A Weekend @ the Beach

So last Friday after work I hopped on a plane and headed to Orlando. After I landed safely I got in my rental car (Jeep Compass...kinda cool) and headed North to Daytona Beach.

At 1:30 am I arrived and as I could see and hear the waves crashing outside my window I knew this was going to be an excellent weekend! :)


Saturday morning I woke up to the sun shining and mother nature calling my name. This is Ormond Beach.





I took the camera in the water with me so here's some shots...the water was beautiful (a little cold at first) the water wasn't green...I'm still figuring out the settings in the sun. :)



After a little while in the water...I headed to my towel on the beach and just laid there soaking up the sun (with sunscreen of course) and just thinking what a wonderful Saturday this was and how lucky I was to be there.

While on the beach I was reading this.


Michael J. Fox has always been a favorite of mine and his story is pretty fascinating.

Back in the water to cool down. Then out again (you make notice a pattern). :)

There was this group of about 20+ adults and kids near me. They split up into 3 groups and decided to have a sandcastle building contest. They worked really hard for about an hour. It was interesting to watch. :)


Around 1 o'clock came the ice cream man driving down the beach...



...unfortunately I left my money in the room so no ice cream for me at this moment. But that was ok since I was about to go inside and clean off and then go in search lunch.

I ended up here for lunch. It's just a little place on the water in Ponce Inlet. I enjoyed the shrimp and strawberry margaritas and just watching the water and people on Jet Skis. :) I didn't take any pictures...I was too busy just relaxing. :)

Back to the hotel...but not before stopping at 7-Eleven (there's about 15 on this stretch of road) and purchased and massive Slurpee.

Sun, Sand, Sea and a Slurpee...honestly what more do you need? Life is good. :)



One of my favorite things about the ocean is watching the tide. In the morning it was way far away by the time the sun was setting it was so much closer...the cars parked on the beach were gone by this point. Well almost all of the cars were...I watched for about 30 mins as 3 lifeguard/beach patrol guys dug this one woman's car out of the sand. Man that was a mess!


After the sun went down I went back to my room and got ready for dinner. Saturday night was going to be hibachi night! I headed to my favorite place for Hibachi ...Sapporo Japanese Steakhouse. Here the master chef did his thing while I sat on the end of a table with people from Brazil, Uruguay and Florida...where Portuegse, Spanish and very little English was being spoke...except for this cool 14 (thought she was at least 18) year old Brazilian chick named Wanessa...who happens to be slightly obsessed with money...can't wait 'til she's living in the "real world." :)


Dinner was so delicious. Back to the hotel where I watched as the lightening flashed miles away over the water and the waves continued to crash. Such a great day!


Waking up Sunday was lovely as the sunshine once again came though my window.






*You don't understand how the brilliance of the Sun affects me...I spend at approximately 7 1/2 hours a day in my cave of an office (don't get me wrong I love my job...but my fake window doesn't cut it when it comes to sunshine.)

I decided not to take my camera with me this morning. 10 minutes into being on the beach, I kid you not, 20 guys (and 1 girl) in blue life guard shorts came running down the beach, past me, made a u-turn around a marker, back down the beach and end to ocean and around a bouy. They did this about 5 times while I was out there. It was sooo Baywatch



...only in blue. That'll teach me to always have my camera on me! lol

Anyways...I spent the next couple of hours in and out of the water. The current was crazy today. It felt like something was swimming between my legs...nope just the crazy strong current. :) I decided to let the water do most of the work. I would start off in front of my hotel but would eventually be carried about 5 hotels down. To get back I walked towards the beach and back down. Most definitely a workout!

For lunch I headed to Sunglow Fishing Pier, home to Crabby Joe's. I love this place. I think alot of it has to do with that the first time I came here was back in 2000 with Momma and Nana & Grandaddy. :)

Lunch consisted of a strawberry margarita...


coconut shrimp and hush puppies...



such greatness.

I spent the next 3 hours in the ocean...trying to get my fix until the next time I am near water.

I clean up and packed up and said good by to Ormond Beach.



Next stop was Orlando where I had dinner and spent the night with the coolest Floridians I know.

Meet Ray, Laurie, Evan, Josie, Ellie, Daley and Anselle Combs:


*I borrowed this picture.

The last time I saw them was 9 years ago...at that time there were only 3 of them. They are most definitely an awesome family! I was very thankful that they took me in for the night...since I had a 7:30 am flight the next morning. Each kiddo is truly an individual. I had a blast meeting all of them and witnessing wonderful chaos. :)

I hope it's not another 9 years before the next time I see them.:)

I got to the airport on time...just barely (I thought the flight was at 7:30 not 7). I had a safe flight and landed at DFW just in time to head into work...grr

much love

Back to Vista Guapa...the Final Part...Finally

Wednesday, May 27th:

No surfing today but we still had to be down the hill for breakfast at 7am and then a field trip.

Edwin was our driver and tour guide to Manuel Antonio National Park in Quepos. It had rained that morning and so the trees just kept in all the moisture. Huuuuumid!

Throughout the hike to the top (to see the view) we saw a sloth,

monkeys (white-faced & holler),

a paca,

iguanas,

lizards

and crazy crabs galore!

I was soaked by the time we made it to the top but it was totally worth it…so Eric & Edwin said. :)

After we finished our hike through the park, we had a lovely lunch at a nice hotel/restaurant.

We had fresh fruit smoothies,

pasta and a chocolate brownie with ice cream and strawberries. Good stuff. :)

We had an hour nap on the way back to camp.

Once we got back, Eric got schooled at ping pong.

More pool time.

Followed by an amazing massage by Monsarat…outside, under the yoga awning…with the rain coming down…absolute greatness!

Back up and down the hill, in the rain, to have dinner with Edwin at Jaco Taco…another good place with a ton of good food.

Edwin dropped us off at Los Amigos where we watched the 2^nd half of the Denver/LA game and had a couple drinks. Here we got this crazy confusing bill…we finally figured it out after roughly 15 mins.

Tonight we made it all the way to 10:15! Whoo Hoo! Lol You just down understand the power of the sun and how it drains you…plus the hike through Manuel Antonio…I am completely wiped out!

Thursday, May 28th:

Breakfast at 9 followed by poolage til noon,

in town for the obligatory Taco Bar stop…ready for surfing at 3:30…this is the life. :)

Today Alvaro joined us for the lesson. As we were walking out into the water with the boards, Alvaro bent down to adjust my leash on my ankle. When he did this, he smacked me in the head…with HIS board. Not a fun feeling in the least. I so wanted to cry but there was no time for that. It was time to surf. So I shook it off (as much as I could with a headache) and jumped on my board and started paddling. (Alvaro did apologize a ton of times.)

The waves were coming faster and slightly bigger today. Eric hung with Alberto in the whitewater, while Alvaro stayed with me further out. I caught a ton of waves…it was definitely a good day.

I like it when there’s more waves, that way if I don’t catch one…I don’t feel so bad. :)

Eric lost BOTH eyes this time, and now has a gash on his OTHER foot. AND he got a sunburn and was beginning to peel!! Who knew Eric could burn! lol

Back to camp for another dip in the pool as the sun was setting…con cerveza. :)

Tonight dinner was at Juanita’s with Alberto. It’s pretty much right on the beach. We could hear the waves crashing as we ate…beautiful.

We made it back up to our room just in time for the sky to fall…crashing thunder and lightening all night…it was pretty awesome but I did wonder a couple of times if we would be washed away down the hill. :)

Surfing at 5:45 am tomorrow morning so going to bed early tonight is intentional. :)

Friday, May 29th:

“California Love” was the song that woke me up at 5am. We made it down the hill by 5:45 and we were off with Alberto and Durby.

The water was completely beautiful and pretty clear like glass in Jaco this morning.

Eric ventured out further and he was glad he did.

We caught quite a few waves today and we even have proof!

I got a lovely bruise today on my knee from the fin…I’m surprised that it’s taken this long to be honest. ;)

Breakfast back at camp and being that it was only 8:45 in the morning we headed back up to the room and had a nice (and needed) nap until about 1. :)

Later we headed into town in search of a farmacia for ear drops for Eric (his ear has been hurting for about 24 hours now). The pharmacist said 3 drops, 3 times a day…and stay out of the ocean…we’ll see about that last part.

After checking email we got in a taxi and headed to Hermosa Beach to the Backyard Bar. There we had lunch and margaritas as we watched “real surfers” for a couple of hours. I say if you’re gonna just sit and drink somewhere…the Backyard Bar would be the place to do it. :)

The rain came down so we got back to camp and chilled a bit before our dinner at Jungle Surf with Edwin. Tonight, Mango BBQ Chicken…yum!

Saturday, May 30th:

5:45am solo surf lesson this morning with Alberto. (Eric’s ear is not doing well at all)

There were several good waves this morning but we had to wait a long time in between sets.

*Story time: So I was paddling out after a good ride all the way in when I thought this wave was gonna go over/under me but instead turns me and my board completely around. So I held on and decided to rie the wave all the way in on my stomach…good times :)

The fin got my other leg today and so I now have matching bruises…but still totally worth it!

Back to camp for Breakfast at 8 with Eric then back in to town to check my e-mail. One of the e-mails was from my friend Michael asking if I was available to work a soccer game next week…FC Dallas vs a COSTA RICAN team!! How random is that?? :)

Next we headed to Clarita’s sports bar where I had a Tequila Sunrise…yes I realize it’s 10:15 in the morning, but since the drink has the word sunrise in it….it’s completely acceptable. :)

I am now at the pool writing this…next up…most likely a nap.

Back into town to find another farmacia for Eric (the ear is not any better)…amoxil this time, hopefully it will be better be the time we fly on Monday.

Taco Bar once again (there’s gotta be franchise opportunities right?)

Finally, we made our way back into the room with A/C. Ahhhh :) goodnight.

Sunday, May 31st:

Today was an excellent day of surfing…which was good since it was our last :(.

view from my board...

I put my camera in my boardshorts today and decided to see what we could get anything good. Have mentioned I LOVE my camera? :)

After our last breakfast of wonderful yummy goodness,

I spent most of 9am-noon at the pool finishing off my Smirnoff Ice (in a can lol) and the book I brought with me. (Eric was medicating his ear, resting and packing up in the room during this.)

Off to the Backyard Bar where we spent 3-6 just watching the waves, talking and just enjoying life. (Tequila Sunrise is soo the drink of choice for the day.)

Just as we were about to pay our bill, Alberto (and his amigo) arrived with a CD for Eric. It was good to say goodbye to Alberto one last time before we left…especially since we spent a good amount of our time here with him. :)

Dinner with Durby at Rioasis once more and said our goodbyes to him. Then bye to Wendy and she gave us CDs of us surfing...It’s hard saying goodbye, but I’m sure I’ll see them again down the road. :)

To pack and to bed since 4:30am is when the alarm will be going off.

Monday, June 1st:

At 5 this morning “crazy driver” Edwin picked us up and into San Jose where we arrived at the airport with about 2 hours to spare!

As we sit here sharing a Cinnabon we realize that the Adventure has come to an end. It was a great one…even with a few bumps, bruises, lost eyes, gashes from fins, earaches, etc. Until next time…

¡pura vida!