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Osa Mountain Village Sustainable Resort Community

March 19, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

What Is The Osa Mountain Village Sustainable Development?

 

Sustainable development master plan of Osa Mountain Village

Osa Mountain Village is a sustainable development with a unique concept for living in paradise. It is a master-planned intentional community which on the surface may first appear to look a little bit like a commune… but it is not a commune. It is a sustainable development that takes the idea of eco-friendly and sustainable building principles based on permaculture design and combines it with a rich and fulfilling lifestyle filled with fun and exciting things to do in one of the most beautiful places on earth. It is an intentional community where the residents can own a home, and a business if they desire, and live a very comfortable life of abundance on as little as $500 per month in one of the most beautiful places on earth. Download a document that explains our sustainable development & intentional community here.

Click on the Master Plan above to view an enlarged copy

Where Is This Intentional Community Located?

Osa Mountain Village Intentional Community Location

Osa Mountain Village is located in the southern pacific zone of Costa Rica between Palmar Norte to the south and Puerto Cortez to the north. The property starts at about 1,400 feet and goes to 3,000 feet elevation. The entire property is approximately 780 acres. The community itself sits on about 50 acres at about 2,000 feet elevation. The remaining 730 acres is primary old-growth forest that will remain undeveloped and used by the various businesses that provide adventure tours such as a horseback riding tours, walking, hiking and camping tours, zipline canopy tours, waterfall rappelling tours, a fantastic bird watching tour and more. We are presently looking for individuals and families that want to make a break from the hectic pace of living for a simpler lifestyle that will be full of abundance but not cost an arm and a leg to live.

Click on the Google Map above to view an enlarged copy

What Do We Mean By “Sustainable Development”?

Using green energy is a must for sustainability

By sustainable development we mean that we plan to be 100% off the grid at some time in the future. Our goal is to produce 80% of our food on-site. This food belongs to the members of the community, which will greatly reduce the monthly food costs of the residents. Couple that with the use of green energy from solar power sources and mini hydro-electric plants along the mile of river that flows through the property for generating our own electricity and you have the beginning of a sustainable development. Each unit owner will pay $150/month (not per person) into the community kitty to support the process. With labor costing us under $500/month per full-time person, we will have over $20,000 per month going towards food production and common-area maintenance.

Water Sustainability Is An Important Consideration

water sustainability is of prime importance

By far one of most crucial elements on the planet and the easiest to pollute. A sustainable development of any kind can not claim to be ecologically conscious if there is no thought to how water is handled. The water systems at Osa Mountain Village are being designed to not only harvest clean pure mountain water, but also recycle it through a treatment system using both biological and technological systems that will allow the waste water to be filtered and used again. There is no reason for the natural water systems to be destroyed or depleted. We believe it is not only possible for humans to live in harmony with the planet, but that it is our obligation and that water sustainability is of prime importance.

A Sustainable Food Supply Is Key

A sustainable food supply is as importance as green energy

A sustainable development must have a sustainable food supply in order to survive. That’s why thousands of fruit trees, humane animal husbandry, gardens and fish ponds are currently being integrated at the village. We have already planted over 2,000 fruit trees including 5 kinds of oranges and several types of avocados and we will be using a verticle system for growing our veggies, herbs and spices. This system allows us to grow vast quantities of veggies in a relatively small area. Other tree plantings are being scheduled right now as well! We will also be raising our own chickens, pigs and tilapia providing poultry, eggs, pork and fresh water fish on site. We hired Paulo Fearron, a graduate of Earth University, to assist us with this process of food production. Imagine catching your own fish in one of the tilapia ponds, then strolling through the gardens for some fresh rosemary, and then maybe grabbing some plantanos (plantain bananas) to bring to dinner. Food production and food sustainability is part of the infrastructure of the village and is as important as green energy or any aspect of sustainable building.

What About Entertainment & Business Sustainability?

Ecotourism & Entertainment leads to business sustainability

A sustainable development must have sources of entertainment and the biggest cost besides food is exactly that… entertainment. Our intentional community will have a full-time concierge/event coordinator who will constantly be planning for the next community event. Things like Texas Hold-em tourney, along with pool activities and BBQ parties will be weekly events. They will also plan beach trips, shopping trips and excursions for the residents and visitors. By structuring our intentional community in this way we create business sustainability too. We will use our crops to trade for other items that we don’t raise or grow on site and have fun doing it. For instance we will have days where those community members that want to participate can join together and make mango jelly. We will have more mangoes than the community can possibly eat so we will put them to good use. Business sustainability will lead to community profit which will enhance the lives of everyone living at Osa Mountain Village. There will never be shortage of things to do at Osa Mountain Village and our community will be able to profit tremendously through ecotourism… the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry by offering eco tours along with adventure tours while showing a world class model of what it means to live sustainably.

What’s Right For A Sustainable Development Is Right For A Sustainable World

A sustainable world starts with sustainable developments

Awareness is growing and those who have studied the topic in depth know how fragile our planet is and that more effort should be made to assure ourselves of a lasting Mother Earth. A sustainable world starts with rethinking how communities are built. During our everyday lives, we are forced to distance ourselves from the reality of our future. It is not set in stone, nor will it come to us naturally. We will force our hand and assure a generation of individuals who desire to take first position and do what it takes to make certain that our children and our grand children have a clean and pure environment in which to live. And, just as important, the mindset to be able to handle the challenges of the required effort to live sustainably. We believe the Osa Mountain Village sustainable development will be a model for intentional communities around the world both immediately and for the future and it already is drawing the attention of the local government and receiving praise.

Phase One Is The Heart Of Our Intentional Community…

The heart of our sustainable development is phase one.

Osa Mountain Village announces commencement of construction on Phase I of its unique sustainable development and intentional community concept. The development will consist of 150 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom villas, restaurant, community center, a large grass field for games, ranchos, barbecue areas, gym and other amenities. An 11-line, 15-platform canopy tour, canyoning adventure (rappelling through waterfalls) and Tarzan Swing are already open. Horseback riding as well as wildlife, waterfall and eco hiking and camping tours will be coming to the property soon.

The villas range from 900-1,630 square feet of total living space including patio areas and include eco-friendly construction, granite or bamboo counters and patios with the customary Costa Rican hammock. Prices start at US $124,000 to own a villa. Fractional units are also available starting at US $20,000 for a 4 week share. Fractional units come fully furnished with everything needed to start renting or enjoying immediately.

The President Of The Osa Mountain Village Sustainable Development

Jim Gale, president of the sustainable development known as Osa Mountain Village

“I am so excited the construction phase has begun,” says Jim Gale, President. “People have been enjoying the canopy tour since it opened in May and, while at the property, they ask about our sustainable development. The response has been overwhelming! With our own sustainable food production, fun things to do on-site and quick access to other areas, we envision our residents being able to live comfortably for about $500 per month.”

A former mortgage broker, Mr. Gale’s paradigm changed with the birth of his first daughter, Amelia. It was then that he started questioning the way communities exist and how they relate to creating a sustainable world as a whole. His idea became “Osa Mountain Village”, an intentional community of abundance, fun, security and learning. The World Institute For Sustainability & Ecology, otherwise known as W.I.S.E., is also opened their first classes January 2010. It is located adjacent to Osa Mountain Village.

Contact Us Today…

To learn about how you could own a villa for less than you might imagine fill out the contact form below and a representative will be in contact with you soon. Please be sure to include the phone numbers where you can be reached in the message box.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number

Dates Requested

Tours & Attractions Requested

Number of Adults & Children

Will You Have A 4 x 4 Vehicle?

Message or Other Request


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Osa Mountain Village Gets Its First Aquaponics System

March 19, 2013 by ·

Aquaponics… the latest rage in food production


Find more photos like this on Aquaponic Gardening

Aquaponics is the latest rage in food production taking the concept of hydroponics one step further by creating a closed loop system that requires no chemical fertilizers. Instead, aquaponics utilizes the waste from Tilapia, a popular and tasty edible fish, to supply nutrients to the plants to grow, while in return the plants clean the water for the fish to thrive and grow. This closed loop system is sustainable and produces the most natural organic food. As the Tilapia grow they are also harvested for food. The whole system is synergistic and can produce a wide variety of edible plants in incredible quantities.

Take a look at the slide show below to see the first Aquaponics system being built at Osa Mountain Village. A big thank you to Roger Pilon for his vast knowledge and help in getting this wonderful food producing system up and operational. With the addition of this aquaponics system to the greenhouses, which are already producing a wide variety of vegetables, residents of Osa Mountain Village will not be wanting for anything. Soon the entire food production system will be working to supply chicken, eggs, fish, fruits and vegetables. Over 2,500 fruits trees have been planted at Osa Mountain Village and that doesn’t include mangoes and bananas which grow like weeds all over the property. In the not to distant future residents of Osa Mountain Village will have 100% food security and with a natural spring on the property that can supply in excess of 600 homes with water and produce ample electricity through mini hydroelectric generators, residents can relax knowing that even if the worlds economy completely tanks they will be secure at Osa Mountain Village.

More photos will be coming forthwith as we start growing and harvesting…

If you’ve enjoyed this slide show and want to learn more about aquaponics, hydroponics, sustainable living, permaculture and food production we offer courses through our on site school The World Institute For Sustainability & Ecology, otherwise known as W.I.S.E..


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Smart Permaculture Design & Off Grid Living

March 19, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Smart Permaculture Design Is Key To Off Grid Living

In order to become a community living off grid entirely on their own resources, Osa Mountain Village has incorporated smart permaculture design principles into the master plan of the community. Listen to Jim Gale, president of Osa Mountain Village, as he speaks about permaculture design and how it relates to off the grid living at Osa Mountain Village.

When you get the chance to visit Osa Mountain Village you will be amazed at the commitment of everyone you meet to create the greatest community on earth. There are plans for a butterfly farm and gardens, a wildlife rehabilitation center, a reptile and amphibian exhibit as well as a village spa and massage center. There is already a school on the property called the World Institute For Sustainability And Ecology where one can enroll in a course that teaches permaculture design principles and sustainable living techniques. This is one place where smart permaculture design has been coupled with luxurious off grid living without giving up the luxury. So the next time someone talks to you about living off the grid tell them about Osa Mountain Village.


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Adventure Day At Osa Mountain Village Resort & Eco Adventure Park

December 9, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Our adventure day special offer is for those who want a jam packed day of fun and adventure for adults and kids alike. The day starts at 8:30am with a visit to Butterfly Paradise of Osa, one of the largest butterfly enclosures in all of Costa Rica. Dave Fishell will provide an informative tour that will amaze young and old. You may get to see mating butterflies, cocoons with live butterflies inside, eggs, caterpillars and other interesting fauna of the micro climate inside the enclosure. Outside the enclosure is our hummingbird gardens where numerous species of hummingbirds come to feed. It’s truly one of the happiest places on earth… Disneyland has nothing on Butterfly Paradise of Osa.

Following the Butterfly Gardens you’ll embark on our waterfall nature hike into the rainforest with our certified guide, Carlos Salas. Carlos will point out many of the interesting plants and animals you would probably walk right by without his expertise. One never knows what animals will be encountered on the tour, and with a little luck you may get to see a variety of wildlife.

After your waterfall nature hike you’ll enjoy an awesome lunch at La Cocina, the community kitchen at Osa Mountain Village. Following your lunch you’ll jump on the Osa Canopy Tour for some exhilarating zipping through the rainforest. The Osa Canopy Tour is one of the most popular attractions of the local area and finishes with a Tarzan Swing that will get your adrenalin pumping again.

The canopy tour ends about the time that Toucan Tilly’s opens for business. You’ll have some time to relax and play some pool or ping pong or go swimming in the chemical free pool.

At 6:00pm you’ll sit down for a four course meal at La Cocina that is sure to please. Following dinner you’ll be taken on a nighttime hike to see some of the nocturnal wildlife of the mountain. It is not uncommon to see many types of insects, moths, reptiles and amphibians and other animals that come alive at night.

The regular price for the day is $173.50 for adults and $101.25 for kids up to 15 years. However, the package price is discounted to $125 per adult and only $75 per child. You’ll save $48.50 per adult and $26.25 per child. This package must be booked by calling us at 011-506-2200-9814 or email us using the form below. We look forward to seeing you at Osa Mountain Village Resort and Eco Adventure Park.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your Phone Number

Dates Requested

Tours & Attractions Requested

Number of Adults & Children

Will You Have A 4 x 4 Vehicle?

Message or Other Request


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It’s Business As Usual At Osa Mountain Resort

September 6, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

After yesterdays 7.6 magnitude earthquake here in Costa Rica it is business as usual at Osa Mountain Resort and Eco Adventure Park. Where some of the resorts in Guanacaste, located in the northwest area of the country, have had to close down from damage things are like they were the day before. Nothing was damaged and with the exception of the Howler Monkey’s carrying on for several hours after the quake, you wouldn’t even have known there had been a quake if you were staying here. A few trees fell in the forest but that happens almost everyday anyways. Our beautiful villas are ready for your family to come down and experience the Costa Rica you’ve heard people talk about.

Much of what a vacation experience will be like will be determined by where one stays when they visit Costa Rica. As with many tourist destinations there are giant hotels with thousands of rooms, B&B’s, boutique hotels, hostels, houses for rent by their owners, rainforest lodges and retreats and more for one to choose from. Some of the places will cater to people from certain regions of the planet offering service in both Spanish and the native language of the traveler. At Osa Mountain Resort much of our staff speaks spanish and english.

To really get the true experience of what the country is like it is best to get out of the bigger cities. The remote areas of the country offer much more to see in the way of wildlife and the true culture can be observed. The pura vida mantra of the people will shine through and you’ll come away with a deep love of the people and land that makes Costa Rica one of the best destinations for vacationing in the world. Check out all of our specials offering all inclusive vacation deals with lodging, tours and meals included for one low price.


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All Inclusive Vacation Packages Offer More Value

August 20, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Let’s face it, traveling is a blast, but going through all the details of planning a trip is not much fun, which is why all-inclusive vacation packages are so popular. Most people enjoy picking out the locations they would like to visit and some of the things they might like to do while on their trip. However, budgeting everything out, making sure all of the dates line up and the attractions and tours coordinate with each other, where to eat, to rent a car or not rent a car, etc. are all things you need to consider and depending on where you plan to vacation some things will be of more concern than others.

All Inclusive Holidays

If you are planning a trip to Costa Rica you might want to consider some of the all inclusive vacation packages that are out there. Depending on the length of time you plan to be in the country, you might want to combine two or three packages to make up the length of your holiday trip. I recently set up trips for two different groups that combined stays at Osa Mountain Village Resort with places on the Osa Peninsula. This is a great way to go if you plan on being in the country for at least a week or more, staying 3 to 4 days in each location works out pretty well.

If you are coming down for less than a week finding a place that has a lot to do in the area will be worth your time. At Osa Mountain Adventures we have four different 6 night all inclusive vacation packages to choose from. If you are the adventurous type and don’t mind sleeping outside in a tent, we offer a rustic style “Camping Package” that includes 6 nights in a yurt dome tent. Tours and attractions include a guided birding tour, nighttime nature hike and day time waterfall nature hike, our very own zipline canopy tour, an eco tour of resilient living at Osa Mountain Village, a boat tour of the local mangrove forest eco system, entrance to the Butterfly Paradise of Osa and the Ballena Beach Club, use of the pool, trails and other resort amenities, and three hearty, gourmet meals a day. All of that for prices that start at $125 a day for adults and $85 a day for children 6 to 15.

If you are more inclined to sleep in a villa on a nice, soft, comfortable mattress you might be more interested in one of our other three all inclusive vacation packages which start at around $178 per day for adults and $97 per day for children 6 to 15. Each comes with a slightly different variety of tours and attractions that cater to birders, families and adventure thrill seekers. You can check out all the different package options here.

Finally, to top it off we design special, tailor-made, all inclusive vacation packages that include everything you want on your trip and nothing that you don’t. So let us help you with reservations, shuttles, car rental, tours, attractions, lodging and anything else you need to make your trip to Costa Rica a memorable one. In won’t cost you a dollar more to let us assist you with your travel arrangements… our service is free to you.

We can be reached at the following number from the USA and Canada… 818-561-5602


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Costa Rica Canopy Tours & Zipline Adventures

June 21, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Costa Rica Canopy ToursThe country of Costa Rica is literally loaded with ziplines and canopy tours. They can be found in virtually every area of the country. There are too many of them to count, unless you’re counting only the ones that are fully insured. From what the local insurance agent in Ciudad Cortes has told us, there are just a handful or so of Costa Rica canopy tours that carry insurance. I don’t know if this figure is actually true or not, but it does beg the question is the tour you plan to take while visiting the country insured or not?

There are some other things that are interesting about the difference between various Costa Rica canopy tours and ziplines. For instance, some of them, like the Osa Canopy Tour, have been built in an eco-friendly way that allows the tree to grow naturally while most will eventually choke the tree and kill it due to their constricting design. There are only a few of these eco-friendly tours in the country.

Not All Costa Rica Canopy Tours Are Created Equal!

It’s true that canopy tours are found everywhere in country, but as you can see, not all Costa Rica canopy tours are created equal. Osa Canopy Tour is one of the hottest tours in the southern region with some of the longest zip lines in the country. They even have a Tarzan Swing, some rappelling stations and a few other “surprises” I’ll leave for your imagination. Read what some of their customers have said in the past…

“During our trip to Costa Rica, we went zip-lining with Osa Canopy Tours, and it was AWESOME. Stephanie was a great guide, and she made our tour so much fun. If you’re considering a canopy tour, you can’t go wrong with them. Out of all of the excursions we did, this was my favorite! You won’t be disappointed!”

“By far the best and most professionally run zipline tour operation we have come across. Not to forget the 11 runs were all so spectacular. Highly recommend.”

“First, the guides were fantastic! Chris was absolutely wonderful to our 6 year old daughter and the rest of the crew was terrific too! We went with a 6, 7, 8, 10, and 13 year old and all LOVED it! So did the adults too! It was beautiful a dn we were able to see a sloth, howler monkies and toucans. I felt extremely safe and loved the zip lining. It was an experience our entire family will never forget! We can’t recommend enough!”

“I have been on at least 6 other tours in different parts of Costa Rica, and yours blew them out of the water! The views were mind boggling and the guides were so fun to hang out with. Thanks!”

With a fully insured, eco-friendly canopy tour and testimonials like the ones above you needn’t look any further for a zipline tour to satisfy your craving for adventure and zipping through the canopy of the rainforest.. The Osa area is one of the most pristine areas in the country and Osa Canopy Tour gives you a sloth’s eye view of the Costa Rican jungle to which few other canopy tours can compare. Osa Canopy Tour is located at Osa Mountain Village Eco-Resort


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Yoga In The Morning In Costa Rica Is My Favorite Way To Start The Day

June 13, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

Man holding dancer yoga pose

I just completed a yoga class a little over an hour ago. I lead the class every Monday, Wednesday & Friday mornings at 7:45 AM in the community center of Osa Mountain Village. It’s a 75 minute long class usually, although I sometimes take it to 90 minutes depending on who is in the class that day. I teach vinyasa yoga. In Los Angeles the specific yoga style I practice was commonly referred to as “power yoga”. When I first started leading the classes a few months back I had 2 people showing up to do the class with me. John and Brando have been there since the beginning. Today I had them, Lisa B, Lisa C, Catherine (my wife), and Wes & Colleen. At the moment, the classes are free for anyone wishing to join us.

Wes and Colleen are newcomers with today being their second class with me and I have to hand it to Wes for showing up because he was very sore from his first class he admitted. Colleen fared better she told me. In looking around the class I was reminded of how different each of our bodies are and how even our own bodies are different from right side to left side. In this class there are people in their 30′s to their 60′s and with different levels of beginning fitness to be considered. Some are very stiff and inflexible while others are relaxed and very flexible. The same is true when it comes to strength. Because of the wide range of differences I am finding it challenging to make the class easy enough for those that need to be brought up to speed while making it challenging enough for those that have been practicing for a while.

One thing is for sure, we have an amazing group of people that are meeting each week. Last Friday after the class we had a belgium waffle breakfast with everyone bringing something. We had homemade sourdough waffles, fresh quadrados, fresh eggs, bacon, real maple syrup and butter and fresh guanabana juice. It was a breakfast fit for a yogi. The funny thing was, once we started cooking we had more than just the yoga class show up. It was about half of the community!

So if you love yoga or have been thinking of taking a Yoga vacation in Costa Rica and you’re in the area or staying at Osa Mountain Village come and join us. We would love to have you. Someday I will probably start charging for the classes, but for now they’re free for all to enjoy!


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Scarlet’s Cafe Restaurant Costa Rica Opens Her Doors For Business

August 27, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
costa rica restaurant

Volunteers help out at Scarlet's Cafe grand opening

Monday, August 22, was a big day for Ricardo Campos. It was the first day he was going to serve food from his kitchen in the Osa Mountain Village Resort community center. And it wasn’t going to be a small crowd. Over 40 people were coming to hear about permaculture, food production and the sustainable model the makes the resort communityunique from most others. Jim Gale and Jarret Wald were both to speak at the lunch time event. There was still much to do to set up the kitchen the morning of the event. Many things were still wrapped in the plastic protective covering the manufacturer shipped them in. With some volunteer help from Lisa Bronzi, Leigha Wald, Catherine Overturf & Jarvia Fishell they were able to serve everyone a wonderful Costa Rican Casado for lunch.

restaurant costa rica

Casado Lunch at Scarlet's Cafe

Attendees had their choice of Chicken or Beef which was accompanied by salad, rice, beans and plantains. As you can see from the photos everyone was very happy. Ricardo is quite the cook himself but the real talk around town is that his wife, Marva, is a Cordon Bleu trained chef with a specialty in Pastries. We are expecting some pretty lavish deserts to be served at Scarlet’s Cafe when she returns and starts running the kitchen. Marva was not able to attend the grand opening of her restaurant due to prior commitments back in the United States that conflicted with the event. She will be returning soon though.

Restaurants Costa Rica

Happy Patrons of Scarlets Cafe

Ricardo and Marva will be opening Scarlet’s Cafe restaurant Costa Rica on a regular basis in the near future. Everyone living in the community will have to work around their schedule until then. In the mean time, people can work up an appetite taking one of the many adventure tours offered at Osa Mountain Village Resort. It’s a great way to keep active and explore the best Costa Rica has to offer.


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Why I Want to Live in Costa Rica

August 26, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

What a nightmare………..

The airport was packed with everyone flying home to somewhere. Mostly Americans like me that would like to live in Costa Rica or move to Costa Rica permanently.

I got to the airport at 5:00am

My flight leaves at 6:55

2 hours… not problem… right?

Not!

I had to pay $30 extra for the big black box but I knew that before I left the resort community I was staying at down near the Osa Peninsula.

I waited through a huge line in security but then they saw duck tape, a tape measure, my mattress pump, two diamond grinder wheels and the small Makita grinder in my carry on. They/I broke the zipper getting it open and then they told me that I could not bring any of the above onto the plane. I told them I flew down with it from the US. “Does not matter” I am told. Living in Costa Rica the rules are different, you can’t take these things on board.

Now I have an hour left.

I have to go back and have the bag plastic wrapped to keep it closed ($12.00) then I cut to the front of the ticket line and tell them I need to ship the whole carry on. A third bag is $150.00.

I say nicely to the Tico lady at the ticket counter… “you have to be kidding me”. “I could have put these things into my green bag because it was under weight”. The black box weighted 50.5lbs and I didn’t weigh it ahead of time at the hotel because I had no scale. I got lucky there and they let it go. She feels very bad for me after I explain to her what happened. She then calls down to the baggage handler at the plane and asks them if they can get my green bag. “No it is already on the plane”. She calls again and she thinks we have enough time to get the bag off the plane and she will walk with me and get security to let me into the baggage claim area where you arrive in CR. I will then have to go through customs to get the bag back out, go across the street and back upstairs to the ticket counter with that bag and then take the illegal stuff out of the carry on and put it into the green duffle… then back through security and try to catch the plane I will go. She says, “I think we can do it!”

So she goes the back way. I have to go outside, down a flight of stairs to the arrival area, cross the street and wait for her and security. She shows up about 5 minutes later and she walks me to the oversize baggage area and we wait. 10 minutes go by and still no bag. It’s now 40 minutes to departure. She goes to call the guys outside. They found the bag (both of them… we only wanted one) and it is now coming in on the conveyor belt. She grabs a cart, I throw both bags on the cart and we run to customs. She gets customs to waive any review of the baggage.

We now go outside where we catch the taxi’s but we cannot take the cart across the street. She radios for a helper to help with the baggage. She takes off for the ticket counter and I follow the baggage guy to an elevator, go upstairs and cut to the front of the ticket line again. I now have to open up the shrink wrap on the carry on bag I had wrapped, get the illegal stuff out and put it into the green bag. After all of this now the green bag weighs too much! 5lbs to heavy. Nothing can come out except all the plastic bags of liquids and cosmetics. I throw the mouthwash and eye cleaner away… too much liquid to pass through security but now the carry on bag has to be re-wrapped because the zipper is still broken. A baggage handler at the ticket counter takes the bag and runs it back outside to the shrink wrappers, they re-wrap it for free and I then grab my passport, computer, and carry on and run to security and get in a bigger line than an hour ago… no way… I will not make it! The lady who took me downstairs now appears from nowhere and opens up the security chain and says, “you won’t make it…..come with me”. She takes me to the front of the line that checks the passports and then puts me at the head of the line with the conveyor x-ray machine. I strip down again, watch, belt, phone etc. The guy is looking at the machine and again stops it on the carry on bag. By this time the nice lady has finally left. These were, by the way, now different inspectors. The guy asks me what is in the bag. I tell him a tent, shoes and some other stuff, I have no idea what is in it by this time! He says, is there a “motor”. Oh crap, I forgot to take out the air pump. What the Hxxx? This is turning into something like the adventure tours I took last time I was down, only faster paced.

So he now cuts open the shrink wrap to get at the pump. He sees it, I turn it on. His eyes light up like, gee…. this is cool. He then takes the bag back through the machine and runs it again. He then lets me take the bag now half ripped opened in shrink wrap (looking like trailer trash now) and I grab the pump, try to stuff back in the shoes but the pump won’t fit so I shove it into my computer pack along with all of the cosmetics etc.

I now start running to gate 5. Luckily for me it was the closest gate and they were still boarding (5 minutes to spare). I then strike up a conversation, dripping in sweat, with a lady who drops her ticket without knowing it. I pick it up for her. I’m then talking to her about swimming pools and the eco-smarte system as we are waiting on the loading ramp. I’m virtually the last person on a full plane and I’m in the back of the bus all the way to the end. I then tell the guy at the front of the bus to check the carry on in the hull so I don’t have to hassle with it. He says, “oh there is room right there in the ‘first class’ overhead bin.”

So all of these up-tight “first classers” see me toss my shrink wrapped bag with shoes hanging out next to their Christian Dior luggage. Then as I bend over to pick up my computer out of my passport neck bag falls $4,000 in large bills, the lady behind me sees it and picks it up saying, “now we are even”. I walk to the back of the bus and sit down.

The lady at the ticket counter and the baggage handlers are why I want to move to CR. Can you imagine anyone in the US even for a second doing all of this? I felt bad, I had no small bills and did not have time to tip anyone, oh well… next time.

Just another story to go along with thousands of others… I feel blessed that I am moving to the Osa Mountain Village Resort Community.

Paul Thomas


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