www.CostaRicaTicas.com

http://www.costaricantimes.com/us-citiz ... ideo/15311.

Video from TV station.

Another example of why the $30 insurance policy with med evac is important, as well as checking in on line with the embassy when you are there. Maybe some don't want to based on privacy, but Uncle knows you are there anyway.

For those of us that go to CR alone, have a procedure set up with your main man in the states that you send an email everyday and if not recieved, the bells start going off back home. This poor soul was lying there 3 days before the family was contacted by the hostel he was staying.

I'm sorry for the family, but it is just perplexing how some people are. Do people think of alternatives? He is in a public hospital. Of course it will be expensive to fly him home. First thing is go there and get him moved to a private hospital. It will be a lot cheaper than trying to fly him home. It sounds like they are trying to do all this from home.

All the registrations in the world is not going to help situations like this.

Where in CR was he attacked? I think in most cases if you give them your valuables no violence occurs--anybody agree with that!

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I AM a Cien boy + Propina!

That is a pretty good rule of thumb. Not a guarantee of course but is the recommendation of most professionals.

According the video that was attached to the original post his sister said he fought with his attackers won the fight and was shot when he tried to flee. Would they have shot him if he did not resist? No way of determining that.

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

it said he was in a hostel ?

So anyone know if it happened on Carribean side or Pacific side--and where can you purchase this insurance policy for emergency medical--I have been to CR 12-15 times and 1 time missed a dangerous situation by two weeks--after I got back from CR in July of 2008 I had a brain aneurism and needed a medivac to Dallas and my company picked up 250,000 worth of bills--If I would have been in CR I probably would have died.

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I AM a Cien boy + Propina!

There's a bunch out there, airlines are also now offering themwhen you buy your ticket.

I use Medex (recently changed their name to Medix-? or ?-Medex) but I don't have it handy. I am booking this week so if you PM me I'll have it in a few days. or play with that lead on google and they will pop up.

Here's why Medex for me. It offers at the best price from a highly rated carrier both the repatriation coverage (you die in CR and need your body sent back--about $10-15,000 depending; andthe Med Evac coverage if you need to get flighted out for medical, about $50k as the story so indicated. It also has all the other travel protections--delays, baggage, medical coverage, cancellation. But those two--repatriation and med evac--are why I buy it. Most of the others don't have both together, check.

If you get a policy, make sure someone at home knows the policy #, the 800#, etc. Not much good if you have it in your pocket and you are out of it mentally.

Thanks for the great advice, DGD, I never knew this existed but will get it next visit. If I get killed I want to be cremated and have my ashes in an urn placed on the admissions desk at HDR !

Seriously, I keep my passport in my safe and carry a copy you can get made at almost any of the little ''copias" places you see. I have them copy the front and the most recent stamp of entry. Good for just downtown, a local fuzz there told me if you travel away from the gulch bring your real passport.

I also carry my credit card, I.D. and extra cash in a little hide pouch you can wear under your pants and undershorts and carry a wallet with $50 to $100 max in your FRONT pocket not your back, I got pick pocketed once. These guys are good.

I've had years of martial arts training and I've been trained to fight ONLY, let me repeat OOOONLY as a last resort if confronted, immediately hand over your wallet, wear a cheap watch, NO JEWELRY, empty your pockets to show you have nothing else, hand them the watch, look down, don't make eye contact, don't talk, don't argue, they are nervous too and their hands are on the trigger. See if you can walk or run away after handing it all over, don't wait around staring at them waiting for the next command.

I lived here for 2 years and walked all over but rarely ventured out at night, also especially if you are drinking, don't be a cheapskate, take a cab at night even if it's just a few blocks. If you are new here and on vacation, you have NO BUSINESS walking around at night, you are ASKING FOR IT, especially if you have been drinking. I still see a lot of dimwits wearing shorts, flowered shirts, big fat wallets bulging out, drunk and walking around at night, I feel like mugging them myself and returning their wallet the next day (minus $10 bucks) with a lecture...

A friend of mine who has lived here for many years told me Costa Rican thieves generally want the money and no hassles, but there are a lot of Colombians here now and they are vicious, they have no problem killing you.

OOOONLY if you ABSOLUTELY have to fight, don't be John Wayne, you're gonna lose, kick them in the balls, go for their eyes, be savage and animal like, you are now fighting for your life, YOU MUST NOW FIGHT TO KILL OR MAIM, if you present yourself as more than they bargained for, they may take off with their booty and be happy with that.

When I retire here in 3 years, I will be offering training for CRT members, my price ? A lunch, a dinner, maybe a few beers....

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

http://www.medexassist.com/

Inexpensive, good customer service. I use them every trip since Pops got hit by a motorcycle crossing the street a couple of years ago. About $28 for a 7 day trip, or you can purchase an annual policy for about $200.

mh

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mh

My first long term novia lived there, but you are right. Mui peligroso, casi furtivo peligroso, because it doesn't look that bad. And you're trapped.

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Posted at 2 p.m.
A 31-year-old U.S. tourist who inexplicably ended up in a dangerous section of Desamparados has died at Hospital San Juan de Dios.

The man was identified as Steve Flesch by the Judicial Investigating Organization. He was shot in the head in the afternoon of April 2 when he was confronted by a gang. He died today.

Judicial agents said the Wisconsin was walking in Torremolinos en Desamparados about 1:50 p.m. when he was confronted by the gang and taken to a nearby side street at gunpoint. The robbers took his possession and one shot him in the head.
During a series of 5 a.m. raids April 30 judicial agents detained two adults, both 19, and three minors, 15, 16 and 17, on suspicion of being involved in the crime. They are being held.

That section of Desamparados has seen a wave of robberies, including one in which a taxi driver killed one assailant and wounded another.

There was no explanation as to why the U.S. tourist was in that section of the Central Valley.

Robbers have been known to use a ploy to lure a tourist to some area on a pretext and then commit a crime. The lure sometimes can be the promise of drugs or a meeting with a female.

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Jaco is called little USA by all ticos

Really who goes to Desampa????

Sadly, looks like HE did, let's all say a silent prayer for a young monger shot down in his prime, try not to dwell on his reasoning for being there, and in your travels around Costa Rica and San Jose, be vigilant. If during any of your walks you see a big Coca -Cola sign a little west of downtown, or if you are approached by a big muscular chica in Morazon Park, run like hell...

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Don't try to understand 'em, just rope 'em down and brand 'em...

One of the reasons that I no longer care for being in CR. It is a not a friendly place anymore.

It is sad that this person had to die while traveling south of the border...vacation or just wanting to enjoy his time off and it ended up like this.

It makes one wonder what is around that corner when you walk down a street in SJ.

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

Very sad. Reading an increasing number of these types of tragedies lately. Do we know for a fact he was a monger?


Bunda Man

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Bunda Man