www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Thanks for the valuable imput, very constructive. Why is this a problem for you? If this thread is of no interest or value to you, then why do you need to post?

I am not trying to be an ass, I have not disrespected anyone else point of view. But you guys feel like you have licence to shit on anyone that disagrees with you on the subject.

I just don't understand why you guys feel the need to dominate every converstation of crime with the same point of view.

I have not tried to change anyones mind. I have said over and over that people should do what makes them feel comfortable for their situation. I have said that there are dangers.

I just don't understand why you guys feel the need to take over every converstaion on the subject.

Honestly, I could really care less who agrees with me and who doesn't.

It would be nice if I could share information with those that are of like mind.

You and I don't agree. If you want to have a thread for people that feel like you "should just take a taxi", I promise, I won't have one damn thing to add to the discussion.

If that were true why did you post this :



What does that have to do with "This thread is for those of us that are interested sharing information about specific areas that may be dangerous in San Jose."

Sorry to rain on your parade but in case you have not figured it out yet...you can not control what is posted in this or any other thread.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Drifter, I made a respectful request to change the discussion to something more specific. I was not being a jerk about it. I have not been testy with any of you guys.

You guys have no respect for someone that wants to have a different discussion. I have not tried to change your mind, I have not been disrespectful of your alternate view.

For some reason you guys with this "just take a taxi" view get really nasty when people try to discuss something else. Words like stupid and foolish are thrown around.

I don't act like that. If you choose to that reflects on you. I don't understand all the hostility that comes with your opinions on this subject.

I have made a respectful request, as a gentleman to change to conversation in this thread and a few of you have no respect for that request. Again this reflects on you, not me.

I have been courtious to every point of view on this board. Not all can say the same.

Have a nice day.

Oh and Drifter I listed 3 criteria for posting. I will go back and number them to clear up your confusion.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Drifter

I don't understand the hostility. Why post that stuff? Why is it so important to you guys to bring down a thread with a subject matter that you don't care about?

#2) This is also a thread for those that have specific recommendations for moving around the city at night on foot.

Thanks for your valuable input.

Alright c'mon now ladies, take it easy.

I think it's very dangerous to walk around SJ at night, and i do it almost every night. Alone. I do lot's of crazy shit.

Anyhow, here's a travel tip:

When i'm cruising at night, and i feel threatened... i put on a 'crazy routine'. Seriously, I just start acting nuts. Because everyone is afriad of a crazy person. Everyone. Because a crazy person might not just fight with you, they might kill you. So here's what i do:

i walk faster, sometimes let out loud huffs, or grunts. Stare up, rubbing my head. Walk at angles, never straight along a sidewalk. Increase speed suddenly.

DO NOT LOOK like you're on meth drugs, cracked-out, etc. If you look closely, you'll notice these guys usually have extremely bent elbows, wrists and hands. Keep you'r body flexed, and your hands in fists, and you'll look substantially different.

Most importantly, when you pass others, particularly men, and groups of men, stare at them as if you're about to kill them. Like anything could set you off, and you wouldn't stop until all of them were dead, regardless of physical injury to you. If you really believe this, you'll scare the fck out of anyone that looks at you.

I'm 5'9" 160, never had a problem. And have taken long walks in the wrrrrong neighborhoods.

When I was first getting comfortable walking around I did a similar kind of thing. Maybe not quite so extreme. My thing is more to act like I am really pissed off and I about ready to go off on the first person that gets too close.

Now that I have a better idea of where I am going I don't find that as necessary as often. The main thing now is that I walk with purpose and to keep a distance between myself and a potential threat.. I do not hesitate to cross the street to keep a distance between myself and another individual that I do not want to be to close to. I make sure I keep that spacing and I am not shy about getting right out into the street. Moving cars make an excellent barrier between you and potential trouble.

I have been known to cross the street 4 times in the walk from the Morazon to the Rey to keep my space with one of those freaks that was following me (that by the way is one of the worst places to walk, that is why I don't stay at the Morizon anymore).

I always watch my back. If I am on a busy side walk and someone gets too close behind me, I will make a quick manuever to the side and let them walk past, if necessary I cross the street.

When I was first getting comfortable walking around I did a similar kind of thing. Maybe not quite so extreme. My thing is more to act like I am really pissed off and I about ready to go off on the first person that gets too close.

Now that I have a better idea of where I am going I don't find that as necessary as often. The main thing now is that I walk with purpose and to keep a distance between myself and a potential threat.. I do not hesitate to cross the street to keep a distance between myself and another individual that I do not want to be to close to. I make sure I keep that spacing and I am not shy about getting right out into the street. Moving cars make an excellent barrier between you and potential trouble.quote]

I've got to agree 100% with this. As a matter of fact, it worked for me three nights ago when I was pissed off for real. I was in the NY Bar at about 11pm and got into a big disagreement with one of the guys I was with. He infuriated me and I couldn't take his BS anymore so I stormed out and slammed open the ole' saloon style doors like I was Clint Eastwood in a western. When I stormed out with a really pissed off look on my face, the same group of 5 or 6 k*ds that had surrounded me and hounded me for money on my way down that block parted like the red sea and didn't say a word to me.

Here is a list of areas that are considered bad even by the ticos:
Hatillo-15 de septiembre area--i spend a lot of time in this area and there is always a rough element there and a lot of drunks.
Barrios Coca Cola and Mexico--not all the streets but most, especially the streets around the CC bus station.
Ave 7 from calle 8 west to barrio Mexico. As mentioned in another thread this is the area where there are a lot of Dom. Rep. places. can be worse in the day than at night
Ave 4 to ave 20 from calle 4 west to calle 20--a large area including barrios Merced, Angeles,almendares,Merced,and Santa Lucia. Again not every street is dangerous but a lot are. NOTE: there are usually a lot of street chicas in the Angeles area.
MOST DANGEROUS AREA: area in front of the REY and New York bar. Many drunk gringos = easy pickins. I witnesed a tico on tico stabing in front of the NY bar about 8 pm on a Friday a few months ago.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

In my last post, I did not mean to imply that the area was bad because it is a Dom. area: was only trying to identify the area. The area, I think, is more intiminating than actually being dangerous because there is always a lot of rough and sleezy looking characters hanging out there. And they seem to take pleasure in making people feel uncomfortable.

Another thing about walking in San Jose (or any other foreigin city); if you look like a tourist and act like one, (or are drunk) you are are sending out a signal to the unsavory crowd that you are easy pickings and therefore are more likely to become a victim. If you walk, try to dress like a tico, always be aware of your surroundings and the people in the area, act like you know what you are doing and where you are going even if you don't, and don't do anything to attract any more attention than necessary.

Most Ticos are cowards and will run if you stand up to them--but it is rather dificult to tsand up to a knife or gun. I always carry an umbrilla and all my cloths were bought here so are very tico and I speak spanish.
I walk all the time and so far have never had a problem, but there is always the chance SOIF YOU WALK, BE CAREFUL.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

I don’t think the horse is dead. I actually like these threads - but I am one of the walkers clearly in the minority.

Specific tip I don’t think has been covered: Listen. I was fortunate enough to have been accosted by the infamous ‘Viper Lady’ or was it Black Widow I forget, a couple years ago. Walking down the hill from BM - I Heard the tempo of her foot beats increase to catch up to me.

I whirled on her, didn’t see an immediate threat and it was not quite dark. I listened to the spiel of: “Where are you going? (I lied) Ah me too let’s share a cab! It’s my birthday! and would like to have a Drink with someone!” Needless to say I firmly declined and went on my way. At least I got to lay eyes on the legend. Not someone I would have been interested in, but ten years from now when I’ll be 63 – Maybe I woulda been…

Use all your senses. I try and not to get to close to ‘em but I got a hunch that those trannies Smell a little off as well.

A lot of good tips for walking around SJ have been brought up in these threads if you can weed them out (thanks Kc for starting them). Prolijo, Prostoner et al fellow walkers also for the “Fair and balanced reporting” YMMV I am the same size as you – and ya - you can say a Lot with your Eyes and your Stance as well…

I get the short-sleeve, button-down shirts that I never wear in the states and Every Tico Wears at Payless (Pague Menos) – decent price and quality. Definitely bring a pair of hiker dogs that you can walk, run and kick somebody’s ass with and you are good to cruise the city afoot. Well worth it for negotiating the sidewalks if nothing else.

IF you are a newbie take those damn cabs you need to learn this anyway.

Peace out,

A couple of years back my hotel of choice was the La Gran Via. I don't know how many times I walked back to that place at 2 or 3 am without ever a problem. I have walked from the Castillo to the DR after dark and vice versa through Parque Morazon with never a problem. Late at night I do take a cab. The trannies have have never tried to hustle me.... well, except this one time there was a couple of guys with skirts on that looked like Paco and Florida.

Do I take a risk.... sure. Getting out of bed is a risk too. Having your novia slobber all over my schlong is a risk as well. Life is full of risks. To each their own. Of course, if you're drunk 24/7 in the gluch take a cab or you'll probably be a stat.

Berk....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

Many will and have called me stupid, but I too have walked thru parque Morazon many times at night over the past 11 years. Most recently last night coming back from Zona Blue to my bus stop on the lower end of Paseo Colon. I have never had a problem of any kind (There is always a first time for everything).

In fact the only time in 11 years, I have had a problem here was between the Hotel Morazon and the Key Largo about 5/6 years ago. A 60 year old street whore tried to pick my pocket, I stopped her and the guard at the KL was there in 2 seconds and called the police.

Like Berk said life is full of risk and if you go thru life never taking risk, you sure will miss out on a lot--chicas, rum, chicas, beer, chicas, travel, chicas, breathing, chicas, food, chicas--need I say more??

BUT YES, YOU MUST ALWAYS BE CAREFUL and don't walk if you don't feel comfortable doing it.

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

I thought of another Specific Tip: Observe who else is around….

IF there are normal people.(ie families, working people and lovers, like that) in the parks and streets I generally feel pretty comfortable.

Every night at some point – not always a certain time – said people disappear along with much of the policia. That is when I tend to get on guard. After a while trust me you can tell when you are being a dumb-ass for being there at this moment…

Pay attention to the other people are on the street.. If they are mostly scarier than you – Time to head to a safer place.

Peace out