By Claude Dugas in Atenas

I was born in Quebec, Canada and I lived there for more than fifty years. I knew from a previous winter spent in Amazonia of Peru that living in a warmer environment could contain its charms. Indeed, I have been suffering from the winter cold ever since.

So by the end of January 1993, I decided to come to visit Costa Rica to look at the possibility of making it my place of living.

I drove through USA and Central America and had the chance to live many adventures that could be the set for some very long and interesting blogs by itself. I still could speak some Spanish that I had so easily learnt in Peru so many years before.

My first visit

Once in Costa Rica, I stayed for five weeks in various locations such as Escazu, Jaco Beach and San Pedro. I liked the country very much so I decided to go back to Quebec for my planning to return to Costa Rica to live as soon as I financially could.

A guest of Atenas

By the end of 2000, I was finally ready and I flew to Costa Rica to file the papers in order to obtain my status of residency in Costa Rica. A friend of mine had sent me an email suggesting I could stay in Atenas, so I made it my destination.

I stayed in a nice Bed and Breakfast in a beautiful mountain setting overlooking the Central Valley. By night, breathtaking views of the flickering lights of San Jose, the capital city seen from the distance and the perfect quietness of where I was astounded me with feelings of peace and contentment.

What a joy

Once in Atenas, I really felt being in another world. When I woke up in the morning after very few hours of sleep, the smell of the vegetation, the songs of the many birds in a tree right in front of my room, the strong positive energy I could feel all around, the whole atmosphere in itself made it obvious that I was in a place that I would love to live in for the rest of my life!

Later on, walking the streets, I could smell the strong odor of musk left by the pecaris that used to live in that mountain before civilization took over. I was admiring from far the many shades of greens displayed in the surrounding mountains. The only noise you could hear was the singing of the birds and the quick funny walking of the geckos I was frightening away.

My dream

A little breeze coming from the Pacific was carrying a pure, unpolluted air, for thousands and thousands of miles over the ocean. I dreamt then a clear image that some day I would make that place my home and use some of my time to build houses in Atenas. That dream came true few years later.

Next week I will tell you more about my dream that came true and about the benefits of living in Atenas, Costa Rica. I am just one of hundreds of people who moved to Atenas to start a new life, one I still enjoy every day.