www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I'd like to check it out in CR. Is there any local arenas in and or around SJ? I was a member of the NHSRA and played a little in college. Just want to see a rodeo there...(that isnt in my room) Either way, 8 seconds is a damn long time! (your money is on the dresser, please dont point and laugh! )

I don't know how much help this will be.

There is a bullring in Zapote which is SE of the downtown SJ just on the other side of the autopista. I know they have a sort of Pamplona style "running with the bulls" around christmas time, where either brave or foolhardy ticos get in the ring with the bulls and basically tease and run. Its open to anyone and I've always wanted to try that myself. Unlike in Spain, tico bullfights never involve swords, just taunting of the bulls and a lot of bravado. I'm sure they must also have less well known events at other times of the year, but I don't know if they also have rodeo style events of the type you're used to.

Another place you should check out if you don't mind traveling is the Guanacaste region, which is where you'll find CR's cattle industry. Just about any deent sized town up there has a bullring. It just so happens that Liberia's biggest cattle event happens at around this time of year (late July) when they have their big annual Expoferia Ganadera. Lots of bullfights, streetgames, music, dancing, food, etc. I'm pretty sure they also have bucking bullrides too but I have no idea about how a gringo would go about registering to be in one. For that, I'd be more than content to just sit on the sidelines and watch. If you actually want to enter one, being a former NHSRA member you'd probably be more familiar with that process than me.

Last weekend, the town of Brasilito (Guanacaste - just North of Tamarindo) had a three day rodeo/bullriding type of event. Similar to what Prolijo has described. There were 12 different bulls, and after the tico got thrown from the bull, 15 - 20 other crazy tico's were in the ring, taunting the bull, until the cowboy ticos (on horses) got a rope around the bulls' neck, and guided them back to their corral.

It was real interesting to watch. Admission was 1,000 colones, and there were all kinds of activities, food stands, etc. Another grande festivale!
MG

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Prolijo wrote:



The Zapote bullring is only used a Christmas time. There are no rodeo type events in the San Jose area that I am aware of.

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Alex Levine

Are there any other crazy gringos around here that would be interested in entering the Zapote event or better yet have even already tried it? Its been on my to-do-list for quite some time. I've never been in town at the right time as I try to avoid CR around Christmas time.

My crazy grongo wingman participated on 2-3 nights last year. His ugly mug was all over TV as there are hours and hours of television coverage every year. Afternoon and evening shows everyday.

This year he says he will ride the bull out of the gate.

To participate you have to get there early and get a slip of paper from the jefe. They make sure everyone is not too drunk or drugged up. The jefe is a bouncer at Azteca, a disco in desamparados. Good guy.

Every year it is iffy if the bulls will be permitted. Last year it went down to the wire to get the necessary permits etc... The bullring and stands are temporary and I guess the major concern is the safety of the construction.

Zapote runs from christmas night until new years night and is highly attended. The discos and bars are all packed with hot Ticas every night. Gringos seem to be afraid to go I rarely see many.

Actually I think it is low risk to get in the ring with the bull if you kept your distance from the bull and always kept fairly close to the wall and the escape partitions. The better shape you are in the quicker you can move, the easier you can jump the wall and the escape partitions are narrow so any kind of a belly would slow you down.

But to prove yourself in the ring you must approach and challenge the bull. Get his attention. Do this enough and maybe get mauled a little by the bull and you have a good chance of getting interveiwed on live TV and becoming a celebrity=lots of free p#ssy.

Zapote is a must see if you're in country at Christmas time, it's bigger than the state fair where I live. Thousands of locals partying, cheap cerveza, food, rides, fireworks, and of course sexy, hot chicas everywhere.
At the bullfight we saw several Ticos and 1 Tica taken away on a stretcher to the ambulance. One night from my trip report- If I was 10-15 yrs. younger I'd get in there, but the biggest danger I saw was too many people in the way for you to make a quick escape when the bull charges. I felt bad for the Tica that got hurt (she should never have been in there in the first place) but she was at the back of the crowd with no place to run, and appeared to have had a few cervezas.

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

Hell, I do a running of the bulls style event! Any day, any time. Think I am scared of a cow? I'll show you a pic of my ex...... Bring it!

DTA,
Then I'll se ya thar, pardner.