www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Can't comment on daytime activity, or food, but I was there in Marzo with a colombiana that I met in Jan/ Feb, a newbie with two otras colombianas, and had an excellent time dancing, especially to the reggaetone that we found in a couple of the places. Can't remember if we got ripped on taxi fees--but it couldn't have been too bad if I can't remember it(alcohol could have been a factor)

The place is dead during the day. Go in the evening for dinner and window shop at the various shops before they close up or go later at night and party with the youth (just make sure any girl you pick is over 18 ).

Sure the early evening scene is a bit touristy, but the restaurants are still pretty good and the atmosphere is lot of fun, which is what you're really paying for anyway. They've got a maze of alleyways with some interesting little art galleries rucked away here and there. Its fun to explore and just look, even if you decide the stuff is not the best deal.

Later at night it is definitely a local crowd. There are a different bars with a variety of music all packed closely together, so you can easily bar hop or just pick a place and settle in (the only trouble is some of the bars seem to compete to see who can be the loudest and drown out the other). The atmosphere is lively and fun. Watch the parade of hotly dressed young ticas. Again, even if you're just window shopping you should have a good time. Its an experience to try for yourself at least once to see if its for you.

BTW, El C, I hate to say it but you got ripped. You cab fare was double what it should have been. Oh well, we're only talking 1-2 bucks anyway.

Prolijo,

I wasn't the one who paid 4000 c. for the cab ride; that was the original poster.

I paid 1,000 c. to go from El Pueblo to the Don Carlos, across the street from NF. Did I indeed get ripped? We're talking around $2.25 U.S. for the ride. Maybe you're right however; it was our first night in SJO and I was unfamiliar with the geography.

BTW, as a blind guy, I am cheated by cabbies here and abroad 1 out of every 5 rides; usually, it's from short-changing (telling me for instance that a bill returned in change is a five, rather than a one-ddollar bill).

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

El C.,
Actually, I missed that earlier one. He REALLY got ripped. You got taken but for far less. Like I said, it was only a buck. I've taken that exact same cab ride as you from El P. to Don Carlos and it only ran me 500c with tip.

What bugs me so much is not the money, its the nickel and diming and the idea that they think they can pull something over on us with their petty and sometimes not so petty scams. I've also had cabbies try to take me convoluted routes to try and jack up their fare (even when they use the meter). Sometimes, its necessitated by the many one way streets in the downtown area. Sometimes, I'm amazed to say, its because they don't seem to even know their way around their own town as much as this gringo tourist, at least not around downtown. But I'm convinced sometimes it's not so innocent. Unlike many gringos and first time visitors to SJ, I've got a pretty good feel by now for how to get around. As soon as I see they're straying more than I think they have to, I call them on it (and no tip other than the loose change)

When you were there that time you had 2 things working against you - your blindness AND the fact that you and your friend were new to the area and didn't know you're way around. At least now you know what things cost more and that should help. But I think it sucks that some people will take advantage of the blind.