www.CostaRicaTicas.com

You make good points.

I am just waiting for someone from Brooklyn, Philadelpiha, Baltimore or Miami to tell me that they think that San Jose is dangerous.

I'm rather young and in my 30s. I go to the gym 5 times a week. I could probably take on some of the travestites walking around if they bothered me. However, I chose to take cabs at night. It's only 1-2 dollars. Hey a cab in nyc costs more than that just to go 4 blocks. These travestites travel in packs and if some of them pick pocket you, I don't think some of you guys would stand a chance. I mean most mongers in CR are in their 50's some in there 60s or even 70s. I've seen a lot of mongers who are out of shape and fat. However, I don't know if these transvestites carry weapons, such as knives or guns? Could any of us handle three knives approaching us?

Redundant? Redundant? You say Redundant?

HA HA Looks who is talking Mr. "I saved my balls 16,00o times". Bumb, bump, bump. LOL!!!!!

That is redundant.

That's right brother.

We all take our chances stepping out our front door every day. We all live with danger every single day. It is a way of life. You are no different than me.

What is the news in that?

I think some of you guys that think you are 8' tall and 200lb+ are fooling yourselves--as you can be had by 3/4 little wolfpack ticos in less than a minute. After 20+ years in the bar business, and growing up in Detroit, I have seen many variations of confrontations where the supposedly big guy took a fall, especially if guns, knives, or multiple aggressors are involved. For you clowns that are advising newbies that there is nothing to be really concerned with at night if you carry yourself well--you are doing them a great disservice. My most vivid recollection is in a crowd at Puntarenas for a Don Omar concert where a big tico was taken down by ONE tico grabbing him around the neck from behind, thereby cutting off his oxygen, while four other ticos stripped him of anything he had of value on him before he even hit the ground--and all of this happened in less than 30 seconds and they dispersed into the crowd. All that I can say is " Tiene cuidado"

I am not the guy they are looking for. They have no interest in me. I am not carrying anything and I have a bad attitude. They are looking for easy targets.

San Jose is not as tough Atlanta, Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburg or scores of other cities? It just isn't, not even close in fact.

There is nothing even close to the Gang Banger element in san Jose like we have EVERYWHERE in the US.

For some, taking a taxi everywhere is the right choice. I would never discourage anyone from doing that. If you are a city guy, like me, used to being in big cities at night, then San Jose is not that bad.

But to make a blanket statement that everyone should do so no matter what is just not right.

And I am not saying that there is no danger. My point is that it is not any more dangerous than what we have come to accept as a normal level of crime in US cities..

Looks like kc was right others objecting to his post. Look, guys, the "always take a cab everywhere" point of view has already been widely posted on this board and others. No need for guy after guy to jump on someone who does not completely agree with you on that (usually with the essentially the same arguments restated in various ways). KC, myself et al were just presenting an alternate point of view.

And you didn't even really listen to what we said. KC never said crime did not exist in CR. What he said was simply that it still paled in comparison to many other places back in the old US of A that we take for granted. So you can cite all the anecdotal examples you want but it still doesn't address the question of relativity.

And if you re-read what I said I think you'll see that some of your complaints don't really hold up either. I said that I was somewhat smaller than KC BUT said that size was "only a part of that". I should have said small part of that. It CAN have some DISSUADING effect (crooks naturally go after the easiest looking targets first) but I NEVER said that being big and imposing by ITSELF was enough to stop bullets. So for Diablo to twist our words that way is very unfair. I also said that when I do walk I take other precautions. One of those was not letting "anyone get too close to me". That would be especially true of any "3/4 little wolfpack ticos", who I'd give a particularly wide berth to. And if threatening looking "multiple aggressors" ever started to approach me I'd quickly move off in the opposite direction. However, in all my evening strolls, I've only had to do that once.

I'll admit Diablo's example of the tico who got chokeholded at a crowded concert was a perfect example of why size ALONE is not enough protection, But look more closely at the example and you'll see that example also illustrated the importance of several other elements that I mentioned: a) avoiding close proximity to others (something that simply can't be done at a crowded concert) b) glancing around and even looking over your shoulder so you are aware of your surroundings and no one can sneak up on you and c) knowing "the city, your way around, which places are safe, which places to put up your extra guard and which places to avoid altogether." So Diablo's example in a way really just proves my point.

And those are just some of the measures I suggested be practiced. I said those were "among several other things" I did. However with all of those, I've never said that one will always be 100% safe from crime, but they will reduce your risk and improve your odds. We all take risks all the time in many things we do. Flying to CR itself carries some risk, even with FAA aircraft maintenance regulations and TSA screenings, but we all seem willing to accept that. Once we arrive in CR, most of us seem very willing to get BBBJ's even though that carries some risk. A few or even surprising many will even go for bareback F/S, which is riskier still. I wouldn't but many do. We can debate how wise any of that really is but it all really comes down to each of us assessing the risks and benefits (hopefully based on fair and objective information) and deciding individually where our own personal comfort level is in balancing the two. In the case of walking around after dark, I think your best argument wouldn't be that the risk is so high but rather that the benefit of walking is so little. In most instances, its not really worth it just to save a buck, however there are times when the risk is really so low and the distance so short that I prefer to simply hoof it.

One last point, this "clown" NEVER advised "newbies that there is nothing to be really concerned with at night if you carry yourself well." But again, reread my post which I concluded with "The only real problem I might have with your post is that firsttime CR visitors reading might think this means they can put down their guard or that it is completely safe. I think it probably is a good idea to err on the side of caution and take cabs until one has a better sense of how things are on their own." They don't really know enough to make their own assessment of risk and reward. I've been going there for years, have been out on the streets after dark and am willing to take the risk in SOME but certainly not every situation. But that is my own personal decision. Others can and will do whatever they want.

I have worked in almost every major US city. I am a city guy. My advice still stands, Why take a chance. These idiots doing the mugging certainly are looking for drunk and easy targets, but they are also looking for gringos. There is a crack epidemic here simialr to the US in the early 90s where crime is getting increasingly violent. Obviously you can do what you want and be as Macho as you want, but the risk reward of a 2buck cab ride at night is a pretty good bet.

Yes most all US cities are dangerous and most of us are smart enough to avoid the bad sections. Well here we monger in the middle of the bad area where we stand out, typically do not speak the language and the police will probably jack you instead of helping you.

I would think most should err on the side of caution. Not to mention if you get accosted and hurt a Tico you are typically going to have a shitstorm to deal with.


BKTUNA
I am never going home

The standard MO for the TV's to rob you is not through armed robbery. They're much more into pickpocketing and the way they do it is to look for some inebriated gringo and to swarm all over him under the guise of propositioning him (whether he is interested or not). While one is grabbing them by the arms, another is grabbing him by the balls and yet another is dipping its hands into his pockets. With all that contact, the mark might not even feel his wallet or watch being lifted. But even if he does know what is going on, there isn't a lot that he can do about it. Avoiding being a victim of them has absolutely nothing to being bigger then them, because they aren't strong-arming you. Besides, some of them are pretty big themselves. The way to avoid it is to a) not walk anywhere near them if you're drunk b) not going anywhere near them if they are in a pack and c) giving them a wide berth and a watchful eye if passing anywhere near 1 or 2 of them (if they try to approach you don't let them, cross the road or whatever). Also, as you always should whenever walking out on the streets, never wear any jewelry or expensive watches, don't carry any more than you're willing to lose and keep that in a secure hard to reach place.

I've walked by the TV's on the corners by the Metal Building opposite Espana Park many many times late at night and have never had any problems, but I'm always obviously sober and walking with a determined stride right past them and a watchful and discouraging eye. Most of the times they ignore me as much as I ignore them. Other times they might make the standard streetwalker pitch (Oye, babee!), which I also ignore. And just one time, one of them pulled down her blouse and flashed me her tit (which was actually surprising big - hormones or silicone?)

I will always error on the side of safety, but I get what you are saying. We have all seen 12 year olds in the states with dead eyes, you know the look of nothing to lose, nothing to look forward to..