Currently en route 'back home' to Europe although after five months bumping between the dusty village of Coronado in my ever so faithful pickup (who is now officially called 'suerte') and the amazingly quick and almost complete Pura Vida Ecolodge Jungle Villa project, the emotions ran high as I said my goodbyes to the villagers, neighbours, the once shy younguns, the colourful houses and abundant nature, even the early rising parrots seemed to arrive for my send off - "5 weeks and we'll be back" I told them between handshakes and embraces. hopefully to add the final touches and dress our new Jungle Villa for its first guests in June!
The dusk before, up at the project, I had said my goodbyes to the team. El 'jefe' Marvin cheekily promising completion within the month. Alex posing some last minute questions on finishes, final positions and sizes. Pencil scriblings with 'Perra' clarifying the final touches of our contemporary 'mesa/isla' in the kitchen/dare I say dining room. A low key exit of different handshakes and requests to bring Spanish (or even English) ladies back with me on my return. Diego carving out yet another bambu beer mug, William shaving in the mirror of a dusty motorbike, while Lelo y Paisa patiently tried to kick-start their ride home. Chef Pinpin slops the frijoles onto 11 ominously balanced plates scattered around 'la rancha'. Out of Marvins sight, the normal 'end of day' activities were slowly exhaled by Jupah and Alan as reds and yellows seemingly melt into yet another fantastic sunset.
Five months have passed remarkably quickly and just as the stress and anxiety is gradually replaced by genuine excitement and pride, my return flight beckons. The next five weeks will be enjoyed - (or maybe suffered) via skype and regular engineer & architect visits - as well as my increasingly helpful and 'solo bueno' neighbours who promise to continue my photographic reportage of the last few 'pasos'
After a shaky start, our last week before 'Samana Santa' came to a nice end. Palmex completed their super speedy roof instalation, just in the nick of time as the seasons start to change and the first rains arrive. Our palapa or 'palma' roof looks beautiful and really compliments the rustic and somewhat irregular bambu or guadua structure. Fascinatingly, its colours seem to change throughout the day, depending on the sunlight cast, but it pleasingly seems to blend into the rugged surroundings. Still to come are the 'tapicheles' (the details of cedazo, teak and ornemental bambu that cover or rather 'seal' the triangles at the ends of the main living area's roof).
With the permits of our plunge pool coming through just in time, the peones got to work preparing the space at the back of the side deck. When finished it's orientation will be stunning, seemingly hanging over the jungle canopy itself with the best sunset views of the retreat.
Downstairs, our 'espresso cream' stucco finish is starting to look perfect, after various aplication experiments by Perra and Alex, it would seem the best combo was lijando the concrete finish, 2 'manos' of pasta lisa, sellador to take off or ratger seal the chalky finish and then the stucco itself. The nuetral colour works so well with the ornamental bambu cieling with all the real vivid colour coming from the jungle.
So, it would seem on the day of my departure, all is 'mas o menos' under control. Sometimes there aren't the appropriate words to describe a situation or an emotion and besides,sometimes words just don't translate between the languages. 'Carinyo' is the overiding sentiment. Regardless of the non-sensical beaurocracy and the non-existant concept of time, the 3 plates of 'arroz y frijoles' (rice and beans) daily and the overly laid back attitude, the measuring straight lines with clearly bent bits of wood and the 7 sets of architectural plans all jumbled into 1 crumpled confusion, the dubious improvisation and the long days, the heavy rain and the scorching afternoons, as I take off from San Jose airport, I have a beaming smile, for the time I have experienced and the people that I have met. Ojala hablara 'los maes' Ingles, asi me entenderian...
Gracias a todos, una experiencia, aunque no sea completa, inolvidable... Proper photos to come soon!!!!
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