Costa Rico - How Rico really?

[Zon]

I only spent a couple weeks in Costa Rica a couple years ago.   I thought the place, from a natural perspective was wonderful.   I thought the people were very friendly.   The cost of living, and the wildly driven up real estate prices (presumably caused by gringos) did not bother me.  Certainly some Ticas have a strong European strain genetically, similar to Paisas without the jet black hair ( But, then again, there was such an influx or working girls, in San Jose / Jaco, that conclusion could be all wrong )   the only thing that I did NOT like was to the extent the commercial areas were "gringofied". 


If there were a comedy to be shot where 45 - 65 year old men revert to their childhood, it would be San Jose.  The music playing in the background is 70's 80's, and everywhere you go, you see gringos always in pairs of 2 - 4  (because most can never travel alone HAHAHA)  Dressed in over stuffed shirts, shorts, tennis shoes (all bought brand new for the weekend trip) - and I ought not forget to mention the baseball caps!   All of which produced a heavy stereotype among the locals I met.


So, while there may be some current posters with deep experience in CR, tell us what it is like to negotiate these superficial realities, what is it like to live in CR: the people, the culture, the women.


GraciASS.

[maritime04]

My first trip to CR was in Puntarenas which is more of local beach town. I stayed in the general area, it was 2003 i enjoyed my stay of about week. 2004 was my next trip to San Jose, jaco ect….. i was with a bunch of friends and i had very little money, so whores were not an option but i enjoyed the eye candy at the beetle bar.............
 
I traveled again in 2005 only for a few days, to do some white water rafting, and more adult related travel, again i enjoyed myself but felt no need to return, and have not been there since.
 
The country is small, and not that built up, tourism of all kinds was in full swing, and i ran across allot of expats of all shapes and sizes, many of whom i would later see and meet in Medellin. Coast rica is wonderfull in natrual beauty, but lacks allot of the stuff i require to call home.