looks like im headed to costa rica

PS... Another classic example

Was having a break in a fairly upmarket resort and sitting at a table at the poolside. There were a group of US guys at the next table...

Anyways... one moves over and starts to chat. During this time I noticed a fairly expensive bracelet he was wearing which would cost about... dunno exactly, but in the region of $12K-$18K ish. He asks "Do you like it?". Not into stupid bracelets, but said "Yes, looks nice". Next is, "You want it? I've got more at home" That was big flashing red neon lights *lol* People don't select personal stuff like that and give it away.

Anyways... never took up his kind offer but monitored him via some people we knew. He then wants to buy a home from a friend. Fine.. that's his biz. But warned the friend to check the transaction and make sure the funds were there before he transferred the property. That appeared to go OK and the deal was done.

Then we got stories of him and his friends flying here almost every week from the US - for no apparent reason. Duh? It did not take a blind man to know what they were doing - money movements of up to $10K on every trip.

Eventually the shit hit the fan and the owner of the estate where he had a home was getting very pissed with his conduct - but amazingly tolerant. On one occasion he elected to drive his car thru the community entry barriers past the security staff and smashed the gates to bits. OK.. no biggie - up goes more barriers. But, then he tried to get the estate staff to deliver a package to someone. (they were innocent in all of this). Something went wrong after the package was delivered and this idiot went out and stabbed the recipient (tho he was OK). Turns out it's yet another stupid drugs deal - and he was shipped back by US Marshal flight to the US.

The naivety of some of these people is awesome - they are clueless and walk straight into problems. Even when we do any property deals now, don't care who it is, we want a full explanation of the source of funds and something to support that source of funds. It may appear "nosy", but can't afford to have drug-dealing investors around - they are too much of a liability.

Yep.. there are some areas where the wildlife "know" and they will visit and take whatever food you offer. But.. still got to watch they don't bitch with each other - a monkey bite can be kinda painful if it gets it's teeth into you

This is our former crazy neighbor Bob. He is a 70 year old man who comes down here for 6 months out of the year to fuck 18 year old whores.

This was taken out at Flamingo Beach, CR.



Jim

Nice pic jimb And a safe monkey

I dunno about the armed guards.. but when I was looking at houses there seems if they are on a Gringo farm then each house doesn't have a security fence but the whole place does and will typically have a guard at the gate.

If the house isn't on a gringo farm then it's likely to be fully gated. like this one http://www.forsalebyownercostarica.c...2&type=listing for instance.

At first I kinda liked the idea of the gates for privacy, then after looking at a lot of different places online and so on I started looking into the crime. I can't say how bad it is there because I don't live there, but it sure seems to be on the rise from what I've read. That and I can't see the need for fences like those on so many houses for no reason.

The monkey is a pet actually, its pretty well trained too. We were told the story of how this monkey will steal cans of beer, use its thumb to push down the hole in the top of the can and drink it

Jim

I live in a place where we have gates around the entire complex (then individual homes inside the complex). The crime rate in Rohrmoser/Pavas where we live is virtually non-existant. You find higher crime areas in downtown San Jose or the less affluent areas. I take walks all the time at 2:00 am in the morning right now Pavas (same street the US Embassy is located) and never have had a problem.

I believe the reason for the rise in crime is due to the massive rise in immigrants to this country. As the number of people moving/vacation in CR rises, the crime rate will obviously raise. You won't be a victim if you just make good decisions about how you live down here. I can assure you of this, be smart about your actions and you will never run into problems.

Jim

Ah.. got ya!

Very first monkey I held was a capuchin - they are amazingly light and gentle. This one was much the same - a biologist had rescued it when it's mother was killed by a car, so very friendly, but could never survive in it's normal habitat after that.

Yea I'm sure that's true and I kind of figure houses away from the city likely don't have the same needs for the security fences and so on. It just seemed odd to me so many of them have the iron gates like that, so it made me start looking into crime and so on.

I can't say CR is totally off the books for me but for now I'll be going to Curacao probably in July from the looks of things. Curacao just seems like the better option at this point.

It's much the same 15 mins from you in Escazu Jim - not much happens, apart from the odd petty theft.

Damn.. take that back! *lol* Kinda unknown for this area, but walked straight into a group of armed/masked officers (OIJ) a couple of months back. Was on the way back from Osa and took a cab from the airport. Drove up to the entrance to the house and around 5 TV crews and about 25-30 reporters were standing outside - thought some serious shit had went down, like a murder.

Got inside the gate and was immediately surrounded by hooded/armed OIJ who appeared out of the corners At first thought they were robbers - not used to the law like that, but turns out some US guy living nearby was "at it" with a fraud. They sure don't mess for long - it's the usual evidence collection and kinda "instant justice" with a judge on the SOC holding an "interim court" and ensuring all evidence is collated in order.

But they were actually very OK and polite - it just appears kinda top-heavy for something like a fraud investigation, but suppose they are just covering their asses.

Yeah we are looking at houses now in escazu. I love this one in Bella Horizante, its beautiful and very large. We have been to see it a few times and its actually walking distance down to TGIF Fridays and Tony Romas. Its a brand new house, 4 bedrooms in a gated community. Pretty cheap too (for Escazu).

We were also looking into another place in Trejos, Escazu which would be walking distance to the new Walmart.

I think by the summers end we will be in Escazu somewhere!

Jim

fuck that, im moving to heredia. more girls.