3-31-10

3-31-10
A little recap from the last few days. Surf has had a bad combination of tide in the morning when the wind is more favorable. The place needs a higher tide to break right. Now low tide is about 10 am and moving 1 hour later everyday so our window for better surf is looking up. Also another swell is suppose to arrive tomorrow. We are keeping our fingers crossed. This am had some fun smaller surf and maybe the best so far.
Yesterday we put the car to use and drove to Leon and wandered around downtown. Saw the largest Cathedral in all of central America and as always in front of the church is the town square with all the vendors selling their wares. The central market was also nearby so a stroll was in order through that maze of fruit,veggies,meat,fish,clothes, and you name it. The sidewalks are also crowded with just about everything for sale you can think of. I think Jack was amazed at all the sights. Dillon too! This is an everyday happening that should not be missed by anyone traveling to countries outside the good ole USA. “Central” as downtown is referred to in lots of other countries varies from place to place but is always worth a visit. This time we were not hassled ‘to buy” by anyone, a nice change from some of the more touristy cities. I am sure we stood out like sore thumbs because of oour skin color. We saw very few white people until we went for lunch at the ‘big foot’ hostel where we had a very nice lunch in their vegetarian restaurant. Excellent salads with sandwiches and smoothies. Somehow we were even able to find ‘central’ and our way back out of town in the maze of one way ,narrow, and dead end streets. We were told to get to the edge of town and hire a taxi for us to follow so we could find the place. The challenge and luck played out in our favor!! haha !! I only tried to go down two streets the wrong way!! On the highway to and from our place we pass a volcano that has smoke coming out of the top of it. It is really pretty cool to see.
The day before we went to the next beach to the north just poking around. This whole country is about ready for a huge influx of locals to hit the beach this weekend. We saw temporary restaurants, concert/dance venues, and campsites being set up in fields. Busses are also crowded going to the beaches. Some of them so crowded they had people sitting on the roof with all their stuff and hanging out the back doors. Our spot should not see (I hope) the massive amounts of humanity that will be descending. This place is in front of a good surf spot which does not mean it is near a town. We will wait and see.
The day before Dillon wanted some more stick shift lessons so we went exploring to the “Marina”. Cool place back in the mangroves, with enough room for 20 or so good size cruising yachts but mostly vacant. Beautiful hotel, restaurant, and grounds. Maybe Easter weekend will fill the place up. Always a smile or a wave in return of the same when greeting someone. Dinner of spaghetti with chicken and a bottle of red wine. Jack beat us all to bed as he was out by 8pm!! He went hard all day as I figured he would. But what else should he do?
Our hosts here at Hotel Chancletas are a couple from Miami with their 3 little girls the oldest being seven years old. Shea bought the land 7 years ago and built what is here since then. He found the place while on a surf trip. The land was an old cotton plantation. We are very comfortable here. Two surf guys we have made friends with which are staying in the room next door are from Germany. One is a teacher , the other works for a company that makes currency for different nations. Both are about 35 years old. They have traveled to surf for the last 10 years or so. Being from Germany they have to travel for waves. Both are snowboarders. I have seen this crossover of sports through meeting other traveling surfers in the past.
We had a flat on the rental car. Picked up a small nail. Had it fixed at the “tire shop” down the street. Pics attached.
More later,
jim