#48 / 2004 Tour 3: Rick's Bar

RICK'S BAR 

#48


We got off the bus in Zihuatanejo after almost three days. I was surprised it costs Joe and me almost $350 to get here. We went straight to Rick´s Bar where we knew our friend from Nashville Josie Kuhn would be singing. It was a week still before Christmas. When Josie realized it was really us and we were going to be sharing the holidays with her, she cried, mostly out of shock I would guess.

Rick Carpenter broadcasts to all incoming ships with weather and tide reports on the sailors "net." Rick is usually the first local contact for cruisers heading into shore. The Beatlicks know about Rick´s bar because the feature musical act of cruising season is Josie Kuhn out of Nashville.

The bar was the heart of our Z experience - all good things came from Rick who claims to come from a long line of madams and his wife Heike, German parents raised in Venezuela.

Blow into town and head for Rick´s, take a shower, wash your clothes, check your email, mail postcards, pick up a book out of the lending library, schedule a meeting for the top floor, cook your own premium steaks at night while you listen to Josie sing, and find out how to provision your boat from the town´s endless stalls of vendors.

If you arrive by land, rent out a room at Rick´s villa, with refrigerators stocked with ice-cold beer, a pristine swimming pool, beautifully appointed communal kitchen and living room overflowing with great CDs, tapes, and movies.

Indeed, Rick exceeds with his concept of entertainment at the bar especially. His wholesome offerings (don´t look for cheap hookers or strippers here) of young traditional Mexican dancers, open mics hosted by Josie, and friendly singalongs. After a few drinks sometimes Rick can be cajoled to head to the microphone or work the tables with guitar in hand strumming like the troubadour that he truly is.

From Rick and Heike flowed all good things, the villa, Captain Rick, new friends like our fellow housemates Rick the golfer with Lana who came down from Canada. It is a wholesome cornucopia of music, wine, food, good times, and lasting friendships.

Pamela and Joe