RSVP Event: Horsing Around!

How about a "get acquainted" ride for those who want to try out this activity? Have we got an event for you! Oh, and there's an interesting lunch too...

Date: Friday, May 14, 2010
Where: Nacho's Finca, Bajo LaPaz, about 40 minutes from SR
Meet Up: 8 am SHARP at Cafe Delicious, San Ramon, for carpool/caravan
Expect: One and one-half hour horseback ride on gentle horse with guide beginning at 9 am, early lunch around 11 am at local tilapia farm/soda (Catch your own, or order from the menu, other lunch choices available), return to San Ramon, arriving about 1:30 pm.
Cost: 5,000 c for horseback riding, up to 5,000 c for lunch
RSVP: Required for your horse to be saddled and ready! Limited number of horses available. Email RSVP to Kathy Bell at kbellhfpasco@aol.com by Wednesday, May 12.

RSVP Event: US Embassy Rep in San Ramon!

Ever wonder who's in charge of things at the US Embassy or what is their responsibility to American Ex-Pats here? Courtesy of our friends at the Small Business Alliance, we have a great opportunity to meet the US Ambassador's Representative right here in San Ramon!

Program: Meet Paul Birdsall, Consul General (The consular section is that department responsible for visitors and ex-pats)
Website: http://usembassy.or.cr/embinfo.html for embassy info
Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Time: 2:00 pm
Place: Jose Figueres Cultural Center, San Ramon
Directions: Main Street In from the Mall, when you see the back of the church, park anywhere on the street and walk toward Perimercado. Make a left at the Perimercado block and it is the second building on the right, Jose Figueres Cultural Center (just reopened after renovations).
Cost: Free
Expect: Town Hall Meeting with an overview of embassy services and Q/A
RSVP or More Info: Mike Styles, mike@styles.com

If this meeting is helpful to the embassy and to ex-pats, it is likely to be replicated in other areas of Costa Rica...so San Ramon is #1!

Meet Up Event: Searching for Quetzals!

Have you always wanted to see the elusive Quetzal in the wild? Here is your chance!

Date: Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Meet Up: 8 am SHARP at Cafe Delicious, SR, for carpooling.

Look For: Parker Henry, Kathy Bell

Event: Travel to Bajo LaPaz (about 30 minutes) to enter a private property and be guided by the owner to see nesting Quetzals (no absolute guarantees, but this is their nesting season and our guide is an expert!)

Cost: 6,000 c (Exact change, please) per person

Expect: Drive 30 minutes to Bajo LaPaz, walk about 1 mile from parking area (this is for individuals with intermediate level hiking skill, some grade to property), spend time birding (1-2 hours) and return back to San Ramon.

Bring/Wear: Comfortable/sturdy walking shoes, jacket/shirt/poncho, camera, binnoculars, water, and your quiet voice as Quetzals are nesting!

Meet Up Event: Does the Irish in You Miss Corned Beef?

Another talent uncovered! Karen Brown actually brines her own corned beef (much to the delight of Belfast-born husband Joe), and she is willing to share some!

Event: Potluck Dinner
Date: Tuesday, May 4
Time: 3:30-5:50 pm
Place: El Castillo (aka The Cabinas)
Expect: Outdoor dining in the rancho in a lovely setting, see website: http://www.cabinasofcostarica.com/, no cost
Bring: A dish to share and your beverage of choice
RSVP: Not mandatory, but if you know you are coming and what dish you will be making, email info to Karen and Joe at waterfall_brown@yahoo.com; otherwise we will find out what "potluck" really means!
Directions: From San Ramon, autopista west, past El Jardin, past Tinajitas Restaurant, follow around road curves, look to left for bus stop, next left up a steep hill, cabina sign at bottom of hill. If you get to the El Empalme Road, turn around because you have passed it! The rancho is at the top of the hill.

RSVP Event: Costa RicaTax Facts Seminar

And here we thought Tax Season was over! Costa Rica taxes are more than a bit mysterious, and we need an expert to explain them...and our friends at the Small Business Alliance have found one to discuss property, corporate, income, sales, luxury and other taxes. The seminar is designed for business operators, retirees, and all members of the community and will be hosted by one of the foremost bi-lingual experts on taxes in Costa Rica!

Presenter: Randall Zamora Hidalgo, President/CEO of Costa Rica ABC Former CFO, Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica; Local Partner of The World Bank; Active member of the Interamerican Accounting Association; International Consultant for FogLamp.org; Tax Writer with more than 15 years of experience in Costa Rica taxes. Randall is also very familiar with the IRS and US Tax Code.
Day/Date: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Location: Chiropractic Office, San Ramon. Main Street In, through traffic light at Chury Gas, make a right at the second block past traffic light. Chiropractic Office on left, well marked.
Cost: Free of charge
RSVP: Mike Styles – mike@styles.com or 8.333.8750

Meet Up Event: Meet The New US Ambassador

Yes, the new US Ambassador to Costa Rica has arrived! Anne Slaughter Andrew will be speaking at the next Democrats Abroad meeting in San Jose and everyone is invited!

Event: Democrats Abroad
Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010, 9:30 am to noon
Place: Aurolo Holiday Inn, San Jose.
Meet Up: 7:30 am at the Directo Bus Station in San Ramon, buy a roundtrip bus ticket to San Jose for the approximately 8 am bus. Look for Mike Styles, Alan Merson and Paul Yeatman.
Expect: One hour on the directo bus to SJ (about 2,000 c r/t), cab to the Aurola Holiday Inn (about 2,000 c shared), 5,000 c for meeting/lots of refreshments, return cab to directo bus (about 2,000 c shared), one hour back. Return to SR about 1:30 pm
Directions: Main Street In to second stop sign, make left, go four blocks and Directo Bus Station is on the right. Park on the street anywhere near the bus station.

TO ATTEND YOU MUST RSVP: Email to cr.democratsabroad@yahoo.com or call Nelleke at 2279-3553 or Bill at 2220-3007.

Meet Up Event: Recycling -- From Trash to Treasure!

Ever wondered what recycling in San Ramon is all about? The folks at the San Ramon Small Business Alliance (SBA) have a unique opportunity which just came their way and they want to share it with everyone who is interested in recycling:

Event: An Introduction to Recycling here in San Ramon
Date: This Wednesday, March 17, 2009 at 2 pm at the Recycling Center in San Juan, Upstairs Meeting Room.
Meet Up: For those who don't know where it is, meet Kathy at the Maxi Bodega parking lot at 1:40 pm and caravan from there. It's around the corner.
What to Expect: We understand that an English speaking volunteer will talk with us, answer questions and show us the facility. This should take about 45 minutes. The San Ramon facility has been cited as one of the best grass roots recycling efforts in Costa Rica. It is a project of the women of the local area. In addition to the recycling itself, they have a school-based educational program to introduce children to the benefits of recycling.
What to Bring: Your recycling if you have it ready! They will take any aluminum, plastic, glass, paper, batteries and many other things you will learn about on Wednesday.

RSVP (just so he can have a idea of how many are attending) to Mike Styles:

mike@styles.com