Leaving Pacifico

The Trek from Playas del Coco, Costa Rica to Bozeman, Montana ….Twenty Dozen (Get it…2012)

Our Pacifico Beach Club

After living in Costa Rica from early November 2011 through early May, 2012, the time had finally come to leave it all behind and begin our journey back to the USA and our trek from South Florida to the North West corner of the good ole United States of America.  Yes, it was slightly sad to be leaving Costa Rican friends as well as our gorgeous surroundings at Pacifico and our beautiful Pacifico Beach Club but the anticipation of reuniting with old friends and family members whom we had not seen for many months far outweighed the any regrets about leaving Playas del Coco for a few months.  You can check out condo details at http://www.allcostaricarentals.com/pacifico-lifestyle-1313

Our "Front Yard"

Of course, preparing for our departure from our condo at Pacifico became about the same level of difficulty as scaling Mt. Everest in a straight jacket.  First there was the dubiously brilliant decision to remove the bedroom carpet in favor of tile and then paint our bedroom and bath during that final week in residence.  The flooring portion of this episode went fine after 8 trips to the city of Liberia 30 miles away to acquire the materials, then a few more trips to acquire the correct materials.  But the painting…well, not so fine.  With inferior tools and poor quality paint (poor quality paint and tools were our only option), the job became infinitely more challenging than winning the US Open Golf Championship at Augusta.

Add to that the saga of the car inspection whereupon it became clear that it would be simpler just to drive it into the Pacific Ocean where it could become a reef to shelter giant grouper and red snappers.  You see, one of the many trials and tribulations of life in Costa Rica is that your car must be inspected in a certain month, which in our case was, of course, a month when we would not be in the country.  Then there was the rock which chipped our windshield which would have to be replaced before the inspection could be done.  With only days left for us to remain in Costa Rica, it was apparent that our problem was basically insurmountable.  Or to put it another way…we were screwed.

With only a couple of days left before departing the condo our dear friends, Macha and Sary,  in San Jose called and insisted we bring our car to them, leave it in the underground parking garage at their hotel while we’re away and they would get the windshield fixed and the inspection completed in our absence.  Proof positive that angels do exist!

Only in Costa Rica

OK, I know we've been here in Playas del Coco for nearly six months and I've been ridiculously remiss in furthering my musings about life here, but, the fact is, I've become infected with the Costa Rican Way.  Which is to say...."manana".....literally meaning "tomorrow", however, in pratice meaning: "not today".

Nevertheless, as we wind down for our return to the USA and a summer of cross country travels, I wanted to submit the following, brief look at what I believe typifies true Costa Rican proficiency.  It starts with massive preparation for the first annual Coco Beach Brawl, a boxing ring like promotion by professional and amateur fighters who use fists, feet, elbows and heads as weapons in an effort to break bones and extract blood from their opponents.  

Promotion of the big event is handled by distribution of colorful fliers throughout the area and on the internet.

Security for the event is actually the topic at hand and the following photo (please study it carefully) documents "the Costa Rican Way".

Pictured here are the 3 special security guards hired for the long awaited Coco Beach Brawl.   The officers shown here were brought in from San Jose and are considered to be some of the best and brightest on the security guard landscape.  They are being featured here because they are a testament to the skills developed through Costa Rican training and the depth of thought that prevails throughout the country.  

One has to wonder why the guy in the middle has his rifle aimed directly at the head of the guy on the right.  And, why does the guy on the right have his gun stashed in his pants aiming directly at his, er...ah..., shall we say, private parts.  Is he being forced to blow his balls off by the guy in the middle?  Or, is the guy in the middle threatening him in an effort to stop a suicide by castration.  This would be the more likely scenario as it is a sterling example of the Costa Rican way of thinking.  The way to stop a guy from killing himself is.....well...... you threaten to kill him.  

But, of course, this says nothing about the guy on the left.  You will note, his gun is holstered. Some might even say...properly.   However, his trickery fails to go unnoticed for we have good information that he is holding a large knife behind his back which is his way of keeping both of the other guys in line and making each of them afraid to pull the triggers on their guns, thus disproving the long standing wisdom that one should never take a knife to a gunfight.  Welcome to Costa Rica amigos!!!

Life's a Beach in Costa Rica

It's mid-January in Costa and the main activity is heading to one of the zillions of beaches lining the Pacific Coast. Although often hard to decide which beach to hit, there is no danger that once you're there, you'll wish you had chosen a different one!

Following are a few photos from recent trips to Playa Zapotilla and Playa Pinca.  Both offer strips of creamy sand and volcanic rock formations which make for some great snorkeling.  With scenery like this, any words to accompany the photos just get in the way.  So this is where I'll stop yakking and you can start viewing. Pura Vida!!!