Costa Rica Jungle Cabin

After a huge scuffle and hustle to get out of town and get our business and construction sites organized, we FINALLY made it to Costa Rica!!

We arrived loaded with laptops, farm paperwork, accounting work and rental leases to keep us productive while we are down here enjoying the warm weather. So far we have done a little bit of work online, some grocery shopping and some relaxing!

Solomon's surf shack is currently occupied by a long term renter who is teaching yoga classes on his property. Most other locations at the beach are hard to find (we got lucky last year). This year we decided to rent a cabin a little ways away from the beach up the mountain. I must say, it is much cooler and also very quiet up here. We listen to all sorts of birds and howler monkeys in the jungle ravine in front of our cabin. This cabin is a guest house, connected by a suspension bridge to a larger house owned by our good friend Pam and Kim. They own and run a hotel, bar and restaurant on the beach by Solomon's lot and started business there shortly after Sol bought his property.

Here are a few pics of the house! We love it!

More later!
Much love,
Rachel & Sol

Loving the Beach!

Uvita has one of the most spectacular beaches I have ever seen! We love it!

We have been trying to make a daily habit of taking a bike ride to the beach every evening for a sunset swim or walk.

Our Rental House

Since Sol's container is rented full time and currently is occupied by a long term tenant, we found other lodging options across the street. It is close to Sol's lot and the beach so we are happy!

This little cabin was finished being built a few days after we arrived (we stayed at a friend's house until it was ready).  We have laundry facilities on the property and internet. It is small, simple and sparsely furnished but we have been comfortable. It is amazing how long it takes to get used to not having a mirror in your bathroom!

Add caption

My New Wheels + a Feathered Friend.

This is my office until the late afternoon when the sun comes over the roof and it gets HOT!

Bougainvillea and Hibiscus

Tearing it up in Uvita, Costa Rica

Solomon's lot and shack in Costa Rica was in need of some serious attention! We haven't been here in almost three years, and although we have paid to have monthly lawn maintenance done, things here in the jungle rust and grow FAST!

What were saplings when we left turned into huge junk trees, spines included. So - the trees had to go.  There is also an invasive grass that grows just about as fast as you can cut it. The cattle love it, but if you have it on your property, which we do, it will take over and be a real nuisance. It is costly to chop and provides a tall space for creepy crawlies to hide! Yuck.  So the grass is being dug out by hand by some local young boys that are in need of work.  Once the grass gets cut back and the trees are removed we are planning on spreading dirt/filling some of the low areas.

We are in the process of harvesting bamboo shoots from established plants already on the property. We are putting the bamboo shoots in bags that will eventually be the start to a bamboo hedge. Unfortunately, with being in the middle of dry season, we can't plant right now. But with some water the bagged bamboo should be sprouted and ready to plant later in the spring/summer (wet season here).

The shipping container, which Solomon loves to refer to as his "surf shack" got a face lift too while we have been here. It was previously primed in an industrial gray (not hip industrial, but ugly industrial).  Gray in the tropics is not fun. The container was sanded, rust spots treated, primed and finally painted a super bright blue! I think the color was called something like "tropical ocean"!  I love the bright aqua. I have some bougainvillea plants started and waiting to get planted at the same time as the bamboo. I am super excited for the fuchsia bougainvillea next to the aqua! I love this color combo!

Dirt Getting Delivered

Tree/Brush Trimmings

Shipping Container with a Coat of Yellow Primer.

I Love this Old Truck!

Solomon Painting in the Background.

Painting in Progress. 

Bougainvillea Cuttings

Gibraltar Monkeys

These guys somehow were brought from Africa and live up high on the Rock of Gibraltar.

Gibraltar

The monkeys in Gibraltar are crazy! This guy was perched on the edge of the building on top of the rock! 

Hiking in the rock of Gibraltar!

It was cloudy but we could see the the northern-most point in Africa in the distance!

Ronda Spain

Ronda is such an amazing and unusual place we couldn't miss visiting.  The ancient city sits on the edge of a 1000 ft limestone cliff.  The drive getting there was intense.   The mountain road was so windy that even driving you started feeling sick.   It was worth it though.  The views were truly unique and awe inspiring. We hiked a few kilometers to the river below and enjoyed the sights.  A great day.