Police barricaded the Jaco beach roads with a Semi-truck and a commuter bus to detain a youth motorcycle club who fled after riding around the protected Jaco beach nature area. As you can see in this HD video I shot there was a very respectful treatment on the part of the police force.
Several bikes fled the scene at high speed and were pursued.
Steel Angels MC were led through the barricade with escort. Excellent job done in my opinion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBUPsLKiXB4
Turtle conservation in Costa Rica just took a leap forward with the creation of the Garabito Police departments highly guarded egg sanctuary. Spanish interview on Soundcloud here
Jellyfish control is an important part of a turtles functions
Green turtles won’t be the only ones to benefit as the turtles are a vital part of the economy in other innovative ways such as serving as an environmental education aid. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Costa-Rica-Nature/222455703031
I have seen 8 whales today including a gorgeous female with a calf. I am editing photos to make a gif so stay tuned.
Whales are currently being sighted off Jaco beach, Herradura and Punta Leona moving south. I have seen them myself from my balcony about 200 yards offshore.
Making local news for their famous journeys http://news.co.cr/whale-watching-season-starts-in-costa-rica/24072/ these behemoths of the deep have come from as far away as Antartica for a vacation or honeymoon or maybe a bigger ritual than those every year since we remember and more, hopefully forever.!
Please remember these are wild animals that need their privacy and safety to recuperate from human pressure, keep your distance and absolutely no fishing around them of any kind.
Costa Rica holds the longest season for humpback whale watching in the world. This whale specie comes to migrate in this country whenever winter comes in the Antarctica (between August to October). Come December to April, other whales come in to Costa Rica from Antarctica to mate and nest.
There aren’t only the humpbacks to see here. Sperm whales, killer whales, pilot whales (which actually come from the family of dolphins) along with dolphins can also be sighted in Costa Rica http://www.costaricajourneys.com/whale-watching/
More pictures from Punta Leona
Observe the 1000 meter rule and use telephoto lenses particularly where calving is occurring.
This may not seem touristy but it is the ecologically responsible humans criteria that allows us ALL a time to adjust to our new, (hopefully friendly) behaviors toward each other after so many centuries hunting them down without regard to their innate citizenship.
These mystifying Giants of the marine world should be GPS tagged and declared non human citizens and watched with satellites to protect them wherever they go.
They could then earn a taxable income and pay for their own protection worldwide.
We are the ones that have to convince ourselves first that it is worth it.I know it is when I see them and my heart jumps for joy. Cordially, Capt. Richard Barone in Punta Leona
currently spotting three whales moving south along Jaco coast.
In a dramatic match between father and daughter a seven year old toppled a 30+ (34) floor Giant Jenga tower at Bubbas and El Bohio Beach Bar http://www.gogobot.com/bubbas-el-bohio-beach-bar-jaco-restaurant while waiting for dinner.
Giant Jenga tower toppler competes with dad for coveted title at Bubbas and El Bohio beach bar in Jaco
The intense father daughter match turned the usually private game into a public tournament with high stakes wagering dinner and drinks at the seaside restaurant.
Pick up your toys kids its time to eat!
Additionally, dart boards (nice bristle so bring your own darts if your a fan) pool tables, music and of course a spectacular sunset view combined with great food and company make this establishment a 5/5.
https://www.facebook.com/bohio.bubbas/photos_all
International travelers and locals from all over Costa Rica mixing congenially in Bubbas fulfill the cliche images often found but rarely experienced in travel and lifestyle magazines.
I hope you can visit sometime and when you go tell them a friend from the Web sent you.
Happy trails to you and yours, cordially Capt. Richard Barone
Jaco Surf school personel and CRUZ ROJA of Costa Rica took blazingly quick professional action to save the lives of ten teenage tourists playing in the rough surf of Jaco Beach, a world famous surf destination yesterday afternoon.
one lucky teen out of TEN waits for surfers and RED CROSS to search the high waves for their friends.
I was present to film this and will post an edited version in HD soon, for now here are a few pictures.
JACO SURF SCHOOL Owner Gustavo Castillo, Founder, Instructor, saved ten tourists from drowning at the same time
The most shocking aspect for me to witness was the ungratefulness and ignorance of the tourist group which had been warned by several other lifeguards on the beach that afternoon of the serious currents.
As is typical of drowning and near drowning events, for many of the teens present it was their first experience in the ocean. Some of the teens were in visible shock after the event as they walked off the beach while others appeared to brush the event off in denial of the near tragedy.
However for the most part the typical tourist group seemed unimpressed as did the few typical gringo bar flys present that shrugged unamused by a grateful tourist bystanders applause for the guards success and safety.
Not only did the tourists appear ungrateful but they crassly displayed their lack of social skills leaving the lifeguards, ambulance personnel and surfers without so much as a thank you, let alone an offering of a drink or lunch!
Seeing the exhaustion, fear and redness of these tourists lucky to be alive shows you how brave real beach professionals are and in what great shape they maintain not only their bodies but their environments.
CRUZ ROJA lifeguards beach transport, when you see them RESPECT, they are Professionals
These details escape many MEDIA Outlets abroad when “Costa Rica” makes “Bad” news but being here for over ten years has given me a lot more perspective.
Costa Ricas RED CROSS are VOLUNTEERS!!!! They DO NOT GET PAID for saving you or to get trained. Minutes later the RED CROSS Lifeguard was seen tooling around town on an old bmx bike, superhero humbly hidden from our view.
Gustavo Castillo and his guardian angel gcastillo@jacosurfschool.com
CRUZ ROJA LIFEGUARD posing with grateful tourist bystander
Hero Lifeguard CRUZ ROJA http://www.facebook.com/seco.herrerasamudio
I personally applaud these guardians of the sea wherever they be for life and death and friendship come and go on these waves everyday as they calmly gaze the beach waiting to be the real superheroes again in a humble unsung way.
Tourist should realize that their behaviors are connected to many other peoples lives. Who would be crying if one of our Hero Lifeguards died in the line of an unsung heroic duty?
Swimmers are clearly warned in JACO
Be a responsible tourist when at any destination local or otherwise please. One last bonus picture for those who would like to know the TEN Commandments for being a Super Hero Surfer. Thanks for following.
Lean, Love, Conserve
Ten Commandments of surfing
Costa Rica Nature Conservatory 