www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Fellow CRT VIP members,

Even though I am listed as a "newbie" (I feel like I'm a pledge in a frat or something - so when do the paddling's start?), it doesn't mean that I am brand new to the gulch.

As with all of us, I love "mongering"! However, probably due to the fact that I do get to CR fairly often and usually stay for most of a week at a time, I find that I just can't monger 100% of the time (I max out at 98% ).

So here is my question: What non-mongering activities are available to us in CR (and especially in San Jose)? I am looking for ideas that are not the usual full-day things like ATV Tours, Rafting, Canopy Tours, Beaches, etc. The following is an example of what I am looking for:

On my last trip, I met a couple of guys from FL that head down 2X per year. They were staying at SL and don't golf, fish, or care to go to the beach, etc. What they do like is to wake up everyday after a typical long night of (you guessed it) mongering and walk down to the Dunn Inn Hotel and get a shave at Roy's Barber Shop. We are talking about the old-time type of shave - steamed towel, hot lather, straight razor, etc. that you can't find in the US anymore. I jumped all over this and signed up for the last 3 days of my last trip. Roy charges $5.00 for a shave, and we all have been giving him another $5 tip (very well worth it!!!) Warning - Roy is a little cantankerous and will not take walk-ins (even if he doesn't look busy). Here is one benefit - Roy is somewhere around 70-years old. He speaks perfect English and has spent most of his life right there in the neighborhood. He can fill you in on a tremendous amount of local information (he has some great anecdotes); but you have to work at getting him to open up. Here is another benefit - Roy's Barber Shop is one block from ZB, so you can immediately start mongering once again (Should I call this pre-mongering?).

I know that you gulch veterans out there will have some good ideas and the sharing of that wisdom will be appreciated.

Muchas gracias in advance.

Stinky

Stinky, If Roy doesn't accept walk ins, how do you get an appointment? And if you find an all natural chica, can you take her in and have Roy shave her poooosy?

Sorry that I don't have Roy's phone # handy. I will re-post when I find it.

However, you can Google search the Dunn Inn in San Jose, and make appointments right off their website via email.

And Yes, based off my discussions with Roy, he would probably do your shave gratis for dragging the chica in!

Stinky

Stinky,

I know I am stating the obvious.

Try reading throug the Non-Gulch Activities section of the board. Lots of good stuff in those threads.

RHM

The following is phone number for making a reservation at Roy's Barber Shop:

Phone: (506) 256-1134
Hours of Operation: 8am-12noon, 1pm-4pm

Right Hand Man wrote:


RHM, I had not read through this prior to my posting. Please consider this a "Newbie" mistake. I will consider this my first "paddling". Thanks for being so gentle.

I am still hoping that I get some different responses with things to do (at least close to the gulch) that don't take up a full day. Unfortunately (or fortunately ), I am not very big into gamblin'.

Stinky

I will be keeping this barbers info for sure! Will he shave my head as well? (The big one, of course ) There used to be an old barber in the town I grew up in that was doing this yet. It is a nice experience.

Thanks for the tip!

Correction:

Stinky wrote:


I called and verified that you do have to call to make an appointment. I don't think Roy is internet savy enough to handle taking appointments via the internet.

Stinky

http://www.hoteldunninn.com/index.htm - just in case.

I spent St Patricks day drinking Guiness as the Dunn Inn in Chicago. My wingman took a picture of the Dunn Inn in Costa Rica and gave it to the owner of Dunn Inn in Chicago. We couldn't figure out why it never seemed to be open.

Definitely will stop in on my next visit.

One activity that some do is to take Spanish lessons.

That costs money but can be worthwhile.
If you search around you will find many schools and price levels. I have no recommendations since I have not done this myself (except in bars talking with chicas).

_________________
PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

Ace.

I'm already doing the Pimsleur Spanish 1 program now. I'm going to push through this first and then see what I need in terms of continuing education later.

As my good friend and business partner (who is Latin) say's, the best way to learn is through a chica. That doesn't seem to be a problem in the gulch!

Muchas gracias y adios amigo.

Hello Stinky,

A couple things:

1. 1/2 day excursion to the Brit coffee plantation. Fun! You'll also probably get to do a butterfly garden or the like; I'm not sure what's included in the half day tours, as I took a couple full day trips.

2. Zoo Ave... an incredible bird zoo; take your favorita & her spawn for a family fun time.

3. Poas Volcano.

4. La Paz Waterfall park...can be easily done in a half day.


5. Half day ATV ride.

6. Shop for handmade boots or other leather goods.

7. Several excellent museums; Jade museum, Gold museum, National Theater tour, Museum of Contemporary Art.

8. Trips to Grecia, Palmares, San Ramon or any of the outlying Valley cities for a lunch and a look around.

9. Personal pampering: Get a legitimate massage (Holiday Inn beauty salon or from Mria Elena), pedicure/manicure/facial, go work out at a gym.

10. Walk through the city parks and play Spot the Tranny.

11. Shop the Mercado Central for cool stuff to bring home with you.

12. Find a pharmacy and refill your prescriptions, get antibiotics for future illnesses, score some ED drugs or get a Vitamin B shot.

13. Take the city bus around town, familiarize yourself with the city, scout new MPs, restaurants etc.

Hope this helps.

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Pura Vulva! Wandering through the dark, I am El Ciego.

I am a golfer but looking at a brochure in the Presidente there were 5 courses listed, cheapest was $100. YIKES !!!

In my best "Soup Nazi" voice,,,,,,,,, NO GOLF FOR YOU !!!

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Reviews with Name, Where we can find her, Description (Height, weight, measurements (best guesses will do just fine)), and a rundown on services provided (and yes, YMMV is understood) would be GREATLY appreciated.

El Ciego,

Thanks for all the ideas. I really like the Brit Coffee Plantation idea. I have never been to a coffee plantation, and I feel I keep Brit in business as I always buy a case at the airport when I head back to Gringoland.

"Spot the Tranny" only takes about 3 minutes when you are staying at SL (2 blocks to Parque Morazan).

We haven't met yet, and after reading many of your threads I see references to blindness. Are you? If so you have got one good sense of humor about it. When I thought up the little tag line at the bottom of my threads (see below), I actually thought it would suite you better. Let me know if you want to borrow it.

Anyway, It appears to me that you see things quite well.

Spock, I am confused at your thread. I don't get the correlation between tanny spotting and golf. What am I missing here?

Stinky

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"An intellectual is someone who has found something more interesting than sex." – Edgar Wallace (English author) - then I must be a complete moron.

On weekends, there are art shows. As a matter of fact, there's a big one this weekend in Park Sabana. There is also a swap meet/flee market on Ave. 10 about 200 meters before it ends on the western side. There are farmers markets in Pavas and Escazu Central. Malls are interesting places for eye candy and a little shopping. Then of course, you could always play your favorite table game in a casino.
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

LVSteve,

Is a "swap meet" like a flea market? I am not familiar with that term.

Thanks,

Stinky

_________________
"An intellectual is someone who has found something more interesting than sex." – Edgar Wallace (English author) - then I must be a complete moron.