www.CostaRicaTicas.com

OK, been to SJ twice, spent lotsa time on board learnin' and I'm ready to move. will arrive permanently mas o menos in June or July. I can't imagining spending all my time in "the gulch", and I'm sure that after a few weeks I'll be looking for other things to do at least some of the time. I have been very impressed with the quantity and quality of information on this site and would ilke to hear from some of the guys who live in CR concerning other activities out there for aging gringos. I'll be there for 3 days in April and would like to meet a few of the gentlemen whose posts have been so helpful to me. Don't know how long my money will last, but I'd rather die limp and broke than rich and horney, but not this week.

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My English teacher said "I before E except after C". Then she told me to go to science class!

I am fortunate that I am working and that takes up a good bit of time in the city. Otherwise, I am more of a beach person. When not working there are a lot of great spots to watch sports. Do the local thing and go to the farmer's market on Saturday. The National Theater has quite a list of productions over the course of the year. Drawing a blank on a lot of stuff, but would suggest getting the Tico Times and looking in the weekend section. They always list a ton of stuff going on. Clubs that are not p4p such as Jazz Cafe can be fun and have good music. Contrary to our foodies' reports there are decent restaurants in the city, quite a few with good atmosphere....

Thirdworld, what are your favorite beaches--beach towns?

mmm Tough call. I like different beaches for different reasons. Moved to Jaco because I like to surf and it is very consistent there. I love hanging out in Esterillos Oeste which is about 20 minutes away. One of my favorite beaches is Nosara. Somewhat quiet but I like the vibe there. Both there and Guanacaste I find a bit more of a sophisticated than the Central Pacific. None of this based on p4p but I send a lot of folks to Manuel Antonio. And I love to go there for the occasional beach day or weekend getaway. Another quiet spot is Avellanes a bit out of Tamarindo.

I am addicted to Manuel Antonio, for years but I'd like to try Nosara. I did alot of those
Guanacaste beaches years ago, but I found it too windy, although somebody told me that's seasonal.

Don't know if you've ever been, but there's a beach about 15-20 minutes south of the Quepos airport, Matapalo, about 5 times as long as MA, roaring, bravo surf, no people, well a few, but it's miles long, a few dumpy hotels, B&B's nothing else. The town of Matapalo has a few sodas and a pulperia. I've been taking my cooler and stuff and hanging out there once in a while. A little darker sand than MA but the solititude is priceless.

Will check out Matapalo sometime. For a lot of solitude, I like Bejuco also.

Take the highway toward Domincal from Quepos airport and 15-20 minutes later, there's a small sign for Matapalo, leads you into the pueblo, passed the omni-present soccer field and then across one of the worst unprotected (no guardrails, fairly high off the river) bridges I've seen in CR, a little further take a right (west) and go about a mile, you'll eventually see another soccer field just off the beach, that's where I park, under a few trees. Hotel El Coque or something like that is also right there if you want a beer or something, nice guy named Enrique runs it for a gringo, small bar/food. I love that beach.

WOW!!!!!

Don't remember a thread getting hijacked so thoroughly and quickly. The guy asked about things to do when you live here full time not about what beach you like the best.

Bigal, I will think about it jot down some thoughts and pm you.

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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

Hmmm....seemed more like a tangent than a highjacking. Fiber man, more fiber.

Anyhow, here is the event calendar for the University of Costa Rica. Don't forget this and other universities as good sources of cultural and intellectual activities.

http://www.ucr.ac.cr/calendario/

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I said hey baby, take a walk on the wild side.
Lou Reed

Man, I'm impressed that after only two visits to SJ you're making the move. Takes balls.

Good luck and keep us posted!

It's not that big of a jump, I've been living in Nicaragua for over a year, so I'm not really making a drastic change.

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My English teacher said "I before E except after C". Then she told me to go to science class!

Did not know that - Still, good luck! I am jealous.

Bigal
I too am retiring soon 4/27. I will be heading CR to stay for an undedetermined amout of time shortly after that. I have not yet decided if I want to actually live there and apply for pensionado residency yet.
I plan on a very small footprint initially and increase this as I become more certain of my being a CR resident full time.
I too have thought about "hey what will I do all day" but I think that will answer itself with the day to day task of living.
I am in my early 60's and I enjoy working out, tennis, swimming, travel, etc. I am pretty sure I can find some form of these activities in CR.
I hope to find a nice Tica for a LTR, but I plan to enjoy some P4P/other relationships until that option presents itself.
I have expectations that my social life, both romantic and friendship based will dramatically improve over my almost non-existent social life now.
I have some family living in CR so that should be helpful. I do welcome meeting gringos with common pursuits. That is one of the reasons I joined this site.

Oh, so sorry Senorita administrator, the great protector of this board. Jag off, it fit in with previous posts and with "what else there was to do". There was more info in that thread than I have ever noticed you post other than what puta was better than the other, so valuable info in SJ. So, British Drifter, "The Great Protector", go put something in your orange ass (those of us who are truly Irish will know what that means) which may subdue your constant anal posts.