Dallas, Texas, the largest city in the United States without a navigable waterway to the ocean has a strong connection to Costa Rica Nature Conservatory. Costa Rica has long been attached to the developers and entrepreneurs of Texas. The Ticos as they are called by their own selves in Costa Rica owe their banks, railroads, plantations of all types and an ever growing population of gringo property owners from Texas to the Lone Star state that quietly remains friendly to them in spite of their often tragic way of treating us.
Beyond any judgments of whether we should harbor this amity we continue to foster a brotherhood across the gap of water that separates us from the quickest route although we could eventually alight on their precious beaches by hiking ten thousand miles of coastline from the Gulf of Mexico starting in Houston which by the way connects with the Trinity River here in Dallas which could theoretically transport at least a small boat all the way their.
Following are some choice pictures from our continuing education of the worlds jewels which are both natural to us and unnatural until we are accustomed to them.
HoopnosisCostaRica recycles plastic into fun hula hoops to help the earth and the people she is home to.
Common Star spider orb weaver is a short live garden spider that is harmless to humans and beneficial for the environment. Insecticides and poisons are unnecessary for pest control if we Learn, Love, Conserve
The common star spider orb weaver is a short-lived garden inhabitant that poses no threat to humans in any way. If it were to even accidentally pinch you with its tiny fangs the venom is non toxic to humans and painless.
star spider spinnerets view
Female star spider orb weaver is a very evolved albeit short-lived spider
Nature has marvelous ways of creating a beautiful and balanced environment for us without the aid of poisons to exterminate anything at all. Lets try to Learn, Love, Conserve.
When we Free our minds of fear we free our world of poisons that kill innocent creatures that makeup the Web of life we all are a part of.
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 Ricahttp://www.costaricajourneys.com/whale-watching/
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.
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.
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
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.
Conservation is a term many leave for institutions and agencies yet true conservation works best when it starts at home.
If you have ideas related to how you conserve please fell free to share them with this readership.
Thank you for your conscientiousness. Together we can all bring the dream of a healthy planet and society into reality.
Live, Learn, Conserve. cordially Capt. Richard Barone
Dallas, Texas, the largest city in the United States without a navigable waterway to the ocean has a strong connection to Costa Rica Nature Conservatory. Costa Rica has long been attached to the developers and entrepreneurs of Texas. The Ticos as they are called by their own selves in Costa Rica owe their banks, railroads, plantations of all types and an ever growing population of gringo property owners from Texas to the Lone Star state that quietly remains friendly to them in spite of their often tragic way of treating us.
Costa Rica Nature Conservatory 