www.CostaRicaTicas.com

KC

Let me start out by saying it was a pleasure finally making your acquaintance. Very early in my career back in late '04, I remember reading several of your posts that were of very valuable information for newbies including myself.

As a general rule I agree with your point about generosity, but I have seen exceptions to the rule. I have built relationships over my many trips and believe it is more than just the fact that I am a nice guy (not an easy mark). Do I take care of the service people who take very good care of me, absolutely. I do not feel in any way taken advantage of or do I feel I am seen as weak with my money.

I tend to agree with your other points, I have had several attempts and pulling the heart strings, It is usually followed by "mi amor, no primero vez in Costa Rica" and is quickly laughed off as try it the newbies babi.......

Unfortunately even with over 13,000 members CRT is still the minority in the Del Rey and Key Largo abd the chicas will always try to find the easy marks.

Great example of the bartender drinks story, I have seen this numerous times thinking they have a chance with some of them.... I
Have a few friend bartenders in the DR/KL, none of whom I buy drinks for there, I do ocassionaly see one of them outside of work and have had lunch (on me) with one in particular, again not feeling taken advantge of, but have been told on more than one ocassion what the bartenders think of those types....and they all get a good buzz and a good laugh later....

Well, well, well. Two of my favorite posters (King Costa and Jazz Musician) return on the same day and same thread. Now if T-Man shows up the thread will be complete.

I think money is the great equalizer. In general we have it and they need it. Anyone who thinks CR is this little sleepy inexpensive third world country is out of their mind. (it's actually incredibly expensive IMHO) While I agree with KC's assesment, I'm not sure that the Ticos behavior is malicious or disrespectuf in many cases. I mean think about it this way..here in the states many of us have probably made "friends" or attempted to make "friends" with those who have more than we do. Sort of the "what can you do for me" attitude. In my own particular case, I cater to the needs of people with money. Some of those people I genuinely have a "friendship" with and I respect them. I would do anything for them and they for me. True friends as defined by me. Others, well..I just have to put on that smiley face, kiss some ass and pretend that I like them. Why? I want their business. Do I consider them as "friends?" Hell no. I am using them for what they can do for me. Malicious behavior on my part? I think not. I'm just trying to make a living. No offense to anyone out there who has alof of money but, some people with alot of money make me sick to my stomach. I have always compared what I do for a living (sales) to hooking. Just on a slightly different level.

Now, it is true I have been to CR many, many times. I have actually lost count. Somewhere near 40 times. However, many guys who have been to CR only say 5 to 10 times probably know the gulch area better than I. Yes, I have spent plenty of time in the snake pit of the HDR. And TW is correct, if you aren't watching for the Boa constrictors to suck the life out of you, you're destined to fall prey. The gulch is a surreal place and if that's the only place you go, you will be unfairly biased to think all Ticos are snakes. I have spent much more time in Cartago (a place you expect to meet "regular" Ticos) and plenty of time in Jaco and Quepos. I have found that most Ticos, after a certain period of time WILL drop the bomb on you. Directly or indirectly. Gulch girls or regular girls, doesn't matter. Eventually you'll be asked for a "hookup." Malicious or begnign? I think everyone needs to decide for themselves and it can be tricky to figure it out.

Just look at it from their perspective. Some people see your face once every 2 months or so. Obviously you have the means to get to CR, pay for hotels, taxis, food and booze. Did I forget anything? Oh yeah, and p*ssy. All of which are EXTREMELY discretionary items. I know someone will tell me these aren't discretionary but necessary items. So, I'll save you the joke now and mention it here. Anyway, they see this and they are trying to rub a few colones together to pay rent, groceries, phone etc. Not to stray from the topic (and God I know I'm opening one up here) but CR wages and cost of living are, for the most part, not in proportion. For most, CR is a very expensive place to live. Thus, I believe if a Tico/Tica can buddy up to you it is in their best interest. Is money the ONLY motive? I doubt it. But, life is what it is. I would suggest, from my extensive time in "regular" places that you shouldn't be too quick to judge motive. But, I will say this...the chances of being asked for a handout from non-gulch Ticos/a are very, very high. Be very guarded but not jaded. Try to understand the underlying motive.

dapanz1

i was thinking about it like this.
if you could truly imagine the situation reversed and the US is the third world while rich costarican males that looked and acted like us were dropping in all the time with money to burn, not a lot of savvy, and a zeal to Phuck the best looking women in our society...
i'm guessing a lot of the more us would be looking at them with the same type of smile in the face, hand in your pocket mentality. why should they treat us like brothers when if we examine it we are pillagers to them.

dapanz1[/quote]

IMO this hits the nail right on the head. Like I've posted on other threads they are sizing us up way more than we think. The fact that you can go to their country 6 or more times a year speaks volumes to them.

Just remember It ain't personal ..........it's business.

Let me start off, I am new to this forum, but have been to CR over 11 times in the last 2 years. Thanks for all of you with the great advice, I look forward to meeting up with you one day.

I am in CR now, usually hang out at the Key Largo. I have alwasy been the guy having drinks, enjoying the chicas and flirting with the 2 lovely bartenders there. I would always buy them a shot/shots of tequila (Patron), I don't even drink tequila. I didn't do it because I wanted to "look like a big shot," but because I was having a great time and was maybe a bit drunk, ok, hell, probably hammered. Well, KL drinks are way cheaper than my hometown bar, but if my bill was $150, $75 was the bartenders' $10 shots, and yeah, I tipped too. OK, I continue with it for a few more times. Then I am in there sober drinking water only. I see her working everyone for the shots (man, that little girl can hold her liquor). Then I think she either loves tequila or gets one hell of a commission. Next time in, this trip, I haven't really been partying much, she asks me for the shot, I say no. Wow, talk about a cold shoulder. Everytime I come in now, she barely acknowledges me, no hugs kisses, etc. My advice, just like we should not pay cien, and these girls are stuck on cien more now than ever, we should not buy these bartenders overpriced shots.

I hope this wasn't too long for my first post but wanted to share my 2 cents.

PURA VIDA!

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Livin' & Lovin' in Key Largo....oh....And the one in The Keys, too!

Captain.... some of the smartest working chicas are the bartenders, but they don't get nekked. They will work you like there is no tomorrow and before you know it you have laid a wad of colones in their hand with the service added to the bill and the extra propina. Some are as phoney as Paco with his pene trying to pass himself off as a chica in a hot party dress. You have found that out though. Not all have this "hooker" attitude. Some are actually genuine good women. I have several good amigas that are bartenders, but I don't buy them crap. I let the other guys do that. I know the game and they respect that. When I get a smile, a hello, a hug or a free cup of joe it's because we are friends and not because they believe they are gonna make an extra buck or 2 off of me.

Berk....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

Yo Dapanz.. another voice from the past.

Thanks for expanding on my point. The Ticos are friendly by nature but always see the Gringos as business opportunities. I don't have any problem with Ticos making money from Gringos honestly.

What I do have a big problem with is luring people into business deals and springing high unreasonable prices on them after the service is rendered.
All along, pretending to be your "friend". This is a con tactic and THE GUYS NEED TO CLARIFY THE COSTS OF ALL SERVICES BEFORE THEY ARE RENDERED.

The DR bar con job with the drinks I saw at the Tute table. Again with the shots. Young gringo says he wants to buy shots. Question he asks, how much for Don Patron. Answer: 5,000 colones. OK give me 4 shots.
Down go the shots and the bill was 20,000 colones. They "forgot" to mention that the shots were 5,000 per shot.

Point is this: Once you act like you are a big spender here, you have just put a target on your back.

Good points Mr LV . ...Painting with a broad brush has never made sense to me either.(one size does not fit all)I also agree that if one takes the time to learn the language(culture) then you might see the people de Costa Rica in a different light.mis dos centavos

OK here's a different slant on the bartender thing..... How much commission do they actually get /drink? The reason I ask is that either these chicas NEED to push the Gringos for shots to make a lot of money...OR they are alcoholics who are clearly in the WRONG business. Many of these young chicas wolf down 10-12 shots with the Gringos every night they work probably 6 nights a week) This can't be the healthiest way of life. Either they ae going to destroy their livers OR create a terrible dependency problem. Perhaps some of our esteemed AA members would care to comment.

My theory is they are not always drinking real liquor in those shots. No way are those little women pounding 10-12 shots every night and staying sober behind the bar. A while back a member posted about buying bartenders shots and caught them pouring ONLY cranberry juice or some other mixer into their shot glasses while gringo gets the real stuff. How many semi-drunk gringos pay close attention when the bartenders are pouring the shots? Practically none or they do it out of his sight, maybe that's why they keep mixer in those bottles with shot-pourers on top. They must make extra good commission on those fake shots they sell and drink. Watch how they "act" like it's really hard stuff next time you see them doing shots, making faces and pounding the bar- it's almost comical. I observed this last trip one morning around 10 AM in the lobby bar, no way they were pounding down 2 or 3 rounds of real shots so early in their shift with some gringo about to fall off his barstool. Although I'm sure towards the end of their shifts they will gladly drink the real stuff at some gringo's expense. They must teach them how to pretend they're doing real shots while drinking mixer in the HDR/KL bartender class.

Unless something has changed recently the bartenders do not make a commission on drinks. They do get the "service" or propina added to the bill at the end of their shift everyday when one of them takes the cash drawer to the shift manager and "checks out". Couple that with the "extra propinas" that they throw into their plastic tip bucket and they are good to go. They push drinks and some will do a few themselves because they like to "party". The more that they sell the more "service" added to the bill. Some want you to get hammered. That way they CAN create an opportunity to screw you on your tab. Some are honest and wouldn't dream of such a rip off. Not everyone is out to phuck over a gringo.

On the other hand... the guy gets drunk and then doesn't want to pay his tab or wants to argue about the bill... a legit bill. This happens more often than one would think. So for the bartender there can be a down side to getting you all liquored up... I'm not talking about your pecker that won't perform either because you are such a "nice" guy and she wants your "hot" body!

I said some don't like to drink. One night at the lobby bar this gringo was buying all kinds of shots for the bartenders. He was drunk. One bartender, right in front of me, agreed to the shots, but was pouring them out when he wasn't looking. She's not into drinking. I told her to pour away... I wouldn't say anything if she didn't want to drink. That was 3 or 4 shots down the drain... all with a smile on her face.

It's all a "game". If you know how to play it... it can be pretty cheap!

Berk.....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

B.B.C. for Arizona.

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

I WOULD LIKE TO REPLEY TO MY FRIEND KING COSTA --I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE - IT'S A GAME - AS -LONG AS YOU RELIEZE THAT EVERYTHING IS OK-YOU ARE IN IT FOR FUN THEY ARE IN IT FOR MONEY LIKE ONE GIRL TOLD ME I PHUCK FOR MONEY NOT FOR LOVE-GEE I THOUGHT SHE LIKED ME-THE GIRLS ARE FOR HIRE, LIKE RENTING A CAR, FIND A GOOD ONE ALLOW IT TO SERVE A PUPOSE FOR YOU, WHEN YOUR DONE BRING IT BACK SO SOME ONE ELSE CAN USE IT,DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHO IS USING HER NEXT- AND FOR GOD SAKE DON'T BUY HER ANYTHING (CANDY-FLOWERS-ECT.)-THINK ABOUT IT YOU WOULDN'T BUY NEW TIRE'S FOR YOUR RENT A CAR-IF YOU WANT A DATE OR A GIRLFRIEND DO WHAT I DO - NOW DAYS ALL MY DATES AND GIRLFRIENDS ARE BY THE HOUR--NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY CUBADAVE

Cuba Dave wrote: [DON'T BUY HER ANYTHING (CANDY-FLOWERS-ECT.)-THINK ABOUT IT YOU WOULDN'T BUY NEW TIRE'S FOR YOUR RENT A CAR-quote]

Great analogy, hilarious! A lot of these girls reallty need an attitude adjustment from cien to shaving time to RFM's.

If we all band together and hold firm, they may see the light. Like I tell many of them, Ciquenta is mejor than nada.

PURA VIDA![/quote]

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Livin' & Lovin' in Key Largo....oh....And the one in The Keys, too!

Wow.... like a little reunion here.

Although the HDR was always a relatively expensive place to go in Costa Rica, they never had to con guys to get extra money.

This buying shot stuff smacks of a "USA strip club type of mentality" that frankly makes me what to spend my money elsewhere. The owner make enough money to feed 1/2 of Costa Rica as it stands now.

I agree with Paco that the "buy the bartender a shot" is likely a scam and they are paid a commission in my humble opinion. I am still pissed off what they did to the young guy playing tute. He asked the price for 4 shots and they quoted 5,000. The bill was 20,000. This is over the top.

You don't see this crap in ZB or Sportsmans.