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!!!