So where did this little fish icon come from? Well, this is actually a fish sculpture created by an artist in Manuel Antonio. We went down to the beach at Manuel Antonio, and before we went back to the hotel, we did some shopping. Laurie saw this fish in a little shop right across the street from the public beach. The lady was asking a meager 20,000 colones for the fish, which roughly equates to $48 US.

Of course, we wanted to continue looking around - even when the lady selling the fish lowered the price to 15,000 colones. So Laur and I went back to the hotel that evening, thinking we would go back the next day to buy the item. Keep in mind, the fish is about 20 inches high, and 20 inches wide, and a couple inches deep - not exactly the easiest thing to pack away in our luggage. When we went back the next day (Monday), pretty much everything on the beach was shut down since the national park is closed that day. Oh well, I guess we'd just have to go back the next day? Well, our flight left the next day, and that morning when we went back to the beach, of course, the shop was not open - figures... So we left Costa Rica - leaving the big fish. Fortunately, this wouldn't be the fish that got away.



Lauries 28th birthday was coming up, so I thought I may as well TRY to get the fish delivered somehow. I called our travel agent from Best of Costa Rica, and after numerous emails, Maria arranged for a driver that was leaving from San Jose, to "swing by" Manuel Antonio, and look for the fish. A few days later, she emailed that they'd found and purchased the fish for me! How many people would do that for you? She shipped the fish overnight to me, and I had it within the next few days.

So here is my message to promote the good people at Best of Costa Rica - if you ever plan a trip to go there, (and you should) you can be assurred that they will do everything they can to take care of you. This example of kindness is just a sample of the treatment that we received when we were in Costa Rica. PURA VIDA!