Herman wrote:
Are these walks crawls in groups really a good idea ?
Maybe not in some respects, but a group of guys walking with people who know the streets and the different locations is a lot better and safer than a single guy walking around looking (and being) lost. Nothing is perfect in an un-perfect world. Too large of a group, yes will draw unwanted attention. Too loud and noisy, and strangely dressed will also, whether one or 20 guys. But one can come here (for the chicas) and spend all their time in the 4-5 places in the gulch, which in my opinion is the most dangerous area in San Jose, or they can be adventurous, get out of the gulch, and experience the rest of San Jose and some of the nearly 100 other venues where there are chicas. In my opinion there are many, many places that are really worth the time and effort to see (some others , not so much). many places that most guys never even know exist!!!
Back when I was doing the walking tours on a regular bases there were a lot of local ex-pats who were very upset with me. They seemed to think that these out of the way places belonged solely to them and that bringing a lot of gringos to them would "ruin" them, "ruin" the chicas, and cause the prices to go way up. Well guess what??? NON OF THOSE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED!! All the places are still pretty much the same as they were 8 years ago-actually some are gone, some have improved, and there are many new, more upscale (and a few that are much higher priced) places that cater to primarily the Ticos (few Gringos even know about these places). The chicas, IMHO, have changed IN ALL places. They have learned from the other chicas, they have become more hardened, quicker; but is this due to gringos, or due to better and easier communication??? This is not the same backward, little country it was even 10 years ago!!!!! As for prices, there have been small increases (1 or 2 thousand colones) in most places over the last 5 years, but during the same time the cost of living here is up 100%. In other words based on the cost of living factor, the price of pu*sy is about 80% cheaper than 5 years ago!!! Best bargain in town!!

Truth be known, the biggest increases have been in the places that are totally or almost totally Tico. The Ticos do not blame those increases on us Gringos, so why should a small group of Gringo ex-pats blame the rest of us???
There is one thing that has affected the over-all cost. The practice of charging for 'extras" is totally a Tico thing and started primarily as a way for the chicas to make more money to cover the increased cost of living since the owners refused to raise prices. In almost all MPs, the chicas' cut is still exactly the same as it was 5-6 years ago!!! Strangely the gringos are more upset about the charging for "extras' than are the Ticos.
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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!
