COLUMNISTS: MICHAEL

Michael's Mixt! Michael is a freelance contributor. The opinions expressed here are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of insidecostarica.com.  Write Michael at: michael@insidecostarica.com Be A Contributor! Click here.

Wednesday 18 June 2003

TO THE COPS: LEAVE THE HOTEL DEL REY ALONE! 

A biased personal editorial by:
Michael Jean Nystrom-Schut (passport #208325385)

Last Friday night, at about 11:30 in the evening, the normally peaceful, tranquil atmosphere of one of Costa Rica's most famous tourist stops, the Hotel Del Rey, was invaded by a large force of police commando raiders, who hauled off 35 patrons in a massive show of "who's the boss" in front of stunned guests, staff and social workers.

Geez! Can you believe this?

At issue were immigration questions - namely, whether the guests there were legitimately in the country. 

But many never even got the chance to make their cases or show their paperwork or I.D. before being taken away. 

Five hours later, I was told that all had been quietly released, but by then, considerable damage had been done, both to individuals, and, according to one important member of Del Rey's ownership team, to the establishment itself. 

Prior to talking to him, and also after our conversation, I did some inquiries as to what might be going on. I was not surprised to learn that there were a variety of political and bureaucratic underpinnings connected to it, and in all likelihood, this will not be the end of Del Rey's harassment. 

…Frankly, I don't mind telling you that I have been a proud patron of the place for the past four years or so. Though I have never taken a girl upstairs, I have countless friends on staff, and among the guests, not to mention knowing 50 or 60 of the girls on a personal friendship basis. 

While I was not there last Friday night, it troubles me that such an event actually took place, and that an above-board establishment like the Del Rey should have to endure such nonsense and ridicule. 
Some of you readers may take issue with the part about the place being such a reputable one; if you don't go there you probably would not know what I am talking about. 

I, however, have been going there long enough to assure you that they run an incredibly clean business, on that you just can't beat it. It's a great social outlet for us men, and I can't say enough about the staff and owners, as well as the girls; these ladies are simply wonderful.

So what's going on in this Pacheco-led administration for it all to be crumbling around his feet? Does the whole country have to fall apart (example: the recent street revolts of ICE and teacher's strike) before some of the people in this government come to their senses?

I would implore the powers in charge to leave the Del Rey alone. They are nice people, and they don't deserve this harassment. 

The tourist industry here hardly needs more bad public relations. Word spreads fast about decent, honest gentlemen-seeking-ladies getting busted for no real reason, and it will come back to hurt an industry that already has been knocked around in recent months. 

After doing some snooping, I would have to characterize some of what I have seen and heard about recently from the police in the recent past as "Gestapo" in nature. 

When will it end? What is it accomplishing? Why can't they just leave them alone? 

Costa Rica (a place I have adopted, a land that I love, where with a woman I am also in love, and where I enjoy innumerable Tico/Tica friendships) scarcely needs to bring more bad press down around themselves, courtesy of their increasingly inept government. They already have thousands of 
North Americans and Europeans angry with them about other sensitive issues, and it's time they started working with us again, and striving to heal past wounds. They are only hurting themselves with these latest uniformed assaults. 

Obviously, the current regime is making up laws as they go along, and not properly enforcing what might be some good laws that they might have on the books. 

As a result, one of the greatest possible hangouts a single man could enjoy in Central America (or anywhere!) is now has to take a beating for it. 

In a world that is already not fair, add what happened last Friday night at the Hotel Del Rey as being not very fair at all! 

…Now I'll be there this Saturday night, and I'll be sure to have proof (PN #208325385) on me that I am who I say I am. This week there have been small crowds show up because of more fear of police intervention, but if the cops want to come and bust me for no reason at all, and hassle a business that runs properly and above reproach, I don't mind saying that all my blue bullhorn needs is a new set of batteries.

Oh. And one more thing: for some of the best music in Central America, I suggest the Key Largo, Del Rey's sister bar. As a music lover, I can tell you that they'll have the sounds in the house this 

Saturday night! 

Though hopefully, no on-duty cops. 



Email this page to a Friend