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Costa Rica — Myths on the Guaro

Every country features a unique beverage it claims as its own. In Costa Rica, the beverage of choice is Guaro.

Beverages

There’s a particular national pride associated with claiming an alcoholic beverage. Consider Mexico and tequila immediately involves mind. Vodka, obviously, matches Russia. Visit Greece and an ouzo headache can’t be far behind. Aquavit in Sweden will definitely turn your head…and stomach. Costa Rica, obviously, couldn’t miss out on the fun.

Guaro

Depending which bartender you talk to, Guaro is either a mind erasing alcohol beverage or an energy drink with a little kick. Guaro is the national beverage of Costa Rica. Despite visiting Costa Rica on multiple occasions, I have never tried. And once and for all reason.

The Guinea Pig

Ten people were going out in the beach town of Carrillo just taking later in the day after a later date in the sun. Carrillo is a superb town for fishing and a couple of epic surf spots are close by. It is comparable to Tamarindo, but minus the overwhelming ex-pat influence. Unfortunately, Carrillo is extremely tame at night. Put another way, there’s really nothing to do.

A bit bored, the ten people had congregated in a café overlooking the ocean pink whitney mixed drinks. Tables and chairs have been pushed together and we’d reached the purpose later in the day where we were telling lies about how exactly great we used to be. The bartender/owner approached our table and suggested we hadn’t experience Costa Rica until we’d sampled Guaro. Certainly one of our merry band was selected.

Known humorously as Mexico Mike, our guinea pig was experienced in the methods for Mexican Tequila. Mexico was remotely close to Costa Rica, and so the drinks were probably similar. Indeed, Mexico Mike was the person for the job.

The shot glass came. Jokes were made. Mike through it back. A tiny grimace, a lime, slaps on the rear and general laughter. Just as we started egging each other onto be the next person to experience Costa Rica, a funny thing happened.

Mexico Mike was becoming Pink Mike. Laughter stopped and concern spread over the table like the rash developing on his arms. We were probably three hours from a hospital and the term “pink eye” was accepting a much bigger meaning. His skin was turning pink! You might actually view it moving down his arms and across his chest. His girlfriend, Stuart, was not happy!

It has to be an unusual feeling to sit there and watch your skin change colors. Mike was cracking jokes as is his nature, but there was an absolute tension to his laugh. Fortunately, the reaction soon slowed and retreated. Within 20 minutes, he was good as new and we’d a new story to tell.

 

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