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Published: April 7th 2015
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San Jose, Costa Rica
Stairway to the restaurant. On the last evening of our stay in Costa Rica we went to this elegant restaurant high above the hills overlooking the Central Valley. We had booked this tour through our hotel and the cost was $70 per person which included transportation, buffet style dinner, soft and/or alcoholic drinks (as much as you want) and the folklore show. I thought it was a good deal, and we were not disappointed.
The van came to fetch us from the hotel at 6:30 pm. There were already two ladies in the car. Later on we found out they were from Mexico. I thought we were going to pick up more guests, but the van headed straight for the town of Aserri in the outskirts of San Jose. It was a long drive the last part of which was mostly uphill through winding roads, finally reaching the restaurant after about 45-50 minutes.
At the top of the stairways there were a few stands displaying mainly small arts and crafts made by local artisans that represent the different regions of Costa Rica. We chose a table near the windows so we could have a panoramic view of San Jose, and what
San Jose, Costa Rica
Statue of waiter at restaurant entrance. an amazing sight it was, taking in the brilliance of the lights illuminating from the capital city!
Our two new friends sat together with us, and it was a delight to find out that both of them spoke English. One was a doctor and the other a data analyst. We had some interesting chit chats too. A few minutes after we were seated the head waiter came over to our table and introduced himself, giving us some information about the restaurant's amenities. I headed for the bar and got myself an 'Imperial' beer, but believe it or not, although there were no limits on how much you can drink, that was the only bottle I had for the whole evening!
There was a large variety of food set up on the tables with small signs describing each dish in both Spanish and English, and waiters to serve them on to your plate. Desserts included rice pudding and drinks with red coconut nougats, plus a wide choice of tropical fruits. It goes without saying that you can go for seconds or any number of helpings.
A little after 8 pm the Master of Ceremonies came
San Jose, Costa Rica
Inside view of restaurant. on the floor, and presented the program in both Spanish and English. He was smooth and polished, talking with ease and some humor. He went around each table asking the diners which countries they came from. As usual, I was the only Asian there! I didn't know that he was going to announce all the nations of the people later on during the show, because I would have told him that I was from Myanmar or Burma. As it was, the countries represented that evening were Canada, Austria, Turkey, Mexico, Italy, United States and of course, the home country, Costa Rica.
The cultural show itself started around 8:30 and lasted an hour. A group of ten dancers dressed in colorful Costa Rican costumes accompanied by a 4 piece band put on a lively show, entertaining us with several different traditional dances. The male dancers had sombreros on while the women had these long dresses which they swirled around a lot. All the dances were done with high energy, including stamping on the floor, vocal sounds (chirping) and they certainly held the attention of the audience. Halfway through the performance they pulled some people from their chairs to dance
San Jose, Costa Rica
Terrace of restaurant. around with them. The M.C. also asked if any of the guests had birthdays. It turned out one woman from Austria had one, and she was called to the floor and presented with a birthday cake.
Near the end of the show we were invited outside to the gardens to watch a miniature fireworks display, plus more dancing by performers dressed in masquerade costumes. It was another splendid opportunity to view and take photos of the brightly lit city below. By the way, I should mention the name of this restaurant. It is called Ram Luna.
I am glad we went to this place. Granted, $70 per head seems a bit expensive, but the ambiance and decor of the restaurant creates a nice atmosphere, and it was a perfect way to end our trip to Costa Rica, and we left the country with some wonderful memories.
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