www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Aussie Greg is merely a metaphor for the types of slime who run in packs. Excuse me for forgetting boys don't have a fully functional grasp. ("Tully Mars 03-05-2013, 10:44 PM money talks in Colombia....if he is connected to Luxury then he is established....I just think the more you extend yourself in this country, the more opportunity for bad shit to happen....the rules are different in Colombia......Look at what happened to Aussie Greg and the Mansion..."; "...Ran a very popular P4P brothel/tour/condo package type deal geared towards north american sex tourists...got very popular, and was disliked by many locals in Medellin.....he eventually got muscled and robbed....believed to be an inside job by his own security.....I work around some of the elite in Colombia...old money....the security and caution they take is no joke.....I just think the risk is not worth the reward....tons of hot chicas in this country....more than enough for the taking, but as a gringo I wouldn't turn to a flashy lifestyle...only asking for trouble....just my 2 cents.. ") http://www.rooshvforum.com/thread-21417 ... #pid386867

If you want the "official" hx on those properties and what the drug lords think of their reflection on their community, I'll be happy to explain it. There is a reason why there aren't so many peckerwoods in Medellín. There is also a reason why one moment Aussie Greg is "...sitting on top of the world...." and the next he is exactly where?

Shoo. Go back to Cocaineville and a failed state that continues (!!) to struggle against FARCS. Tin foil hats' working just fine. Oftimes, little or "unfiltered data" is far more effective than laying out what's what. You want to put it all out here in public? You actually think the USA Embassy doesn't know what you and yours are doing? However, the best thing to remember is THEY DO NOT CARE. And, when it comes time to get some real HELP......whatta youse guys say?????!!!! "fuggit abot it.....".

_________________
"Actual happiness always looks pretty squalid in comparison with the over-compensations for misery. And, of course, stability isn't nearly so spectacular as instability. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune, none of the picturesqueness of a struggle with temptation, or a fatal overthrow by passion or doubt. Happiness is never grand."
- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 16

It wasn't done just once but twice in that referenced Post. Hmmm. Perhaps this was meant:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA47A6GQ5x0 << Quite fitting, after all.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

They charge 10% commission. The rates people are quoting are conversion at a local bank.

Google Bac Banco costa rica and click on san jose. Conversion is on front page.

549 today at Banco Nacional

_________________
The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

Got 551 at 3pm today BCR

Will be arriving the afternoon of 2 Apr. Wuz going to hit the bank on the 3d to convert some dollars to colones. Should I expect long lines at the bank on the 3d (read some older posts saying the beginning of the month expect long lines at banks) and if so would it be better to exchange money at Walmart?

You can expect long lines at both the banks and at the ServiMas locations in the Walmart owned stores (Walmart, MasxMenos, and Pali) thou it will have slowed down some by the third. I got money out of the ATM at the main BCR between Central and 2nd downtown on Saturday the 1st. Line was out the building and 1/2 way down the block. But with 6 machines it only took about 15 minutes

One thing kind of strange, they have not posted new rates since 8:50 yesterday--they usually post 3-4 times during the day and by around 7am every morning.
Yesterday rates:
BCR---551
National--549
Popular-- 554
ServiMas--550

My understanding is that ServiMas is associated with ScotiaBank. Everytime I have compared them they have been the same rate.

I was also told on Tuesday in the MasxMenos close to the Rey on Central that from now on we had to have our passport, not just a copy, that they had changed their policy on this!!. I changed money yesterday at the MasxMenos in San Pedro (Only 4 people ahead of me in line) and used my Passport copy and they said nothing!!!

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

I would take your original Passport. They turned me back at Scotia Bank in Escazu at the Multiplaza when I showed them my copy and I had to go back and get the original.

All banks now require the original passport and have for a while, but the ServiMas locations have never not taken my copy (a plastic incased credit card size copy) until this week and that was just at the one location. Until I see what they are going to do for sure, I will probably carry my passport just in case rather than have to come back home to get it.

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

Please don't call me an alarmist but this policy across-the-board of requiring original passports be shown can be a big problem for Gringo turistos--the bad guys will catch on quick and make folks a target. Anybody wanna speculate on what a valid US passport is worth on the market here, Panama, Nica-land? Hesitate to speculate but the bigger point is--copies were accepted to prevent passport theft--welcome to the second decade of the 21st Century, I guess.
Again, not being scared--just being extra-cautious when out and about with it on you. Copies are bupkus , worthless; realdeal = $$.
Especially if you're by yourself, consider an under-shirt shoulder-wallet. They leave the document available without being obvious: http://www.amazon.com/Rick-Steves-Walle ... B002VJK52Q << this is the conventional style
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Anti-Pickpocket_20Wallet << if you want to foil'm a wee bit differently

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

I have argued this point many times with the employees in the banks. The Costa Rician government supposedly tells us not to carry our passports for safety reasons, yet the police have been known to (many times) harass gringos about having a copy instead of their passport; and the banks(even the government owned banks) force us to carry our passports in order to do any business with them. When I have tried to discuss this with bank employees and asked who I could talk to higher up they just shrug their shoulders, refuse to respond, and walk away. A head teller in one of the BCR branches who I happen to know finally admitted to me that after I had pointed out the fallacy in this to him, he tried to discuss it with his superiors and they refused to give him any answer or discuss it.

By the way, today I returned to the ServiMas where I was told a few days ago that I now had to have my passport. I told the chica I needed to change xxx dollars, handed her the money and my passport copy. She changed the money, was very nice and polite, and never said a word about me needing my actual passport!!

OH, and I got 555 to the dollar today!!!

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

I'm lucky if I could get 475 for my loonie Have to work over-time to pay for my next trip.

cheers,
Attila

You're (as the saying goes) being hosed. 1 USD is worth today about 90-1/2 CAD: http://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/con ... CAD&To=USD
You're lucky enough to have O/T available to work? Really? Look dead-center on this map--see the Crimea River? http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb2009 ... imea_1.jpg

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

The over-time comment was a joke. Cheers Jazzy....Attila.

The colon seems to have taken a devaluation a couple days ago
I Canadian dollar = 504.650 colones
1 US Dollar = 559.5 colones