www.CostaRicaTicas.com

If you wear shorts in the Gulch, they will steal your surfboard.

I think your are more likely to be laughed at then roughed up but then again do we have stats on this matter? Lets have N2Techno wear shorts around and test the waters & gather some real data.

On a side note, FAT American women in shorts makes you glad there is a Costa Rica.

Oops, I meant during the daytime. If I'm going out to a few places at night, I tend to wear long pants too.

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Join me or die! Can you do any less?

Is there a good number of European tourists/travelers in CR? I'd imagine a lot of them wear shorts, sandals, sleeveless shirts, etc. We get that here in Panama a lot. Not the businessmen, but the earthy backpacker types - the hostelers..

I quess because of this thread, yesterday while in the REY, I was much more aware of how most of the guys were dressed. AND DAMN I HOPE MOST DIDN'T LEAVE THE REY. The muggers, pickpockets and panhandlers would have gone crazy seeing all those FUNNY tourists and easy marks!!!

Unbelievable how many of us middle age/old fat guys there are here. And the vast majority were in baggy shorts, touristy shirts, and FLIPFLOPS; the exact TICO discription of an EASY MARK

And I wonder why so many guys say this place is unsafe?

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

Easy there fella!

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

Whether or not I wear long pants or not I couldn't be mistaken as a Tico. I have yet to see a 6'5 300# Tico.

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Now, I am back in the game!

MG,

Scuse, Mio Paisano!

No disrespect intended, please don't request a sit-down.

I always pack a couple of suits. I always dress to impress.

I've read plenty of complaints about what people are wearing...
Shorts, flip-flops, backpacks & cameras are out.

So what should the well dressed gringo be wearing to try to "blend-in"?

Let's hear some ideas on gringo camoflage!

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

Orange blends in with the security guys in his suit.

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

My fashion advice:

Avoid flip-flops when doing the tico strip clubs at night. The floors by the urinating troughs can get a bit moist.

PHX

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Why settle for just one woman when you can enjoy them all?

One of my gauges on how to tell how nasty the women in a strip club is, how shitty, and smelly, is the trough. The worse the trough, the nastier the women.

God I love a nasty trough.

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It's not the size of the wand that put the rabbit in the hat, it's the magic in it!!!

Western,

If you really WANT to blend in, 1st you have to look like a Tico (damn near impossible for most of us gringos) ; 2nd, you must speak the language, preferably without an accent (again impossible) , 3rd, whistle, wink, smile, flirt, chase after every chica you see, especially the fatties (OK, this one is possible, perhaps likely, with some of us, BUT THE FATTIES?)

Seriously, I wear baggy loose fitting, and comfortable jeans, tennis shoe, a loose fitting shirt (hard to find when fat ) with the shirt tail out, never inside your pants. Dressing this way is actually very comfortable and you will not be as noticable on the streets; UNLESS you are 6ft +, weigh 300 lbs, blonde or red hair, ruddy complection-- If this is you; HELL, just wear the shorts and flip flops!!!!!

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

BangBang:
That's the thing. I'm 6'2" & 260lb with lt brown hair. There is no way that I will ever be able to be "incognito" in CR!

The tactic that works best for me else where is to be relaxed, confident & not act like "The Ugly American". I usually dress conservatively so I don't stick out like a sore thumb.

I can't remember HOW MANY times people have stopped & asked me for directions in England. Heck, on my last trip to the Netherlands some euro chick was asking me for directions to the Red Light District! Her (with euro accent): "Do you speak english?"; Me: "Yes. A little.

What worries me sometimes though, is when I can actually GIVE directions!!!

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

OH!! And I forgot a couple of very important, AND SERIOUS, points!

When going out on the streets here:

Leave necklesses, bracelets, expensive watches and rings in the safe in your room. Better yet leave them at home. No need to impress anyone here. If you MUST have a watch, buy a $3 throw away in walmart. DO NOT BUY A "ROLEX" FROM THE STREET VENDORS IN FRONT OF THE REY!!

Keep cameras, binnoculars, maps in your pocket, not arround your neck; better yet in your room safe.

Fanny packs and backpacks--ugh, NO NO NO!! Dead give away that you are a tourist and also an easy mark

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!