www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Is the hotel Mona Lisa next to the SL ?

No, it's some distance away but still walking distance.

It's across the street from the Hotel Dunn Inn and one uphill block away from Zona 2 and Scores.

mh

_________________
mh

it sounds like their poker room is better than the Del Rey is it?

If you plan on losing money they are okay with it....but if you win decent cash they get pissed and try to deter you from leaving...sore losers...

Here's the Website of the ML: http://www.monalisacr.com/
It's among the tallest buildings in Barrio Amon--used to be a Clarion hotel--at 93 rooms, it's a purpose-built hotel, not a conversion. I consider it a great alternative for Our Crowd.
If their breakfast is good, recommend trying it out at least one time for the 4-direction streetlevel view. Not the old El Prez but OK when folks are hurrying to work or their daily biz...and you're relaxing/recuperating/revivifying.

_________________
"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

It's a very nice, very clean property from what I've seen as a visitor only.

My only negative is it's location deep within TrannyLand. I would not walk to it from SL/Zona/NF/Sc/HDR after dark (yet I will walk in between each of those places up to midnight).

Walking at night is up to individual taste and discretion. If you're not walking at night, this hotel is definitely worth a thought.

_________________
bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Im new to the whole CR thing (and hooked on it) but the whole tranny thing is wild. Im sure Ill see it a little at a time but it does blow me away.

I walked to and from the Dunn Inn at night (just up from Mona Lisa) and had no problems going to SL, NF, Del Rey etc, with no tranny problems, just use common sense and be aware of ur surroundings. You don't need a buddy or group to travel with. Just don't over do it with the drinking, but if ya do take a cab. I'm an old codger now and followed those rules tramping through Europe, Ethiopia, Latin America and South East Asia (Thailand and Korea). I plan on staying at the Mona Lisa this fall for my annual hadge to San Jose (even though I loved my stay at the Dunn Inn). The best thing u can do is read this board and its subsections, its full of great info with the do's and don'ts (i.e. mistakes made by the bros visiting the CR). Good luck and good hunting.

Also, regarding the Mona Lisa, the Guest Relations Manager, Guy Grand is great person!! If that's important to you.

it's nothing. They look like full figured women on street corners (at least at the distance I maintain). It's discussed with far more fervor than is deserved.

To each, his own. I'm just glad CR allows a sense of freedom to its population.

_________________
bypassin' kinky, and usin' the whole chicken!!!

Stayed there during the "soft" reopening period last February and had no issues. It would be considered a classic style American high rise hotel. My room faced the tear of the property, I never heard any street noise, the rooms were nicely decorated. The room still needed a few minor touch ups. There have been discussions about the quality of food, not sure how it is now.
I am going to CR for Super Bowl weekend and will be staying at Mona Lisa. They are one of the few properties to offer on site parking for free. Last time I was there, I saw a few working girls in the bar area during the evening. I had no issues walking back and forth between other properties. Then again I don't get stumbling drunk either.

here we go w the walking thing again.
it has nothing to do w being drunk guys. and no one is saying don't walk.
there are two ways to walk from ML to SL.
if you are standing in front of SL and turn right you go down a semi main street past NF and there are numerous instances of CRT guys getting mugged or roughed up on that stretch.
if you turn left and its more residential and at night its dicey. i personally walked it in the evening and being from the city i knew i was being sized up from the shadows and walked in the middle of the street with my eyes open.
one other time w a fellow gent who lives right next to ML we walked to his apartment in the evening and had a quick smoke and on the way back two cars of ticos came roaring around the corner right next to ML hanging out the windows cursing and flipping us off. i smiled but if they had stopped we were like 6 on 2.
i have walked all over SJ alone and at night and have never been mugged or threatened. but for newbies especially don't think that being sober or prepared means it won't happen there.
probability and severity equation.
btw i have never seen trannys in the immediate area of DI and ML. but they do hang out one block over near Zona 2/Scores ime.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

Amen. But that freedom does not extend to barkeepers, which is why they solicit on streetcorners--they'd doubtless rather be in more decorous surroundings. Seen more than one streetside BJ by them on Latin men. Harry's Bar Poas would allow them use of the toilet (solo) and a beverage to-go; doubt they got even that much consideration at other local venues. Imagine the cojones it takes to put yourself on the street night after night when all other adult, uncoerced sex sales are legal--the policia make periodic sweeps; don't know how they treat them. Still, best avoided at a distance.

_________________
"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

No one deters you from leaving!!!! But if you won a huge pot and immediately tried to cash out and leave, I would look the other way while someone broke your legs. Common poker courtesy is to play a minimum of an hour unless you go broke. It is also common courtesy to announce you are leaving, like saying "I am going to play one more round of the button."

There are also no house rules saying you can't scoop and run like a coward.

And no doubt, some of the daily grinders after losing a big pot will sarcastically tell you not to leave, they just want a chance to win their money back from you fish.

That's why I don't gamble anymore. All nicities aside , if you win, you are entitled to take your money and go.

_________________
" Omit no happy hour that may give furtherance to our expedition."