Fellas,

I had only been out of the US once in my life (Mexico), and had only paid for sex once before (SF and LV strip clubs not included), but since I had an extended vacation (unemployment) I decided I needed to explore the world a bit. I knew I loved Latinas and was always intrigued by Central America, so with the advice and encouragement of the fellow mongers I found here I decided to take the plunge.

So cashing in on the Christmas day special on TACA, I scheduled a trip for Feb.20-25th. I emailed the Presidente and asked for the TSM rate, which was $45+tax (Thank You Maria). The following is about as blow-by-blow as I can remember.

Feb 19th: Arrive at SFO at 9:20pm for a Midnight flight. Had a good time on TACA, good movie (Road to Perdition), nice snack (ham sandwich), and little noise. We had a 20-minute layover in San Salvador and I was suprised at the quality, brand-name merchandise at the duty-free shops (which I did not see in SJO).

Arrived at 9:40 in SJ and moved easily through customs. Picked up my bag and when I came outside was immediately hailed by a taxi driver who took me around the line and to the taxi booth, where I paid my $12 and handed my driver one of the reciepts. (Big tip here: the booth has a pillar in front of it and everyone stood in a single line to the left of it. Go to the right of the pillar and avoid the line).

The trip in the taxi told me right away that I did not ever want to drive in this city. Very wild. Arrived at Hotel Presidente around 10:30 and asked if I could go early to my room. I could not sleep on the plane, so I was terribly tired. Check-in was not until noon but they were able to accomodate me. Be sure to get a safe key, which costs an extra $3 per day. However, if you lose the key it's a $75 charge.

I ended up sleeping most of the afternoon since I can't sleep on planes. Sad, since I wasn't there for too long and my habit blew another day as well later.

The people at the Presidente couldn't have been nicer. I ate the majority of my meals in the bar/restaurant there, the News Cafe. The included breakfast is pretty good, and I ate Arros con Pollo (Chicken adn Rice) at most meals. The only thing I disliked was the music, which must be geared at a slightly older audience (I am 32). It was all 70's "Middle of the Road" (MOR for the radio-programming knowledgable) stuff like the Starland Vocal Band ("Afternoon Delight"), The Pina Colada Song, Tom Jones and other mellow stuff like that. I was astonished when the DJ finally came on to say this was Classic Rock. The closest it came to rock was Hall and Oates' "Maneater"! I heard the same dreck at a couple other restaurants down Gringo Gulch.

Thursday night (the 20th) I can't quite remember what I did. I assume I probably gambled at the Horseshoe (diagonal from the Del Rey), because I seemed to end up playing Video Poker and then their version of Blackjack (Rummy) nearly every night. The Video Poker is very cheap (min. 25 colones = .07) and the table has a 500 colones minimum ($1.30). In all I pertty much broke even gambling.

Friday I explored downtown quite a bit and worked on my Spanish. I had taken two classes at a JC a couple of years before and listened to the first 4 Pimsleur language tapes before I left, so I wasn't too good, but I always managed to get my point across. That evening, back at the Horseshoe, I met up with an ex-pat from Canada who told me alot about the country. After we gambled for a while, we went over to the Del Rey and picked up a couple of chicks. His a spinner from Colombia and mine a Tica with a nice rack and lips with golden curly hair named Gabby. At can't remember actually how I picked her up at Del Rey, but we quickly headed to Key Largo. There we danced a bit, I showed my date some swing moves, and we decided to play pool. Gabby had never played, but the Columbian was a shark! She showed her how to play more than I, and I think my standoffishness (allowing the other chica to show her how to play instead of I) was a negative. We played about three games and I took Gabby back to the Presidente.

Checking her in was very easy, but the sexo was less than desired. We hadn't settled on a price beforehand and the 50 bucks I had was none too appealing. No BJ, no DATY, a lot of talk about her two banned wordren (though no obvious body marks), some vibrator play, and some uninspired sex. In fact, probably due to my medication, I couldn't get off and she was really disturbed by that. We got to the room at 3:30 am and by 4:30 she was hysterical about getting back to her babies. I let her go with the vibe and the 50 bucks.

I slept most of Saturday but managed to get over to Arte Sauna around 5pm. Here I made a very bad decision. I was buzzed in and was obviously very green. The manager told me $40 firm and then a little, fat Tica showed me around. Without hardly looking at the eight other girls there, I took the Tica and went in for the massage. It was poor, she was badly scarred, everything was covered, she didn't know any english, and I didn't get off. The best part was the steam room, where I really relaxed. Unfortunatly my chica wasn't into doing anything in there. The shower was a trickle. Very sad experience.

I then went to the Park Hotel. It was about 6pm, a few hours before the big show. I found the place really rank. It had a nasty smell and really nasty women who hung on me and kept ordering drinks and chips (on me, of course), I would have liked to stay for the show, but the women who were all over me really repelled me and I left. I'll have to see the show some other time.

I headed to the Del Ray and met a beautiful Panamanian named Sarah. She was incredibly fine and her little sister was "the bomb" as well. Unfortunately, both had very poor eniglish. Sarah was extremely effectionate but certainly all about the business. Another norteamericano came up and offered her a c-note. She told me she wanted to be with me but I stepped aside. She told me to wait a couple hours but I don't want to *know* I'm taking seconds even if I am, so I left.

More gambing at the Horseshoe (stop the madness!) and I end up at the Del Rey about 3:30am. There I meet a nice girl who I'm sorry I can't remember her name. I take her home for abnother 50 bucks and have an uninspired session yet again. She screams about the banned words and leaves in less than an hour. Despite, it all she was quite nice and I wish I could remember her name. I was so tired and drunk at the time I'm not suprised it went so poorly.

Sunday I took a six-hour walk around San Jose and had a great time. I learned a lot about the area and no matter how far I got from 'Gringo Gulch' I never felt uncomfortable at all and loved looking at 'real' Tica life. At one point I stumbled on a high school band playing classical pieces for a couple dozen locals. These are quality people and I enjoyed spending time with them.

Sunday night I was badly buned from my experience. I'm very light-skinned, and stupidly did not take a hat or sunscreen on my walk, so I just crashed when I returned to my room. I managed to watch the Grammy Awards on TV. Norah Jones-- she's good, but come on! And what the hell did Johnny Mathis and Avril Lavigne have in common?

Monday I want to Volvano Avenal. It was a wonderful trip set up by Francisco in the Presidente lobby. We had lunch at a mountain restaurant and proceded to the Tqabacon resort, which is a hot springs at the base of the volcano. We also had dinner there and I loved every minute of it. Well worth the $75.

That night I returned to the Del Rey and immediately
was claimed by Sarah the Panamanian. She again was very gregarious and had her foxy little sister in tow. At one point when Sarah went to the bathroom, her sister asked if I wanted both of them and damned if I shouldn't have bit because she was so f-in hot. But I declined and she went off to the next guy as soon as Sarah returned for her seat.

Photos: Sarah

01 02 03 04 05

Sarah and I agreed to 30,000 colones (about $80) and returned to the Presidente. I showered and then took some pictures of her. She is beautiful. Unfortunately, she wouldn't expose her breasts. She had a little one and proved it by squirting leche in my face.She agreed to BBBJ which was great and I stopped her right before climax and began missonary. I turned her around and finally climaxed doggy-style. After so many disasters I was overjoyed and jumped up and down like an Olympic medal winner. She laughed at that and stayted with me about 20 more minutes. During the visit, great DFK but I was annoyed by several things. First, she claimed I offered her 35,000 colones instead of 30,000, she wouldn't expose her delightful little breasts, she told me she would stay all night (which I guess she probably would have if I didn't leave the money on the dresser), and she wouldn't shower with me. But overall a came and enjoyed the experience. It was well worth it .

Tuesday I enjoyed the Presidente breakfast spread and hopped on my plane. There was an annoying hippie-girl and Israeli across from me (she knew all about SF and would not stop talking for about four hours and both were indignant to the nice TACA flight attendent who had the *audacity* to offer them meat when they were vegetarian and kosher, respectively -- don't they know they have to tell the airline beforehand?) but otherwise it was a fine flight. Unfortunately, they lost almost everyone's luggage and I received my bag at my home four days later.

All in all, I made a lot of rookie mistakes, but it does not stop me from going again as soon as possible.

All advice is welcome.

--Loafie

Sounds like you had more time sightseeing than with the chicas there. I'm sure I'll hit Costa Rica sometime. It's too easy of a trip not to go. I'm also sure it can't compare to South America but I'm still curious to see what the action is like there.

Thanks for the good detailed report.

Godfather,

Just got back from San Jose yesterday. I wasn't planning on going but a buddy was down there. I had not been down there in a while, and I would have to say that my Spanish it about twice as good as my Portugese. So I thought what the heck.

Well, I was disappointed. I hit IDEM multiple times, and it was OK, but now that I've been to a terma, I think I am spoiled. My expectations have become too high. And then the Blue Marlin. It's just such a hustle. Help is more of a party and more fun.

BTW, I'm thinking about dropping in for the July 4 festivities. Will they be in SP?

BT

Hey BT. Thanks for the update. I'm sure nothing can really compare to Rio and their wonderful termas. I really make an effort not to compare places too much. I've been on so many trips the past year all over the world and each city has it's own flavor but I manage to have fun in each city.

I'd love to hook up with you July 4th weekend. Right now it's a 50/50% between Sao Paulo and Cuba. So far it's Kick Stand, Seaman, UWPhoto and myself that will all meet somewhere that weekend. We'd love to add you to the crew. I think we'd have a great time. It's great because July 4th this year is on a Friday so it will make for a nice weekend.

Good luck.

Hi GF,

I'm hoping that they trip will be in Sao Paolo, because I am planning a 3 week trip in June to BA, Rio and then end up in SP to meet you guys.

I have not visited BA. I will also be in Rio Apr 16 - May 02. Will either you or UW be in BA during that time. Maybe I'll pop in to see what's up.

BT

You will like Buenos Aires but I'll warn you it is 100% different than Rio. You gotta find action. In Rio.. action finds you. But you'll find the city is much nicer, the people more sophisticated and friendly, nicer restaurants, etc.

There are plenty of girls in the clubs and internet. Also are plenty of houses you can pull girls out of. We'll talk before you go and I can give you specific places to go. Stay in Recoleta..that is the nicest, safest part of town.

I'll be in Buenos Aires May 15- 26th so looks like I'll just miss you. UWPhoto and I will be in Cancun the last week in April with our Rio garotas. I hope we can finally meet.

I've been to BA many many times but never for the hobby. So I am familiar with the quality of living, etc. I do need help because it seems like the women are more of a chase than in Rio.

Have fun in Cancun. I haven't been there in years! Of course, I'll be in Rio for a few weeks. There's a good chance I may not return. HAHA. If that's the case, I'll definitely hop down to Rio for a week or so.

BT

Hey, just a note on Sarah and her sister Ariel. I've been told Ariel STOLE $500 from a gringo. She was caught before she left the building, but AVOID her. It's hard, because she's really cute. Remember, Sarah and Ariel from Panama -- avoid! Or take a chance with Sarah -- she gives great head.

Admin: Pictures of Sarah added to report