MY FIRST "CLIP-JOINT" EXPERIENCE IN COSTA RICA

If you’ve been following my blogs, you’ve been reading about the reasonable costs of an evening out here in Jaco, Costa Rica.  Whether it be live theater (Teatro Jaco - http://teatrojaco.com/), or movies (http://jacobeachcinema.com/), or dancing to many types of music, or half-priced Wednesdays for sushi (http://www.restaurantes-cr.com/tsunami-sushi.html), or just an evening out for a couple of beverages – Jaco has it all – at Happy-Meal prices.  I’ve been enjoying the bargains here in Jaco for over three years, but this past Friday evening I had my first “rip-off” experience.

Michael, Faith and I went out for opening night at a new club in Jaco, but the music was too loud for conversation.  We walked to a new place we heard about…one with an adult atmosphere.  It’s called Orchid, and it’s located in the rear of the legendary Monkey Bar.  The décor was chic, the music was nice, the staff was elegant and it appeared that we found “our place”.  We ordered three glasses of white wine.  We toasted to our evening and took a sip.  It was unanimous!  The wine was really close to being ready for salad dressing.

Justin (the manager) said “That’s all the white wine we have. I’m not charging you for it. How ‘bout a Chilean sparkling wine?”

It was OK, and we talked and danced and we enjoyed.  Our glasses empty, we ordered another bottle.  Justin explained that we drank their only bottle, but he did have a Moet & Chandon Imperial “that was a little bit more money”.  We toasted and danced and talked some more and enjoyed our evening.

“La cuenta por favor” (check please).

“WHAT???!!!! - $406.49”   

After being told that the amount was correct, and alter recovering from our myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), we paid our bill and headed home.

The lesson?  Ask what “a little bit more money” is.

Imported products have large duties imposed on them in Costa Rica.  A U.S. restaurant would charge from $80-$100 for Imperial, so $120-$150 would have been appropriate in Jaco. 

Medical tip: Ask for the price before you order.

So much for Orchid in Jaco.

YA GOTTA EAT

Wherever you live or vacation, one of life’s treats is “dining out”.  And boy, do we have an abundance of  choices for that in Jaco.  We have fine dining in restaurants like “Lemon Zest”, “Pili Pili”, “Wahoos” and “Graffiti”, where creative style is high and costs are reasonable.  Hotels like Poseidon, Amapola and Cocal offer wonderfully prepared food at much-less-than-normal hotel charges.  And a wide variety of tasty international cuisines await your palate.  From Italian (Paparazzi, Peccati di Gola), to Asian (Tsunami Sushi, The Wok, Los Amigos Thai, Arigato), to Mexican (Jaco Taco- open 24 hours), to Parrilla Argentina (Steak house).  We could use a good Chinese restaurant here, but with our growth in Jaco I can almost smell the wontons now.

There are plenty of easily recognized fast-food joints here in Jaco (KFC, Subway, Quiznos, Pizza Hut), but they’re mostly patronized by the native Costa Ricans.  Instead, choose a “soda” or local cuisine.  The food is super-fresh, the selection is broad and the prices are low (typical meal includes beverage – about $4.00).  My favorites are Soda Rustico and Marea Baja.

And in Jaco there’s every type of pizza, from Big Ron’s New York Style, to Rioasis Costa Rican Style, to Los Pibes Argentinean Style to good ‘ol Pizza Hut.

Whether you visit Jaco on vacation, or move here…..buen provecho.

WHY JACO?

There are many nice places to visit on our planet, and many of them leave you with a “been there….done that” feeling.  But Jaco is different.  Visitors return again and again.  Many buy a vacation home here, and lots of people retire here.  So, what’s the attraction?  I’ve met numerous Ticos who have moved to the states….only to return to Costa Rica to live.  The human energy factor is spectacular here.  Their attitude is: “Why work feverously your whole life to be able to retire and relax, when you could enjoy your entire life that way in Jaco, Costa Rica.  There are a lot of business opportunities here for young families, and Jaco is a great place to raise kids.  You can’t taste the food in a written restaurant review,  so I can’t expect you to “feel” Jaco in my blog.  You’ll just have to check it out for yourself.  Make your travel plans, now!  I’d be delighted to discuss all this stuff with you…in person.  What are you waiting for?

YOUR MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS

I’ve been answering a lot of questions in my blog about Jaco, Costa Rica, but haven’t yet answered the most frequently asked question of all….”what’s the real estate market like in Jaco?”.  First of all, we’ve been blessed by not having a lot of “over-mortgaged” properties and foreclosures here in the Jaco Beach area.  Secondly, as buyers have come to realize, the global economic meltdown has had a lesser effect here in Costa Rica than in lots of other places.  They are buying now rather than waiting for the prices to rise.  Some sellers have priced their properties rather high, and they will wait for an unknowledgeable buyer with an unscrupulous real estate agent to pay “above market” prices.  They will probably be on the current market for a long while.

People walk into our REMAX office every day and ask “where are the hot buys?”, or “what are your fire sale deals?  When sellers are serious, their property usually attracts serious buyers and we schedule a closing date.

Currently, there are some “great buys” in the Jaco area…from beachfront condos to rainforest retreats to small ranches to typical housing.  We even have a gorgeous estate-like home, that features the most panoramic ocean views I’ve ever seen, and contains just about every amenity necessary for the discriminating buyer.  Bring your toothbrush and your fire extinguisher…this property is “fire sale” priced at $550,000 and comes fully furnished.

I’m supposed to be retired, but I love talking to people about this place called Jaco (pronounced hock-O), so contact me if you have additional questions.

HEALTHCARE IN JACO

Healthcare in Costa Rica can be described in one word….world class!  OK, that’s two words, but you get the idea.  I’ve visited only two of Costa Rica’s many hospitals, Cima (pronounced see-ma) and Clinica Biblica in the center of the capital city of San Jose.  Not only are facilities and staff as professional as anything in the states, but the caring personality of the doctors, nurses and support people is in the pura vida (pure life) spirit that IS Costa Rica.  And procedures that would be thousands of dollars in the states…are hundreds here. 

In Jaco Beach, we have several doctors, a couple of clinics and a host of pharmacies.  We have 24-hour emergency response teams that are the equivalent of the best paramedic teams in the states.

But let’s back up for a minute:  before you need medical attention, the general lifestyle in Costa Rica is healthier than lots of other places.  Less stress, more fresh produce, less stress, cleaner air and less stress.  Did I say “less stress”?  My “high blood pressure” condition has become normal blood pressure here in Jaco.  I believe that I’ll live longer here.  We shall see……… 

Remember The Song "STANDING ON THE CORNER WATCHING ALL THE GIRLS GO BY"?

So,  you’re living in Jaco, or vacationing in Jaco, and you want to know about dating.  Guys, are you looking for your future wife, a long-term girlfriend or companionship for an evening?  It’s all here in Jaco.  Romance is in the air.  Beautiful women are abundant.  If “girl watching” is your sport, look no further than Jaco.  If you are vacationing, you’ll go home talking about your next trip to Jaco.  If you are thinking about living in Jaco or considering retirement in Jaco, you have chosen a vibrant town in which to hang your hat. 

Ages are not as bracketed as in the states, so it’s not unusual to see a 60 year old man with a 30 year old gal.  I have friends of all ages, and it’s the “pura vida” spirit that binds us…not our chronology.

There are a lot of happy couples living here in Jaco who were single when they arrived, met someone special…and…oh, you know the rest.  It seems like whatever your taste…it’s here.    The relationships in Costa Rica don’t seem to get old and stale, and I enjoy seeing couples walking on the beach holding hands or strolling along Main Street hugging each other.  I don’t mean to imply that Jaco Beach is one giant singles bar, for the many couples vacationing here or relocating to Jaco get bitten NOT by mosquitoes, but by the love bug.  A number of couples have shared with me that romance in their lives flares up when they’re here in Jaco.  Many of the day to day activities here seem like romantic scenes from a favorite movie.  As I said…romance….it’s in the air.  Come to Jaco Beach and take a deep breath.

I'm not a dating service, but for more info on dating in Jaco, contact Gary Aptaker

Activities. Anyone For Activities?

What do retired guys do all day, here?  Some sit around and drink beer.  On any given day, you can go to the Bahio Grill, right on the beach, and enjoy 11:00am happy hour and talk with ex-CIA agents, former CEO’s, multi-millionaires that were “robbed blind by their partners” and numerous other characters who openly share “what they used to be back home”.  I sometimes get a call from one of my pals…”hey Gary, there’s two guys here who wanna buy a condo, and I told them you were honest, reliable and generally a good guy.  Can you come over and meet them?”  So I get on my bicycle and pedal to the Bahio to meet my new clients and have an iced tea with them.  After making an appointment to show them property the next day, I realize it’s Tuesday and  head for Jaco Taco for the Tuesday Horseshoe Tournament.  I’m just two weeks into this thing, but it’s outdoors, the guys are cool, the games are fun and our host Steve serves up really great nachos.  Someone is always planning some activity, even if it’s going to find a certain bamboo for their patio or lining up a fishing charter for their son’s visit next week.  It seems like I have an assortment of outings from which to choose.  It’s not “cliquish”.  The easy-going attitude in Costa Rica is contagious, and the pura vida spirit permeates the entire culture.  A guy just seems to fit in. 

Next blog we’ll talk about dating in Jaco, Costa Rica.  For more details, contact Gary Aptaker.