Here is a short report based on my visit to San Jose with a buddy from 8-3 to 8-11.

1. New Fantasy. Still closed.

2. Zona Blue. At 11:00 a.m. there were only two girls who were not with customers, so we took them. 25,000 colones for good service. My buddy says BBBJTC.

3. Farol Rojo. New place and looks nice. Corner of Avenida 9 and Calle 1. Quoted 10,000 colones and went there 3 times. But there were not many girls and those that were there were 5’s and 6’s, so we did not stay any of the 3 times.

4. Oasis Massage. Easy to find across from Machu Piccu Restaurante on Calle 32. Went at 10:30 a.m. on Monday morning. $6 cab fare round trip. This is a busy time for this place and there were only 4 girls. 6 were busy, the manager said. 10,000 colones. We did not stay.

5. Bar Idem. Good selection at 3:30 p.m. 18,000 colones. Went 3 times and had a good experience each time. Ana from Nicaragua and Erica, a Tica, were both very good.

6. Eros. Across the street from Idem. At 3:30 p.m. 4 girls, two were maybe 7’s, so we went to Idem.

7. Blue Marlin. I was never was quoted less than $100 and they would not negotiate. Several 8’s and 9’s and one or two 10’s were observed in 7 days. I did not partake because the experience at Bar Idem was so good at about ½ the price. My buddy was quoted $100 by a Columbiana, which he questioned. She immediately dropped to $80. He accepted and had a good time.

8. Exit tax. I got this info from one of these boards and I can’t remember which, but the advice is so good I think it is worth repeating. Take your passport and pay the $26 exit tax downtown and avoid the long lines at the airport. The Banc Credito is at the corner of Avenida 4 and Calle 2. Walk out of the Hotel Presidente and turn left onto Avenida Central. Walk past the clock tower 2 blocks to Calle Central but there is no street sign there. Turn left and walk 2 blocks to Avenida 4 and cross it. Just before Avenida 4, a church will be on your left and a park on your right. Turn right and walk to the end of the block and you are there. Go down the steps and bear right and you see cashiers. Cashier 2 is exclusively for exit tax but there is no line. You must have your passport with you. There were at least 50 in line at the airport when I got there at 5:00 a.m.

All in all, an enjoyable trip. No photos except butterflies.

That's great information about paying the exit tax at Banc Credito instead of the airport day-of-departure.

You would think these countries would come up with ways to collect your money quicker - and not have your last memory of the place be waiting for an hour to PAY to leave.

Thailand has self-service machines that work very efficiently, no reason every other country can't do that.

Colombia is totally fucked-up. You stand in one line to get a stamp so that when you stand in the other line, you ONLY pay $26. Oh, unless you fly with American, they include the departure tax in the ticket.

Again, great info for those go to CR - the lines for paying the tax in the early morning at the airport are to be avoided at all costs.

WS