www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Does anybody know a bit about this town of 163,000 residents? Is
it relatively safe? Somewhat modernized?

Any information would be appreciated by those that have been
there.

CK

_________________
CostaKid

I've been there and thru there many times. It is south/southwest of San
Jose, on the road to Aserri. It is the typical 'lower-class' barrio/supurb of
San Jose. I would not consider it safe (at night), but what does 'safe' mean?
I would definitely not live there. I would consider living further away in
Aserri, but that's a long drive (35 to 40) minutes to San Jose.

CostaKid...just a caveat. Driving in San Jose can seem much longer than
it actually is. Ten minutes can seem like twenty, etc. The exhaust fumes
from the buses and trucks are terrible. I usually get a headache from
driving there, and a buddy of mine claims he always has to clear his nose
and throat from all the black soot (he may be exagerrating a little bit).

_________________
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

I dont mean to contradict GT...but among locals Desamparados is known as a solid, middle class Tico municipality. It is quite spread out and safe compared to most other such neighborhoods in San Jose. You just wont find many gringos there. I looked at apts there when I first moved here, but it was a bit too far from downtown for me...but actually its only 10-12 minutes when its not rush hour...and very reasonable priced rentals and houses are available there.

If looking for "local girls", it's actually a nice area to hang and talk to the locals...if you speak some spanish. There are some nice local restaurants, bars and discos also for someone wanting to mingle with the locals. It's not Escazu, but lots of nice Ticos live there...and it's in the foothills of some pretty mountains.

just my take...

Desamparados is not much different than other barrios, i.e Guadalupe, the
Hatillos, Curridabat, etc. Sure, there is a nice church there, BFD. Cartago
has a great church also. About the only 'middle class' barrio surrounding
San Jose is parts of Tibas, where many lawyers, judges, doctors, dentists, etc.
reside.

_________________
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

Why settle for that when Aserri is IN the mountains? Sure, it's a longer drive
to San Jose, but perhaps a little safer, AND...a fantastic view. Aserri has
a very nice town square/common with a large gazebo. I believe they have
concerts there on occasion. On the mountaintop in Aserri is a large cross, which
can be seen from most of the 'central valley'. One disturbing anecdote...I was
told that many suicides occur at the base of the cross.

Bad craziness in CR...

One of my most disturbing moments in CR occurred in Desamparados.
My first Tica novia lived in Aserri, and one morning we took the bus from
there to San Jose. I think it cost about 50 cents. It took about an hour,
as the bus stopped every mile or so. In Desamparados, a chica boarded with
what appeared to be a baby in her arms. Now, I was not drunk, as it was
about 9:00 in the morning. How do I put this...the baby's head appeared to be
half human and half monkey! I've never seen anything like it in my life. Well,
maybe at the county fairs in New England. It's head was abnormally small for
the body. Even my Tica novia remarked how sad it was!

_________________
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

It just occurred to me...I have quite a few photos taken in 1999 that I took in
Aserri and Desamparados. I had a 35mm (Nikon) then, so I'd have to get them on
the computer somehow. That was before I had my digital camera.
My Tica novia's best friend (a hairdresser also) lived in the hills of Desamparados
adjacent to Aserri. A real palace...corrugated tin walls and roof, a hotplate
for a stove, cement floors, etc. I actually stayed overnight there a couple of nights.
Also, I have photos of my novia's uncle's casa in
Desamparados. He worked as a building contractor. His casa was one
of the better abodes in Desamparados. If anyone is interested, I'll post them in the
VIP section. It ain't naked chicas, but it is indicative
of how the average chica lives in CR, for those of you who never get to see the 'real'
CR.

_________________
"In a nation ruled by swine, all pigs are upwardly mobile, and the rest of us are phucked until we can put our acts together; not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely"...Hunter S. Thompson (RIP)

I know there are SOME bad neighborhoods in Desamparados like any other area of town. It IS a large municipality...but there are some nice areas, lots of stores and businesses, a nice plaza to hang around and meet locals. Like most places in the 3rd world, I can show you a palace on one block and a tinhouse 2 blocks away. It is an interesting phenomenon...

I concur...Aserri is very nice...my atty lives and operates out of there. But I can show you some shitholes in the backstreets there also...