see the full results but it was interesting and the service, cleanliness and attention from the specialist was phenomenal. Again-if you want more info or a recommendation let me know. PiperRenner@hotmail.com.

A picture of my patterned face is also above (second day after treatment, the rough skin is now pealing)!

Sweet Deal/Beachfront Condo $175000

This one of a kind oceanfront condo was remodeled by one of the top designers in the area. It is a one bedroom with patio with lots of light. It comes fully furnished, is prices unbelievably low. This seller is motivated and this condo is exceptional in price, location, and charm.

I really personally encourage anyone to buy this unit as a rental investment or just to enjoy!

Email me for the deets:

Piperrenner@hotmail.com