www.CostaRicaTicas.com

There is more than 1 of them. About 8 or 10, I would say... and they are all close together. Another CRT member, Marty, and myself, took a cab from News Cafe to the street behind the Torre Mercedez building. We went into one shop after another trying on boots and checking out the different materials they had to offer. I ended up leaving a $20 deposit on a pair made out of white cow hide. They measured my foot, let me pick the inner lining, the toe shape, the heel type, & wood color. A week later I returned and paid $45 more for my new boots. They fit perfectly and are without a doubt the coolest looking pair of boots I've ever seen! I paid a total of $65 and I know they would have cost me $400-600 here in the states....easily. I'll be buying atleast 1 pair on every trip down from now on. One shop had skins from different colored snakes, Iguanas and some kind of fish (probably Eel). Most of those boots would cost about $120. The most expensive thing we saw was Ostrich, at about $200. I'm sure you could talk them down on those prices. Plenty of boots on the shelves looked nice too and the prices started in the $35 range. It was well worth the 10 minutes or so to get there. The name of the shop I bought mine from is "Calzado Jr". Stop in and ask for Joshua.

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

One location for boot makers is off Avenida 2nd and Calle 24....go out Avenida 2nd from the Gulch and Turn Right onto Calle 24....(by the Scotia Bank building)

There are some BootMakers Shops about 2 blocks up on Calle 24 on your left....one has a riding saddle and other leather stuff out front....

and, I think there are also Boot Makers if you turn left off Avenida 2 onto Calle 24 also

and yes, there is an excellant selection of ready made boots as well as having some made....

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

The 2 previous posts are describing the same boot maker location.

The old Torre Mercedes has been taken over by Scotia Bank and renamed Torre Scotia Bank. All the signage now says Scotia Bank.

In grand old Costa Rica custom it shall always be named Torre Mercedes. Ten years from now ask directions from a Tico and he will refer to the landmark Torre Mercedes. Thats what makes getting around San Jose such fun.

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Pura Vida
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Alex Levine

I had a pair of boots and shoes made there 2 years ago....excellent.

hahahaha....thanks for that tip......I'm starting to understand a bit better your local customs.....

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

I went there again about 3 weeks ago. Same story, took my order , measured my foot & took a $60 deposit on a pair of boots that was going to cost $110. When I came back about 10 days later there was a small problem. The K*D who took my order apparently didn't turn it in. He looked at my ticket like he had never seen it before (even though he wrote it!). He and another guy went across the street to see if my boots were over there , but of course they weren't. An older guy came over and asked if I could come back the next day. I told him I was on my way back to the states and would just have to get a refund. He told me that they didn't have the $60, but that I could pick a pair of boots from the shelf if I wished. They ended up giving me a great looking (and feeling) pair of light brown boots , a belt and $4. I won't deal with that K*D again , but I will certainly continue buying boots every time I come to San Jose.

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

Shawn, you and your wingman partied balls to the wall. I'm gonna git me some of them boots next time.

Next time we are down at the same time, we can go down there together and check out all the shops. I think I might get more than 1 pair next trip. Helluva deal.

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

I'm not a boot guy but i will definitely be stopping in on my next trip to purchase a pair for myself. Wanted to fly out next week, Presidents Holiday weekend, but prices are too steep for me at the moment. I don't have a problem paying $550 but it gets expensive if you are planning multiple trips throughout the year... five trips in five months. Damn, i just might book the flight anyways, JMac will be in town. So far I've only been to CR twice this year.

p.s. Someone please remind me regarding the boots because i might forget, thinking about all those lovely chicas.

This is real cheap. I remember pricing Ostrich skin boots. The price was ridiculous. I bought a pair of Tony Lama RattleSnake skin boots in 1990, and they were $250 back then. I'm going to have to check out this place in SJO.
What is the address / street intersection / location of the "Calzado Jr" boot shop ? Thanks.

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You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

Most of the shops work hand-in-hand with each other. If 1 dosen't have any skins available, then check the others. I would strongly recommend that You look in several if not all of the shops before buying.

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

I'm going to purchase my first pair of boots this weekend. Thanks for the info. I'm gonna look very freakin' COOL in my new boots.

TP...Did ya get some shitkickers?

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller