Had a good scare - The Firearms Forum

Gun Geezer · 11-24-2009, 02:43 PM

The wife and I went on a cruise to the Panama Canal last week. While in Costa Rica, we took an excursion to a wildlife sanctuary. We rode on a private bus line with a guide in each of the 2 buses. On the trip back to the ship, almost in eyesight of the port, we were stopped by several police motorcycles and our driver exited the bus with his packet of registration materials. The guide joined him when it appeared he was being questioned rather severely. She got back on the bus and explained to us that the police were not satisfied with his documents and that if he gave them some money, they would let him, and us, go. Our guide had a cell phone and she called the tour company, the police and the cruise line. It seemed the police might not have been real police, but thugs dressed like police and trying to extort money from tourists. She said it had happened before. Needless to say, the other passengers and myself were very nervous since, we didn't speak their language, our cell phones didn't work and we had no clue where we were. We sat there for more than 30 minutes and were finally allowed to proceed. We all laughed about it but when you think of how it could have gone wrong, it wasn't all that funny. It was a cruise-line sponsored excursion, not some local taxi tour and although between 2 buses there were 40 of us, we were pretty much in the rain forest in Port Limon, Costa Rica, about half way between Panama and Nicaragua. As bad as it sometimes seems, I am sure glad to be back in the USA!

dianalv · 11-24-2009, 03:12 PM

Sounds like you had a real adventure. Glad it turned out okay and you got safely back home.

rentalguy1 · 11-24-2009, 04:00 PM

Yeah...Central America sux...

Insulation Tim · 11-24-2009, 04:08 PM

xxxxxxxxx

Maximilian II · 11-24-2009, 04:12 PM

That's pretty scary. I went on a cruise to Mexico last year and will go again in January. At least there, there aren't that many incidents when you stay in the "touristy" areas.

Double D · 11-24-2009, 04:16 PM

I dont trust them down there and wont go there without being able to carry.

Terry_P · 11-24-2009, 04:29 PM

I wonder what the guides and drivers cut was? So beating the crap out of them when you got back wasn't an option I guess.

LurpyGeek · 11-24-2009, 05:30 PM

Scary stuff, geezer.

Interestingly enough, my parents went on a cruise in the last few weeks that passed through the Panama Canal as well as stopped in Costa Rica.

Did you depart from San Diego and end in Puerto Rico?

ToolsForPros · 11-24-2009, 06:06 PM

now if that whole bus was carrying...

Kieran McCaig · 11-24-2009, 06:11 PM

After just getting back from Panama last weekthis is another reason to avoid that part of the world.

Lori Mick · 11-24-2009, 06:14 PM

glad you all made it out of there in once piece!

Gun Geezer · 11-24-2009, 06:32 PM

Thanks for the reply LurpyGeek. We departed from Fort Lauderdale, FL. on Holland America Line. Stopped at their private island, Half Moon Cay, then Aruba, Curacao, Cristobal, Panama, Port Limon, Costa Rica and back to FL. If we had opted to go the San Diego rt. we would have had to fly back to FL.

Except for the attempted hi-jacking, we actually had the best time ever. The organized excursions were great.

tireman7.62x54r · 11-24-2009, 07:34 PM

My brother went to Costa Rica a couple of years ago, had a good time, no problems.

The Costa Rican's complained that illegal aliens from Guatemala were invading the country and driving wages down.

millwright · 11-25-2009, 09:49 PM

Costa Rica didn't have any problem welcoming Bobby Vesco !! Of course he did have some $600M in his wallet..... >MW

11-24-2009, 02:43 PM	#1
Gun Geezer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,710	Had a good scare The wife and I went on a cruise to the Panama Canal last week. While in Costa Rica, we took an excursion to a wildlife sanctuary. We rode on a private bus line with a guide in each of the 2 buses. On the trip back to the ship, almost in eyesight of the port, we were stopped by several police motorcycles and our driver exited the bus with his packet of registration materials. The guide joined him when it appeared he was being questioned rather severely. She got back on the bus and explained to us that the police were not satisfied with his documents and that if he gave them some money, they would let him, and us, go. Our guide had a cell phone and she called the tour company, the police and the cruise line. It seemed the police might not have been real police, but thugs dressed like police and trying to extort money from tourists. She said it had happened before. Needless to say, the other passengers and myself were very nervous since, we didn't speak their language, our cell phones didn't work and we had no clue where we were. We sat there for more than 30 minutes and were finally allowed to proceed. We all laughed about it but when you think of how it could have gone wrong, it wasn't all that funny. It was a cruise-line sponsored excursion, not some local taxi tour and although between 2 buses there were 40 of us, we were pretty much in the rain forest in Port Limon, Costa Rica, about half way between Panama and Nicaragua. As bad as it sometimes seems, I am sure glad to be back in the USA! -->

11-24-2009, 03:12 PM	#2
dianalv Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 1,160	Re: Had a good scare Sounds like you had a real adventure. Glad it turned out okay and you got safely back home.

11-24-2009, 04:00 PM	#3
rentalguy1 Former Guest Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: The mountains of NE TN. Posts: 884	Re: Had a good scare Yeah...Central America sux...

11-24-2009, 04:08 PM	#4
Insulation Tim Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,304	Re: Had a good scare xxxxxxxxx __________________ Tim *"Remember the Ark was built by amateurs....Professionals built the Titanic"* Last edited by armedandsafe; 11-25-2009 at 12:09 AM.. Reason: Inappropriate comment

11-24-2009, 04:12 PM	#5
Maximilian II Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Northwest GA Posts: 1,383	Re: Had a good scare That's pretty scary. I went on a cruise to Mexico last year and will go again in January. At least there, there aren't that many incidents when you stay in the "touristy" areas. __________________ Karma is just justice, without the satisfaction. And I don't believe in justice. -Joe Sarno, bagman.

11-24-2009, 04:16 PM	#6
Double D TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: North Florida Contributor Posts: 8,089	Re: Had a good scare I dont trust them down there and wont go there without being able to carry. __________________ I own a bunch of scary guns. You want em? Come and take em..... Liberalism is a serious, non curable, mental disorder... NRA LIFE MEMBER Oath Keepers Member NRA Certified Instructor 30 Yr CC permit holder.

11-24-2009, 04:29 PM	#7
Terry_P Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NH Posts: 2,513	Re: Had a good scare I wonder what the guides and drivers cut was? So beating the crap out of them when you got back wasn't an option I guess. __________________ NRA and NAHC Life "Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of their arms." -Aristotle Last edited by Terry_P; 11-24-2009 at 04:31 PM..

11-24-2009, 05:30 PM	#8
LurpyGeek Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: UT Posts: 1,436	Re: Had a good scare Scary stuff, geezer. Interestingly enough, my parents went on a cruise in the last few weeks that passed through the Panama Canal as well as stopped in Costa Rica. Did you depart from San Diego and end in Puerto Rico? __________________ Knowing is half the battle... Of course, the other half is violence.

11-24-2009, 06:06 PM	#9
ToolsForPros V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 77	Re: Had a good scare now if that whole bus was carrying...

11-24-2009, 06:11 PM	#10
Kieran McCaig Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: canada Posts: 1,469	Re: Had a good scare After just getting back from Panama last weekthis is another reason to avoid that part of the world. __________________ My 2 cents worth is only.183 with exc hange.

11-24-2009, 06:14 PM	#11
Lori Mick Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Stuck in Upstate NY for a while Posts: 2,374	Re: Had a good scare glad you all made it out of there in once piece! __________________ It's a Brand New Day! Make it an awesome one! "No one outside myself can rule me inwardly. Knowing this I become wholly free."

11-24-2009, 06:32 PM	#12
Gun Geezer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,710	Re: Had a good scare Thanks for the reply LurpyGeek. We departed from Fort Lauderdale, FL. on Holland America Line. Stopped at their private island, Half Moon Cay, then Aruba, Curacao, Cristobal, Panama, Port Limon, Costa Rica and back to FL. If we had opted to go the San Diego rt. we would have had to fly back to FL. Except for the attempted hi-jacking, we actually had the best time ever. The organized excursions were great.

11-24-2009, 07:34 PM	#13
tireman7.62x54r V.I.P. Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 149	Re: Had a good scare My brother went to Costa Rica a couple of years ago, had a good time, no problems. The Costa Rican's complained that illegal aliens from Guatemala were invading the country and driving wages down.

11-25-2009, 09:49 PM	#14
millwright Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,440	Re: Had a good scare Costa Rica didn't have any problem welcoming Bobby Vesco !! Of course he did have some $600M in his wallet..... >MW