Living "La Vida Loca" in Costa Rica: A tale of sex, adventure and self discovery - Softcover

Chuck Green is a retired American expatriate with a history of substance abuse, gambling and failed relationships. Bored with his relatively quiet life in southern México he decides to seek out one more adventure, perhaps his last, in yet another country. On an exploratory trip to Costa Rica he discovers the world of “sex tourism”. A world of fast living, gambling, drugs, prostitution and easy sex inhabited by attractive young women trying to survive and the foreign men who seek them out. Attracted by this exciting and sometimes rather sad world Chuck closes out his life in México, relocates to Costa Rica and sets up housekeeping in the capital, San José. Immersing himself in the San José “play for pay” scene Chuck explores the bars, casinos and brothels of that city and travels to beach towns on both coasts of Costa Rica, to Colombia and to Panama in search of excitement, adventure and, more importantly, something...anything...that will provide some meaning and purpose to his life. Associating with people ranging from prostitutes and their clients to Costa Rican cabinet ministers Chuck fends off an attack by transvestites in Jacó, is robbed at gunpoint by rogue taxi drivers in San José, learns to dance the Salsa and finds himself in and out of very short term relationships with a number of young Latinas. Gradually Chuck realizes that engaging in meaningless commercial sex is no longer, at his age, a satisfying pastime and decides to put aside this “hobby” to which he had devoted so much time, energy and money over the years. After a full year of living “La Vida Loca”, the wild life, in San José he concludes that there are more “cons” than “pros” to residing in Costa Rica full time and decides to return to the United States to live for the first time in seven years. In the final chapter,” Leaving the Dream” Chuck explains in detail his reasons for reaching that decision. In a style reminiscent of Hunter S. Thompson Chuck both entertains and educates the reader of “La Vida Loca”. Although more of an intense, personal narrative of Chuck’s own experience than a pure travel guide the book is loaded with valuable guidance for any single male traveler. And it provides any man interested in foreign retirement detailed instructions for arranging his financial and personal affairs so as to live overseas with a minimum of hassle. This book presents a view of the expatriate lifestyle which is seldom seen and rarely discussed. Any guy even thinking of visiting or relocating to a Latin country will enjoy and benefit from reading “Living La Vida Loca in Costa Rica”.