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Morazon Park located in front of the Holiday Inn and the park located in front of the INS are they one and the same? The two parks are seperated by buildings.

I stayed at Hotel Castillo and walked to the BM and Horseshoe Casino at night and never felt unsafe. I never once saw a tranny.

When coming from Castillo or Sportsmen you would walk down Calle 9 (east side of the INS). Either walk along the east side of the park or thru the park until you come to an underpass. You can either go thru the underpass or up the steps to the street above than back down. Proceed to the next block, hook a right and the BM is one block ahead.

Am I correct about the difference between the two parks or was I lucky or a fool.

To avoid any confusion this has been added via edit: When walking on the east side of the park you are actually on Calle 11 which takes you to the underpass. So in essence you are on Calle 11 until you reach Avendia 1 to make the right to the BM.

Herbf,

Nucknfuts is the TRANNY specialist on the board. He usually knows where they are DRAGGING at. He appears to have some special type of radar or ESP that he recieved at birth. I am still trying to research all the detaills.

Zippy

Yes Herbf,

You are correct in that there is two parks. What you were in was the" north side"
. If you were looking for Trannies then you need to go a bit south and you will find all you want
( and some you don't want).

There you will find , most nights, all my favorite sisters.
Just ask around for Carla Culo ( with the big juicy ass)
or Patricia Panocha ( that really know's how to treat a man)
and there's Trisha Trans ( just an all around great gal )
Just be careful and DO NOT go with any of the "Travieso" sisters.
They are known to team up and "do you" in more way's than you want.

Hope this helps, Rusty Amorosa
aka absolutely Nucknfuts

_________________
Throughout the history of mankind there has never been one shred of evidence that supports that life is serious..........
Don't believe everything you think ............

Whooooooa Nucknfuts,

I wasn't looking for any trannies, although on an occasion or 2 I might have made a wrong judgement call . My intent was to enlighten other CRT members that there is a safer way to walk to the BM if staying at Hemmingway, Castillo, or Sportsmen.

I picked up a chica from the BM ($50 for 2 hours) and took a nice slow hand in hand walk to and from Hotel Castillo via the park. We actually stopped in the park for some pay for GFE.

I do respect your diversity in women though.........Hey let me go back to your reply and jot them names down for my next visit. hehehe

Herbf wrote:



The parks are two different ones,

Parque Morazan: one block north of the Del Rey on the north west corner.

Parque Nacional: two blocks east of the Del Rey on the north east corner.

While Parque Nacional may not have trannies it is always wise to be very careful in any park in San Jose after sunset. At night a cab to the SL is an inexpensive smart call.

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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

I agree 100%. Parque Nacional did have 2 policia? on motorbikes up until about 10 pm. I wouldn't advise walking anywhere in SJ after maybe 9pm other than from the BM to the NYB or MB.

Thanks for giving me the name to Parque Nacional. I must have walked thru there 30 times in a week and never noticed the name. It is a nice spot to sit and rest during the day watching the prospective artist trying to sketch the landscape. Especially when they lean forward to sketch and you can get a sneak peak at the boobs.

Actually the park that herbf is referring to is Parque Espana. It is bordered by the Edificio Metalico, which now houses a school on the west, the INS bldg and the Casa Amarilla (Foreign Ministry Building) on the north (the huge ceiba tree on the corner was planted the day JFK visited CR back in 1963), the old national licquor factory which now houses the Museum of Contemporary Art on the east and has the underpass he referred to on its south. During the day, this is one of my favorite city parks as it is well shaded and cool to hang out in. On Sundays they supposedly have a small arts market that opens up there, though for some reason I have never checked it out.

After dark the park takes on a somewhat different atmosphere. The trannies mostly hang out at the SE corner of the metal building. I've walked by them many times when I was staying at the Don Carlos, with never an incident. If you're staying at the Castillo and choose not to take a cab after dark, I suggest you skirt the parks western boundary and stay on that side of the street as you walk back to your hotel. If you're staying at the Sportsmen's Lodge the natural way to go would be to cut through the park and take the street that goes to the right side of the Casa Amarilla. This is perfectly fine during the day, but I'm not so sure I would chance it after given all the dark shadows for peope to hide in around the park (and this is coming from a guy known to take chances). There is also something to be said for going underneath Avenida 3 during the day since crossing that road can get a bit hairy particularly when the cars get closer to the Morazon Park "rotary", but I'm not sure taking the far more deserted Calle 11 and going through a dark underpass after dark is any safer than the more visible and direct route.

The Parque Nacional is the much larger park a few blocks further east and is not really near anything we normally frequent after dark (unless perhaps you wanted to walk to El Cuartel de la Boca del Monte for some reason) so there is no need to test its nighttime security. During the day, it makes a nice place to stop in addition to Parque Espana after visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art mentioned above or the Jade Museum, which is on the 11th floor of the INS building, before moving on through the National Park to the National Museum 2 blocks further south (by way of a pedestrian mall). The park has numerous places to stop and rest, fountains, a goldfish pond, statues to Juan Santamaria and other national heroes and is surrounded by the National Library to the north, the Museum of Contemporary Art to the NW (already mentioned), the National Railroad Museum 1 block to the east, the legislative Assembly to the south and the National Museum 1 block south of that.

Wow Pro,

Calm down, what a history lesson. I thought I was just in a little park and I knew everything ( LOL, I did not even know the name of the Park). I am a one trip person who loved the change of scenery and culture. My fovorite spots during my 7 day visit were the different parks, especially Parque Central. Mercado Central and surounding areas were also great. The ride to the mountains, the change in climate. Walking on Avenida Central, shopping in Mas y Menos, eating breakfast in a soda at 6am, etc. I could go on forever.

Sure I went for the ticas. But every man regardless of age needs some rest. I say take a rest in CR. You can always go home and POP for the one piece you missed. But you could never replace a piece of CR you missed visiting.

I saw a gringo getting assaulted by the trannies last night at about 10 or so....not very cool at all, I felt sorry for the dumbass. I was observing from the safety of my taxi

My two colones:
Since they put the police booth in Park Marazan, it seems to me that the trannys have moved West by about one or two blocks. When I drive home from the Paradisio Casino, I go up (South) past Zona Blue, and at the next left (at the top of the hill), I make a left on 7th (I think). In any case, when I make that left, is where I see the trannys.
So that would be roughly 2 blocks WEST of Park Marazan's north side.
That sound right to everyone?
LVSteve

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

JunFan,

What do you mean by assaulted? Were they actually physically assaulting him by wailing and hitting on him? Or were they pawing and grabbing him, trying to get him to stop (and possibly pickpocketing him at the same time)? Or were they just trying to engage him in conversation and following him a short distance? And what was he doing while all this was going on? Was he fighting back or just standing there? Or was he trying to get away? Or was he just walking by trying to keep his distance and ignoring the whole thing? How much did you REALLY see of this as your cab sped by? And finally, which corner did this take place on? Was it the one between the 2 parks that we've been discussing?

My point is that you can feel all smug in your cab and think you are so much smarter than any "dumbass" gringo that dares to walk anywhere anytime after sunset, but are you REALLY telling the whole story. I've walked by the trannies near the park MANY times. If they've even said anything to me at all as I walk quickly and resolutely by, a cold stare or at worse a harsh "NO!" has been all it ever took to return them to their conversation amongst themselves. I've NEVER been bothered or even remotely assaulted. Maybe I should really feel hurt that for some reason I'm not their type. Much more often I've seen the trannies try to flag down passing cars (even passing cabs with wide-eyed and shocked gringos inside). I've never seen a car stop (though they must get some business that way) and I'm guessing that more often than not they just give those guys something to cluck about on BBS's when they get home and shake their heads in amusement and disgust.

LVSteve,
I think the trannies have always been rather scattered about the neighborhood. I'm not sure but I think the trannies may still be on that corner near the park, though some or all of them may have moved.

Much is said about the trannies near the park. But AT LEAST they appear to be there for a reason that shouldn't really bother any of us - to find customers for their gay(?) or at least abnormal activities or to dupe some fool gringo that is too drunk or stupid to tell the difference (caveat emptor). I'm sure they also engage in some other less desirable activities on occasion like pickpocketing or even "assaulting" someone that gets too close, but I think they're easily avoided actually BECAUSE they stand out the way they do. I'm MUCH more wary of the other ne'er-do-wells that are just "hanging" out in the parks for no apparent reason OTHER than to assault the passing gringo. The trannies just get more airtime here because they appear so shocking to us and are amusing to joke about.

I don't know what your point really is....that you can walk by there without problems? Good for you. I have always said there is nothing to gain by not taking a cab. If you like a nice evening stroll, great. I've done alot of wild stuff in my day, including being in alot of rough situations in Colombia...but at this stage in my life, I'm not in the mood to tempt fate more than I have to. I bet that guy wouldn't share your comfort level about walking around that area. But to each his own....

But to answer your questions....My cab was taking me from the SL to the DR, and we actually had to stop because the guy & the trannys were in the middle of the street. The guy was obviously concerned, really trying to get away. They were not beating him, but there were several all over him and they were really going for his pockets. He was earnestly trying to keep them off of him, even swinging at them before finally running away at a full sprint.

What difference does it make? You don't know these people. They are street people. I would imagine that most of them carry blades, and who knows if they would decide to pull one if they were all jacked up on crack or speed or whatever.

My point is that I don't consider walking that way to be that "wild" or "tempting fate". Now that you've laid out more of the facts it certainly sounds more cautionary than before. But how did it start? Did it begin by his engaging them in conversation or walking among them? Why did he let them grab him in the first place or get close enough for them to do that? Was he initially fooled or interested in them? I wouldn't want one of them touching me even if they weren't going for my pockets. Was he stumbling drunk or walking by obliviously and attacked before he knew what hit him? Why did he wait until he was in an all-out brawl before finally running away? Maybe he really was a dumbass, though not necessarily for the reasons you imply.

When walking at night (or day for that matter) I always give any group with unknown motives wide berth, sometimes casually staying on the opposite side of the street until I am passed but certainly not getting within grabbing distance. I walk quickly and am always prepared to run if necessary Before trouble begins. If they start to approach me I'll walk faster (or slow down depending on which direction they're coming from) and will run if they get too close. And I've only felt I needed to actually run ONCE (when walking back to the DR after the Park Hotel oil show). Some guys were calling out to me trying to get me to stop from nearly a block away. I knew they were up to no good and when they started to follow me I began to run and they quickly gave up pursuit.

Though, I'm always prepared to run as a last resort, I try to never look frightened. I always look at any would be attackers right in the eyes with a regular over the shoulder glances if they're behind me or if I'm approaching them at least once with a not too friendly but also not to preoccupied stare. I do this to let them know I'm aware of their presence, but that I'm not afraid of them and I'm definitely not interested in anything they have to "sell". If the security situation worsens significantly, then I'll re-evaluate my position but up until now these precautions and a few others have always worked very well for me.

I'll often take a cab (especially if its raining, I'm just feeling lazy or tired, its REALLY late or I'm in a rush, or its a larger distance) but on nice nights when I'm feeling good and want the fresh air and exercise and the distance is not great I feel quite comfortable walking in areas that I know. I understand your arguments, YMMV, different strokes for different folks and all that. You do what you want, just don't suggest that I'm somehow a dumbass for holding a different view. When and IF I ever get mugged, THEN you can say I told you so. Until then, I'm going to do what works for me.

After reading your second post I now realize the gringo was not actually being physically attacked. I would say he was being harrassed. I know you are pro taxi everywhere simply because it costs $1 or less. I admit I have only spent 7 days in CR. Each and every day I felt safe. Whenever I travel I try to walk as much as possible. There is just to much to see that one can not notice while zooming by in a taxi. Each and every park I walked thru there were "regular" chicas. If only I could speak their language. My original post was for those who sit on the fence of fear. Do not be so afraid to take a walk. I strolled thur the Mercado Central section 3 or 4 days while in CR and truly loved it.

To take a cab from the Delrey to Chelles is absolutely ridiculous. I also think it is silly to cab it from SL to BM. Maybe I am taking a chance, maybe not. One thing for sure I will leave this world having seen more than you.

Prolijo, Now you are the type of guy I could hang out with in CR.