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Thinking back to the days before my travels, I have a tough time recalling the last sunset I took time to enjoy...where watching the sun in its final moments is now a daily event. I know when I eventually return home life will again be hectic with work, errands and the daily headaches, but I won't forget about the beauty of the simple things. These reminders of the wonderful things that God has created for us are all around. It's important not to let this busy, crazy world consume us. We all need to step back once and a while and enjoy the simple things. Now, I know you can't always see a sunset from where you are, but I have a solution for that. Simply place the sunset picture from my entry onto your screensaver and watch it disappear each day as you shut down your computer after work...yeah I'm sorry, I just had to do that. Also, I must apologize for getting deep on you again and again, but this is what happens when a person is on their own for a long period of time with no TV or movies to watch. So please don't think that I'm
The Sur Peninsula
San Juan del Sur lies along the shores of this cove. losing it or maybe I am...I don't know.
My travels have brought me to the tranquil little fishing town of San Juan del Sur. The town sets back in a cove along the Pacific with towering cliffs shadowing it from the west. Many travelers come here to surf or just lounge in the sun and relax. My path has again crossed with many of the same travelers I've met in the past. Teddy, Leroy and I settled in at
Casa Oro, a popular little hostel which sits one block back from the sea. Here we have reunited with Claire (the wacky Brit), Tello (Finland), Esther (Holland), Inger (New Zealand), and a whole group of Israelis, but they kinda stick to themselves (except for my boy Leroy). We've also met some new travelers who add a new flavor to the crowd (as if we needed more flavor). Three more British blokes have joined the party- Jody (comedic actor from London who is a clone of George Clooney), Charlie (just as mellow as they come), and Oliver (a full throttle party animal - got a beer dumped on his head by an angry girl our first night in town), a group of
four surfer chicks from Sweden and Canada, and many more who's names I've totally forgotten. The dorm-style hostel is a thriving party from sun-up to sun-dow. Being the old man that I am, I don't partake as I did in earlier years, but I have rendered my services as a chaperone to these youngsters. The days basically consist of the same song and dance. I watch as everyone slowly crawls out of bed in a dehydrated daze, then its cold showers, cinnamon rolls, and off to the beach. Next comes a day of body surfing, sun bathing and ice cream, then its back to the hostel for a second-wind rally. Nights go as follows: again with the cold shower, dinner, cards or trivial pursuit (everyone complains b/c it's the American version and I clean house) and then Oliver fires everyone up for a night of hardcore drinking and memory loss. This is about the time this old man retires for the evening (what a party pooper I've become).
On one day in particular, while on the beach passing a soccer ball in the sand, a group of Nica high school kids challenged Teddy, Leroy, and myself to a game
of futbol. The event turned into a flat out war. Latinos gathered around and watched as we slide tackled, shoved, and hacked away at each other's ankles. Any bystanders that dared to walk through the field were trampled and even some poor innocent sunbathers were struck by loose balls. After an hour of play, the score was tied 5-5 with everyone's shins bruised and bare feet bright red. A decision was made to call a winner on the next score. Play continued and picked up to a fierce struggle until Team Gringo finally drilled in a winning goal to clench the victory. We dropped to our knees and waved our arms to the sky in celebration. I haven't played in or even seen a game this exciting since Central vs. Halls 1993.
Midweek, a group of us decided to head 12km north to the secluded beach of Madera. We enjoyed a beautiful Pacific setting all to ourselves. We spent hours body surfing (it's much cheaper and less frustrating than with a board) in some of the best waves I've been in (that's not saying much). Our transport down the dirt, back-country road didn't return for us until 5pm, which
made for a long day on the beach. After returning and going through our usual routine of cleaning up, cards, and conversation, the crew convinced me to join them for one drink since I'd not gone out all week. As we entered a nearby bar overlooking the ocean, I turned to see Marieke, the Dutch girl I'd met just before leaving León. I never had that drink I'd promised everyone. I spent the rest of the night in conversation with Marieke, never leaving the spot that our paths had crossed. She had been in León for six months working with children and was finishing her time in Nicaragua travelling with her sister Sylvia. I really enjoy spending time with her because she is so easy to talk to, very mature, and has these light blue eyes that.....yeah I'll stop there before you girls back home get all excited for me...I must add that she has a boyfriend of 7 years back in Holland, so it's not like that. The following day I ran into her and Sylvia at the beach and got to spend a little more time in discussion, and say a final farewell. It's people and conversations like
these that I will take with me and remember when it's all said and done.
My time spent in San Juan del Sur was special, not because of the scenery nor the activities, but because of the friendships that were formed here. Friends like Teddy, who went out of his way each and every day to help me with my Spanish, Claire, Tello, and Esther, who's cute personalities kept me laughing, and ole Leroy, who had a constant grin painted across his face and never wore anything more than his boxer-like shorts. We are all headed to Costa Rica, but at different times and to different places. Tello and I are headed in the same direction for a couple of days, but then I'm off to meet my mom in San José. To get a better idea of where Mom and I will travel, I'm heading to Costa Rica four days early to do some research. I sure will miss Nicaragua and all of the wonderful people I met there, but I know I will encounter more amazing people and places in the months ahead.
I would like to end this entry with a few words from my
new language and challenge those who are up to translating it. If you really have trouble then just give Bobby a call or I can help you out later. But first, I want to take a second to say that I can't believe how many of you are having or just had a baby. What happened to waiting on me? I swear, every week I check my e-mail I hear news of another one of you pregnant. Oh well, I guess I'll just try and catch you all on your second or third one (that would be 4th or 5th for Bobby and Jill...geez!). Write you later. Adios!
Yo los extraño mucho y pienso en ustedes siempre. No puedo esperar a verlos otro vez. Yo he aprendido tanto y tengo mucho que decirles. Es difícil creer que mis amigos estan criando niños. Es una maravilla. Me alegra de que usteds estén bien. Gracias a dios por nuestras amistades. Los escribiré pronto. Dios los bendiga. Jeremias
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Inspiring
You don't kmnow me but I find your travel stories very inspiring. I begin a new journey in Belize on June 1st and then on to Guatemala. Thank you. Peace.