SODAS IN COSTA RICA-SO MUCH MORE THAN “THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES”

Ask most North American visitors to Costa Rica what a “soda” is, and you are liable to get a response concerning some kind of carbonated beverage. To those from the Southern U.S., the term “coke” applies to all carbonated drinks; in New England, they are called “tonics” (regardless of what flavor or brand) while on both East and West Coasts, “soda” is the term used. Mid-westerners call it “pop” or “soda pop” and some places just use “soft drink”. Yet, in the land of Pura Vida, a “soda” is much more than a thirst quencher.
Sodas are small, usually family-owned and operated, restaurants that can be found on roadsides, in major centers like San Jose, and everyplace in between. The term “soda” is generally translated as “diner”. To Ticos and non-Ticos alike, these ubiquitous eateries provide both satisfying and inexpensive meals and drinks. Additionally they allow patrons to share, if only for a meal, a true sample of Costa Rican life and hospitality in a way that larger restaurants and chains never can hope to equal.
You probably won’t find any menus at most sodas since the selections are fairly standard from one soda to the next. Comida tipica (native Costa Rican cuisine)iis the centerpiece and allure of their selections. Casados, fruit drinks, and, yes, sodas (the carbonated variety) are the main staples that are offered.
The casado is usually a fixed platter with a chosen meat, plantains or vegetables, and the ever-present beans and rice. The choice of meats can be large or small-depending on the owners of the soda, although you can usually find variations on the following

Carne en salsa-beef in a thick gravy, much like a pot roast type of dish
Pollo en salsa-a piece of chicken in a lighter gravy or sauce
Chuleta-a pork chop, maybe in sauce, maybe not
Pescado-fried fish
Pollo frito-fried chicken
The fruits drinks can be passion fruit, carrot, blackberry, oatmeal, mango, pineapple and more. Obviously, what is and isn’t available is dependent on seasonal availability, supply, and the preferences of the soda’s owners.
Again, as with any independent business, each soda has it’s own “special” that can vary from the Central Valley to Domincal and sometimes, even from day to day. You may find sodas that offer sandwiches and buffets, others might even have merchandise like a small convenience store-think in terms of a Tico version of a 7-11!! At night, some of these roadside locations even become clubs or discos (yes, disco lives in the land of Pura Vida!!).
While sodas are certainly an institution today throughout Costa Rica, many Ticos and non-Ticos alike are probably unaware that the concept of the “soda” actually began roughly ninety years ago. To many long time residents of San Jose, the “original” soda is El Chelles. Located on the central pedestrian walkway close to the Teatro Nacional., this culinary institution-at least to those who have been loyal customers for years- continues to sell the same tasty food, sandwiches, casados, breakfasts and beverages to one and all just as it has for nine decades. Whether you’re heading to work, or staggering in from a night of fun and frolic, El Chelles remains open around the clock to provide food, drink, and a place to people watch.
So the next time you pass one of these little shops, take some time to stop to and experience a tradition that has become an essential part of daily life in the land of Pura Vida.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of tropical real estate excellence

Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing

de Lux Property Management

de Lux Property Management

Moran real estate is proud to announce our association with Robert Lux of de Lux Property Management. I have known Bob for over 25 years and can attest to his knowledge, integrity, honesty and experience in property management, all types of homes,apartments, pool, spa and yard maintainance. Bob worked with me in the U.S. Virgin Islands and later in Oregon and has a wealth of experience. He is headquartered in our office at Gingerbread Hotel. So for all your property needs please contact him at:

de LUX  Property Management

LakeArenal, Costa Rica

Located at the offices of Moran Real Estate

Contact :Robert Lux                                                                      

Phone: 506-8703-9383

In the US call: 305-307-0088

E-Mail: deluxpropertymanagement@gmail.com

Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with honesty, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie, even with a little white lie, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure.
-- Joseph Sugarman

Liberias Daniel Oduber International Airport Expansion

Liberia Airport Expansion Will Offer Space for 600 More Passengers at a Time.

Just a few months ago, the Houston Airport System (HASDC) took over administration of San José’s Juan Santamaria International Airport. The switch was made in the wake of many mistakes, delays and mismanagement, forcing Alterra Partners, the previous administrator, to step down from their managing position. Now, in light of HASDC’s successes at the San José airport, the company will take over administration of Liberia’s Daniel Oduber International Airport expansions.

HASDC operates out of Houston International Airport, which saw more than 43 million passengers in 2007. In comparison, Juan Santamaria welcomed only four million, and Daniel Oduber only saw 400,000. Keeping these numbers in mind, the Alterra believed that HASDC could manage the country’s largest airport and therefore sold the Houston-based company their renovation contract. With only a few months’ track record, it seems that things are looking up – extra money has been generated, improvements have been made and renovation seems to be an achievable goal. With this success, the U.S. company earned its second Costa Rica airport contract, and they will soon start expansion management in Liberia.

According to Karla González, minister of Public Works and Transportation, Liberia airport’s expansions will receive an initial $35 million investment. A new terminal must be built, though the General Comptroller for the Republic must first approve the project and its allotted funds. González also added that the airport will receive a 20-year concession for almost 5.7 extra acres of Guanacaste land. After approval, the projected construction period will last approximately six months, though several requirements must first be met. Most importantly, HASDC must secure all municipal permits necessary for the construction, a process which should be completed by December 2009.

The new airport terminal will be two stories high. The first floor will measure almost 190,000 square feet, and will house immigration, customs, baggage claim services, passenger check-in and welcome areas for arriving passengers. Airline and airport administration offices will also be a part of the new building’s first floor. The second level will measure almost 60,000 square feet, and will house waiting areas, airport entertainment areas, four boarding gates and both governmental and airline offices.

Changes and improvements come at an opportune time, since Liberia and Guanacaste province have seen a significant rise in Flights to Costa Rica, and therefore passenger traffic and area tourism. In 2008’s first trimester, the airport welcomed 156,000 passengers, putting it on track to increase this year’s traffic by more than 50,000 passenger, a 12.5% increase. Larger, more modern facilities will help the airport to better serve its customers and handle any addition traffic flows, as regional tourism continues to increase.

It’s safe to say that no one is counting on fast renovations, however. The Costa Rican system is notorious for its inflated bureaucracy, and legal processes often take much longer than planned (or desired). If all goes well, Karla González believes that Liberia’s airport terminal should be completed by July of 2010. At that time, the airport will be capable of handling 1,500 passengers at a time, 600 more than is currently possible.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

The journey is the reward.

The Costa Rican Baby Boomer Retirement Plan

COSTA RICA HAS GREAT PLANS FOR YOUR RETIREMENT

Costa Rica has a solution for the United States' aging baby boomer population.


Send them south where they can enjoy a sunny climate, top medical services, a lower cost of living and a stunning natural landscape.

Seven government agencies are collaborating in an effort to develop retirement communities in the so-called Switzerland of the Americas. Launching a promotional campaign and partnering with private developers, they hope to make their country the next “retiree-friendly” Sunshine State.

“This represents a bigger potential for Costa Rica than recreational tourism represented 25 years ago,” said developer Lou Aguilera, who has spearheaded the initiative from the private sector. “The greying of America is irreversible and Costa Rica is in a position to service this population.”

Aguilera expects to break ground on his own retirement community, a joint project with CIMA hospital, in Guanacaste in May. It would be the first community to include extensive medical services and one of the few of its kind existing to date.

Jorge Woodbridge, competitivity minister, estimates the country can attract 10,000 retirees a year from countries like the United States, Canada and Spain, a population which could contribute more than $340 million annually to the local economy and generate 40,000 jobs.

He said promoting Costa Rica as a retirement destination would be building on a pre-existing niche.

Already the country has three internationally-recognized private hospitals; it's a top destination for medical tourism; the climate is cool and favorable along the country's spine and it's a short plane ride away from many destinations in the United States.

“Costa Rica poses significant competitive advantages in positioning itself as a retirement destination,” Woodbridge said.

The consortium of government agencies, which is calling itself Clúster Retirados, is promoting destinations in the interior of the country for further development, such as Lake Arenal, Miramar, Parque de la Amistad and the volcanoes of Guanacaste.

“The great majority of people (who we hope to attract) are active people that look for things to do,” said Marco Vinicio Ruiz, foreign trade minister. “We want to offer them a better environment than what they have … We want to include them in countrywide initiatives, in issues of research and development and ways in which they can collaborate with small or medium-sized businesses.”

He added, “I see this as an enormous opportunity to collaborate.”

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

For true success ask yourself these four questions: Why? Why not? Why not me? Why not now?

James Allen

Afacha Marama - The Maleku Indian Medicine Man

For thousands of years the various Central American Indian Tribes have had Medicine Men, or Women  who passed down through the generations the wonders of the medicinal plants in the jungle. It has grown and been fostered by generations of trial and error to the point that some of their remedies and cures for many ailments are far superior to modern medicine.

I recently visited the Medicine Man on the Maleku Reservation about an hour north of the Lake and sat down for a long and interesting talk about the history as has been told down through the years.
Although Alvino Solano has taken a Spanish Christian name, he is pure bred Maleku. He is almost 70 years old and doesn't look a day over 50. I asked him how and who taught him the Indian medicines as far back as he could remember. He called his wife and some other members of his family into his small treatment  and consulting room and through their collective memory they went back quite a ways. His mother, who lived to be over 100 years taught him, His mothers mother, who also lived to be over 100 years taught her. His mothers, mothers grandfather taught her and that is as far as they could remember.
Sometimes The chief or Cacique will act as the chief and the medicine man also, or he will add to the knowkedge of the current medicine man.

He brought out a book and a binder in which were written the plants and herbs from the jungle used to cure various illnesses, how much should be taken and for how long. His binder was full of newspaper and magazine clippings from all over the world where some of his treatments had cured various forms of cancer, diabetes and other ailements.

He said that to find all the plants he needed, he had to travel far and wide into the various micro climates of Central America to find all that was necessary to treat the various illnesses. However a very rich area of the deep primary forest could produce as many as 1500 useful plants per manzana {1.7 Acres}.

He is also very cognitive of diet and health and advises his clients where they are going wrong on their eating habits.

His treatment room is full of various types of bottles and small plastic bags full of different colored liquids and dry plants which were proportioned doses of the various cures. As a matter of fact he had just brewed a fresh warm batch of various potions and extracts he let me touch and smell. He asked me what was ailing me, did I have pain anywhere. I told him I would be back very soon to try some of his remedies.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seeds of  its own redemption

Brilliant Artistic Exotic Furniture Maker

Mitchehell Ramon Lance has been bringing extotic woods from all over the world to life as the most incredible unique furniture for over 20 years, first in Texas, but for the last 10 years here in Costa Rica where the most exotic hardwoods are available.

Being very careful Mitch makes regular trips to the forest to find fallen, dead trees only, which he carefully selects for his projects. Some of the woods he regularly uses are Cocobolo, Ron Ron, Caoba (Mahogany), Rosewood and many many others you may have never heard of. Many of the woods he uses are so dense that they sink in water..

He has made Beds out of a single stump of exotic wood. Bathroom Wash basins, all kinds of tables, desks, stairs, plates, lamps and just about any type of furniture you can imagine. He can look at a piece of wood and see things that you and I would never see in a million years.

Mitch has his shop and showroom in Arenal Town acros from the German Bakery and can be reached by phone at 506 8371 8218, or through our office

Moran Real Estate Over 50 years of Tropical Real Estate excellence

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.

Costa Rica Lake Arenal Unique Properties

W have Just Exclusively Listed one of the most unique, one of a kind Lakefront properties on Lake Arenal. This property consists of over 2.5 acres with an abandoned home situated directly on the Lake in a large Protected Cove. Over 300 feet of all useable waterfrontage ideal for a marina, condominiums, restaurant or several fine homes. Minutes from Arenal Town, easy access, all utilities. 5 or 6 building pads, we have not seen another property like this in over 8 years at Lake Arenal.
The owner is asking $169,000 for this property and we urge you to compare this value with any other Lakefront property at Lake Arenal.

Moran Real Estate Over 50 Years of Tropical Real Estate Excellence

Wise are those who have learned these truths, Trouble is temporary, Time is a tonic and tribulation is a test tube

Bella Vista Estates - A Unique Development Of Habitation With Nature

 

The developer of Bella Vista Estates wanted to accomplish two things when he planned this unique sub division. One, to create large spacious lots of 3 to 14 acres so everyone has plenty of land for privacy and gardening, and with the  rich black soil and plenty of water  have the ability to grow much of your own food. The second mission was to take this former cattle farm and reforest it back to the way it was hundreds of years ago.
He has achieved both. Not only was the master plan carefully studied  and implemented to afford maximum privacy, but also to take advantage of the magnificent views of the Lake and The Volcano.
 On this large 175 acre parcel he has sub divided only 23 lots and to date  planted over 4000 trees and plans to plant an  additional 8000.  A caretaker lives on site to provide security for those who wish to occupy their residences part time.
Bella Vista is situated just 6 miles from the town of Nuevo Arenal, which gives it a living in the country feel while still being a short distance to all the conveniences.
Only 12 lots remain unsold with prices beginning at $85,000.
So if you are looking for more than the normal one acre lot or less, Bella Vista offers a wonderful alternative and a great price.

 

Moran Real Estate Call 506 2694 0088 or Cell 506 8880 8888  24/7

 Moran Real Estate Lake Arenal Costa Rica Experts