Third Year Anniversary

On this day (May 31, 2011) three years ago, we landed in Costa Rica for the first time ever. We had decided it was time for a big adventure and so we disposed of most of our belongings in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, leaving some things behind in a small storage locker. We came here with six suitcases, holding our electronics and clothing.

We consigned our cat, Genny, to World Pet Travel. She came down here separate from us. We boarded the Amtrak Cascades train in Vancouver and were on our way. In Seattle, we got on board the Amtrak Coast Starlight and headed south to San Francisco where we spent two nights in one of my favorite cities. I had always wanted to ride the Coast Starlight - the name alone is alluring. It was a little holiday from all the previous year's planning and work to prepare for our move. Then a flight to Dallas and finally to Juan Santamaria airport in Alajuela, arriving at 8:30 pm. I will never forget how I felt on touchdown - we were really here!

We spent a week in San José, seeing our lawyer to commence our residency process, and getting to know the city. Then we picked up Genny from where she was boarding and took a taxi to Atenas in the Central Valley. Atenas was the town we initially selected as a good place to start - close to the airport, the major hospitals, an hour to the Pacific beaches, absolutely great weather. Turned out to be the right choice.

And we have been here ever since. The only sad change is that elderly Genny passed on late last year but she had two terrific years here with us. Do we regret this move? Absolutely not. It's still an adventure. We have just one more year to fulfill as pensionado residents and then we can apply for permanent residency which we plan to do.

A whole new world has opened up for us - trying to learn Spanish, other countries to visit, new cultures, new foods, new animals, plants and on and on. Making friends here is easy, both Ticos and expats. Living in a completely different country, as opposed to visiting for a holiday, is an experience that I wish everyone could experience. If you want something bad enough, you can make it happen.

Costa Rica is a wonderful country and the Costa Ricans are exceptional people. We love living in the tropics. I am so glad we decided to do this.

Here are some retrospective photos of our big adventure journey:

Aboard the Coast Starlight.

Lance perusing the lunch menu on the train.

Waiting for our taxi to San Francisco Airport, then on to Costa Rica.

Early morning, San Francisco, waiting for our taxi.

First breakfast in Costa Rica, San José.

 

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Two Month Anniversary!!

It was May 31, 2011, that we flew from San Francisco to San Jose, CR, via Dallas. We left Vancouver, B.C., on May 27th, riding the rails on Amtrak's Cascades and Coast Starlight trains. This is a train trip well worth doing.

Our cat Genny was shipped from her vet, Cats at Home, in Cloverdale, B.C., flying from Vancouver to Houston, TX, where she overnighted in feline luxury, and completed her voyage the next morning, flying to San Jose, then being met there and delivered to Veteinarios Asociados in Santa Ana, where she boarded until we picked her up once we finished our business in San Jose and moved to Atenas. Many, many thanks to Angela and her wonderful crew at World Pet Travel for taking such good care of Genny. And thank you wonderful people at Cats at Home for preparing Genny for her trip. Also thanks to the staff at Veteinarios Asociados for caring for Genny after her arrival. She has adapted and settled into her new home and country very well.

What do we think of our new home? It is everything we thought it would be - Costa Rica is a beautiful country - and we have barely scratched the surface. We found a lovely home to live in for the next year; we explored San Jose for a week and it's such an interesting city, very historic. We are learning our way around on the buses - cheap transportation and a great way to meet the locals and do what they do. We are enjoying the town of Atenas, meeting our great neighbors, eating at the sodas, trying to speak Spanish, the weather is amazing, so is the bird, plant and animal life .......

To sum up, we are very happy with our decision to try a new life in Costa Rica.

Oh yes, a big thank you to all the expats who have helped us on this journey - you know who you are and we won't forget you.

Day One of Our New Life

Friday, May 27th - here we are in Seattle at the www.hotelmaxseattle.com, a very nice place to stay. We had dinner in their restaurant www.redfinsushi.com - great food, service and martinis.

Enjoyed the Amtrak Cascades from Vancouver to Seattle this morning. We stayed overnight in Vancouver on Thursday so we could get to the train station at the early hour of 5:00 a.m. Our good friend Jon Churchill was kind enough to come over on the ferry from Victoria to Vancouver to drive us and all our baggage from our house in Cloverdale, to the hotel in Vancouver, and then to the train station. It was very generous of him to offer to help us and we had a great evening together noshing and yakking. Thank you once more, Jon.

Speaking of baggage, we realized our two biggest suitcases were just too big and too heavy, even unpacked. So this afternoon, we went baggage shopping and bought two smaller versions which are much lighter and yet still hold the same amount of clothing as the big ones. The hotel very kindly disposed of our old luggage pieces.

Jon gave us a good idea to keep track of luggage - number each piece and do a count before leaving your hotel, or picking them up at the carousel. We have way more bags than we normally would and I'm finding it hard to find stuff I need.

Here are some photos from our nosh and dinner with Jon, a few views from the Cascades train, and Seattle. It was raining in Vancouver when we left but Seattle was sunny and warm with a good breeze.

Lance and Jon

View from our Vancouver hotel - North Shore mountains.

Leaving for the train station - 5:00 a.m.

VIA and Amtrak train station.

Approaching White Rock, B.C., where we cleared Customs into the U.S.A.

View from our Seattle hotel.

A beautiful day in the Emerald City.

After the policeman's horse had his shoes repaired, he wanted something from Pamela's Fine Foods.

Day One - Zero Day Tomorrow

Or maybe today is really "zero" day - after all, we are out of our house and staying at a hotel in Vancouver, ready to get up at 0400 tomorrow and board the Amtrak Cascades.

Assuming they let our luggage board, that is. I think everything is overweight and I can't find anything, seems a mess to me.

We're staying at the Howard Johnston on Kingsway and 12th 'cause it's close to the train station. We have a fabulous view of the north shore mountains. Some snow on the peaks and I think there is still skiing on Grouse Mountain.

I'll try and post the pictures I took today once we get to Seattle tomorrow and have a bit more time.

Genny went to her vet for boarding this morning. She has known something was up for the last two days. I  believe her travel day is May 31st, Vancouver to Houston. She overnights there at a pet hotel, then onward to San Jose the next morning. Smooth flights, Genny, and we'll see you soon.