IT’S BETTER THAN CHILI’S

By | 2018-04-15T18:19:27-04:00 February 1st, 2013|Categories: food|Tags: , , , , |

Mar Vista Costa Rica Restaurant

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Bacon cheeseburger, french fries, ocean view, with a side dip in an infinity pool—$8

Last night our internet was down.  Rob and I got restless so it was the perfect time to grab our camera and check out a new restaurant that recently opened nearby. I like supporting new businesses because I know firsthand just how difficult running one can be. I remember when my book went on sale and I wondered if anyone would ever purchase it. I’m so grateful readers found me that I want to spread acts of kindness and help someone else out as often as I can.

The Club at Mar Vista is perched high on a hill with panoramic views of the ocean. Rob was anxious to catch the sunset so he raced up the hill so fast I’m pretty sure something important fell off our car. Lately, a lot of things are falling off our car. One day I’m going to fall off this car.

To our surprise, the owner of the restaurant turned out to be our friend, Bryan Campbell. He also happens to be the owner of the popular Café Mocha. I go there often, not just because of the coffee but because he makes the best brownies in Costa Rica. I knew he was starting another business, but he wanted to keep it under wraps until he was ready to open.  I can see why. This is not your ordinary place. This restaurant has an infinity pool that spans the entire establishment with an underwater lighting system that makes it irresistible to jump right in. (more…)

A NOT SO SPECIAL SURPRISE

By | 2018-04-15T18:19:34-04:00 January 24th, 2012|Categories: Cost of Living|Tags: , , |

Costa Rica Cost Of Living Update: Cost to fix timing belt on car (got rid of the girly noise) and repair horn (which now sounds like a girly moped beep) -$400

Our friends are here from Pennsylvania and they want to treat us to dinner. We take them to a place we normally go—in the LOW season. Rob orders the specials, waving his hands in the air like he’s conducting a symphony. “We’ll have two orders of the coconut shrimp appetizers.” He convinces our friend to forgo the reasonably priced chicken and rice dish to splurge on the fresh lobster.

Everything is great until the waiter brings over the check. Those delicious shrimp appetizers cost $20 each. And the lobster dinner…it was $40.

So when ordering the specials, make sure you ask the price first. But even with that surprise, it was a memorable evening as we watched the sun set while two people made-out in the ocean in front of us.

They didn’t spend a dime and, apparently, had just as good a time.

 

LOLA’S RESTAURANT…THIS ISN’T YOUR LOCAL APPLEBEE’S

By | 2018-04-15T18:19:55-04:00 March 21st, 2011|Categories: Tourism|Tags: , |

                                                                                                                                                        Costa Rica Costa Of Living Update:        Lunch for two on the beach while watching the surf roll in- under $20

I’m about to jump in a hammock but my full belly is making me especially lazy. There is a sleeping dog under a palm tree to my right, I’m sure his belly is full too. He’s as relaxed as I am right now.

Lola’s second restaurant is located at Playa Danta; their first at Playa Avellanas, south of Tamarindo. Playa Danta is the location of a new development called Las Catalinas, a place where each home has a small footprint so as to protect the natural beauty of the location. It is siesta time so everything is quiet here. Even the breeze whispers.

The owner of the restaurant introduces himself and we share our philosophy of living in Costa Rica.  This was not his first profession, he purposely designed a different life for himself, one that gets him out of an office and into the sunshine. (more…)

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