www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Nice of you to say but no thanks needed. Just trying to help out.

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Go Dolphins!!!

don't drink the milk, it's spoiled

Maybe I'm one of those ballbusting assholes who has an opinion on everything but, while I might not have worded my critique quite the same way, I have to agree with some of the other comments.
While its true that you can't always be on top of things all of the time, it certainly doesn't HELP to stay on top of things when you "get fairly toasted". And, while having to be in control and watch costs is something you might RATHER not have to do while in CR, lets face it, you're in CR where taking advantage of the gringo, particularly a drunk distracted gringo who has come to CR as a sex tourist, IS something of a national sport. Naturally, you can't be in complete control ALL the time, but at the very LEAST you need to TRY to maintain greater control PRECISELY when you have a sexy, beautiful woman (whose occupation is getting money out guys like you) sitting on your lap, grabbing at your crotch, AND you're in a situation where you're running up a bill. It may be unfortunate for the guys who like to get toasted, but that means NOT getting drunk at the times you're most susceptible to being ripped off and you might otherwise want to. OTOH, if you don't want to bother with any of that and just want to cut completely loose (which is of course your choice and right), then you won't really be in as good a position to complain about it when (not if) you get ripped off. Now, would you? I've said this before many times. Safest mongering and getting drunk don't mix. If you feel you must get drunk, then you must be willing to accept the possible consequences.

Don't get me wrong. I don't mean to "blame the victim". This is sort of like when a drunk guy carrying a wallet FULL of cash out on the street gets mugged. He may have contributory negligence, but it is still the mugger who is the real criminal. Similarly, whether brother Este got toasted or not still doesn't excuse the girls and/or the waiters if in fact they really did soak himas he suspects. Besides, as Orange himself acknowledged, its not like something similar to this hasn't probably happened at one time or another to just about all of us (myself included), whether we were drunk at the time or not (although, it seems that in most cases that is a contributing factor).
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Back on topic, my own experiences with Machu Pichu have generally been favorable. The prices may be a bit high relative to similar places, but I always figured that to be the price of popularity. I don't think I've ever been really ripped off there (or at least if there was a "mistake" on the bill I either caught it or was completly unaware of it). Then again, it has been some time since I ate there last, and things can certainly change. Machu Pichu is one of those places that always get written up on the various tourist sites and guidebooks (like Cocina de Lena, Tin Jo, Nuestra Tierra, etc.) and maybe, as so often happens in such cases, they've started to pay less attention to quality and more attention to jacking up their prices because all those past laurels have guaranteed them a steady and dependable stream of tourists (and others) who keep coming there because they've always heard it was so good.


Again, I tend to agree with Berk's assessment and the others made good points too. I don't know if MP has become any worse than anywhere else, but this SORT of thing is certainly very common in CR (and sometimes even in the US). I suppose it could have been some sort of collusion with the chicas getting kickbacks, but I somehow don't really think so. So what really happened here? Others, who have been there more recently than I, are certainly in a much better position to GUESS than I am. It could just be a case of those girls, realizing you were somewhat drunk and definitely distracted, taking complete advantage of you by ordering all the most expensive things on the menu (combined with Machu Pichu's already high prices of course). Or it could be the waiters padding the bill. OR it could be some combination of BOTH, but each party running their game INDEPENDENTLY (in other words, the girls just getting an expensive meal out of it but no kickbacks, and the waiters pocketing all the extra cash), which is what I suspect.

I know in other cases the chicas are at least partially at fault. For example, I know that many of these gals seem to love to order the always very pricey shrimp cocktails or Jumbo Camarones as BDDFC suggested. IMHE, anything with shrimp in it in CR, tends to be a lot more expensive. And the saddest part is that IMHO all the shrimp dishes I've had in CR have not been all that good (sort of like the problem in finding good steaks), which is a little strange because I know that CR exports shrimp. But maybe they export all their best shrimp and just keep the crap for the local market (unless of course you go to the most expensive restaurants where the shrimp dishes cost even more).

But ultimately, from their perspective, whether the most expensive items on the menu are worth it or even very good is completely beside the point. You've (foolishly) agreed to buy them whatever they want and they aren't paying for anything, so how is their ordering the most expensive items really ripping you off? Taking advantage of you, perhaps, but not ripping you off. Now, if they really were taking kickbacks that might be another matter, but even then they might not look at it as ripping you off as much as giving the dumb gringo what he deserves, since, as all ticos know, they're all rich and can easily afford it. But again, I'd like to believe at least that it didn't go so far as being some sort of organized conspiracy between the chicas and waiters.

Again, another poorly worded statement (particularly the choice of "ho" and "stupid"), but one I tend to agree with. We don't have to start another discussion on the choice of a perjorative term like ho. But even if CVCap used a gentler term like "working girl" he would still have had something of a point. And stupid is a bit extreme too, but maybe "fooling themselves" could apply. Of course, for those who do take their working girl "novias" out to dinner it is all about the GFFE and I can also understand where they're coming from. That said, while I share their distaste for the term ho, I think guys like K-Pax are missing the point. Whether they act like a ho or look like a ho to you, when ticos see an older gringo with a younger chica then they probably strongly suspect the true nature of their relationship regardless of how obvious a ho she'd appear to be independently or not. And lets face, even though many of this girls can seem sweet (and non-whorish) to YOU, usually there is something about them that betrays their true background to the knowledgeable local eye. Perhaps it will be that exposed tramp stamp on their lower back or a slightly sexier or more revealing way of dressing or acting than the average chica (such as "sitting on your lap, grabbing at your crotch" in a public place like Machu Pichu ) or in some other ways betraying a less than completley upperclass background. Sheeit, if I was a poorly paid waiter at a restaurant in Tampa and saw a drunk rich arab sheik behaving like that with some blonde bimbo in public, I'd might try to rip him off too.

For the girl's part, I'm sure she's often more than happy to be treated to a nice meal out (and it certainly can't hurt her attitude toward you), but I'd bet in nearly all cases she'd be just as happy if not much happier just to receive the extra cash for her to spend WITHOUT YOU. If the expensive dinner is ON TOP of what she probably would have taken to go back to the guy's room (and, lets be honest, I seriously doubt taking her out ever really reduces the amount of money the guy ends up having to pay her as much as it cost him to take her out), then she probably looks at it as the guy spending extra on her than he really had to and if he's that much of a softie then why not take him for as much as she can.

And for the tico's part, all they see is an older gringo guy with a much younger chica (and who is therefore obviously being paid no matter how nicely dressed she might be). From their perspective, they probably think why wine and dine a puta (which is what she is to them) and parade around with her, when she'd obviously go straight back to his room just for the cash. From their perspective, rightly or wrongly, the old gringo fart is clearly deluding himself with a girlfriend FANTASY and is therefore a sucker. So, again from their perspective, why not try to get their own little cut out of the fool too.

Don't get me wrong, despite all this, I'll treat a chica to dinner on occasion, but only at the sorts of local places that a girl like her might eat at herself (e.g. sodas or maybe someplace like Mariscar before they took out the roaster ), never at a real fancy place or for overpriced and/or expensive meals that most of them probably can't fully appreciate anyway (other than for its cost). Similarly, any gifts I provide them are thoughtful but simple, not extravagant. Just enough to set up the mood for the GFFE, not spoil them. And most of the money I wind up spending on them takes the form of the cash, which they really want most, for the session itself or the promised tip at the end for exceptional service. I don't know if that makes me a "Master Monger" or not. Personally, I think every monger has his own style which works for him. But that is how I try to play it.

Prolijo,
Thanks for your comments. I did not take them as ball busting.

I thought the girls were a little too free spending but we were having a blast so, it was all good. My bro and I split the bill. Since, I am not hurting for money I don't have to watch every dime. I know some guys here live on a pension and are afraid to spend anything. I just tend to think that the waiter was sticking it to me. There are others who share my opinion about this place, so I would be careful when dining at this joint.

I see references to the age differences quite frequently on this forum. In almost all cultures of the world, with exception of North America and Europe, older men with younger women is more of the norm than the exception. This was historically true even in my heritage (Irish) until one or two generations ago. It was most common for 40+ year old men to be married to young women because it took that long to develop a craft/skill and to acquire a domicile suitable for raising a family. As far as what other people think about me with a young Tica, I could care less. I am down here on vacation and having a good time and they can kiss my fat ass. My guess is that most of the other men (Ticos) probably do the same thing in their own way since it is part of the culture.

Thanks for your comments too (and I'm glad to know you don't consider me to be one of the ball-busters). As I said in my post, I never noticed a particular problem at MP before, but that it has been a bit of a while since I last ate there. Thanks to your post, I will be particularly watchful of the final bill if I ever go there again.

As for watching every dime, I don't think it is really so much a matter of the amount, although I'm sure there are some guys where that extra 5-10K colones or whatever it was makes more of a difference. However, I don't think ANY guy likes to have others think they can take advantage of him no matter how much or little it might be. And I think that is where you were really coming from with your post (I'm assuming the rip-off amount if any, couldn't have really been that much or you would probably have noticed it at the time).

As for age differences, older men with younger women may be more of the norm than the exception in places like CR and other places, but that is for men and women of that culture. An older gringa man with a younger chica girl is normally seen for what it usually and probably is - a dirty old sex tourist (or ex-pat) taking advantage of the cheap local pu*sy and not just some local guy who took longer to be able to afford a family.

BTW, I often hear guys use the "its different in their culture" argument to rationalize their going after MUCH younger chicas, but the reality is even in their culture the sorts of age differences that exist between many of us and the chicas we choose to pursue is at the extreme. This is hardly scientific, but look on the international dating sites (where chicas are most apt to extend their preferred age range to keep their match options open) and most chicas in their early 20's put "up to 40" or maybe "40's" as their maximum range. There are a few obvious exceptions but from what I've seen the usual age of guys around here STARTS at around 40 and many are much older than that. I have no idea how old you are, but I am 53 and, while many young chicas might be thrilled to go with me because of my wealth, I suspect most would prefer if I was at least 10-15 years younger.

As far as what other people think about you with a young Tica, you may care less but then don't complain when other people stereotype you and possibly target you for rip-off because of it. Most of the other men (Ticos) probably do "do the same thing in their own way since it is part of the culture." However, that doesn't mean they regard some rich gringos flying in and paying top dollar to sleep with "their" women the same way they look at their own behavior. Make no mistake about it, there is a LOT of resentment of us gringo sex-tourists amongst the local population, and flaunting it in their faces does nothing to help you or any of your brother mongers. As an example, it is because of loud and boorish behavior of a few guys that the Presidente changed its policies and is no longer the hotel favored by mongers that it once was.

I'm NOT saying that none of you should ever take out your chica "novias". I'm just saying at least try to do it with as much class and discretion as possible. Institute your own "dress code" when taking them out amongst the general public, especially when going to nicer restaurants (hopefully if your chicas aren't "ho's" they already know not to dress on the street the same way they might dress in the BM). Keep your PDA's (public displays of affection) for when you're not in public or at least in public areas more restricted to just "our" crowd (such as the the bar areas of the HDR, SL, HLH, etc.). Similarly keep your public conversation to less explicit topics or at least keep your voices down, as you never know who is sitting at the next table overhearing your graphic description of your previous night's exploits. I know some of you may like showing off your arm-candy (and by extension your virility?), but everybody knows full well that she's most likely with you mostly because of the size of your wallet, not your youthful charm or the size of your dick, so who are you really fooling with your performance any way. Basically, because we're already so often and increasingly the subject of public ire, it falls upon us even more than regular tourists not to play the part of the loud boorish ugly american, who "could care less" what they think (actually I believe you meant "couldN'T care less") and acts like he feels "they can kiss my fat ass".

This post is golden.....great stuff..could not agree with it more...

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I said hey baby, take a walk on the wild side.
Lou Reed

Could have been worse than going to the Machu. I've seen chicas as the White House order the most expensive stuff on the menu, drink it up and run up a several hundred dollar tab for dinner and drinks. This is more likely to happen when they have a girlfriend with them and there are two or more gringos sporting the tab.

My suggestion, take them to McDonald's. That's probably where they usually go anyways when on their own.

Now for the thread hijack, I have been told twice by 2 different favoritas that CR does not export shrimp. I was also told by an expat that 95% of the shrimp in CR was imported. Now, I have had some very good shrimp @ Machu and Amistad, also of note are the fried shrimp @ SL which are outstanding!!! Next trip I will poke my head in the kitchen @ SL and see where they come from.
Any others on this???
Regards, 911 Driver
And @ the central market they are not cheap.
Also if they export where the hell are they raised, doesn't seem to be many shrimp waters in CR??

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

As one who worked as a shrimper off the Texas Gulf Coast in the early '70's, there's what you might call a great circle route for shrimpers--starting in Brazil then working the waters up around the Atlantic then Caribbean waters around to Key West, then back down to Brazil. Not all shrimpers follow the whole route but they could. Doesn't say anything about CR shrimp--they might be from Mexico.

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Every year the U.S. inspect shrimp producing countries shimpers for the use of turtle excluder nets. If they determine that the nets do not prevent the inadvertent capture and death of turtles they ban shrimp from that country into the U.S. market. CR has at times passed the test and at other times failed it. In years they pass the majority of the shrimp caught are exported to the U.S.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Also, a very large majority of shrimp imported into the US are "farm raised" from Mexico and Thailand. A large portion of these are "prawns" which for most people they don't even notice the difference. I prefer gulf shrimp which seem to taste the best.
But I have to say in CR I have had some of the largest and tastiest shrimp yet.
Thanks for the info guys, maybe we should have a poll and see if we should start a shrimp section
Regards, 911 Driver

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The happy hour is a device either for getting rid of social obligations hurriedly en masse or for making overtures toward more serious social relationships, as in the etiquette of whoring.- Brooks Atkinson

If you guys insist on buying the chicas a shrimp dinner, may I suggest a restaurant/bar in Escazu named La Casona de Lally. Some people simply call it La Casona. It's packed all the time, lunch or dinner. Best deal around on a shrimp dinner. 6 big ones, fried or the way you like it (on the menu it's called camerones al gusto), plus fries and a poor excuse for a salad, all for about 3300 colones last time I checked. The Casona is located about 2 blocks north of the principal church in Escazu centro. Some waitresses have been known to be on the take out menu. Go check it out.

Couldn't find any reviews in English of Brother Flyboy's mention which I suppose is a good thing--won't be clogged with tourists.
On an entirely unrelated subject, why isn't this hotel a CRT sponsor? http://www.casa69.com/

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Doesn't need tourists is already clogged with Ticos and expat residents.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

IMHO it is kind of a waste of time to take most working girls out to dinner for the following reasons:

1) If its an expensive restaurant, you double your costs w/o necessarily doubling your pleasure.
2) The dinner conversation that you would have with a normal date that makes such outings worthwhile normally will be sub-par unless you are fluent enough in Spanish to converse at that level.
3) A lot (most) of the girls are from a lower socio-economic level and will either be intimidated by the menu or adopt a "world is my Oyster" attitude, leading to a large bill.
4) It does not in any way necessarily lead to a discount on the other services provided by the sex worker.
5) Not to sound elitist, but are they really going to appreciate the 2006 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon that you ordered to go with your Ribeye or Prime Rib?

However, those that want the gfe, by all means go for it. OTHO, I prefer to go with a group of like minded mongers and converse while drinking some good wine and food.

W/o wanting to hijack the thread, I would be interested to here other opinions on the subject.

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“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits