COSTA RICA

[papi]

i think Kented got lucky in CR. I met a guy on my last trip to Medellin. Gringo living in CR for 8 years and fluent in Spanish. He does not like it there nor does he like the Ticas. And even though many gringos go to CR,  it is not much more safe than Colombia. San Jose is in fact somewhat dangerous - a lot of muggings. They dont have the terrorist problems, bombings and such but do have a lot of crime. I have tried to meet good girls there but they are just not all that motivated to hook up with gringos. some are but not nearly as much as in Colombia. I think if i had a lot of patience and time, i could hook up with a Tica - but the same could be said for the good ol EEUU. However, guys certainly can try it. I do know of one local agency there aside from the small office run by the big worldwide company but in my opinion the owner is a lazy slob and the girls on the site are rarely updated with the good ones conveniently not available. Anybody wanting to go should give it a try but keep in mind that it is much better in SA. if yu need more info, let me know. i am familiar with the country, places to go and the agencies. But for my money, would stick to SAmerica. That being said, it is an easier and maybe nicer place to visit, especially the beach areas if yu can find a novia to take with yu

[kented]

... in response to COSTA RICA, posted by papi on Sep 23, 2004

I absolutely got lucky.  My wife is 30 and I am 57.  She is a widow and her late husband, who she and her daughters adored, was about 69 when he died.  So she was predisposed to like me and I immediatelu caught her eye.  She is not a typical Costa Rican (actually she's a Nica but has been in CR for fifteen years so she's a Nica-Tica).  

Costa Rica has tons of petty crime.  People live behind five layers of locks.  There are muggings, gringos have even been murdered and the police are virtually powerless.  I also NEVER felt unsafe in Colombia.  I would say that there is equal danger in CR and in Colombia which is about the same as in Phoenix.  You need to keep your eyes open in all three places and you'll probably be OK.

I first went to CR for Xmas  and New Years 1969/1970 to visit a Tica girlfrined from college.  She was one of the sweetest people I had known so when my love life was not going well and dating in the US was useless I returned.  Exactly 30 years later.  Xmas and New Years 1999/2000.  Women definately are not motivated so after two trips to CR, I went to Cali 2000/2001.  I had learned about MOBs and the vast oportunities in Colombia.  

Ever since I studied in France in college (I was fluent in French before I learned a word of Spanish...I started studying to visit my Tica GF in 1969), I ahd always wanted to live in a foreign country and CR was an obvious choice.  

I got a leave of absence from my teaching job so there was no risk other than losing a year of pay.  Getting my two dogs there and renting a place which allowed dogs was the biggest challenge.  

I went to CR to live.  I traveled, enjoyed the rain forest, speaking only Spanish, and worked as an English teacher.  I also dated about fifteen different women I met from ads in the Tico Times, Spanish Eyes agency, and working girls.  Some were not interested for petty reasons.  I dated two virtual virgins who although 30 were less eperienced sexually than many teenagers (one was Peruvian and the other from Medellin).  

Then I met my wife, she fell in love with me and I spent two months searching for an ulterior motive.  I didn't move to CR to find a wife, I moved to njoy the culture.
The problem with AW isn't the fact that they take time, the same as Ticas, the problem is they expect everything.  So do some Ticas and Colombianas.

In the final analysis, I was searching for some one who honestly loved me and wanted to be with me and someone who I loved so much I would want to devote my life to her.  I am either the luckiest man in the world or I made a second major mistake.  I do know that my wife has as much to lose as I do and I think I am lucky but time will tell.

[Gator]

... in response to COSTA RICA, posted by papi on Sep 23, 2004

papi echos my feelings re CR.  I started out there a longggggggg time ago (how long? lets see-humm, the colon was at 19/1). Colombia stole my heart and I never looked backed.  My wife is from Cali and I took her to CR about 10 years ago.  She was not impressed-too small, no "culture" but she did like the people.  BUT, very good for that first trip.