Manuel Antonio's Controversial Bar and Restaurant, El Avion

While in Costa Rica not too long ago, I returned to theChilean bomber plane near the roadside. When I first
popular beach resort of Manuel Antonio located onpassed this new restaurant with it's peculiar structure, I
Costa Rica's Central Pacific Coast. With its verdantstarted shaking my head and saying to myself, "What
jungle clad cliffs, dramatic tropical panoramas andthe hell is going here?" The bomber plane is totally
scintillating sunsets, Manuel Antonio is probably theincongruous to the mellow laid back tropical ambiance
most picturesque and beautiful resort area in all ofof Manuel Antonio and totally out of character in
Costa Rica. Having last visited the resort area in Dec.Costa Rica.
1994, Manuel Antonio hasn't changed that muchMany Costa Ricans are very upset about this new
despite the addition of a number of new hotels, cafesrestaurant with the propped up bomber and rightfully
and restaurants.so; you see, Costa Rica is peace-loving nation and
One new tourist development though has caused quitethey abolished their armed forces a long time ago. As
a stir in Manuel Antonio and that is 'El Avion' (Theone irate hotel owner said to me, - "the owner of The
Plane), a restaurant built near the apex of the hillPlane is an insensitive blanco to have placed a bomber
affording spectacular views of the resort area. Asplane in my resort area; we are a peace loving
part of the restaurant's facade, the American owner -country!" I have since renamed this new attraction the
I understand he's from Texas - has propped up aabomination of Manuel Antonio!