Costa Rica

In mid April of 2011, two farm boys travel to Costa Rica. One has a
broken foot, one will be repeatedly mistaken for a member of MS13.



We have a celebratory overpriced drink at the airport before we board.
The difference between my brother and I can be summed up with this photo.



Upgraded airline seats, wheel chair service, almost makes the
broken foot worth it.



The first view as we drive towards the coast.



Passenger side.




Drinking contest at Jaco Beach, 2:7



This is the view pretty much every night.





Spiking the coconut.




Our diet mainly consisted of...



Sitting on the beach and watching my brother swim was only so
much fun. I decided to take action.

Swiss Army cast removal.



A few of the things we encountered, Monkeys, Crabs, Palm Trees.



Are you sure the white end of the compass is north? Uhmmmmm.
Good news, we figured out how to use a compass.



One of the more civilized meals we had. Fried fish with head and eye balls.



La Playa Esterillo.



Rental car: Check, Insurance: Check. River to drive through: Check.
This was one of the more shallow rivers we had to cross.



This is a legitimate road between Caletas and Santa Teresa.



Campsite at Playa Hermosa, the morning after a torrential downpour.
Quote heard in the early morning hours: "Dude, I'm abandoning ship!"



All boys from Ferndale grow up driving on the beach, a good thing.
This was the road to Malpais, tide permitting. We learned from our dad
that you must keep your speed up at all costs, but more importantly, a
cold beer must be between your legs.



This guy stopped by for a while. We named him...Carl.



When we found an actual store, we stocked up on supplies.
As his friends and family will note, Matt didn't stray much from
his usual cuisine.



But something does taste a little better about a taco that is cooked
over an open fire under the canopy of a rain forest while being
stalked by a family of monkeys.



We make our way north, I love this house.



Lots of earth tones. Costa Ricans are seriously stylish.



We go from banging coconuts against rocks, to the extravagant
comforts of the RUI Guanacaste Resort where our family is staying;
buffet lines, free drinks, reggaeton blaring 24 hours a day.
The contrast is jarring.



But Uncle Bob is there to assist in the transition with dirty jokes
Halelujah! Good times are instantly upon us.



In the grand tradition of Walker men, Lil' Pooter is shaping up to
be quite entertaining.


Trash Talk.


Justin, Shannon, Karen, Bob. Truly, a beautiful ceremony.
Congratulations!



I did have sunglasses too, yes, but they made me look
like a cross between Rainman and Iceman. Not Good.



A view from our final camp site on Playa Ocotal.



And finally, some sleep.