February 2006

Things were wonderful and very tropical for our trip, though the weather happened to be unseasonable during the week we were there... instead of constant sunshine, there were some cloudy/foggy days, and even a little rain; rather unusual for late January/early February.  Actually, it was quite nice, as the rain kept the landscaping especially lush, and the clouds gave appreciated breaks from the intensity of the sun at mid-day.  I hear the weather is now back to "normal" for this time of year, consistently warm and sunny.

But to the "news": 

Villa Mango and Casa Amigos:  We now have big shade umbrellas for the pool patios, and make-up ("vanity") mirrors in each bathroom.   The master bedroom in Villa Mango now has a bigger, "California King" sized bed (more proportional to the size of the room.) The landscaping continues to be refined and is growing more beautiful and lush by the day, and we have goldfish and koi in the pools of the stream between the villas.  We are getting a "breakfast option" ready; by Fall, '06 we hope to be able to offer breakfasts prepared fresh daily on-site for our guests!

Dominical area: Dominical now has not only a pharmacy, dental and medical offices, but (are you ready for this?) a bank, w/ ATM machine!  (Have no fears, Dominical is not nearly a metropolis; although the Coastal road is in excellent shape, the main road in "town" is still unpaved, and there are no traffic lights to be seen for miles around....)

It is much easier to access the "Poza Azul" waterfall near our property, as the entrance area has been improved, with steps (!) at the entrance from the road.

The Coastal highway between Quepos and Dominical is (finally!) being repaired, and when it is complete, the drive to our property from San Jose will be about an hour shorter (and easier, not having to deal with passing trucks on the mountain curves.)  Still, the mountain road through San Isidro is more scenic, and there's that great Mexican restaurant along the way, so it may be a difficult choice for us....  :-)

On a brief political note, we are impressed by the news from Costa Rica, that the population is waiting patiently and peacefully to hear the results of their national elections (held 5 Feb.).  Preliminary results found that the two top candidates were in the closest match in Costa Rican history, and the final results, (a complete hand recount) should be announced before the end of Feb.

I guess that about sums it up for the moment.  Youval and I would love to be your hosts once again, and appreciate your keeping Villa Mango and Casa Amigos in mind for your own future vacations, and also thank you for suggesting us to friends/family that might be interested in a tropical adventure...