Hey there Family, Friends, Readers, and Other People that may be bored, :)
I'm back from a fabulous week at Vista Guapa Surf Camp in
Saturday, 9.30.08, Day 1, Arrival Day
After traveling for the most part of the day
...in the rain...
and stopping on the side of the road to see the massive Crocodiles under the bridge...
...we (Jaime from Washington, D.C., Katrina & Dan from Canada & myself) finally arrived at pretty much one of my favorite places in the world: Vista Guapa.
Alvaro, was there to greet us with a smile and a hug. I felt like I was just here. I was happy. :)
I headed up the hill and to my perfect room that was just the way I left it back in February. I unpacked and relaxed a bit in the hammock and the camp dogs (
Down the hill I went and my first amazing dinner of the week was had. We stayed in and had a barbecue at the camp. Alvaro grilled absolutely everything and everything was absolutely fabulous! Durby and Edwin (Memo) were there and I was super glad to see them again! I also got to meet the rest of the campers. SEVEN more girls! (I'm telling you males out there, if you ever wanna meet some fun, outgoing, chicas...Vista Guapa is the place for you! The ratio of 10 girls to 1 guy is a bit crazy lol)
After dinner, I headed back up the hill (I must say it seems much darker at night this time around) I changed clothes and headed back down the hill and 7 of us headed in to town to the Jungle Bar.
We got to the bar and 3 of us tried really hard to fight through the frozen tequila/salt concoction that the bartender tried to kill us with. (It was supposed to be a margarita...not so much) 
...I gave up and went with the old standby of vodka/cranberry...can't mess that up too much can ya ;) Drinks were had... 
and pool was played... 
and we wandered through the bar and discovered a dance floor at the back, which no one seemed to be taking advantage of, bummer. Perhaps it was too early. We ended leaving about 11, as we were all pretty tired from either traveling or surfing today. Twas a good first night.
Sunday, 8.31.08, Day 2:
At the moment, I am writing this from the pool with the ipod, "surfer girl" playlist goin'...not braggin', just sayin' :) It's about 9 in the morning and I just got done with breakfast. So much greatness was had. Fresh juice, fresh pineapple, strawberries, star fruit, etc. followed by blackberry wholewheat pancakes, scrambled eggs with cheese and bacon, and queso frito. I'm not going to lie, the breakfasts here are are a major selling point for returning for a 3rd time....but I promise, the hill and surfing, does help to balance it out...kinda. :)
I woke up to the sun (at 5 this morning) so as it's nearing 10, it seems like there has been quite alot of day so far...but there is so much greatness yet to come...Surfing is at 1 and you have no idea how super stoked I am about that!
....And THIS is why I come...at about 1 o'clock this afternoon, I remembered quite clearly exactly why I am here. I love the ocean, the water, the waves, SURFING! The waves were ridiculous (and not in a bad way). There were a ton of them and they were coming so fast. I got up so many times...it was better that I remembered! Alberto helped me out for the most part, but Oscar (a new guy from
After a great first day of surfing, we ended up in town at Los Amigos where the group partook in plenty of Imperial (a favorite local beer)...
while Jaime and I had these amazingly HUGE blackberry/strawberry smoothies. 
(I'm convinced that anything with blackberries is amazing.) I also had this strawberry/almond/chicken wrap...good stuff.
A quick trip to pick up Red Bull (they don't have sugar free here) and gatorade, then it was back to the room for a much needed and enjoyed shower. The sunset is killer and the ipod is playing once again. :)
*I am writing this part from my hammock. (I must figure out how to rig the one I bought on my first trip down here when I get home.)
Tonight we had dinner at Jungle Surf Cafe. 
I like to think that I'm so not a fish person in general, but tonight I had the almond crusted mahi and I have to tell you...it was super tasty! And the massive amount of mashed potatoes that came with it were to die for. 
(Y'all are so gonna this this trip is just about food...it's really not...but the food is AMAZING down here...and I think people should be aware of this. :)
It's 9:30 and I'm completely exhausted...hence I'm going to bed...AWESOME first day of SURFING!!
Monday, 9.1.08, Day 3:
Happy Labor Day!
Back home, I am used to surviving on 4-5 hours of sleep…so when I don’t have to be up at 6 am…it’s still programmed in me. (boo) I went to sleep at 9:30 but then I woke up at 11:30, 3:30, 5:30 and then finally at 7:15 I couldn’t lay here any longer. I guess I feel like I don’t wanna miss and of the day…but I suppose this is a silly concept in such a chill place.
When I hit the floor this morning I realized I had this extremely painful bruise on the bottom of my left foot. I was like “What the heck??!!”
Poolage now…perhaps a nap a bit later .
Things to do if you’re ever in Jaco during Rainy Season (as told by
*Shrimp Taco at Taco Bar…check
*Surf in the Rain…check
*Sleep with the windows open as the rain pours down…letting the breeze blow through the curtains…check
Taco Bar is a must do AND you can sit on a SWING!!! What’s better than that??!!
So surfing in the rain is like nothing else. I’m certain that it makes the waves bigger. At one point Alvaro was like, “Let’s wait for this big one to go by…unless you want to go for it?” I thought about it for all of half a second and replied, “I’m ready. Let’s do it!” Well…I didn’t exactly “ride the wave” per say…but I had an amazing fall on the way down…sooo worth it!
The rain was crazy…water coming at ya from all sides…Manta Rays flying and belly flopping everywhere! The waves were definitely rougher today and I got pummeled a few times (one time SUPER hard) and I’m pretty sure that I stepped on Durby more than once. But I (and Durby) survived and in the end it was totally worth it!
As the guys were putting up the gear, the rain got harder and harder…and at one point it was just plain chilly.
Back up the hill for a quick (needed) shower and one of the best naps EVER followed. It was dark and the rain was fabulous!
Back down the hill (in the rain). Then the four of us (as the other girls left this morn) were taken by Alberto to Rioasis, where I finally found my strawberry margarita…and it was greatness! We had a great time just chillin’ and talkin’ with Alberto.
Sleep was also greatness!
Tuesday, 9.2.08, Day 4:
Up at 5:30 and Jaime and I went to 
(and other surfers) do their thing. 
Such a great morning. 
I wish I could spend a couple of hours every morning just sitting on, standing on, swimming in, breathing in the beach…watching the waves come in and out.
Back for breakfast (I’ll spare you the details this time around). Dan, Katrina and I headed into town foe a look around in several surf shops. (I’m extremely impressed that I didn’t buy anything…self control does exist in me every now and then.)
After a brief check of the email (for momma’s sake mostly) we ended up back at Los Amigos and I had another incredibly large
I feel it’s only fair that I tell you about the not-so-great times in addition to the SUPER GREAT times…
Today’s surf session was a bad one for me. The water was super bumpy and thus my paddling left much to be desired. And my left elbow hurt something fierce. 
Alberto helped me a ton today. I felt so sorry that since I had a difficult day, he did as well. I was on the verge of stopping to the day (as my elbow was pretty much throbbing at this point) but then I was like, “No. I refuse to quit.” So we decided (for the sake of both of us) I would just try riding the first break and the white water…most brilliant decision of the last 2 hours!!! Back to camp, up the hill, into the shower…yay. (3 showers a day are common these days…and the sand is black volcanic)
It’s 6:45 and I just got down the hill and here comes the rain…sometimes it’s just the little things.
Dinner at El Ray Marino with Alberto was another success…and WAY too much food for any one person.
The waves were pretty choppy for all of us…so we called it a night pretty early once again…still a great day!
*Interesting fact:
All the bars and restaurants in Jaco share one CD.
Tracks that are included are:
Black Betty~Spiderbait
Another One Bites the Dust~Queen
My Heart Will Go On~Celine Dion
Come Sail Away~Styx
Everything I Do...~Bryan Adams
I DARE you to prove me wrong! :)
Wednesday, 9.3.08, Day 5:
The wind and rain was kinda crazy but at the same time…peaceful. I woke up at 5 this morn and for about an hour I watched a crab work it’s way back and forth across my porch. Then I finally (physically) got up and headed down the hill (red bull in hand) and waited for Alvaro and off to Hermosa we went.
I wish could tell you that I caught the most gnarly wave and then as I bailed, my board came crashing down on my ankle…this is not the case.
This is my right ankle:
This is my left ankle after falling…in a hole...as i was getting back in the truck…after another lovely morning of wave and surfer watching.
Luckily, this is the day we do not surf. I can barely put weight on it. Hopping is about the only game plan I have for this rainy day. I have yet to make it back up the hill since the “incident.” But I’ve been alright hanging at the bottom of the hill…with the dogs…and watching Noe, Alvaro’s son play.
My ankle hurts…bad. The brightside is that I am scheduled for a massage in a couple of hours…till then I sit here on the porch...
...ice on the ankle...
…doggie friends all around
…Mraz on the ipod.
…I had a fabulous massage this afternoon by Monsarat…I (heart) massages!
Why has everything thing been on the LEFT side? Rock Foot, Elbow and now Ankle.
The ankle seems to be doing a little better tonight…all hope is not lost!
I wrapped the ankle and they were so kind to drive me back down the hill tonight. (I tell the others I did the ankle thing on purpose so that they would drive us up AND down the hill…I am such a team player.)
Dinner at Jaco Taco with Memo where they quite possibly serve the largest fried shrimp (camarones fritos) known to man.
Back in my room…here I sit on the bed with a cold Smirnoff ice (they come in cans here) inside a pillow case…lying on my ankle.
Hopefully it’s better in the morning.
Thursday, 9.4.08, Day 6:
It’s morning and I’m ready to cut off, shoot off, something OFF my ankle! It is NOT better and in fact, I think it may be worse and twice the size it was last night. I see no hope for surfing today. 
Memo was most kind enough to pick me up at my room and drive me down for breakfast. So grateful!
At breakfast Alvaro decided that it’d be a good idea if I went to the doctor but first try the pharmacy. So Memo drove me to La Pharmacia where after about 5 minutes and 16 dollars later…the doctor gave me an (AWESOME) shot and pills and I was on the road to recovery! (Hallelujah!)
Back to camp (on this super rainy Wednesday) and a ride up the hill for a most wonderful nap.
Jaime and I headed into town to grab some lunch. We first tried a local place that was recommended to us…we ended up at Taco Bar…have I mentioned how much I (heart) Taco Bar? Lol If I eat there tomorrow, I WILL be buying a t-shirt!
After a stop at Los Amigos (Jaco’s version of Starbucks) …
…and a stop at the ATM (man, math is super hard when one is on vacation…hush! I heard that!) back to camp to get ready for today’s surfing…maybe.
Although it feels sooo much better, Alvaro and I decided it would be best if I waited one more day for it to heal a bit more. I was bummed but kinda relieved because if he would have said go ahead and try…I would have …but since it was also my leash leg…I was pretty terrified that I would damage it more if the board (with my ankle attached) went flying.
The rain has not stopped all day. And here I sit on the tailgate watching the others…the rain is starting to get harder and colder…I didn’t even get to surf…and yet I am SOAKED! But life is still good…I refuse to be negative this week.
Back for a hot shower and back down the hill in the rain…I gave myself an hour this time to get down to the bottom (as my ankle is still kinda sketchy). I’m pretty sure I wrapped the bandage too tight. (grr) I did make it back down and here I sit (with a Smirnoff in hand)…chillin’ with the doggies…in the rain.
Dinner at Juanita’s (with the sound of the waves crashing in the background) with Alberto. Tonight, another couple form
Off to bed…nearly 10…I’m looking forward to making it an early last official morning…watchin’ surfers. So stoked..good night…with prayers of the ankle being super better in the morn!
Friday, 9.5.08, Day 7, The Last Day:
As soon as the rain stopped at 6am this morning I headed down the hill. This is my last day and I don’t wanna miss a minute of it! At about 7:30 Jaime and I headed to Hermosa with Alvaro for one last day of surfer watchin’. Waves were much better today and it was awesome to see Alvaro do what he does best. ( I even got to put sunscreen on his back…sorry Jaime.) lol
We got back to camp about 10:15 and I got my last, most awesome breakfast of Toastada Frances (French toast), scrambled eggs with queso y tocineta (cheese and bacon) y queso frito…GREATNESS!!
Ankle report: The swelling has definitely gone down but is now purple. It’s pretty ugly but I’d rather have it look bad than me not walking on it!
Back up the hill for my last nap of my vacation. (boo) (I think I’d be a much happier person in real life if I got to take a nap everyday.) So after 3 hours of glorious napping, I headed back down the hill…walking like a champ…and psyching myself up to try today’s (last) surfing session.
There was no Taco Bar today…therefore no t-shirt…next time for sure!
I got down the hill just in time to watch the guys and their excitement over Alvaro’s new board. It was too funny…kinda like Christmas with a new toy! :) 
The ankle is wrapped and here goes nothing!
…That’s it! It’s settled. I will ALWAYS surf with my ankle wrapped! The Surfing Gods were smiling down on me and I KILLED it! I actually felt (and looked) liked I knew what I was doing. This was the absolute perfect way to end this week in the water!
Ankle report: I thought it was sand…but nope…it’s now BLACK!
Quick turnaround for dinner…or so we thought. We went to this place I’ve never gone to…Cocobongo. We got there and ended up waiting over an hour for our food to show up and then I didn’t even like what I got. But I’m so not hating…as this was the ONLY food of the entire week that wasn’t absolutely fabulous. Anyways, we left there and headed back to Rioasis from a few nights back. This was our first stop of our “bar hopping” adventure. (I also got pizza there so all was right in the world.)
Our next stop was Jungle Bar. This is where we were supposed to meet up with Alberto. After an hour of people watching (guys in boardshorts and local girls in barely anything at all…trust me on this) we decided to end our bar hopping…Alberto is a punk and never showed. ;) This was fine though, as I still needed to pack and I would be leaving Vista Guapa at 3 am to head to the airport.
We made our last trip up the hill and I said my goodbyes to Jaime, Katrina and Dan. (3 GREAT people I was glad to share the week with)
I successfully packed and even got a couple hours of sleep (I think). Memo was right on time and we made the 2 hour trip to the airport in about an hour and 10 mins. (I don’t even wanna know how that happened…I had my eyes closed the entire time.)
Alas, my wonderful week is done…but plans for 2009 are already in the works.
pura vida!
much love
3 comments:
Oh, that sounds like a blast (except for the whole ankle part, which looks terrible... I got to that picture of it REALLY swollen the next day and went, "WHOA!")... I'm right there with ya on the cranberry juice & vodka, too. It's a good standby when the 'ritas either aren't an option or not a good one. :) Great trip!!! Oh- and since you're used to not getting much sleep, will you come feed my newest kid once or twice a night?
I am SO happy your story ended with you killing it in the waves on the last day! I have had a slightly similar experience on the mountain after a little run-in with a tree. ;)
Can't wait to hear more in person!
Amazing little spot you found. I have drooled through this entire post.
I want to go there, like NOW. :)
But alas, I will live vicariously through your adventures, cause swimming through a sea of diapers is a little different.
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