Work on the upper main level nearly done - Bathroom

It may seem like an unimportant room... But a working bathroom (san's vanity sink) was essential for us to start out. Our challenge was that in Tico tradition, one has the rough soil pipe through the floor with tile right around it. Then to set the toilet one has to chip out tile with a cold chisel; cut the pipe to a proper height, and then set the toilet. This was a two tripper to Maxi Ferriteria (hardware store).



One might not think of toilets as cool. The defacto standard in low water use, high efficiency toilets is Japanese made Toto. But our American Standard built in USA uses .2 liters more water and acts like a pressure toilet. So functionally is an amazing device. We should see these on the US market more readily soon...



We reused one of the ladders the workers left behind. It is a home crafted wood one we washed with bleach and made into a temporary towel rack.



Since returning to the states, we've purchased proper ones we'll be installing during our next trip. Our friends Kent and Rob suggested Ikea which was near the airport when we returned. So we took advantage of our proximity to shop - and found great devices at even better prices.





Early in our visit Javier was installing the lights for the bathroom walls. Up until our visit it was thought the wiring to the light over the showerhead was lost. But he found it during the install of the others - and proceeded to complete that installation. We can attest that the light is necessary. While we love our tilework and teak ceiling, the effect is that the shower was otherwise a pretty dark place. Lights are waterproof - ones intended to get wet with no ill effects (and no shocking results either).

On the first day of this trip, Saturday July 25th we needed to "close" on the cabinet in this photo. After having Jose in Sarchi custom build side tables for the beautiful bed he designed and built (out of Guanacaste - a native Costa Rican tree); we decided to trust he could do similarly beautiful work in making a closet (of sorts). This is a heavy piece, with huge amounts of storage. Shoes go under, there are four giant drawers, and a 1.6 meter wide pole for hanging clothes inside, and a hat shelf above that.

We selected this photo for posting as it shows all of the colors put together that is the setting for this cabinet.

Now the STORY. When we met Jose to pay the balance and arrange delivery; we had assumed we would pay and delivery would follow the next week. We did NOT expect that Jose would do additional strapping on his pickup truck, and follow us to our place 2.5 hours away on the coast.

That drive was an adventure to be sure. As we drove a storm developed so that while on the windy, twisty mountain roads we had intense rain, crashing thunder and fog. What an experience!!! It was dark when we got to Alazan; and then we discovered that Jose's truck was not a 4x4 - and thus not capable of making up the 1.3 kilometers to our house on wet dirt/mud roads.

We unloaded the cabinet at the guard house at the entrance, and then Dick and I decided to pay for a room for Jose and his wife (who accompanied him on his drive). After showers we met in the hotel dining room. This hotel, the Hotel Delfin, is right ON the beach, just a few feet from the ocean. Spectacular views and sounds! Great cajun food at Hotel Delfin. During dinner we learned that Jose and his wife had only been married 16 months, and being of modest means as furniture builders, never had a honeymoon. So our gift of a room turned out to be their honeymoon trip. We think a cool story.

While waiting for Jose to secure the cabinet in his pickup truck; we were in his new store location and found this mirror on the wall. Price was low and look was more like what we wanted - not a continuation of the bed/tables/cabinet; but a powerful piece that can hold its own. So we bought it, and hung it before we left.

So all that remains is for Gerardo to build the vanity table, and for me to tile it, set the sink and faucet; hook up water/drain; and of course install those fixtures and we'll be done.

Thanks for reading!

Ciao!

Ricardo y Jeeeem