For those that have only been to BAQ or Cali (or San Jose... you might be missing out).
San Pedro, Costa Rica is actually kinda interesting. I didn't come off like a sex tourist (generally an older crowd), and I was too well dressed to be a backpacker. And if I was there to surf or fish I was definitely not in the right place in the Central Valley. So the girls being very aware of the sex industry where always trying to size me up.
Colombia (Cali) is a pretty awesome experience. It is so easy to meet women and mingle even if your spanish is crappy. I remember recently reading a post discussing income levels in Colombia. I'd say the ambitious working/middle class women in Colombia are way into gringos. If you are willing to dress nice, dance, come off as educated... it is like being a kid in a candy store. And as for the rich girls... they'd totally date me to piss of their dad
. But that being said I feel like Colombia is being sold to American men sometimes and it seems a little commercialized for my taste.
What seems like yesterday was my first flight to San Pedro Sula. I read enough frightening tales about Honduras that I basically overpaid for the hotel shuttle to come get me from the airport and take me to the coast. So instead of bargaining with a taxi (or doing the smart thing and taking the luxury bus) I just let them gringo price me.
With the english speaking tourist cops out on the beach and being in a smaller city it didn't take me long to get comfortable and relax a bit. Now granted I wasn't very comfortable (you've always got to be on your guard in Latin America), but I was able to take a chill pill.
I'd of course seen the gulf of Mexico, but I had never been to the Caribbean coast before. It was awesome, but the bugs were way worse than the pacific coast.
Pre-trip I did plan ahead and take advantage of a little social networking. I had exchanged brief contacts with girls in SAP, Tela, and La Ceiba. After booking a motel room on the beach (a great deal... is like $35 or $40 still I believe) online I did ask one girl to meet me for a meal... because I just happened to be vacationing in her town. The details all got set, she accepted, and that was it really.
The restaruant was only a block off the beach so I just walked from my motel room straight to it. Once the sun goes down the bugs get worse, so it is best to get a late dinner inside.
I arrived a little early. I did my best to explain I was waiting for someone... and wouldn't you know it she arrived on time. Hell, this is Latin America, I figured I'd have a little time to grab a drink before she made it.
She said (well typed) she was fluent in english, but I was of course skeptical. Having traveled some growing up, having been to the clubs in Chicago, Kansas City and other cities around the Midwest, and having traveled to various countries in Latin America I've met my fair share of beautiful women. But I tell you watching her approach me was something else. The stride, the figure (and no surprise the girl played soccer all the time), raven black hair, big pretty eyes, the blush on her cheeks, the big loopy earrings (definitely not common where I'm from)... and I'm a shallow dude... I totally rate girls... ah she's a 7... I'd give her a 9. This girl broke my rating scale.
I stood up to greet her... and she introduced herself and offered a handshake. Internally I found this quite humorous (and impressive since she greeted me in english and clearly has been studying American/Western European culture). But I keep a straight face as we start our somewhat business like meeting/dinner.
Now at first I'm thinking sure this girl is playing it cool like a business meeting, but she really put herself together and is smokin' hot. But of course she's not a gringa... that's just how she is... she may not be able to afford prada like her gringa sisters, but she trys to look great anywhere she goes (not uncommon obviously for those that can afford to do it in Honduras).
So as it turned out our dinner conversation was pretty much 100% english. She's telling me her big plans to work in tourism and how her town is growing and will become a big tourist attraction in the future.
As the evening continued she did get very curious about me. What am I doing in her town... why was I interested in meeting her etc. It became obvious that she really had no idea what she was doing there. She thought I was looking for someone to show me around.
After dinner dancing was next on the agenda... she loves to dance and I was thinking I'd love to feel her up (
) so that was easy to agree on. And if I can tell you one thing... if you are going to latin america... learn to dance.
We did end up running into a couple of her friends that night as well. But I was actually kinda impressed... she was kinda in a zone... she'd wave them off saying we'll talk to them later. Sure enough her friends did have plenty of questions for her... and she really couldn't answer many of them... other than who I was and that I was visiting.
That part is actually nice. There is no agency/snag a gringo culture in her town. I mean heck in Thailand a popular song is about about a thai girl finding her farang man. In Honduras she was just happy and clueless as to the situation. It wasn't until later that I gave her some gifts local to where I was from and told her I had a romantic interest.
If anything I'd remind guys to basically keep it real. Sometimes I think we over analyze things. When something real comes along you'll know it. Don't force it... don't settle for less. Don't think your ideal relationship can only come from visiting Colombia or any one country.
If I was in Colombia my first thought would be that this girl's angle was to be the naive girl who thought I just wanted her to show me around. In Honduras... this actually was the case. At least that's the story my wife sticks to.
