This weekend marks one year of our new life in Costa Rica. We landed in Costa Rica on the 28th of January of 2022, with a luggage full of dreams and hopes…plus a dog, a cat, and 8 kilos of Lego. We landed with the excitement of a second-life opportunity. An open book to write. So, … More The first year of our new life
After many months of struggle, with constant ups and downs, steps forward and backward, little and not-so little panics and roller-coaster feelings…. Today we have many reasons to celebrate. We have written before about the paperwork struggles, particularly to get the drivers licence. The endless queues in full sun for nothing. The trips all over Costa Rica … More Reasons to celebrate
About two and a half years ago, I decided to start a company to build database applications for NGOs, biologists, government agencies and other actors in nature conservation. However, what do they need so urgently that they will pay for it? One could simply ask them. Right? Yes, except that I did not have a network in nature conservation. This blog is about how I am changing it. … More Not a minor problem : a new network
Yesterday morning, while walking Kika on the Playa Negra beach, I found this thing, which looked like a seed to me. But what is it? … More Found on the beach
For the month of August, we have rented a very simple house on the beach at the Osa Peninsula, in the Southern Pacific tip of Costa Rica. The house has no internet, no warm water and no washing machine. But it has a perfect location: beachfront, coconut trees, mangroves and an endless view over the … More Turtles, dolphins and whales
A few days ago, as I looked around to the house where we are living now, a wooden cabin in a nature reserve, I suddenly missed having a “home”. As in a more or less permanent place. I realized that we have been living among suitcases and boxes for months. In fact, as I think … More Home sweet home
On the first of June, I officially started my leave from the university. Piuuuuuuuuung! PO….PO…..Piuuuuuuuuuung POPPOPOPOPOPOPOPO! The sound of the fireworks resound on my head as I write these lines. So, It is DONE. And it just feels right! It feels like all the pieces are slowly falling into place. As Frank nicely reminded me … More First day of my new life
Yesterday I called the customer service of my bank here. For some misterious reason, I could not access the online bank because, according to the system, I was not in Costa Rica…. Whaaaaaaat? The last time that I checked, Turrialba was in Costa Rica. And unless I felt into an interspace wormhole that transported me … More Surrealistic conversations
So, we recently found out that our European driving license is only valid for three months. After that, apparently, if you get caught by the police, not only do you get a fine, but they take away your car plates. Needless to say, that is a bit of an inconvenience in this country. So, we … More The Kafkaesque challenge of driving (legally) in Costa Rica
Today, as I was hanging on the hammock, looking at the hummingbirds sipping from the feeder, I realized how lucky we are. Living in the tropics brings this continuous stream of small pleasures in life, for which I am truly grateful. Blue skies every day We are now in the rainy season, which people here … More 10 great small pleasures of living in the tropics
