COSTA RICA UPDATE
Continuing in the ancient Costa Rican tradition of doing tourist things that require dorky helmets, we took an off-road ATV tour.
After three or four solid minutes of guide instruction, we mounted our ATVs ("ATV" stands for "North Atlantic Treaty Organization") and took off on a three-hour tour of the countryside, much of it off-road on extremely rough trails, which are virtually indistinguishable from the Costa Rican highway system. It was a great opportunity to really experience nature by driving past it at a high rate of kilometers. I enjoyed it immensely. I thought about quitting my job and hitting the road, just me and my ATV with the hotel towels strapped to the front with bungee cords. It was a nice fantasy, but it ended when I was forced to confront a harsh reality: I don't have a job.
Elsewhere on the nature front, we have an iguana hanging around outside our hotel room. His name (I can tell by looking at him) is Stewart. He is in the background of the picture below; in the foreground is my daughter's hand holding three of her dolls, Sugar, Honey and Horsey.
You can tell that Stewart is attracted to the dolls. But he is also wary of them. His heart has been broken too many times.
We continue to see monkeys everywhere. They work hard, and get really annoyed if you don't tip them.
Finally, here's a picture of a pair of really cool-looking birds we saw the other night during our Guided Night Walk. They were sleeping, and you could get really close without waking them up. I forget their technical name, but I remember the guide said they are the national bird of Nicaragua. I don't know what they're doing in Costa Rica. Maybe they come here on vacation, taking a break from their national-bird responsibilities. The guide said there's a kind of bat down here that eats these birds, but fortunately we did not see one. We're nervous enough about Stewart.
Of course you had an advantage over other drivers, Dave, thanks to your previous experience driving this.
I bet a cold one would have gone well with that helmet.
Posted by: Jeff Meyerson | July 17, 2008 at 07:01 AM
SSsssshhh! Don't wake the Motmots.
Posted by: CJrun | July 17, 2008 at 07:11 AM
I think you woke the birds up with that photo, Dave!
Posted by: tropichunt.com guy™ | July 17, 2008 at 07:12 AM
Bieng bungeed down, at least the frood knows where his (hotel) towel is.
Posted by: The Dread Pirate Chris | July 17, 2008 at 07:17 AM
Sugar, Honey and Horsey look like they're having a great time!
Posted by: nora | July 17, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Dave....you need some calf-high white socks to wear with those sandles. I hope the Costa Rican "fashion police" are not watching you. Of course, Stewart could be under cover.....I'd look before I go to bed.
Will you take the day off from the ATV to watch golf on TV?
Posted by: Jazzzz | July 17, 2008 at 07:41 AM
This is great! Front row seats for Dave's vacation slideshow. No charge. Almost real time sharing of the vacation highpoints. Minimal time investment. Absence of mosquitoes, heat, and jungle showers. Priceless!
Posted by: daisymae | July 17, 2008 at 07:43 AM
Where's the blue shirt?
Posted by: wiredog | July 17, 2008 at 07:57 AM
Stewart is wearing it
Posted by: Jazzzz | July 17, 2008 at 08:04 AM
does the monkey look pi$$ed off ?
Posted by: Jazzzz | July 17, 2008 at 08:06 AM
Hey Dave! Nice Jesus sandals!
*wonders how many colons Dave has left after all these
tourist trapadventures**thinks not many after the rough ride on the ATV*
Maybe Stewart can come visit MY iguana, Earl. (NTTAWWT)
Posted by: Siouxie | July 17, 2008 at 08:26 AM
Those birds look like they're bird kabobs...just sayin'
Posted by: Siouxie | July 17, 2008 at 08:31 AM
The monkey looks like, "Yeah? You wanna piece of me? I amuse you?"
Posted by: Jeff Meyerson | July 17, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Darwin was right. After several days of looking at Daves' monkeys, one can clearly see the resemblance between them and the first human - George Burns.
Posted by: Punkin | July 17, 2008 at 08:38 AM
*snork* @ Punkin!
Where's da ceegar? (psssssssst btw...my oldest daughter is in Bahstan visiting her BF)
Posted by: Siouxie | July 17, 2008 at 08:42 AM
She's got a BEEEEE YOUUU TEA FULL day!
When is Mommy coming? :)
Posted by: Punkin | July 17, 2008 at 08:43 AM
Welllllll...Mommy is going in November to see the Yale/Hahvahd game. I'll let ya know ;-)
*off to work now*
*bbiab*
Posted by: Siouxie | July 17, 2008 at 08:47 AM
wonders how many of these critters sophie is stowing away for the trip home.
Posted by: crossgirl | July 17, 2008 at 08:52 AM
long as stewart doesnt wind up in the stew..and love your outfit.
Posted by: queensbee | July 17, 2008 at 09:12 AM
apparently i have chosen (sort of) the right job, since my very FIRST reaction to viewing this post is "i have to look up the name of the bird!"
so... here:
http://www.nicaliving.com/node/4810
it's the Beautiful Guardabarrancos
Posted by: judi | July 17, 2008 at 09:31 AM
or, for those who are too lazy to cut and paste it for themselves, and would prefer to trust the random people who post here by clicking on unknown links:
here
Posted by: judi | July 17, 2008 at 09:35 AM
Once again, You are evil Judi. At least I didn't get Rickrolled again.
Posted by: Juggler of geese™ | July 17, 2008 at 09:47 AM
AKA, the Motmot (7:11)
Posted by: CJrun | July 17, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Oh judi. judi. judi.
You got me! BAD judi!
Posted by: Siouxie | July 17, 2008 at 09:50 AM
Latin name: Eumomota superciliosa
Yep, that's one supercilious-looking bird all right.
Although I can't blame it. That's the same look I have whenever the Paparazzi come barging into my bedroom taking pictures in the middle of the night. If I've told them once, I've told them a million times, I'm not Brad Pitt. I understand the confusion, and that's OK, but leave me alone already!
Posted by: JayP | July 17, 2008 at 09:55 AM
This is some trip, Dave! How many colons is this setting you back?
Posted by: Mike Antonucci | July 17, 2008 at 09:55 AM
You forgot Turquoise-browed Motmot? How you you manage not to remember a name like that?
Posted by: Elon@Rice | July 17, 2008 at 09:59 AM
Mr. Blog, I don't care what Jazzzz says. Don't you dare cover up those legs. As judi has really, really been slacking on the posting of scantily-clad men-types, your legs are about all the beefcake we're gonna' see.
Posted by: estrogen centrale | July 17, 2008 at 10:27 AM
this is way off-topic, but:
Mike Antonucci, did you go to high school in NYC?
Posted by: Braniff | July 17, 2008 at 10:27 AM
That ATV looks like it has a perfect rack in the back to hold a case of beer.
Posted by: Margaritaville | July 17, 2008 at 10:29 AM
et tu, judi?
I must admit I checked and didn't get Barry'd.
Posted by: Jeff Meyerson | July 17, 2008 at 10:42 AM
the french would call it a "bon motmot"
Posted by: insomniac | July 17, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Take away the ATV and replace it with a motorcycle and Dave could do a remake of "CHIPS".
Posted by: Dorakay | July 17, 2008 at 11:19 AM
insom,
... and would surrender immmediately to the birds.
Posted by: estrogen centrale | July 17, 2008 at 11:37 AM
that monkey looks surprisingly chassidic. maybe its the beard.
Posted by: queensbee | July 17, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Daveboy your job is entertainment! Grandkid came in the other day and found me reading History of the Millenium with my cuppa cawfee next to a DB calendar. She said, "You're just all DaveBarry-ed up, aren't you?"
LOL i thought it was hilarious!
Posted by: marina_like_a_boatdock | July 17, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Dear Braniff:
I attended Regis High School in Manhattan from 1972-76.
Posted by: Mike Antonucci | July 17, 2008 at 11:58 AM
The beak on the bird that JUDI linked is much bigger than the other Nicaraguan-Costa Rican bird. And judi? My whole office wondered why suddenly a scream eminated from my cube. That's a dirty, rotten trick, girl! (but I'm laughing) And will Mike and Braniff discover that they are long lost friends? Tune in tomorrow... or in a few minutes.
Posted by: eilbeback | July 17, 2008 at 12:35 PM
Mike A.: I had a suspicion. I was at Regis '69-'73. I see you have a web site but there's no e-mail link. How do I get in contact with you?
Posted by: Braniff | July 17, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Mike and Braniff...sitting in a tree...
b l o gg i n g
Posted by: BlogMatch.com | July 17, 2008 at 12:48 PM
and where is Motmot the Hooplehoople lately?
caption on 1st picture: "Do you know the way to San Jose?"
Posted by: insomniac | July 17, 2008 at 12:54 PM
"...took off on a three-hour tour..."
Been there, done that.
Posted by: Gilligan et al | July 17, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Braniff: E-mail on the way to you.
Posted by: Mike Antonucci | July 17, 2008 at 01:01 PM
Mike and Braniff...sitting in a tree...
b l o gg i n g
... with Bar-rrr-rrr-rrrr-rrrr-rrrr-yyyyy! UGH!
Posted by: eilbeback | July 17, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Actually, it's Mike and Mike!
Posted by: Braniff | July 17, 2008 at 01:09 PM
Looks like the Nicaraguans have been taken over by the Illuminati, too, with the "pyramid and eyeball" thing on their money AND their flag. HA!
Posted by: Clown Puppy | July 17, 2008 at 01:35 PM
I think it's the skullcap that does it, Queensbee.
For Judi's link: "hover" is not just for bathrooms!
Posted by: Richard the Weasel-Hearted | July 17, 2008 at 01:56 PM
Looks sort of like those Elvis monkeys that were in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull". They also resemebled the character that Shia LaBeouf played... And that would make them, wait for it, Mutt Monkeys....
Posted by: Kathybear | July 17, 2008 at 02:22 PM
I like the helmet.
Spaceballs flashback. I doubt if he's an a$$hole though.
Posted by: Jollymon | July 17, 2008 at 02:32 PM
So if they are Nicaraguan birds visiting Costa Rica why aren't they subjected to goofy-looking headgear?
Posted by: MartiniShark | July 17, 2008 at 02:35 PM
I understand the president of Costa Rica had a new palace built. As is the wont of those who have uncontrolled access to tax-payers' funds, he spared no expense: the locals call his new digs "Costa Plenty".
Posted by: Tony Field | July 17, 2008 at 05:46 PM
As the thumb up is given, I picture a couple of yard monkeys having access to the desk key to Dave's room. And the Blog knows full well what that means.
The Monkeys have Dave's room key AND access to the internet apparently
Posted by: lil rascal | July 17, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Can someone please tell me where the heck is the Iguana? I've been staring at the photo and can't seem to find it.
Posted by: chuck | July 18, 2008 at 09:15 AM