www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Last week a group of us really enjoyed the Banjo Guy in front of the News Cafe.... He has joined up with Gut Bucket Guy 1 and 2 and the irrepressilbe percussion guy (water bottle with sand).

Fantastic version of "oye como va" "stairway to heaven" and some Mana.
I think his name is Iruzione or something like that. He's a real nice guy and talented. OK to tip.

Wears sunglasses and a cool beret type of hat. Doubles as a bodyguard if you see him near the DR. Our group really enjoyed him.

No word on the Tuba Guy.. Rumor has it that he is no longer with us.
However, the phuckin flute guy starts around 6 in the morning.

I forgot to mention a new candidate for the most obnoxious character in the gulch.

One morning during the CRT 1st Anniversary weekend a group of us were enjoying the view from the rail at the Prez when a Tico about mid 50s started shouting (and you know how the noise carries in front of the News Cafe) about the "AMERICANOS"....."COSTA RICA"....."PUTAS".

I'm not sure what all he said but I don't think he was from the San Jose Welcome Wagon.

This only lasted about 15 seconds but he definitely got his point across.

Witling,

Unfortunately for the rest of us, a small (but significant) number of gringos act in a way that encourages that reaction.

About two weeks ago there was group of about six guys sitting at the rail mid-afternoon making loud, explicit comments about nearly every tica that walked by. This included mothers and daughters, office workers and girls in school uniforms. They went on for at least a half-hour and could probably be heard by people all the way across the street. Unfortunately, the hotel guard on the sidewalk thought it was great entertainment and no one (including me, sad to say) called them on their boorish behavior. It's a good thing that your guy wasn't walking by that afternoon--there might have been some real fireworks.

These guys were much more obnoxious than Tuba-man (RIP) or any of his cohorts.

just back today from CR.....Yes!! the banjo guy rocks! he gave us a good show Sunday night...you know it's good when he starts singing and the girls at the Prez bar start dancing around!! totally cool... totally different and quaint experience compared to the in-your-face-commotion at KL and BM.

honestly, I've never seen someone play a banjo like that...just picking.

I tip that guy and the blind guy that plays really good flamenco/bolero down by the Gran Hotel...

Ya there are some incredible guitar players that Gran Hotel guy plays Jose Feliciano and other classics really amazing I always tip the good ones.

Easy for me to say but wish you'd talked to those idiotic gringos it's the main reason I don't stay at Presidente anymore the 5%ers are too hard to take. 30 minutes, really? Were they drunk?

Goal,

You're absolutely right--I feel badly about avoiding a confrontation with these drunk assholes (and yes, it was at least a half-hour).

Thinking back on it, I should have gone up to the second floor and let the hotel administration know what was happening. Hopefully, they would have kicked the guys out. To be fair, Hartley (the restaurant manager) wasn't there--I'm pretty sure he would have cut the guys off.

I am not sure that "Tuba Guy" has left us. When I was there Sep 18-29 I saw him several times farther up Avenida Central-just past the Gran Hotel sitting at one of those tree wells and blissfully hammering out his repetoire of 3 songs.Thankfully I never did see him outside the Pres in his former location.

YO Music mongers:
We all jest alot about the noise in the street but quit picking on the tuba guy. He's made a poor man's living on doing something he has enjoyed since his prime. Some old folks repeatedly show pictures of K*ds because that is all they have to be proud of and only live through those memories.......and some perform with the only thing they may get attention with. Beware.....perhaps one day some of you will encounter the lonliness of no attention and acceptance. Remember that.

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Damn if I'm going to repeat this shit again. I need a drink.
I've been drinking vodka every day for 45 years and I have certainly never found it to be habit forming.

I think that I have a picture of them playing "stairway to heaven" will post it.

I was sitting in the New York Bar with a couple of other members on Sunday afternoon over Labor Day weekend when Banjo Guy and Gutbucket honored the bar with their rendition of The Banana Boat Song, they did stay for encores; however I went across the street to the BM.

At that time I do not know how long they had been a "duet" as they were still a little rusty. I am sure with enough practice we will have a CD release party by the end of the year.

Denver

The banjo guy did put on a great show that day. He is really good and entertaining.

But I can do without the whistle guy. Although I have to admit I would rather wake up to the whistle guy than my alarm and knowing I have to go to work!

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"Life isn't like a box of chocolates...it's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow." SP

The banjo guy did put on a great show that day. He is really good and entertaining.

But I can do without the whistle guy. Although I have to admit I would rather wake up to the whistle guy than my alarm and knowing I have to go to work!

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"Life isn't like a box of chocolates...it's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow." SP

Last Night the Banjo Guy and the Gut B ucket man were rocking out in front of the Prez.

All the gringo tourists were swinging to the beat.

Also... I think I saw some record executives offering to sign them!

ShowerHead