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.

What’s going on in Jaco, Costa Rica?

I am often asked the questions, “What’s going on in Jaco, Costa Rica?”, and “Why are Americans and Canadians buying real estate in Costa Rica?”.  So I’m now going to learn how to blog answers to these questions on a regular basis.  For those planning a visit to Costa Rica, I hope you’ll find some helpful tips on my blog.  For those wondering “what ever happened to Gary Aptaker?”, your question may be answered on my blog, too.  So, for those of you who believe that you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, I’m getting some technology tutoring from my younger friends and will be up to speed on Blogger.com real soon.  Oh, and I’m going to learn salsa and meringue dancing Saturday evening. 

Hasta luego from Jaco Beach, Costa Rica.

Gary Aptaker