#“Lady in the Café de Lanternes”

[fortunaestalta]

[barefoot-pianist]

Les Mis – Sondheim Theatre (New Production) – 28/01/20

** HUGE HUGE SPOILER ALERT! CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED**

**second disclaimer: it is nearly half midnight and I’ve been on the go since 5:30am, please forgive rambling, meta commentary to myself, and bad grammar. I just wanted to get this all out whilst it was still fresh**

General

YES the new staging was 90% a hit. I liked it. It was great to see Les Mis performed in a radically different way, I think, and enough was kept (like, for example, the basic structure of One Day More) that it didn’t feel totally alien and I didn’t miss the turntable all that much?. The opening scene is now on a ship, rather than in a mine. More on specific stagings below.

THE. SET. WAS. BEAUTIFUL. There is literally no other word for it. The original Les Mis set is quite minimalist, I think, whereas this one was lush – heavily centred on the idea of houses, which really gave more of a feel to the Paris streets. They had tenements and posh houses, the barricade was still huge, don’t worry, and they had a staircase which was in the café and the Thenardiers’ inn, etc. The scale really worked as well – like in Who Am I, the courtroom felt enormous as opposed to the little mobile thing they had before.

A preface to this point is that I don’t think I’m the right person to offer a critical commentary on race & the cast of Les Mis, but I think it is worth flagging – will 100% defer to folks with more experience/expertise. There were four black cast members – Éponine, Gavroche, and two of the chorus, which is way more than I’ve ever seen in the West End in this damn show. I’m under no illusions that Les Mis in the UK hasn’t got a bit of a problem with race. It is slowly inching its way better – when the Bishop came out and he was black right at the beginning I had a moment of “finally? Are they finally doing this right?” but the diversity wasn’t quite as much as I’d hoped. Especially as in my head, I’ve developed a huge, very multi-racial dream cast for the show, so…yeah. I’d love to see some of the characters who always get played by white people played by folks of colour – Enjolras, for example, Grantaire, Valjean himself. Or have both Éponine and Cosette be not white? For once? This would be great? Please let me know what you all think?? (this is West-End specific, I know there have been some productions working on this elsewhere).

The general mood seemed a bit darker? More violent? Perhaps that was the updated lights and set, idk, but more fake blood abounded I felt, and yeah – more actual deliberate fight scenes. It worked, ngl, the world feels like it’s gotten to a darker place, and the new Les Mis reflects that in a way, doesn’t gloss over the violence. Again, I think more thinking will let me know what I actually think about this, but we’ll see.

ONTO SPECIFIC CHARACTERS & SCENES!

Valjean

·       Jon Robyns – he was brilliant, like, nearly as good as my holy grail (Killian Donnelly). Voice incredibly on-point – I’ve seen some Valjeans with really harsh voices which I don’t think fits the character – his Bring Him Home started so softly and gently and then really soared (until some twat decided to take a FLASH PHOTOGRAPH of him mid-song, whoever it was should have been ASHAMED of themselves).

·       He was so sweet with little Cosette! At the end of the curtain call, he and the actress had their own mini bow and then hugged, and he carried her off into the wings.

·       He really made more of Valjean’s physicality than other actors I’ve seen – perhaps to do with staging too – but his and Javert’s interactions were much more physical, violent, and in your face than they have been. It wasn’t OTT on his end I don’t think, but you definitely got the sense that he was trying to rein himself in and that the violence was still there? You know? But ofc NEVER towards Cosette or anyone unlike SOME adaptations I could mention (yes I am still bitter about the BBC trashfire, sorry to anyone who liked it but eh, imho, gross).

·       At the end, he and the Bishop have a hug in heaven! It was very sweet!

Javert

·       This is the second time I’ve seen Bradley Jaden in the role of Javert and I am a blessed human being (really want to take my Dad to see him too) because he has officially ruined every other Javert for me. Like ever. His characterisation feels very book Javert, very stern and uncompromising but more so than other Javerts, idk, it’s just his sheer stage presence as well, and his facial expressions and his general look…I can’t put my finger on it. He’s just phenomenal.

·       Stars was on this beautiful Parisian bridge (fake stone balustrade-style complete with four hanging lanterns) that came down from the flies, incredible backdrop, and he just brought the house down again.

·       Ngl – they have him actually holding a legit chain during the Confrontation and maybe I’ve read too much ship fic, but it certainly gives a whole new dimension to the line “Msieur le maire, you’ll wear a different chain!” Also especially as the Confrontation was so much more physical as well, they were properly fighting each other instead of just circling.

·       He was much more bloodied at the barricade, and there was this moment where he was being taken offstage as a prisoner and he’s on his knees in front of Enjolras, who’s very blonde hair is all you could see from where I was sitting, and they’re both in a spotlight, and the mood just really reminded me of the dynamic in the fic Les Hommes de la Misericorde by Kchan88 (which is great and you should read if you want to).

·       After the barricade, they incorporated that heartbreaking idea from the movie – Gavroche is lying dead in the front of the stage and Javert bends down to shut his eyes and crosses himself. There’s then a total reversal of the moment with Enjolras described above, but I’ll get to that in more detail in the Enjolras section.

·       In Javert’s Suicide, he did the complete breakdown thing again – which worked as he actually had blood on his face and long hair loose everywhere from the barricade scenes. Back on the pretty bridge, which split in two and he legit FLEW for the drowning scenes, so was thrashing suspended in midair as the lights and backdrop swirled around and behind him. That was something special.

Fantine

·       The one, the only, the Carrie Hope! She played a very understated Fantine? Which…I liked more than I thought I would? Like the voice came out at the end of I Dreamed a Dream, Lovely Ladies etc, but she was so…controlled? It perhaps felt odd after seeing her as Éponine and Veronica in Heathers where she let loose a lot more, but her Fantine just felt a little more mature, a little more resigned?

·       Her Fantine also gets put through the bloody wringer, jeez – the fight with the factory woman is much more physical (and when I say more physical, I actually think they were properly choreographed?) and with Bamabatois, who is just as grim but less slimy than the last actor I saw play him?

·       I’d kind of almost forgotten about her by the time she came out as a ghost at the end, but that bit was lovely, as it always is.

Éponine

·       Shan Ako was a scene stealer. Bloody hell she can sing – she put some pretty riffs in On My Own (small, but noticeable if you know the song) and her belting voice was unbelievable.

·       With the new set, you really get a feel of the Gorbeau tenement – she’s hanging around up there a bit. Also in Attack on the Rue Plumet, with the set the way it is (a house with a wrought iron balcony and a door, with the gate and fence extending out towards centre stage) you again get a feel for the scene in the book when Éponine basically says to her father and his gang that they’re dogs but she’s a wolf and she’s not afraid of them because she’s standing guarding the door with her arms wide…yeah, it really worked.

·       She and Gavroche are either friends or it’s a subtle nod to their siblinghood, as they fist bump right when Gav introduces Éponine.

·       On My Own was a tour de force – second standout of the night after Stars, for me.

·       Her A Little Fall of Rain was also gorgeous, and she had a real fizz with Marius, which was cute.

·       A rather large niggle – Shan Ako is black, and Young Éponine was white. Perhaps there was a last-minute emergency, but surely they could have got a little black actress to play Young Éponine? Idk, it just bothered me.

Cosette & Marius

·       Oh my god, Harry Apps as Marius – he Pontmercied around the place, and was so awkward and adorable! In Éponine’s errand, when he tried to go up the stairs, he banged into the set! During his bit in Red and Black he gets up on the staircase and starts full on declaiming, arms wide etc. His scene with Cosette in Heart Full of Love was gorgeous – he chucks a stone at her window, and she comes out, sees him, and disappears and he’s like “oh god I’m doing everything all wrong” and then she comes hurtling out of the front door instead and then stops and they stare at each other and it’s so cute! And then he’s just so self-conscious for the entire scene? And what’s so interesting is in the reprise at the end and the wedding, he’s so much more sure of himself – I really loved all the little nuances like that?

·       He’s also really young! He’s the complete unknown they cast off the open auditions for the UK tour, and he is bloody amazing – totally deserved that!

·       Lily Kerhoas was very charming as Cosette. I adore the character, but sometimes actresses play her too girly, which drives me a bit nuts, but she managed to pull off young/innocent/naïve/very soprano with a bit of practicality, heart, and edge. And there was a great moment when she and Éponine are both in the garden after, and getting that look in at each other without the gate in the way was really powerful.

·       Cosette and Marius had chemistry! It was lovely!

·       Empty Chairs – wow. So basically Turning (my underrated fave) was a range of women dressed in black who leave candles dotted all over the stage. Marius sings Empty Chairs surrounded by them, and (you guessed it) the dead Amis come in and all pick one up and Marius does too, and then they blow them out and leave and Marius is left holding the only lit one and blows it out then raises it like a toast and WOW MY FEELINGS WERE NOT PREPARED.

 Gavroche

·       This kid STOLE THE SHOW. LITERALLY. He was black too (like Éponine) and they had a proper little thing going, it felt like it really drew on the brother-sister Brick canon. He also felt very book-Gavroche, so cheeky and so serious at times.

·       They’ve changed his first set of lyrics in Look Down to be those from the movie, which…sure. Worked.

·       OKAY – in The Robbery, when Javert is like “everyone about your business/clear this garbage off the street” everyone scatters APART FROM GAV who’s pootling around behind Javert yelling “go on! You heard the man! Go away, even you!” and then when Javert turns to face him, Gav just does this irreverent little salute and saunters offstage and Javert just…lets him?? It was a FANTASTIC moment.

·       At the barricade when Gavroche busts Javert’s disguise, he goes right up to him and on “this only goes to show what little people can do” just cheerfully gives Javert a big old middle finger. Which was SO GREAT.

·       When Éponine is dying, he spends most of a little fall of rain loitering next to Marius and not really knowing what to do and my heart just BROKE.

·       He and Grantaire had a cute bromance going – after Drink With Me, when Grantaire nonverbally tells Enjolras to go fuck off and goes off to the side of the stage, Gavroche just goes over to him and starts hugging his back, and then they have a cuddle on the side of the stage together for Marius’ solo.

·       Because no turntable – Gav didn’t die alone on the other side of the barricade, he makes it just back to the top, gets shot with the bright white light (which they kept) and then just falls over into Enjolras’ arms, who then carries him down the barricade and puts him in Grantaire’s arms who just stands there, centre-stage, cradling a dead Gavroche for a few minutes before lying him down at the front of the stage.

·       At the end, Gavroche gets dumped unceremoniously into the cart with dead Enjolras and idk, it’s just a moment.

Enjolras

·       Right – instant disclaimer that I am incredibly biased and Hyoie O’Grady is and will forever be my Enjolras and I measure everyone against his performance.

·       This guy, Ashley Gilmour, – mostly had the look and the hair and general icy beauty. I was initially disappointed with his voice, but he did grow on me – he just really didn’t have the presence I associate with a great Enjolras. This was especially evident in the speech bits like in Red and Black?. Like, you know they’re not right for the role when you don’t particularly have much to write home about. Maybe I’m being unfair – other people who’ve seen him – what do you think?

·       The one bit of changed staging I didn’t like was Do You Hear the People Sing. I think Enjolras being towed around on the cart (which did come back during the beginning of the barricade) gives the song the momentum it needs & deserves? Whereas they were just marching round a staircase they’d shoved in the middle of the stage which Feuilly got up on for his verse, so…

·       Aside from a few handclasps, there was basically no E/R. Not even a hug during Drink With Me. It wasn’t even like “no homo” bullshit whatever, it just…didn’t happen. Actors didn’t have chemistry, and it’s a fair reading – this Enjolras read ace/too busy for romance quite strongly, I guess, and also very young, but yeah. After the joy that was Sam Edwards, even a bit more chemistry with Hyoie O’Grady (even though he said he didn’t really like that reading (I think??) which totally fair), and some actors I believe ACTUALLY KISSING OMG in other productions (one Enjolras also wore a Pride sash instead of a revolutionary one in Brazil, I think???) it really wasn’t anything. I would love a cast with an outwardly gay & together E/R, but I think the West End has a while to go before that becomes reality.

·       Enjolras’ death: obviously no turntable, end of that iconic spin to reveal him draped across the front of the barricade with his flag. In this version, he basically yeets himself off the front of the barricade very dramatically (there is no other word for it, I promise I’m not using “yeet” gratuitously) and then when Javert comes back after the fall of the barricade, there’s a soldier with the cart from the building of the barricade with a very dead Enjolras on his flag, arms akimbo out the end. Which worked. It was more quiet and understated, but it worked. No complaints from me.

·       At the curtain call he gave us a little hand heart, Taylor-Swift-circa-2010 style. It was cute and I should probably stop being a cow.

Les Amis

·       They’ll never cast them as diverse as they are in my head (I can only hope one day, perhaps, PLEASE!) but they were a good bunch. Their Feuilly looked more like a Jehan to me, but eh. Again, just no real…buzz. Not in the way I’ve seen them performed before? And I think Les Amis depends on a good Enjolras and a good Grantaire, because as the two main Amis in the musical, they set the tone?

·       When the soldiers’ final announcements were happening during the Dawn of Anguish, one of the boys (idk which, they were basically all blonde) was having a very obvious panic attack on the floor by the tables, and one of the others was comforting him and it was like that horrible powerful scene in the 2012 movie and I didn’t like it because it was heartbreaking but it was very effective.

·       They all seemed a bit less tolerant of Grantaire, who wasn’t even that disruptive by other actors standards, which I didn’t like?

·       Grantaire was, again, eh? Funny, fine, but didn’t have interesting things going for him (like Adam Filipe’s pacifism, for example, or any kind of chemistry with Enjolras) in the way others have done, but it was a solid performance.

The Thenardiers

·       Yes, they were great! Master of the House built to Thenardier being given the birthday bumps, which was funny.

·       Madame Thenardier’s solo in Master of the House was delivered in the kitchen all by herself as a bitter monologue, rather than the drunken rowdiness you used to get in the old show.

·       They were a pretty typical funny Thenardier couple, and I’m getting tired, I might remember some more about them tomorrow.

 So yeah. Those are my thoughts. Would love to hear what other people think, and I definitely want to go back and see it again, perhaps with a different cast (a different Enjolras, argh). I’m off to bed, I have class in ten hours. Oops.

[actionfigureinsider]

70840 Welcome to Apocalypseburg!

Ages 16+. 3,178 pieces

US $299.99 – CA $399.99 – DE €299.99 – UK £279.99 – FR €299.99 – DK 2,499DKK

*Euro pricing varies by country.  Please visit shop.LEGO.com for regional pricing.

Enjoy an epic 360-degree play experience—and prepare for an alien invasion—with THE LEGO® MOVIE 2™ 70840 Welcome to Apocalypseburg! construction toy. An advanced building set, it has over 3,000 pieces and presents an awesome challenge even for master builders. This THE LEGO MOVIE 2 set features a section of the Statue of Liberty with a chill-out room in the head, café, Scribble Cop’s office with a chair-kicking function, armory, barber’s/tattoo parlor, Lucy’s hideout, Fuse’s workshop, rooftop diner, gym, spa, lookout platforms and loads more! This action-packed toy also comes with 12 THE LEGO MOVIE 2 minifigures to role-play and reimagine your favorite scenes from the blockbuster film.

This creative toy includes 12 new-for-January-2019 THE LEGO® MOVIE 2™ minifigures: Emmet, Lucy, Batman™, Scribble Cop, Harley Quinn™, Green Lantern™, ’Where are my pants?’ Guy, Larry the Barista, Chainsaw Dave, Mo-Hawk, Roxxi and Fuse, plus a rat figure.

This huge Apocalypseburg construction toy has removable modules for easy play and features a section of the Statue of Liberty, café, Scribble Cop’s office, armory, barber’s/tattoo parlor, Lucy’s hideout, Fuse’s workshop, rooftop diner, gym, spa and more!

The Statue of Liberty section of this THE LEGO® MOVIE 2™ playset features a buildable torch, opening Lady Liberty head with a chill-out room including a buildable telescope, and 3 lookout platforms.

The Coffee Unchained café features a service counter, cash register, buildable coffee machine with 2 coffee pumps, table and seat, and an outdoor table with a parasol and 2 seats.

Scribble Cop’s office features an opening jail door and chair-kicking function.

Armory features a mannequin, goggles, 3 minifigure helmet elements and 2 buildable weapons.

Barber’s/tattoo parlor features a barber’s chair, buildable tattoo machine and hair-cutting tool elements.

Lucy’s hideout features a buildable bed with a secret compartment containing various fun elements including a love letter from Batman™. The room also features weapon storage and assorted elements including new-for-January-2019 barbed wire.

The removable roof of Lucy’s hideout has a buildable seat, engine truck front and water tower.

Fuse’s rooftop workshop features a buildable tool chest with a buildable fire extinguisher.

Rooftop diner features a buildable V8 engine deep-fat fryer, table, oven, ketchup and mustard dispensers, plus frying pan and food elements.

Train-carriage-shaped gym features a buildable punching bag with alien invader decoration and a weightlifting bench.

Truck-shaped spa features a buildable hot tub and shower.

This THE LEGO® MOVIE 2™ toy building set also includes Chainsaw Dave’s surfboard rack with 2 surfboards, lookout area with a buildable telescope, an opening sewer and various ladders.

Weapons for THE LEGO® MOVIE 2™ characters include Lucy’s crossbow.

Accessory elements include Emmet’s 2 coffee mugs, Lucy’s quiver, plus 6 new-for-January-2019 Skeletron head elements (1 as a basketball; 1 on a signpost; 1 as engine decoration; 2 as hair mannequins; and 1 on the armory mannequin).

Recreate fun-packed scenes from THE LEGO® MOVIE 2™ with this awesome Statue of Liberty toy.

This new-for-January-2019 toy measures over 20” (52cm) high, 19” (49cm) wide and 12” (33cm) deep.

Available directly from LEGO Stores & shop.LEGO.com from Wednesday 16th January, 2019

  US Contact Center                                     1-800-453-4652

CA (English) Contact Center                     1-800-453-4652

CA (French) Contact Center                     1-877-518-5346

European Contact Center                                            00-800-5346-1111

  LEGO, the LEGO logo and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group. ©2018 The LEGO Group. All rights reserved.

Build and role-play with this huge THE LEGO® MOVIE 2™ Apocalypseburg model! 70840 Welcome to Apocalypseburg! Ages 16+. 3,178 pieces US $299.99 – CA $399.99 – DE €299.99 – UK £279.99 – FR €299.99 – DK 2,499DKK…

[sjohnson24]

Best Places to Meet Single Women in Costa Rica

Meeting  single women in Costa Rica can be a challenge if you don’t know where to look. With so many different places to try it is easy to waste a lot of time in the wrong places.

Here we’ve compiled a list of some of the best ways to meet the incredible women of Costa Rica.

Where to Meet Women to Date in Costa Rica

It’s important to understand that our list is aligned with the intention of helping you find Costa Rican women who would potentially be interested in actually dating you.

This point must be emphasized, since it’s not illegal or uncommon for women to receive payment for “dates” in Costa Rica. There are plenty of blogs out there that will tell you which websites, apps, clubs, and casinos to defer to if that’s what you’re after, but if you’d like to meet Costa Rican women for actual dating, read on.

Make friends

Word of mouth is an excellent way to become acquainted with women in Costa Rica. If you meet women through friends or acquaintances, they’re more likely to feel comfortable. Also, the people who introduce you will probably have a grasp on what your interests and intentions are and who may be compatible with them.

So, make friends. Don’t limit your conversations in bars and coffee shops to single women. Couples and men will have single female friends, and sometimes they will be with them at that very moment.

Making new friends is valuable on its own, but the added bonus is the possibility of being introduced to the women they know. Mingle with people at community events, church if that’s your thing, outdoorsy outings, sports activities . . . you never know who might connect you to a great date.

Online

Online dating took awhile to catch on in Costa Rica, but it’s starting to gain momentum.

Many of the popular dating sites these days have an international reach, as do the sites with particular niches. If you’re searching for an exciting older woman in Costa Rica you should first check out this comprehensive list of cougar dating sites, with the best reviews!

The next best thing to a friend-of-a-friend connection is a Facebook-friend-of-a-Facebook-friend connection. As of June 30, 2016, Costa Rica had an estimated 2.9 million Facebook users, which means there’s ample opportunity to connect with women through the site. Sure, it’s not the same level of familiarity as in-person connections, but it makes you a little less of a stranger to prospective dates, and every little bit helps.

So the people you meet at the bars and coffee shops (including the people that work there)—add them to your social media accounts. And then add their friends.

Events

A fantastic way to immerse in the crowds of beautiful women in Costa Rica is to attend some of the many huge events that occur here throughout the year. There are many, including New Year’s Day, Mardi Gras, Holy Week, and too many more to mention, but we’ll highlight some of the biggies here.

First off, the big events held during Christmas and New Year’s Day provide great opportunities to meet women. Thousands of people come together for Las Fiestas de Zapote, the biggest bull riding event of the year. The live music, dancing, rides, and games draw lots of women to the small town of Zapote, just north of San Jose. Or join the huge crowd of people walking 15 miles from San Jose to the basilica in Cartago for The Fiesta of the Virgin of Los Angeles in August. You should be able to make at least a few female friends in 15 miles.

In September, make sure to show up for one of the Independence Day celebrations held nationwide. With all of the festivals, parades, lantern processions, and parties to choose from, you will find plenty of opportunities to mingle. This is a great time to join the excitement rippling throughout the country and to celebrate with the female population.

Another huge party to not miss is the Limon Carnival, which erupts on the Caribbean coast in October. Much like its Brazilian counterpart, the festival boasts a colorful parade, great food, and lively music. This week-long party and celebration of Caribbean culture draws masses of partygoers, many of them female.

Beaches

As Costa Rica is filled with bountiful nature, being outdoors is a great way to meet gorgeous women.

One such spot which attracts a bevy of beauties is Tamarindo Beach in Guanacaste. Surfers, sunbathers, and nature enthusiasts come in droves to the beach and the nearby national parks and mountains. If you don’t surf, hike, or enjoy the outdoors, the women who do are a good motivation to start.

Jaco Beach in the province of Puntarenas is also a great place for active singles to come together, as it has become a popular surf spot surrounded by mountains and wildlife, as well as a nightlife destination. Also, many of the beachy casual bars there offer ladies’ nights, and those can be good places to meet both locals and tourists.

Opportunities for interaction abound at Playa Hermosa in Guanacaste, where swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking and windsurfing are only some of the offerings. Horseback riding is available nearby, as are excursions to a mangrove swamp and/or hot springs that are not too far away. Whatever your pleasure, you’re sure to find plenty of female companions to enjoy it with in this beautiful area.  

Shopping

If you’re a typical guy who hates shopping, you might want to reconsider. Costa Rican clothing stores, shoe stores and souvenir shops are often staffed by women, providing you with a great opportunity to strike up a conversation. Obviously, selling you something and/or providing friendly customer service is part of their job, so don’t make assumptions, but don’t rule out the dating potential either. You would not be the first man to go into a store in search of pair of shoes and leave with the phone number of a future girlfriend.

Supermarkets are also not bad places to meet beautiful women who can help you find what you’re looking for, so to speak. It’s not abnormal for foreigners to be confused by signs written in Spanish and stores being organized differently from what they’re used to. It’s up to you not to be shy about asking the right questions.

Dance clubs

Nothing livens the spirit and gets the blood flowing like dancing, especially in Costa Rica. There is no shortage of gorgeous women flocking to dance clubs throughout the country, and dancing has a getting-to-know-you language all its own.

Some of the best known dance clubs, including Club Vertigo and Castro’s Discotheque, can be found here.

Club Vertigo hosts renowned DJs from around the world. The venue boasts multiple dance floors, giving you the chance to cover a lot of ground—and meet a lot of women.

Castro’s has a little something for everyone, from salsa to trance to reggaeton. Not only does this offer a nice variety of music, but a range of personalities as well.

Other popular dance venues throughout the country include Aqua Discotheque in Tamarindo, Club Rouge in San Rafael, and Miraflores Disco Club in Heredia.

At all of these clubs, you’re sure to cross paths (or dance steps) with many Costa Rican beauties. It’s up to you to find the ones who match your rhythm.

Live entertainment venues

Live entertainment venues offer a more relaxed atmosphere for those who are not into the dance club scene, and are just as popular among the ladies. You can find a little bit of everything in Costa Rica, when it comes to both entertainment and women.

For a sophisticated artsy experience, consider heading over the Teatro Nacional de Costa Rica in San Jose. You can find theatre, opera, a symphony orchestra, and many cultured ladies there.

If you’re more into the karaoke scene (and singing women), Costa Rica has plenty of that too. There’s Sharky’s in Tamarindo, Karaoke 88 in San Pedro, and the aforementioned Castro’s, to name a few.

Perhaps you’re most comfortable taking in live music at a lounge or bar. There are plenty of women in Costa Rica who feel that way, too. Some popular spots include the Jazz Café Club and Mundoloco El Chante, both in San Pedro, and El Cuartel in San Jose.

Ocean preservation projects

Ocean preservation projects held in Costa Rica offer opportunities to help protect the environment and also to meet caring, eco-conscious women.

A shared concern for the ecosystem is a great common bond to start off a friendship or more. These events can give you a chance to get to know environmentally-friendly women while taking part in a meaningful movement.

In September, Costa Rica takes part in the International Coastal Cleanup, and in December, Operation Rich Coast hosts the National Beach Clean Up Day. Both projects encourage residents and business professionals to come together to pick up trash at beaches throughout the country. This provides a great environment for service, community and mingling with the opposite sex.

With its vibrant activity and natural splendor, Costa Rica is sure to introduce you to an incredible vacation experience, and with these tips, some amazing ladies as well.

By Bart Logan