Blogs from Mal Pais, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, Central America Caribbean - page 2

It was a couple days of big driving from El Salvador to reach Costa Rica. The girls were anxious for Roguers arrival and he was overjoyed to get back with them. We headed off early in the morning saying goodbye to the implausible waves and stunning beach of La Libertad. We knew we had a big day ahead. We were attempting to cross two international borders and drive much distance in a single day. To cross one Latin American border in a day is an assignment unto itself that we were planning on much more was a case of urgency and partial lunacy. But, we did it. Roguer handled all the panderers brilliantly, with the constant molesting and confusion at the border things can seem very improbable of functioning but with a lot of patience and ... read more

Pura Vida: A lifestyle term used in Costa Rica to describe the chill, the relaxed, the enjoyed - pretty much anything that adds contentment to life. The Ticos (locals) here live by that saying. And once you get here, you will too. Three weeks so far in Costa Rica chasing waves and living the Pura Vida beachside. Life here is simple. Wake up, surf, eat, chillax, play crib, surf, hammock session, surf, watch sunset, eat good food, meet new people, sleep, REPEAT. *Translation: a very desirable lifestyle compared to the rat race at home. First week here I met up with my good buddy Corey Rich and his cousin Kevin, followed by a random meeting with two great characters - Bill from Virginia and Alex from London. They happened to have a rental car for a ... read more

It had to happen eventually - we have been having way too much fun in the water! I guess you have to pay to play. At the end of a great morning surf I (Derek) got smacked in the face with my board - leaving a nice big gash above my eye. I didn´t realize I was cut until Heather started hyperventilating! (H - only becuase his guts were hanging out of his face). We caught some waves back to shore and walked 3k along the beach to our cabins. I received hundreds of surfer salutes to my bloodied, sagging, and swollen face as we walked back. Getting fixed up was a breeze - the doc came to me, stitched me up right at the cabin, gave me some good instructions and I should be able ... read more

Time for an update. Let me see if I can remember the last week and a half...when I go more than a week without adding an entry, the memories get fuzzy. The dogs in Central America are loco, but also really cool. They are not like American, pampered, wimpy dogs. They usually belong to a pack of 3 or 4 dogs. The pack has a terriorty consisting of a small distance, length wise, but their territory runs from the beach to the main street of town and to whereever their owners live. When dogs from outside of the pack enter the territory of another pack, the foreign dogs are immediately approached and run off by the barking and sometimes biting. If the intruders do not leave, its time for a brawl. Dogs have no problem with ... read more

Ok, let me try to remember whats been going on since the last entry..... The Italians were worried about immigration police coming around and asking questions. A lot of foreign business owners arent really supposed to be allowed to own businesses here. So, they took off to Pavones because there was a big swell coming. When Pavones is on, its one of the longest waves in the world. They told me I could stay, but they were closing operations for a few days, so I would have the place to myself. Again, I cant tell you enough how cool this hostel is...I want it to be mine. Usually, I wake up early and go surf, then I head to Casa Zen where I met some friends. I socialize, eat breakfast, have a fresh smoothie, use the ... read more