My love affair with Paris is over

On May 26th I broke up with my Paris blog!

It was time. I had pretty much made up my mind a couple of years ago that I would not be retiring in Paris.

It was a wonderful dream but the reality did not match the dream. 

Paris is way too expensive for folks on a fixed income and there are way too many hoops to jump through to reside there on any type of permanent basis. Paris, my friends, is not hurting for people who want to live there. Therefore, there is no reason to entice retirees with easy residency and monetary perks. 

And... this realization is a perfect example of why it is so important to do extensive research on any place(s) where you to think you may want to retire.

However, even though I no longer have my Paris  blog dedicated to all things Paris, I can still post any related information here, as this is a travel blog, of sorts.

And, I thought it only fitting to end my love affair with Paris by posting a photo and related article about the end of another romantic era in Paris.




The love locks on The Pont des Arts
 are being removed. I have done several posts about the historic bridge and it is sad that the locks will finally come off for good!

But, structurally the locks meant disater for the bridge.

I'm Just Sayin!

Don't get screwed by the airlines - Relocation/Travel tips

10 SECRETS THE AIRLINES DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW

Once you've experienced a $200 price spike in the middle of your ticket search, your fourth 45-minute flight delay of the day, or your bag going MIA in Miami, you can't help but think: what are these airlines hiding from me?

It turns out, A LOT. Sure, some of it's coincidence, and you get an $8 voucher for an airport breakfast. But that overpriced breakfast is not an adequate salve -- and in fact, you've got a right to more than that. Here are 10 secrets airlines don't want you to know.

Black, White and Shades of Gray - Relocation Abroad

Travel Wardrobe Capsule – Black and white and shades of gray

Been really busy working to narrow down the clothes for my upcoming trip. Been Mixing and matching outfits to wear for 15 glorious days in the tropics. 

Each of us has agreed to travel with only ONE carry on. So gotta make everything fit! That's the plan.

As we were fine tuning our itinerary I also attempted to fine tune my wardrobe selections. However, so far, no wardrobe plan has worked to meet all of my specifications. 

　

With time running out, I'm posting my most recent and hopefully my final attempt. 

I chose these pieces based on several factors and with a focus on total comfort dressing. No tight, clinging, digging pants. I'm not even taking a pair of jean (they are heavy and can also be very hot) We have a long flight and once we arrive we will be spending a great deal of time riding long distances on hot buses, which I also assume will probably a bit cramped. 

I don't anticipate that we will attend any dressy functions but I bought along 1 dress that can pass for dressy and I have a pair of trusty black pants. 

Four dresses

Six tops

All tops are inter changeable

five pairs of pants

 navy, black and gray pants are all made of tencel

Batik long dress from Molly b

 2 swim suits

1 swim suit cover ups

1 Net King Tunic (also comes in black)

the tunic is not an "official" swim suit cover up. I'm just using it as one. 

It is very versatile. I have a million things I can wear under it. 

Also packing: 2 pairs of knee length shorts (khaki and pink) and 3 linen Tshirts (navy, black and olive green) 1 wrap, 1 pj, undies (I love the ExOfficio Quick-Dry Full Brief $20 /pr) 2 pairs of Toms (black and ?? (a pair not  purchased yet)

So far everything fits. We'll see how many "must haves" I will have to add to the bag.

I'll take a photo each day of the outfit I wear once we get to Costa Rica

The beautiful money of Costa Rica - Tips- Relocation Costa Rica

The other day I was getting a little nervous wondering about how and where to exchange money for our Costa Rica trip.  I have made currency exchanges for past trips abroad at a currency exchange location in San Francisco prior to our tirps.

The colón (named after Christopher Columbus, known as Cristóbal Colón in Spanish) is the currency of Costa Rica. The plural is colones. The ISO 4217 code is CRC.

The symbol for the colón is a capital letter "C" crossed by two diagonal strokes.
more about the Colon

I realized that you don't get the best exchange rate at these locations and for some reason I was under the impression that I was to make the exchange at the San Jose upon arrival. I asked our Costa rica contact about this and was told that in fact, the airport was the worst place to exchange money. The preferred option would be the use a bank. However, we are arriving very early in the morning on a Saturday and I doubt that we will be able to get to a bank.

How will we get to our hotel or do anything without the local currency?

Good question

Have no fear!  Michael & D'Angelo to the rescue (thanks guys!).

Cleared everything up and now I'm all set!

Take a listen

Happy Holidays from I'm Just Sayin!

A Tale of 2 San Jose's - Crime and Relocation Abroad

I was hearing so much about the crime in Costa Rica and I thought I had it all worked out in my head.

Until, I became concerned (again) a couple of weeks ago when Michael & D'Angelo posted this video of a burglary that happened to them in their apartment close to San Jose Costa Rica. Even with the video footage below, the police did nothing.

And.... Today on Facbook I saw video footage of another burglary, this one in San Jose, California. Possibly the only difference is that "maybe" (and that's a BIG maybe) if they catch these 2 thieves, something might happen to them. But since I have very little faith in the police anymore, whether they do something about it or not doesn't make much difference to me.  but I feel a little better now (of course I feel bad for the victims) but..... the point for me  is 
Keep it in all in perspective, this kind of crime can happen anywhere!! 

Airline tickets to Costa Rica - Check!

and it feels so good....

We decided to forego the flight on Spirit Airlines especially after hearing all the awful stories about the service they offer. I'd like to get there without the hassle and delays most passengers seem to experience. They do offer a very attractive reduced airfare.

but.....

We chose Delta Airlines which flies non-stop from LAX. Our ticket price was $550 each round trip and $661 with taxes and fees. Still a very good fare.

That works for me.

PF Chang's opens today in Costa Rica - Relocation Costa Rica

I know people would be all over my case if I said publicly that I am just a "little" happy that PF Chang's is opening in Costa Rica.  I actually like PF Chang's and their high priced cocktails! 

Our neighborhood Pf Chang's

Now, I'm not saying that all change is good change. It's not, but there is still plenty of old world Costa Rica left. I see no issue with some home town eateries showing up. It's opening in the right place too.  Escazu is an upscale city where many other "US " style restaurants are also located. I admit it, from time to time I might just want to frequent something familiar. (if I were to say this on any of the Costa Rica expat forums - I would be barraged with sneering, jeering comments like "don't come here" and "stay home"  They will warn that soon Costa Rica will be a little "America" (Ok, Ok maybe that would not be good) But here's my point. It will be nice not to have to fly 3,000 mile back home for some China Bisrto.  And anyway, neither I nor them have any say in what types of places open in Costa Rica. (And I am happy to have my own blog where I get to say whatever I want) Just Sayin! 

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month - the horse is pink

Grupo Enjoy, an investor group in Costa Rica working with 100 percent domestic capital, is preparing to unveil its latest $2.5 million investment in early November. According to finance reporter Evelyn Fernandez of business weekly El Financiero, Grupo Enjoy will welcome diners to the very first P.F. Chang’s China Bistro in Costa Rica, located in the ritzy Avenida Escazú, on November 3rd.

Click for the rest of the story

Farewell to Paradise - Day #7 in Puerto Viejo - Relocation to Costa Rica

Ashlea, Wanda and Tommy are flying home to Texas today. So these photos may be my last update. 

But....what an amazing experience they had! I really enjoyed following their journey and I appreciate that they were willing to share their trip with me via message and photos (thank you Facebook). 

One of the things that stands out to me about their trip is how much interaction they had with the locals.  After the 1st day or so I didn't hear very much about the expats. I heard much more about how they were building friendships and forming bonds with the local people and their experiences with local culture. That's exactly the way they wanted it.  I get the feeling that in Puerto Viejo this is fairly easy to do, however I'm sure with a little effort they could have had your "typical" US tourist vacation, lying on the beach, eating out and taking tours.  I'm happy they chose to experience the "real" Costa Rica!

Early on they met a young man named Kaboom and he became a friend.  Kaboom is a member of the Bribri - an indigenous people of Costa Rica living in Talamanca in Limon Province of Costa Rica

He shared his story and his life with them. 

And on their last night he prepared a celebration feast for them 

and cooked it on an open fire on the beach.

fire on the beach in Cocles

Rondon is a rich, delicious traditional Jamaican party dish and is very popular on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The name is the Patois pronunciation of “run down”.

“Run down,” as in, the cook of the home prepares a soup with whatever they were able to track down or forage that day, whether it was in the backyard, a neighbors coconut tree, or the bounty of the sea.  For this reason, there are many variations on the dish, and there can be no wrong way.

Kaboom spent 2 straight hours on the beach grating coconuts

“The vast variety of fishes, small game, and wild and domestic meats available to the coast people, in combination with the foods they cultivated on their land, kept them well fed, to say the least. Preparing a meal rarely entailed a trip to the shop. It was merely a matter of “running down” the ingredients in the bush, in the sea, or on the farm. The thrifty housewife put everything together in one pot, simmered it in coconut milk, and called it “rundown” for everything she was able to “run down” that day. If it included fish, yam, plantain, scallions, palmito and Panamanian pepper, it could hardly be better.” 
“What Happen” – A Folk History of Costa Rica’s Talamanca Coast 
—by Paula Palmer, 2005, p 61

Rondon can be made in the kitchen or on the beach: 

just make a fire with a nice bed of coals and cook the soup in a big kettle resting on some stones

Heidor (a surfing instructor) was working so hard his pants were falling off from preparation of the coconut milk

That's dedication and patience!

The coconut milk - first squeeze and strain is done with cold water...2nd and 3rd time with hot (boiling water) to draw more milk out...they repeat the process until the milk starts to get clear

This entire meal was prepared by the men. A ton of heart goes into their food!

and no help from any women!!

most of the cooking and prep done by Kaboom and Heidor

Prepared in the kitchen and cooked on the beach over an open fire

Takes 8-9 hrs from start to finish

Ashlea asked to sample the fish and it was served to her on this leaf

Rondon is best served about 20 minutes after taking it off the heat. 

Locals cover the pot with banana leaves.

What a wonderful send off. I hope to meet up with Kaboom and some of the other local people when we visit in the spring.

Thank you Kaboom, Heidor and of course Ashlea, Tommy and Wanda for sharing your journey with us!

It was bound to happen - Tico Time Day 6 in Puerto Viejo - Relocation to Costa Rica

Things were going pretty well for Ashlea and the group...and then....it happened. The thing they've all warned us about and one of the biggest obstacles US expats have to face in Costa Rica.

It's called "Tico Time".

It is one of the biggest reasons why people return to the states.

In Costa Rica the Ticos don't feel the urgency to be restricted to a time schedule. Their lives are more relaxed and much less stressful than ours. They do things on their own schedule (which often means that it does not coincide with our schedule). They may tell you 8:30 on Monday and show up on Wednesday at noon. I guess you just never know.

Here in the US we are the exact opposite. We are taught from an early age to be prompt and we are pretty regimented where time is concerned. This difference is something that can drive some folks absolutely crazy and many will never adjust.

Today was a day Ashlea was looking forward to (and me too). This was the day she was to meet with the realtor. Set for 8:30 am. Time to check out the available housing in the area.  After all, this was one of the major reasons for her trip.  And, I was hoping to get some idea of housing costs in the area and also a chance to see what the houses really look like (thus far both of these facts have evaded us).

Well, for reasons ranging from unexpected early morning visitors, to lack of transportation the meeting did not happen on schedule. 

No houses were ever seen on the inside

But...the meeting did happen, finally

And we learned several things. 

If you're looking for a place to rent in Puerto Viejo, it's probably not a good idea to talk about it in public. In the US we like to put the info out in hopes that someone will know someone who knows someone and we can find a place.

In Puerto Viejo, telling someone will mean that they will tell someone who will tell someone who will tell someone who will tell someone and it will never stop.  It might get you a marriage proposal but probably will not result in you a finding a house! 

Instead find a reputable person and then keep it private! So now Ashlea (hopefully) has found just such a person.  If it works out, she can pass them along to me. 

Oh and BTW - Long term rentals are pretty difficult to come by in the Puerto Viejo area because during the high season, owners want their properties vacant so they can rent them short term and charge higher rents.  During the high season is when most of the money is made in that area.  Makes sense. So, you can't  really blame them. However that may cause some problems for those of us looking to rent all year.

So what are we going to do? At this point I have no idea.

Maybe this is a good time to start taking some advice from our Tico friends. 

Tico Time really means to slow down and go with the flow. It is the quiet acceptance of the well-meaning people of Costa Rica who have their own priorities.

Relax.  

What's the rush

It will all work itself out in the end 

It's a Dog's Life, Day #3 Puerto Viejo Costa Rica - Relocation Costa Rica

It's all about the dogs!

I've mentioned several times that I'm a bit worried about the girls (Lily & Lola) living in Puerto Viejo ("if" we live there). I have read about the stray dogs that roam the streets and the beaches there. Mostly big dogs and my girls are very small. So of course I'm concerned.

I figure the best way to get accurate information is speak with pet owners who live there or have been there.

The central Valley is on our list of possible locations so I got some info from on the expats business owners who has lived in the Costa Rica for aver 10 years.

"There are no leash laws here, but you should not have any problem with your two yorkies. I would not leave them behind.  I brought my medium size Chow mix when I moved here (she passed away a year and a half ago 17 years old).  I never had any problems with her and she would sometimes walk around loose in the neighborhood.  A lot of the dogs you see around are not stray dogs they belong to someone but they let them out by themselves."

Ashlea and I have also discussed the situation (as she has a dog as well).  So since she was going to visit the area before I would get my chance to go, she agreed to give me some first hand information about just what the situation is on the ground in Puerto Viego.

"The dogs are all polite... Lol... They lay in the restaurants...bars...shops... Wherever they want to be but they never beg"

"They lay next to tables I guess hoping for food. They were on the DANCEFLOOR tonight... And I actually saw a stray fetch a ping pong ball from a match. Then he sat back down waiting for attention."

"To clarify on the dogs, they will try to get them away from the tables and the dogs do listen- but we said it was ok.

  "We were sharing a rib plate and I was excited to give them the bones and besides, I don't mind sharing space with dogs- they are all so polite!"

"Dined with THREE dogs....they sat and waited for a bite- one just rested his head on my knee."

"I met an American there, he had a dog that dined with us as well. So we were talking about the dogs...how docile. I watched a cat (also roaming inside) batting the tail of a dog...he didn't even bother- just looked at her."

"Saw a tiny Chihuahua with its owner- so we stopped him and asked
He said he's never had a problem. I told him about you.
I think this might have been a teacup
It was on a leash and walking... The dogs just ignore."

"The dog situation is amazing. I mean... Really."

Here are the requirements for bringing your pet to Costa Rica

Moving with your pets: A rabies vaccination is required for pets that enter Costa Rica, and it must be administered between 30 days and one year before departure.You’ll also need to have your veterinarian fill out and sign the APHIS 7001 International Health Certificate from the United States Department of Agriculture stating that your pet is in good health. Birds require additional paperwork.

This is how we do it - Day 2 - Relocation Costa Rica

It's day 2 and Ashlea, Tommy and Wanda head out for a full day of exploring.

They start the day with a meal of fresh fruit which they purchased from one of the local carts - the fresh fruit is wonderful. It can be cut for you and you are welcome to taste test fruits you might be unfamiliar with.  They buy Rambutan, Star Fruit, mini bananas and some sort of green orange. You can actually buy quite A LOT of fruit for $10!

Next they head off to rent bikes from one of the many bike shops. Bikes are a normal mode of transportation for tourists and locals alike. They rental rate is $7/ea for 24 hrs. They then head south  to explore the area south of Puerto Viejo. 

It's a scenic ride and they past by the Le Cameleon Boutique Hotel where we are going to stay and Ashlea remarks that "it looks awesome" (whew!). On the way they stop in Cocles at La Isla Inn located across from the ocean and booked their next two nights. The inn is owned by a very nice German lady. There are many different cultures in this part of Costa Rica. Ashlea is in love with melting pot of people who live in the area.  

As they continued their journey there were boutiques, restaurants, quaint hotels and grocery stores which dotted the entire ride. Ashlea and I had been a bit worried that there would be no cool clothing places but to our surprise there were many! She will send us some pics which I will include in a later post.

"Aqua de pipa" as it is called in Costa Rica is not to be confused with coconut milk. Drinking young coconut water provides a quick and easy source of nutrition without taxing the enzyme systems of the body. It improves the absorption of minerals, B vitamins and fat-soluble vitamins, as well as some amino acids.
Costs about $2.00 and can be found just about everywhere!

Along the ride they came upon a man on a bike...yelling "pahhhhty patty patty" so they decided to stop him and ask what he was selling. Homemade empanadas from a recipe originating in Jamaica...and fresh juice. He also instructed them that is they continued on their path, once they reached the town of Punta Uva (where a lot of the expats live), cross bridge and turn left they would find beach. After following the long road through the jungle and they arrived at a truly breathtaking beach. They swam...lounged about and then headed home.

Total miles on the bike....18
Now THAT is some riding!

Stay tuned for day 3 and it's all about the dogs!