www.CostaRicaTicas.com

A few minor newbie questions:

If I take a cab to Oasis mid morning will it be easy to find a cab back to the DR?

I keep seeing references about the high drink prices at the BM? How bad is it? Better at the Horseshoe or somewhere nearby?

Even though I will never pass for a local (blonde hair and blue eyes) after reading the long thread (no pun intended) on shorts vs no shorts in public have decided to save the shorts for Jaco. Are jeans appropriate daytime monger wear?

Hmmm, messed with my avatar and lost my flag

Thanks

Jay

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MidnightRider

Oasis is in a very busy area. Auto dealers, restaurants and shops of all kinds. Not a worry.

The "high" drink prices are only in relation to other clubs in Costa Rica. A beer or liquor will still only cost you about $2.

Other than Dino, who has an "all shorts clause" in his visa, most guys wear jeans during the day and slacks at night, especially at clubs and restaurants.

If you don't plan to leave the gulch you can pretty much wear whatever you like.

OK, Witling... . You're a funny man. Just you guys wait. I'm going to open a store on Avenida Central that sells only shorts and Bikinis. All the ticos and ticas will be sporting those shorts in style. and all you crazy gringos will buy up all the Bikinis for your chicas and take them to the beach.

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Live today as it was your last day, for tomorrow may never come.

Hi Dino,

You know me I am a crazy gringo. Will we get a special discount?? You mind if I open up a Condoms To Go shop next to yours? We could sell Chica cards to the Gringos.

Thanks,

Zippy

Thanks for the info Witling. $2 beers sound pretty good after my February trip to $Cancun$.

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MidnightRider

When you exit Oasis make a right. Walk up the hill 1 block to the KFC. This is Paseo Colon. Cross the street and flag down the first cab you see. You will probably get a cab in a few minutes.

I just returned from my first visit of 7 days. I walked the town from North to South and East to West. There were a few areas I looked over my shoulder or crossed the street. If you start to feel uncomfortable just back track. I walked to Oasis from the gultch solo. I wouldn't be surprised if I walked and saw more than a lot of the vets on this board my first trip. I say this because if you are a person who likes to walk and see the sights you can always walk back. It is a long haul but full of local scenery. Walk east on Paseo Colon to the end, about 16 blocks. Make a right. At the next major intersection, a T in the road, make a left. After that just keep heading east. Keep your eye on the Holiday Inn as a landmark. What will you see? A lot of local shops, eateries, chicas, more chicas, and more chicas.

As far as the short pants, the only people I saw wearing short pants were gringos. Does it make a difference? I don't know.

Midnightrider, it looks like you are doing your homework. Good job.

Have fun.

Ace

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

I am from florida and wear shorts quite a bit. It is true that you will probably get a better look from the chicas wearing long pants but you are still going to pay. I try and make it a point to always wear long pants after sundown. just my 2 cents.

During the day I am more comfortable in my cargo shorts, lots of pockets and secured by velcro. One plus about shorts is while sitting at the bar and you happened to be greeted by an aggressively forward chica, it can jump start your afternoon as there is easy access. It can set the mood but be careful while she is feeling your goods you may end up missing your goods!

Herbf thanks for the info and good job checking out the area. I like to get out and check out the area but probably not all the way to the Oasis. Still wearing a brace part time on my left ankle. Can't even jog without regrets the next day

Thanks for the comment Ace. With this great site it's not hard doing your homework. But after reading all the advice and stories about the BM I wonder if anyone can really be prepared

Grey Ghost bought a couple of pairs of cargo shorts because of all the pockets. If I got drunk enough I probably could lose my money and it would still be in one of my pockets. I have plenty of shorts along if I change my mind.

T-minus 47 hours and counting...

Thanks all,

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MidnightRider

Hey Dino...

In your all "shorts" store will there be one that say POG on them?

They would sell good to the old timers.

ShowerHead

It may not usually happen but for some reason on my last trip I couldn't catch a cab to save my life. I even crossed Paseo Colon so I could catch them going in the right direction. It wasn't raining or anything, but for some reason they were all either occupied or didn't see me. I just started walking and eventually just ended up walking back most of the way to the Gulch.

Incidentally, its more like 8 blocks between KFC at Ave. 32 and the end of Paseo Colon at Ave. 16 (since there are only even numbered streets on that side of town). You'll know you're there when you pass the 2 big hospitals on your right. Also Paseo Colon doesn't really come to a dead end per se, but becomes Avenida Central. If you continue straight in 3-4 more blocks you will pass the Mercado Central on your left. If you had turned right where herb suggested you will see Parque Merced (with its sadly gutted church), which would be a nice place to take a moment to rest on a bench if you needed to. Turning left there takes you on to Avenida 2, not a particularly scenic thoroughfare but it does take you by Parque Central. Before you get to there though you might want to take a right on Calle 6 and then bang a left after one block on Ave. 4 so you can check out Centro Masaje then continue down Ave. 4 until you get to Central Park. At that point, depending on the time of day or how hungry you are, you could grab some lunch at one of the many cheap sodas just south of there or take another breather and relax on a park bench or just turn back left through the park and back across Ave 2 until you get to Ave Central. Avenida Central is a pedestrian only walkway at that point and thus much nicer for your return to the Gulch. For that matter, you could take Ave. 1 back from Oasis instead of Paseo Colon. Turning right as you leave Oasis then your first left on Avenida 1 will take you by MP1 shortly after you leave Oasis and by VIP (or MP2) around Calle 24 at which point you can return to Paseo Colon and either catch a cab or continue your walking tour.

BTW, herb's comment about using highly visible landmarks as reference points is a good one. Another thing you can do if you're afraid of getting lost is to bring a map. If the shorts don't mark you as a tourist, then the map definitely will. But Phuck it. If you get lost or too tired to continue you can always catch a cab whereever you're at or by walking at most the 1 block to the nearest major avenida.

I hope some of you found that info interesting. Here is my question for someone else. The last time I was in SJ, I got into taking buses. They're dirt cheap, not that cabs are that costly either. If you know where to go they're easy to catch and leave regularly every few minutes. Cabs will usually pass by whereever you already happen to be and you'll usually have no touble flagging one down or have to wait all, but sometimes, especially when it is raining, they're a little harder to find. All in all not great reasons for choosing a bus over a cab, but the real kicker for me is that it gives me an oportunity to interact more with regular ticos. I should say that I pretty much stuck to buses and bus stops I knew, such as between the gulch and San Pedro or Calle Blanco. Which brings me, FINALLY, to my question. Does anyone know which buses you can take to get to or from the Oasis area and where you can catch those buses?