Urban Life in San Jose

[Eugene Murray]

Quite a few posts discuss beach and mountain living. I’d like to change gears and ask about “sophisticated” urban life.

My wife and I enjoy the arts:
symphony
chamber music
opera
ballet
plays, musicals
etc.

Is it possible to enjoy this kind of urban lifestyle in San Jose in a cost-effective manner?

These kinds of activities are becoming quite expensive in the states, especially considering parking, eating out, etc. It seems that our acquaintances mostly want to sit around in sports bars drinking and eating bar food. Is it possible to find folks who are simpatico with this kind of lifestyle in San Jose?

BTW, the Musical Director of the Aurora Symphony Orchestra in Colorado is Dr. Norman Gamboa, a distinguished tico, indeed.

Gene Murray
Aurora, CO USA

[Kathleen Evans]

Hi Gene,

Thanks for reaching out. Sorry for the delayed response. I am the Coastal Correspondent living up in Guanacaste, so life here is a bit further from “sophisticated” – at least the images I conjure up of a cultural metropolis such as Buenos Aires or New York City.

And yes, it is true there are many expats who enjoy their daily meet up at the local bar to knock back a few cold ones. However, there are also expats who enjoy the arts and taking in a performance or catching the latest museum exhibits. And the good news is these performances are usually at a fraction of what it would cost in the US.

Here is a link to the national theatre website: https://www.teatronacional.go.cr/

This link it to the musical performance calendar updated on the English online daily newspaper, the Costa Rica Star: https://news.co.cr/music-costa-rica/

Our Central Valley Correspondent, John Michael Arthur, will be able to weigh in about other options for the arts – as there are many in and around San Jose. In fact, he recently wrote an article about suburban Escazu. Although it is more about the lifestyle, rather than the arts specifically, it is definitely a place to consider visiting/living to find Costa Rica’s well-heeled crowd. https://internationalliving.com/escazu-the-beverly-hills-of-costa-rica

I hope that is a good starting point for you to explore what is available in the capital city. Please reach out if you have further questions!

Kathleen Evans
IL Coastal Correspondent

[Eugene Murray]

Thanks, Kathleen. Interesting that you mention Escazu. My favorite latin singer, now deceased, is Julita Cortes of Los Machucambos. She is the granddaughter of ex-President Leon Cortes. Her ashes were scattered in the mountains of Escazu according to her final wishes.

If you read Spanish, here is her story:

https://www.nacion.com/revista-dominical/especial-ticos-en-el-mundo-julita-cortes-la-voz-vedete-de-los-machucambos/LVU2X2S3M5EMVGFLWHCIYLYXFU/story/

Gene

[Author]

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