Costa Rica, November 2004

Last November, Neil's brother Ray got married down in Costa Rica, where their mom usually lives. (I say usually because she also has a house stateside, and travels to see friends/family a lot.) Luckilly, I had vacation built up, and was able to spend a wonderful two and a half weeks with Neil's family and friends down in Costa Rica. Talk about a great trip! I only wish I had more pictures!

The day after the wedding, it had been arranged for a group of at least 10 of us to go out on this yacht. The bride, her parents and step-parents, the groom, his friends, her kids, Mum, her friends, a few local friends, Neil and I. One of the beaches we stopped at had white and black sand, that created interesting patterns on the ground. Every wave changed the pattern, form, shape, and texture. I couldn't resist taking this picutre.

This is the yacht we were all on. The little pontoon on the right and the rope the anchor is attached to come into play with this next picture, and at the same beach...

You can just barely see Neil and one of the other guys on the other side... Yes, you are right, this is a cave. The cave went straight through the penninsula. The yacht guides said "Don't go in the cave when the tide is coming in. You might get stuck on the other side." Well, beer was involved, and a few of the guys decided it didn't look so dangerous after all. Funny thing was, the tide was coming in. (Okay, its not funny at all.)

The first two over realized half way through the cave that it was not their best idea. As soon as they got over, a couple of other guys thought the first two were yelling for more beer. ( Apparently, 'stay there' sounds a lot like 'Bring Beer!' when you've been drinking the said beverage.) Each guy that went over realized half way through the cave that it was a bad idaea, but no one could get back through. Soon enough, five guys were stuck on the other side of the penninsula.

Now this was no ordinary penninsula. The cave, as you can see, is solid rock. So were the walls and the area the guys were now stuck in. There was a little outcrop they were able to sit or stand on, but no beach. Two of them decided to scale the straight rock wall, while the others decided to swim around the penninsula. One made it over the top, and the other got stuck. So, they pulled the rope off of the anchor, ran up the hill, tossed it down to him, and prayed he didn't fall. He didn't, but he did lose his wedding ring within 24 hours of saying "I do."

While the captain was at the top of the cliff trying to rescue Neil's brother, the men from his boat took the pontoon around to the other side of the penninsula and picked up the swimmers. Long story short, everyone made it home safe, and everyone else was glad no one got hurt.

Moral to the story- don't mix beer, tides and testosterone.

Geckos are everywhere (literally) at night in Playa de Coco.

I was lucky enough to be able to play at Hacienda Pinilla Golf Course in the Guanacaste Region, with Neil's mom, her best friend, and Neil. I won't tell you what I shot, but I will tell you I had fun.