Colourful hillsides in the south of Nicoya
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Retirement in Costa Rica Anniversary - Five years but not counting any more!
VIP Member Sheelagh Richards
Scott republished our Retiring in Costa Rica video earlier in the month; perhaps a gentle prompt that my column was late (sorry, all will be revealed!) but it reminded us we'd just celebrated the end of our fifth year in Costa Rica. Time flies, but we're not counting any more, this is 'home' for sure.
Solitary Porro tree, beautiful in blocks across the landscape
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We actually celebrated with our best friends here for their third visit, they've fallen in love with Costa Rica too. We thoroughly enjoyed time out travelling with them, this time around the Nicoya peninsula, which we haven't visited since living here. The roads are so much better and we laughed at our memories of vibrating all round the peninsula on unpaved roads years ago.
Spectacular sunset - never seen like this in San Isidro!
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Though the coastal resorts, like Tamarindo, have developed enormously, with miles of glorious beach on offer, we were thrilled to stroll Playa Grande with only a handful of families around. Driving south to Samara and crossing over the peninsula to take the ferry back to Puntarenas, the countryside was in splendid colour with flowering trees - yet again, we were reminded of the diversity of habitats and living options for immigrants; there's the 'right spot' for every taste in this wonderful country.
Boats in the bay at Samara
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After another three weeks of great days out around our home patch, we enjoyed having a niece from Australia and then a stream of delightful B&B visitors. Its been a crazy non-stop three months, but so enjoyable. Its a special pleasure to share the success of visitors looking for their special retirement spot in Costa Rica - Yves and Eleanor are closing on a coffee farm down at Cajone and Mike and Patricia found their ideal holiday cottage. We congratulate them again and look forward to their returning as new friends in our ex-pat community!
The Rio San Isidro becomes a bit more 'Grande'
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During the dry season, there's heaps to be done in the garden but mañana prevails, what doesn't get done today can wait. Not so for the Municipality with work that can only be done as this time of year.
 A million happy diversions, how time flies and five years on, life is certainly good. 
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Sheelagh Richards
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Right now we're having major works done on the San Isidro river through town. Huge damage was done during the Alma storm three years ago when homes were lost and riverside roads washed out, and more damage was sustained during the excessive rains last year. Given the vulnerability of riverside communities, the National Emergency Commission awarded 1.230 million colones for the construction of gaviones - wire baskets full of stone - to shore up 2.3 kilometres of river bank. It's been fascinating watching the progress; hot hard labour for the band of Tico workers! Sadly, some magnificent trees where iguanas lived have been sacrificed, but a small price to pay for the safety of riverside inhabitants.
Vanilla in flower
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I just HAVE to end with this week's joy - my vanilla (orchid) has produced its first flowers. With advice from expert friend Carol, I'm up the ladder every morning to hand-pollinate the flowers - if I'm doing it right, we might have crème brulee with our own vanilla pods later in the year! The jams and marmalade are made, ready for sale at the Queen's Birthday Party in San Jose on Saturday, more on that next time. A million happy diversions, how time flies and five years on, life is certainly good.
Written by VIP Member Sheelagh Richards. Sheelagh is originally from Scotland and her husband John who is from Wales are two inveterate British travellers who fell in love with Costa Rica, the beauty of the Talamanca mountain range and the perfect climate of the Rio General valley where they have established a small Bed & Breakfast called Casa de Los Celtas. You can see more about John and Sheelagh's very affordable B&B outside San Isidro here and photographs and prices here and you can also see a free online video interview with John & Sheelagh Richards here. Looking For Your New Home In San Isidro, Costa Rica? Please contact our Recommended Costa Rica Realtors working in the area: James Drews, Daveed Hollander and John Wieland, by using the simple form below and they'll send you:
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