jbnbsn99 in Costa Rica

jbnbsn99 said:
Getting back through customs is a pain. I get my passport flagged for some reason. Honestly, the only thing I'm bringing back in are new coasters for my living room.
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what does getting your passport flagged entail? Do you mean they just pulled you out of line to search your bags, or does it mean something else?
 
Chlidonias said:
what does getting your passport flagged entail? Do you mean they just pulled you out of line to search your bags, or does it mean something else?
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It means that the person is supposed to be stopped (for whatever reason) by customs... Either taken into custody or denied entry. And also they maybe will confiscate your passport.
 
Chlidonias said:
what does getting your passport flagged entail? Do you mean they just pulled you out of line to search your bags, or does it mean something else?
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Basically that. They pulled me aside. I didn't look like a threat, so I went along my way.
 
jbnbsn99 said:
Basically that. They pulled me aside. I didn't look like a threat, so I went along my way.
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isn't that just the basic random (or "random") checks of people going through Customs? From googling, "flagging" a passport seems to be taken to mean any check of an individual person, so generally used as a euphemism more than anything. Or is it an official American security term for a personal Customs check?
 
jbnbsn99 said:
Day 2 - July 4th

There's nothing like being woken up at 5:30 in the morning after a late night getting in by frisky iguanas scampering in the metal roof.

Whelp.

The sun was up, the macaws were screeching, might as well put on pants.

I went out into the garden to see what could be seen. Right away, I start ticking birds off my list. Easiest here is of course the Scarlet Macaw. They're everywhere, loud, and easy to see. Evidently though, they're not found in most of the rest of the country. Only this little fishing village.

The yard is full of fruit trees (mostly mango). There's even a mango pile in the back corner where good fruit goes to die. I mean ferment. I mean attach flies. I mean cause retch inducing stench. That said, the pile of mangoes does attract some birds. Best one is a Gray-Necked Wood-Rail Didn't think they'd be that easy to see.

So anyway... this house has funny locks. Shut the door, and presto, you're locked out. I did not know this. I had to wait for someone else to wake up in order to go back in and put on shoes. And get my camera. And by bird field guide. And bug spray.

It's well over an hour before someone else is up.

Most of the rest of the day is piddling around the house. There's a trip in to a grocery store, but mostly, my family is the non-adventurous type. By non-adventurous, my mom's idea of a vacation is going somewhere and sitting by a secluded pool reading a book. Thing is, she has a pool in the back yard at home and loads of books. I want to get out and do things. I want to see things that I can't see anywhere else. There's a rainforest within seeing distance, yet getting there is seemingly off limits. I feel like Tantalus looking at a glass of water.

Le sigh...

I guess I eat some mangoes.
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Lucky you seeing scarlet macaws. I've been to Costa Rica twice and still haven't seen them there.
 
Chlidonias said:
isn't that just the basic random (or "random") checks of people going through Customs? From googling, "flagging" a passport seems to be taken to mean any check of an individual person, so generally used as a euphemism more than anything. Or is it an official American security term for a personal Customs check?
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We think it was just a random check.
 
jbnbsn99 said:
The only place to find then is Tarcoles. They're everywhere there.
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I didn't get to spend time in Tarcoles last time. The first time I went there we went to Tarcoles and Carrera but still didn't mange to see them. Guess I need to go back.
 
so how come the macaws are only found near that one village? Random chance survival, or they are specially protected there by the community, or released birds?

I have a plan to visit Costa Rica, but it involves starting in Canada and ending in Tierra Del Fuego. I'm not sure when that will happen.
 
I think it's random chance survival. It's right on the outskirts of the Caraca National Park and the Tarcoles River home of one of the best mangroves in CR. There are some further south, but the biggest concentration is at Tarcoles.
 
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