Casa Marrakech swimming pool

This is a wider view of the backyard swimming pool of the Casa Marrakech beach house, about a block down the beach from our Langosta condo.

The grey slope in this photo is the area where the water runs off from a negative edge infinity pool, which are popular in Costa Rica.

Costa Rica does not have a law that requires pools to be fenced.  I was standing in the vegetation that divides the public beach from the back yard of this home.  If people are not at home or if there is no security, there is no physical barrier that would stop people from walking from the beach into the backyard and into the pool.

Our condo has a locked gate and a thicket of a type of pineapple plants with sharp thorns to keep people on the beach from using out beachfront swimming pool.  I would not want a house where I had to worry about people coming into the pool, although I have not heard that there is a problem in our area with people who do that.  This house has a staff of 5, so I am sure that includes security to make sure that unauthorized people don't use the pool.

We have photos of the Islamic architecture of Egypt posted this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Casa Marrakech bank yard pool pavilion

I kept a respectful distance when I took photos of Casa Marrakech.  It stayed on the public property of the beach, as all beaches in Costa Rica are public property.

I was able to use my telephoto lens to take a few photos through the trees of some of the architectural features of the house, such as this little pavilion at the end of the swimming pool.

We have photos of the Islamic architecture of Egypt posted this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Back door of Casa Marrakech

I think it is remarkable that a beachfront home in Costa Rica, designed by a Costa Rican architect, would be constructed with Middle Eastern or North African ambiance.  It looks authentic to me, and the palm trees are native to both climates.  This house looks like it belongs in a desert oasis, however, rather than the lush green vegetation of a Costa Rican beach.

We have photos of the Islamic architecture of Egypt posted this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Casa Marrakech

Here is a photo of the building that I have shown glimpses of in my posts during the last few days.  This is a view from the beach.

This is a private home called Casa Marrakech.  It is 10,000 sq. ft. (929 sq. m.), with 5 bedrooms and 5  1/2 bathrooms.

It was designed by Abraham Valenzuela, the same architect who designed both of our condo buildings. He is also an accomplished rock musician, and lead singer and lead guitarist of the band Las Tortugas.  Here is the band's website.

I think this house is remarkable enough to warrant a few more photos in the days ahead.  This house is available to rent,, and celebrities have stayed here.

We have photos of the Islamic architecture of Egypt posted this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Islamic architecture in Playa Langosta, Tamarindo

Here is a view of the front entrance to the building that I showed yesterday.  The scene of the roof line in yesterday's photo made this building look like a mosque, but it is not. There is no mosque anywhere near Tamarindo.  There is a mosque in the capitol of San Jose, but that is more than 4 hours away.  It is only during the past few years that a Catholic Church has been built in Tamarindo.

I will tell you more about this building in the days ahead.  In the meantime, if you would like to see more Islamic architecture, check out our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing photos of the architecture of Egypt.

Mystery photo

OK. Today's photo is a tease.  We are showing photos of the architecture of Egypt this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site, but this photo is not from Egypt.

Yes, this is Costa Rica.  In fact, this is a photo from Playa Langosta in Tamarindo, just a block from our Langosta condo.  What is it?

I will continue to unveil this little mystery tomorrow, as I continue this series.

The House Next Door (Is Not Mel Gibson's House)

This is the beachfront house next door to our condo in Playa Langosta, an upscale residential area of Tamarindo.  Why to I make a reference to Mel Gibson in the title of this post, you might wonder?

There has just been an article reporting that Mel Gibson has put his Costa Rica beach house up for sale.  It is located near Samara, about an hour south of Tamarindo.

Good news if you are in the market to buy a home.  Mel Gibson has lowered the price from when he tried to sell the house in 2010.  It is now listed for only $28.75 million USD instead of $35 million.  It has 500 acres of land, with three houses on the property, each on hilltops with views of the jungle and ocean.  The real estate listing agent described it as an ideal family compound.   I do not know if the price includes Mel Gibson's helicopter.

I don't follow Hollywood news or go to movie theaters.  I knew that Mel Gibson has a house down the coast only because a Costa Rican newspaper carried an article a few years ago about Britney Spears vacationing there.  

Today is Sunday, so we have new photos posted on  our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing photos of the architecture of Egypt.

Coati

At dusk, it is not unusual to see a coati walking around.  They are somewhat similar to raccoons, but larger and cuter.

This week we are showing some photos of the colors and beauty of Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island on  our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

J.W. Marriott Guanacaste Resort

I showed a post from the golf course at the Four Seasons Papagayo a couple of days ago, so I thought I would give equal time to the J.W. Marriott Guanacaste Resort.  This is an aerial view of it taken by my younger son several years ago when he took a gyrocopter flight over Tamarindo.  Guanacaste is the name of

We can walk down the beach from Tamarindo to the location of this resort, if it is low tide across the mouth of the Langosta Estuary.  It is about 20 minutes to drive inland and around the estuary and surrounding rural communities.

We have never stayed here, of course, since we have condos nearby, but we have stayed at other J.W. Marriott Hotels and they are very nice.  The fact that Marriott would make the investment to build a resort of this quality and size very close to Tamarindo I think is a good thing, as it places sort of an international corporate seal of approval on our local area.

We have photos of Cape Breton Island on the northern tip of Nova Scotia posted this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  It is a pristine, beautiful place.

Horse pasture

In contrast to the golf course photo I showed yesterday, this is a more typical photo of a lush green lawn in rural Costa Rica.  It provides food for animals, rather than recreation for humans.

I don't think this is an either-or proposition.  We can enjoy both, and I do play golf every couple of years or so.   I have nothing against golfers.  They have more talent and coordination than me.

We have photos of Cape Breton Island on the northern tip of Nova Scotia posted this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  It is a pristine, beautiful place.

Papagayo golf course

I am showing this photo of the golf course at Papagayo, about 30 miles (48 km) north of Tamarindo, to offer a contrast to the photo more typical Costa Rican scene I will show tomorrow.

The Papagayo peninsula, anchored by a Tour Seasons Resort, is like a slice of Hawaii in Costa Rica.   It is an elegant place to visit and to have a luxurious resort experience, but it is not the real Costa Rica.

We have photos of Cape Breton Island on the northern tip of Nova Scotia posted this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  It is a pristine, beautiful place.

Family on Langosta Beach

Following up on yesterday's photo, here is another typical photo of people enjoying Langosta beach, including a mother and small children in the foreground and a runner in the background. 

There are lots of tidepools for children to explore in the rocks exposed at low tide in this section of the beach.

In this age of video games and gadgetry, there is something timeless about small children enjoying the simple pleasures of the beach.

We have photos of Cape Breton Island on the northern tip of Nova Scotia posted this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  It is a pristine, beautiful place.

People enjoying Langosta Beach

I showed a photo of Tamarindo beach at low tide recently.  Here is a photo of Langosta beach at low tide.  I like the low angle shots of the sand, and try to keep a respectful distance to the other people on the beach.  In the background are typical scenes of families enjoying the beach.

We have photos of Cape Breton Island on the northern tip of Nova Scotia posted this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  It is a pristine, beautiful place.

Condos at the Tamarindo Preserve

This photo shows one of the condo buildings at The Tamarindo Preserve.  I showed part of the site in yesterday's photo.  This photo shows that the buildings are low rise and will fortunately not change the skyline of the point between Tamarindo and Playa Langosta. Some trees have also been preserved, although this used to be a dense forest before the land was cleared and graded for condos.

I was away for three weeks in Asia until yesterday, so I have not been able to respond to comments that people left on my site, as I had pre-loaded my posts and photos.  I appreciate your comments.  I have also removed the Word Verification feature that somehow had been added to my site.  (Actually, my son removed it, as I was unable to do so.)  I agree that it was annoying.

Today is Sunday, so we have new photos posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing photos of Cape Breton Island on the northern tip of Nova Scotia.  It is a pristine, beautiful place.

Grading for The Preserve condos

This photo shows part of the area of the San Francisco point between Tamarindo and Playa Langosta.  The land was purchased years ago by a group that plans to develop an ambitious condo project called The Preserve.  The point used to be covered with trees.  Now, it has been graded and roads have been laid out.  A few condo buildings have been built, but the economic downturn several years ago has stalled the completion of the project. 

Today, a condo project this close to the ocean could not be built due to land use controls, but this project was started before the latest restrictions took effect.  I have mixed feelings about this.  I like the open space and the woods nearby to provide habitat for monkeys and birds.  On the other hand, once the project was started, I would rather it be completed successfully than remain partially built.   Moreover, this project has low condo buildings, not a high rise, and fills in the ocean side of the road between the Playa Langosta area of Tamarindo and the main part of Tamarindo.  More condos and people in this area will help support more shops and restaurants.

This week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site we are showing photos of the elaborate gardens, with exotic birds, at the villa on Isola Bella, one of a set of theree islands in Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Agave tip

Here is a photo of the tip of an agave leaf.  I do not take many macro photos of plants, unlike my wife.  The contrast between this delicate point and the background of a bright red wall caused me to stop and take this photo.

This week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site we are showing photos of the elaborate gardens, with exotic birds, at the villa on Isola Bella, one of a set of theree islands in Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Decaying sea shells

The shells in this photo are in different stages of decay.  I am not sure why, but these shells erode from the center, creating first a small hole, then a ring.

This week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site we are showing photos of the elaborate gardens, with exotic birds, at the villa on Isola  Bella, one of a set of theree islands in Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Tamarindo beach at low tide

I love the glassy surface of Tamarindo beach at low tide, as shown in this photo.  Tamarindo beach is different than the beaches of Southern California, Hawaii, or the East Coast with which I was familiar from living in those locations.

On most beaches, the slope is too great and the water recedes too quickly to get watery reflections in the water.  As you can see in this photo, Tamarindo beach is so gradual in slope that the coutours of Cabo Velas across the bay is reflected in the glistening sheen of the ocean water remaining on the sand.

Imagine this same location at high tide.  You could wade all the way out on this beach to the spot where the waves are breaking, and still be in water below your waist.

This week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site we are showing photos of the elaborate gardens, with exotic birds, at the villa on Isola  Bella, one of a set of theree islands in Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Sun through the agave

The late afternoon sun peaks through the spikes of an agave plant.  The high, wispy clouds promise to catch the color of the setting sun.

This week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site we are showing photos of the elaborate gardens, with exotic birds, at the villa on Isola  Bella, one of a set of theree islands in Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Waves breaking on Langosta beach

The surf rolls relentlessly into Langosta beach.  The waves break on the shore after breaking a little off shore, which produces a constant sound of the sea.

This week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site we are showing photos of the elaborate gardens, with exotic birds, at the villa on Isola  Bella, one of a set of theree islands in Lake Maggiore, Italy.

Sunset from our condo

usually by mid-afternoon my wife and I will look to se if there are any clouds and we start a dialogue about what type of sunset we think there swill be aht evening.  Even days when the sunset is below average, it still rarely disappoints.  I took this photo from our Langosta  each condo.

Todya is Sunday, so we have new photos posted on our on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing photos of

Shadow on our balony

This photo shows the shadow of our balcony railing and a palm tree on the wall of our patio/balcony at our Langosta Beach.  The glow of sunset over the Pacific ocean is our favorite time of the day.

This week we are showing photos of the animals and people of Tanzania on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Patterns in the sand

This is a photo of the patterns created by the receding tide in the Langosta estuary.  The estuary brings a little soil mixed with the water, so the sand has a little marbled coloration.

This week we are showing photos of the animals and people of Tanzania on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Village soccer

The boys in this photo were playing football (soccer) in a field in a small, rural village, using a homemade, makeshift goal.  Most villages and small towns in Costa Rica have a soccer field in the middle of town.

In contrast to these humble surroundings, in the capitol of San Jose, the only big city in Costa Rica, there is a new national football stadium.  It was built by the Chinese and was finished about a year or so ago.  It is also the site of major international concerts.

This week we are showing photos of the animals and people of Tanzania on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Boy with a lolly pop.

This is a photo of a young boy who was watching the older boys in a Costa Rican town.  The boy seemed more interested in his lollypop than in the game

This week we are showing photos of the animals and people of Tanzania on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Vines climbing a wall

I liked the color and pattern of the vines climbing the wall in this photo.  I don't know why, but in Latin America people seem to select deeper and bolder colors for walls and houses.  I, for one, am glad that they do.  It adds to the beauty and distinctive character of the locale.

Behind this wall was one of the beachfront homes in Playa Langosta.

This week we are showing photos of the animals and people of Tanzania on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Kingfisher on a wire

The little kingfisher in this photo surveyed the scene from a perch on this wire.  Usually we see kingfishers over or very near the water, so we do not often see them on telephone wires.

We are showing photos of the animals and people of Tanzania this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.

Solitary sailboat on the beach

The solitary sailboat in this photo was parked, or I guess I should say anchored, just off the beach at the mouth of the Tamarindo estuary.  The estuary flowing to the sea is the water in the foreground.

I don't know if the people in this sailboat are locals folks who were just out to enjoy the day, or whether they stopped for a rest while on a longer journey.  I do know that they picked a delightful place to stop and enjoy the beach.

Today is Sunday, so we have new photos posted on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site.  This week we are showing photos of the animals and people of Tanzania.

Man walking a dog on the beach

This photo of a man walking his dogs on the beach provides gender balance to the photo I posted yesterday.  The beach is a perfect place to walk dogs.  I personally would prefer to hear the surf than to have headphones on, but I guess some people might even get tired of the soothing and invigorating sounds of the surf.

We are showing photos of Egypt this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site, including some of the experiences that await tourists visiting the country might enjoy.

Woman horseback riding on the beach in a bikini

OK.  I admit it.  This photo of a woman in a bikini horseback riding on the beach is a crass attempt to boost viewership on this website.  I like to check the search terms that causes people to land on my site after Google searches.  Consistently, one of the most popular search terms is people looking for photos of bikini horseback riders.

I hope I am not insulting anyone by saying that this is a sad commentary about the male gender of our species.  Nevertheless, I am not above trying to take advantage of this phenomena by dipping into my archives to show another photo of this woman who I showed in the past.

One of the other popular search terms is "Michael Landon," the late actor.  Several years ago I showed a photo of his former house in Costa Rica, and people are still landing on my site when looking up information on Michael Landon.

As usual, I will post a photo tomorrow to restore gender balance to this website.

We are showing photos of Egypt this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site, including some of the experiences that await tourists visiting the country might enjoy.

Theme Day: Electricity

Today's worldwide Daily Photo Theme is electricity.  What better use of electricity in Tamarindo than to illuminate a swimming pool and poolside lounge?  This photo is the bar area of the Cala Luna Resort, which is located just a block or so from our Langosta Beach condo.

We are showing photos of Egypt this week on our Viva la Voyage travel photo site, including some of the experiences that await tourists visiting the country might enjoy.

To see how other Daily Photo bloggers have interpreted the theme of Electricity, Click here to view thumbnails for all participants