Our Home

Last summer, during our recognition trip, we started looking for a place we could call home. We had visited more than 20 houses! Some we loved, some we new were not for us. We had several criteria: Gated community, close to our gym, garden for the dogs, a room for each of us and we would like to start renting. We visited several gated communities and new by the time we were heading back to Switzerland, where we wanted to settle in the country.

First week in El Salvador in March 2020: Day #1, 5 houses. Day #2, 4 houses, Day #3, 5 houses. It felt like a housing marathon. Several houses, all different types. We visited all gated communities, in a perimeter of max 10 minutes away from El Salto Gymnastics. Big or better said, huge houses, all kind of style. Modern houses or houses from the 50's very well remodeled, small and big gardens, less or more view. How are we going to make our choice. Price and community first. Price must be affordable, knowing this year will be a tough financial year. But on top of the price, the community needs to be very secure and allow Shana to be able to have some kind of liberty. Even maybe be able to walk the dogs by herself. That would be a treat.

On Saturday night, three days after arriving, we had seen all the available houses in the side of the country we had chosen! We just needed to make a choice.

After a good night sleep, we had taken our decision.

We chose the community over the design. Our dream place: "los Sueños". On top of the hill in the mountains (not the Swiss alps, but the Salvadorian hills) overlooking the ocean and the volcano. A very big gated community, with high security (the President leaves here with his family). Big, very big. How can I describe the place. I think we can go walking for more than 2,5 hours around the community without having to get out. Kids running around alone, on their skates or bikes. Big parc, with Basketball and football fields, Tennis court and great open spaces.

Our street is very quiet. All the houses are modern, constructed in the last two years. Some are still in construction. No walls around the houses, no high fences by the gardens. Each house has a front and a back yard with a lot of trees. The front yards are open to the street. In this country it is not common. Since the 80's, the houses have been gated in between very high walls to prevent crime.

Our home! It feels amazing to be able to say so, after just a week in the country. A big house, brand new, very modern. Light stone floor, open spaces, big Terrace over-viewing a garden. The house has just been built. We are the first to live in it. As I said before, we chose this community for its beauty, tranquility, security, location and size. The house feels so big. Four bedrooms, a studio, a family room, a formal living room, a dining room, a kitchen, the washing and maintenance room. The light in the house is amazing. The air of the mountain can get through and keeps the house fresh even on sunny and warm days. All the houses in this community are about this size or even bigger. We are speaking about 500 square meters. 500 empty square meters. We came with no furniture, so now the fun part of moving in a brand new house can start. We go from one shop to the other, ordering the furniture, the beds, and the kitchen appliance. It is a race against the clock. Covid 19 is getting closer every day. We feel that the lock down is close. We would like to be able to move in the house before the country stays still.

I don't know how, but we did it. The furniture came, and was assembled. On Wednesday the beds were delivered and we were officially in the house. It felt right. The house was still half empty, but we were home. We had a dining table and even had dinner at our house with my parents. On Thursday we picked up all our suitcases and started buying grocery. The big freezer arrived and we could fill it up. On Friday we finish getting the rest of the furniture and the only important thing missing was the internet (most important thing). We had two men in the house working on it on Saturday. Sunday morning still no connection! The president announces that he will be speaking to the population at eight PM. The Covid 19 quarantine is coming. Still no Internet!

"Just on time" became our motto of the month. Internet connection was on at six PM. TV's were functioning. We are watching the president "just on time" at eight. First case has been declared in the country! The Country has been put in quarantine. No circulation is allowed for anything else then groceries. The fridge and the freezer are full. We have a house, a hammock, we feel very lucky. . .