The Story of Rancho Tranquilo

If you're daydreaming about the romantic notion to move to Costa Rica, buy a farm, have horses, and become part of a community outside of the bucolic expat condos, hold on for the ride!Back in 2004, I came to Costa Rica and ended up buying a 200-acre piece of farmland on my first trip to the country. I fell in love with the Diamante Valley, the cool breezes, and the acres and acres of pasture. I could envision hundreds of happy ponies, munching grass all over the mountain.Rather than have the big horse farm I initially envisioned, I ended up subdividing the land into large farm lots, installing roads, bridges, electric service, and a water system. It took seven years and over half a million dollars to get the project done, paying for it a little at a time, as each lot got sold. To survive in the meantime, I sold pizza, real estate, and started a highly successful horseback tour business "The Happy Horses of Rancho Tranquilo" The Ticos in my little village adopted me as one of their own, taught me Spanish, invited me to all the local events, and stole my heart. After nine years, I sold the farm and moved up the coast near the beach. My life with horses continued, but a horrific tragedy at the barn and a near-death accident changed everything for me.Costa Rica has its charms, but also its quirks. Come along for the ride, and you'll learn what its like to live in the real Costa Rica the good, the bad, and the absolutely hysterical. You can't make this stuff up.