Fortuna, Costa Rica

Up in the mountains of central Costa Rica, we're staying in these cute little cabinas at Villa Vista. It's going on 8AM and nobody's stirring yet...no humans anyway, there's about 100 hummingbirds in the hedge next door.
Clouds are obscuring Mt. Arenal, which actively pukes lava. We're here for 8 days, maybe it'll clear.

I can't wait to get

On the Road Again.
After mucho form-filling and stuff, we boarded a bunch of puny Daihatsu SUVs and roared off in the wrong direction. Saved by a busload of surfers we began the 6+ hour drive to the volcano viewing town of La Fortuna. Once again the tour operators underestimated our cargo carrying needs. We'll be fine 'til we leave here in a week, but then we'll look like the Clampetts on our way back to San Jose.

On the upside... we've been reunited with our knickers and sox.

Still no luggage

Five days in-country, and still no luggage. The arrangements to have it shipped to us in Tamarindo fell apart because they want to be paid in advance, and they're in San Jose. Perfect. Maybe tell us next time while we're in SJ too. We are supposed to leave Tamarindo today for who-knows-where, and Laura can't raise the tour company to find out how and when... this is turning out super fun.PLUS the internet connection is slow, so i can't upload pix without cracking up. On the upside, I had a great birthday bash yesterday, culminating at Reggae Night at the Babylon Bar. Ask Allan about that one....

Planes, Boats and Autobuses

We were reunited with our luggage (briefly) then we shifted everything around the bags and equipment cases. We jumped through hoops to organize shipping all our stuff to the coast, then we found out that the flight would be delayed 5 hours. PLUS we couldn't fly all the way, because Tamarindo has no lights on the airstrip, so we had to bus from Liberia. We're staying at the Tropicana. Very nice. The fact that this is a tourist town is grand.. bars are open, grocery open, Laura and I ordered a soup, which advertised "topped with Lobster" what it should have said is "topped with A lobster" The soup cost a fortune, but worth every penny. Happy birthday to me.

Turtlewars

Tortugueros- The place is paradise, but they have you captive. It rained so hard we could barely believe it, the roof being made of tin, made it even louder. In the morning poor Leyde was waiting for us to go on a hike in the sodden jungle (don't hold your breath, senorita) . Everyone got the wakeup call from the Howler monkeys, then it was back in the boat to race to San Jose to meet our luggage, and get a commuter flight to Tamarindo. Enroute Laura ignored a dog, to her peril, and got chomped for her trouble. She'll live, good thing we have an RN with us in the form of Lori.

Hola Costa Rica

Then we moved into the Adventurers Inn... everything shut.. no food, no cervesa, no es happy.
We took a cab into town to buy mix and a mitt full of toothbrushes (almost nobody has any luggage) Nice place, but we moved out at 6AM... to head to the town of Tortuguerros. Bus, then boat.

The first exhausted days

When we arrived in Costa Rica, after a looooooooong set of connections involving Robin coming in from Toronto via Cleveland and Houston, and the Stewarts coming via Chicago and Houston... the tour organizers failed to pick us up at the airport. At least i had a seat on the flight... Minneapolis almost routed me alone via Newark.

Boy, howdy we have some fun

So, Continental airlines, managed to separate us from our luggage. Even though both flights were delayed, and we spent all Christmas day hanging out in various American airports… our luggage didn’t catch up with us for two days. Unfortunately, the guys who booked this deal, thought we could take an internal flight with under 25 lbs. of luggage each. Our tv gear alone weighs more than that, so it took some serious rearranging.

SRWTwear Ahoy !

The latest wave or SRWTwear is about to be unleashed on the unsuspecting people of Costa Rica.
We'll spend all day Christmas, in Minneapolis, Houston, etc.
At least it's in the early going.

Bodies

Most of us ran in the other direction when we saw the price,
but the kids, (all of them including Roger) took in "Bodies"
at the Mandalay. Very educational, so they say.

Home safe

Travelling from Noon mountain time to 1AM CST.
We still managed to have some fun.
More later.

Fantasy, indeed.

The Picante women really enjoyed the "Fantasy" topless show. Great standup comedy, dancing, singing and a pile o' showgirls. Allan and I enjoyed it as well.

Which way to the Elvis chapel ?

I think someone said that Las Vegas is for lovers.
It's a good place for a Christmas party,
that's for sure.
Thanks Laura !

At the Mix

We went to the burlesque bar in the basement of the Mandalay Bay complex, which was a hole. Dark, crowded, loud and toxic air.(Have i mentioned that they smoke indoors in Nevada ? Culture shock.)
They still tried to sting us for 2 X $20 cover charges, even though we left in 60 seconds ... good thing Laura won't take stuff like that lying down.
Refunded, we repaired to "The Mix" bar 36 storeys up... no cover, wild views, no smoke. MUCH better.

Royalty

Four of the royal family of the Picante Christmas Party travelling circus.
Many of the crew are drifting away in the next few hours...
we'll try not to have too much fun without you....

Cheers !

When you're with a bunch of kids and the bar is at a distance, you toast with what is on hand.
We dined on Surf n Turf for a tenspot at Binions, an old time hotel on the same corner as the 4 queens, and the Golden Nugget, . These guys must have been on the wrong side of Hollywood (or the mob), cuz it's as old as the others, but was never seen in the ratpack movies. UPDATE seen for a blink in "Honeymoon in Vegas"

Overdue

Forgive my negligence... a shot of "hef's girls" is more or less obligatory, don'tcha think ? I'm hereby nominating them as the "lets have fun in Vegas" poster girls. Vegas could do a LOT worse. (Like the couple down our row at C de S, who slept through the bulk of the show.)

Defying the odds

Once again I defy the "no photos in the casino" rule to record Wayne defying all odds by coming out ahead on the slots. Apparently today the plan is to play some actual poker, with real cards and other people and everything !

At least it's a 2 income family...

Allan spent his birthday imitating a pack animal. The premium outlet mall was a zoo... people actually lined up to get into a store where a plain black belt was US$137. For some reason, i was not moved to enter. The family and staff had a helluva good time, though.

It probably goes without saying

Cirque de Soleil at the fabulous Mirage was phenomenal. Music and outtakes by The Beatles. The bartender was free-pouring for the girls... THAT got ugly fast. The show ended at midnight... i got back to the room at 6.

Apparently the missus is a vegetarian

Wayne was impressed with the stock in this steakhouse.

Food plus Fun

Skinny little Jeff triumphed over the 36 ounce burrito. For which he was rewarded with a 1/2 yard of margarita and this delightful commemorative t-shirt.

A feast for the Senses

Las Vegas is truly a feast for the senses. Even if you don't gamble.
Please don't tell the hotel that i don't gamble.

Retro Vegas

We spent much of the day at the Premium outlet mall. I should have gone to the lowlife outlet mall.

Wild times in Sin City

We're staying a the fabulous Luxor, which is more Egyptian than Le Meridien in Cairo. Close up magic phenom CRISS ANGEL is opening a shop in the hotel, and shooting some links for the CRISS ANGEL MINDFREAK series. Our gang got in early and snuggled with de man !!

Piece of Cake

The border crossing was a breeze. The attendant seemed like he might never have seen 11 people go through... every one a passport holder.
PS'We are taking off from Fargo, not Grand Forks.
It all looks the same from YWG.

USA here we come

The number of participants has swelled into the teens.
Good thing we have this giant bus at our disposal.
It's a nerd convention, between PSPs Laptops, phones,DVD player etc...I hope we dont blow a fuse.

Which way to Grand Forks ?

While we will still use Grand Forks ND as a stepping stone to Sin City, we will be using more sophisticated travel methods.
WiFi and airport connections willing, we'll have live updates all through the PicanteRaid.

Fantasy Postcard

Will it be worth corresponding from Las Vegas, when the bulk of the readers of UD.Blogspot.etc. will be aboard the magic bus ? Perhaps, this blog will serve as the only record of events as our memories fade (if they were ever vivid)

Wear Padded pants to P's *

Because SRWT Egypt kicks ass. IMHO

*appologies to Daily Variety

Suggested title for this next tour

Pronounce it out loud, as pickANTI raid.

I am probably the only one who will find this funny.
As usual.

Anybody want to come ?

A nice early morning bike ride into the desert ?
Doesn't that sound like fun ? It was 67 degrees today.
Of course, we've all seen C.O.P.S. from Las Vegas...

Perhaps it would be just the thing after a long night of baccarat, or high-stakes mah jongg. Sober up watching the sunrise- kinda thing.

Captive Audience

Scenes like these will soon be eliminated when some smart airline (are you listening KLM ?) adds SRWT to their in-flight programming.

First one of the Season

Greetings of the season to all SRWT fans,
and those who just don't know us yet.

Thanks to Alana U for the art cookies.

The Dark Side

Serious weird emotional turmoil...

not only have i joined the dark(mac)side,
but i used up the christmas loot !
No figgy pudding this year.