Has it really been two weeks since I 'blogged'??? As things heated up in Tres Rios and progress was going relatively fast at the site, it was time to make some final decisions (and purchases) for the first Jungle Villa. With such limited selection in terms of finishes & 'griferia' (taps & showers) available at the coast a recce was in order up in Costa Rica's capital San Jose. The drive up was long, dusty and emotional, as Kika was leaving after 3 brilliant weeks only to be 'replaced' by a much less attractive Israeli architect friend of mine 'Dondon' - buen rosho ;)
Running round San Jose for a few days was both exciting and maniac. Emotional Airport drop-offs, broken computers, endless queueing for new car number plates eventually made way for more productive 'reuniones' first at Ziruma where we eventually made final decisions on our natural stone 'finishes' for the bathrooms, shower areas and even the plunge pool (for when we get the building permits through!!) We have also 'reserved' two custom made 'lavamanos' (sinks) that are carved out of a smooth and creamy natural stone, that will look beautiful on top of our contemporary poured and polished concrete units.
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| My car with the new plates, at last! |
Next step was ConstruPalaza, with the contractor wanting final decisions on toilet fittings and sizes, my heart was set on a minimalist 'suspended' design - surprising to think how strong one's feelings can grow towards a model of toilet!!! In true Costa Rican 'mas o menos' fashion, the assistant told us she thought they were out of stock and it would be a while until their next delivery - since then we've had optimistic delivery dates as early as two weeks, only to be followed by another phone call with a rather different story of three and a half months!!! The search for hanging toilets continues!!
After being sent round in circles to a every governmental department in the eternal quest to get my new number plates for the hilux I was starting to go insane - the sheer level of beaurocracy had surpassed itself, to the extent that even the 'registro' workers themselves were confused as to which piece of paper had to be stamped, certified, annotated, signed and logged, and then which pile was its final destination???
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| Progress at week 5 |
Not to mention the different queues and buying stamps - literally too much 'non-sensical' insanity to write in a blog - maybe one day I'll write a book!!
Eventually made it back to the project and the progress was impressive. The foundations were in and the retention wall at around 2 metres (of its final 3metres plus - that will be the height of the entrance & ground floor).
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| Progress at week6 |
The quest for 'better value' (and MUCH lower VAT taxes) took us on a wee road trip to neighbouring Panama. After a couple of hours at a typically chaotic border town of Canoas we were safely into Panama and with the improved roads (ie roads that are actually made of asphalt without pot-holes) we made it to David. After rallying round for a day-and-a-half we headed back 'home' with a truck load of taps, plumbing fittings, shower heads, 2 jerry cans of gasoline and a large bottle of Flor de Cana rum for good measure. As we approached the second line of customs and police checks, the nerves set in, there was 'apparently' a limit in terms of the 'legal' amount of goods one could 'smuggle' across the border. With our intense shopping spree, I feared we were dangerously close...It turned out that 4pm seemed to be the ideal time to cross the checkpoint, a sole policeman lay in a hammock, boots kicked of sipping his afternoon cafe - Pura Vida ;) as he slowly waved us past...
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| Casa de los peones (workers) |
The progress continued back at the site with the foundations complete and the structural steel beams starting to show us the final shape of the ground floor. A couple of days up at the site 'mucking in' with the 'sapo' and 'pala' I think I convinced Marvin that I count as 'medio-peon' when required...
Next stop Perez Zeledon and Costa Rica's largest bamboo plantation.
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| Bamboo Tico |
We needed quotes and measurements with things at the site going to schedule. Guadua, a very strong and resistant bamboo relative seems to be perfect for the structure of the roof while 'tableta' will be what we will use for the detail of the sliding teak panels that surround the entire living areas.Lastly, we decided on ornamental bamboo for the 'cielorazzo' or roof detail.
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| View into the jungle from the deck |
By the time we were back at the site, yet another week of construction had come to an end - ground floor bedroom concrete poured and the 2nd floor structure taking shape - being able to stand on the second floor (where the open-plan living area will be) and for the first time actually see what the view from 3 metres up will be like - stunning!!!!
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