Mrs GWN and I decided well over a year ago to quit waiting and plan a Lifetime adventure for ourselves and many possible exotic destinations came up. We looked into Java, Fiji, Tahiti and several South Pacific vacation spots and after seeing pictures of Costa Rica posted by Scooby, (neither of us having been anywhere even close) we came to the decision to look into it.
I PMd Scooby asking for local knowledge of things for us to see and do in that beautiful country, plus I specifically asked for a recommendation on where we might stay, somewhere not touristy ~ off the beaten path so to speak that wouldnt break the bank.
He gave me an honest assessment of the usual vacation spots in the country, but then floored us with if you are looking for the opposite of the drunk college crowd you are more than welcome to stay at my house. I have to say at first I was really apprehensive and taken aback at the generosity of the offer (wed never met IRL or even spoken on the phone).
I remember thinking the usual negative shit like kidnapping, forced into being Coke mules, having our kidneys (or worse yet my ponytail) sold on the black market and the like, but after more research and subsequent PMs Momma and I decided to throw caution into the wind & booked tickets for the 5000 plus mile journey south from Alaska to a latitude lower than either of us had ever been (we went from 58 to 8 degrees !).
Preparations began months ago with much research on my part and immunizations and then some more immunizations (to make sure).
Passports were next on the list as were just a couple more shots only because I think the nurse just liked poking us !
Departure day finally arrived & were grinning like a couple of grade-schoolers at recess when we finally boarded our late flight as during our departure the snow and high winds threatened to shut down our small airport. But after two long days of travel (each direction involved 5 planes), we arrived in the small coastal town and Scooby was at the tiny runway to greet us and take us to the house.
The house itself is a stunning colonial style 4br masterpiece that is placed in an impeccably manicured botanical garden that just begs to be photographed. Add that to the constant parade of some of the most beautiful birds you can imagine. Scarlet Macaws, Chestnut mandibled Toucans, King vultures a dozen specie of parrots and then the hundreds of parakeets. Flycatchers, humming birds wood peckers, and a bazillion other birds Ive never seen before vied for my attention (read camera) before flitting out of view.
I believe I may just be the King of bird ass shots. Lol.
Our host departed on business the next day leaving us in the remarkable hands of the home staff. We literally had nothing to do except drink (Hey, its hot down here for an Alaskan boy & Imperial beer tastes pretty good with limon @ 8:00 am) and lay about the pool or explore the private gated compound. Traveling through foreign countries with weed is something Im not prepared to do and this was solved handily as a beautifully cured ½ oz or so appeared and stayed filled throughout our visit and proved ample plus some for our needs.
Meals were fabulous, we were not allowed to assist in anything, and calling the Caretaker a Central American Chef would be a serious demotion. That man is gracious to a fault with an unbelievable sense of humor and he literally would not let us out of his sight when we took forays into town.
We like him and his family. (Mouy-Grande understatement).
Scooby returned several days later and we were treated to a day of Offshore fishing that was simply spectacular 6 beautiful Dorado in the 30-40 lb range (we kept 4 to eat and share), 6 sailfish released, my best went 220 according to those on the boat in the know, which was most everyone except the Mrs. and myself. The grand finale was a beautiful 350 lb Blue Marlin that put on a great show jumping and tail-walking before finally trying to slug it out down deep.
Once she was worked back to the surface, Scoob put on his gear & got into the water with her. She was pretty tired by this time and he was able to work himself close enough on the leader (shes still jumping halfheartedly mind you) and finally with a swipe of the knife she swam free.
Long and the short of the situation is that we quickly became friends with a common interest in fishing, weed and the outdoors is he brash? You bet.
Is he self confident to a fault? No doubt.
Is he fake ? Not a chance the dude has heart and never once made us feel like we were anything less than long lost best friends.
Ill post more pics as I get through them we literally took thousands.
And no negativity in this thread please Id prefer the shit-talking stayed in politics.
Thanks for sharing our biggest adventure to date, and a huge thanks Scooby for helping it happen.
More pics to follow.
I PMd Scooby asking for local knowledge of things for us to see and do in that beautiful country, plus I specifically asked for a recommendation on where we might stay, somewhere not touristy ~ off the beaten path so to speak that wouldnt break the bank.
He gave me an honest assessment of the usual vacation spots in the country, but then floored us with if you are looking for the opposite of the drunk college crowd you are more than welcome to stay at my house. I have to say at first I was really apprehensive and taken aback at the generosity of the offer (wed never met IRL or even spoken on the phone).
I remember thinking the usual negative shit like kidnapping, forced into being Coke mules, having our kidneys (or worse yet my ponytail) sold on the black market and the like, but after more research and subsequent PMs Momma and I decided to throw caution into the wind & booked tickets for the 5000 plus mile journey south from Alaska to a latitude lower than either of us had ever been (we went from 58 to 8 degrees !).
Preparations began months ago with much research on my part and immunizations and then some more immunizations (to make sure).
Passports were next on the list as were just a couple more shots only because I think the nurse just liked poking us !
Departure day finally arrived & were grinning like a couple of grade-schoolers at recess when we finally boarded our late flight as during our departure the snow and high winds threatened to shut down our small airport. But after two long days of travel (each direction involved 5 planes), we arrived in the small coastal town and Scooby was at the tiny runway to greet us and take us to the house.
The house itself is a stunning colonial style 4br masterpiece that is placed in an impeccably manicured botanical garden that just begs to be photographed. Add that to the constant parade of some of the most beautiful birds you can imagine. Scarlet Macaws, Chestnut mandibled Toucans, King vultures a dozen specie of parrots and then the hundreds of parakeets. Flycatchers, humming birds wood peckers, and a bazillion other birds Ive never seen before vied for my attention (read camera) before flitting out of view.
I believe I may just be the King of bird ass shots. Lol.
Our host departed on business the next day leaving us in the remarkable hands of the home staff. We literally had nothing to do except drink (Hey, its hot down here for an Alaskan boy & Imperial beer tastes pretty good with limon @ 8:00 am) and lay about the pool or explore the private gated compound. Traveling through foreign countries with weed is something Im not prepared to do and this was solved handily as a beautifully cured ½ oz or so appeared and stayed filled throughout our visit and proved ample plus some for our needs.
Meals were fabulous, we were not allowed to assist in anything, and calling the Caretaker a Central American Chef would be a serious demotion. That man is gracious to a fault with an unbelievable sense of humor and he literally would not let us out of his sight when we took forays into town.
We like him and his family. (Mouy-Grande understatement).
Scooby returned several days later and we were treated to a day of Offshore fishing that was simply spectacular 6 beautiful Dorado in the 30-40 lb range (we kept 4 to eat and share), 6 sailfish released, my best went 220 according to those on the boat in the know, which was most everyone except the Mrs. and myself. The grand finale was a beautiful 350 lb Blue Marlin that put on a great show jumping and tail-walking before finally trying to slug it out down deep.
Once she was worked back to the surface, Scoob put on his gear & got into the water with her. She was pretty tired by this time and he was able to work himself close enough on the leader (shes still jumping halfheartedly mind you) and finally with a swipe of the knife she swam free.
Long and the short of the situation is that we quickly became friends with a common interest in fishing, weed and the outdoors is he brash? You bet.
Is he self confident to a fault? No doubt.
Is he fake ? Not a chance the dude has heart and never once made us feel like we were anything less than long lost best friends.
Ill post more pics as I get through them we literally took thousands.
And no negativity in this thread please Id prefer the shit-talking stayed in politics.
Thanks for sharing our biggest adventure to date, and a huge thanks Scooby for helping it happen.
More pics to follow.
