Archive for the 'costa rica' Category
I heard Jaco was unsafe, dangerous, and a non-stop party; translation: my kind of place. Although, I seek all the beautiful enlightened things in life; it’s when I am scared shit-less that I feel most alive. Some people find character on Mountain tops and Ocean floors, others in the dark recesses of the night; very few find it in both. To quote Andre Gide “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore” The moment I got off the Tico bus, I looked up and saw a huge 420 sign; I guess you can find omens anywhere you look. For the first time in Costa Rica, I actually had a reservation; one laundry room stay was enough for my trip. The main strip was more commercialized then I expected, it had everything you need to feel close to North America, from KFC to Pizza hut, the choices were endless. Referencing my Lonely Planet guide, I booked a room at La Cometa, primarily because the description said it was located in the heart of the city and was one of the original hostels in Jaco; in addition it was owned by a friendly French Canadian. My first night out never ended, I met crazy Louis at the Jungle room, he asked me what I did, “Internet stuff mostly”, and you I replied, “I am the black sheep of the family, I consider myself an entrepreneur of sorts”. Louis had an entourage of party fiends that followed him around like the second coming; he was a great local tour guide and host who made sure everyone found their vibe. From place to place we roamed like kings of the city; no cover, no hassles, no worries. He was jovial and intense at the same time; we shared some common themes when it came to living the Pura Vida life. I pulled the chute when the sun came up, but made plans for another adventure tomorrow. My first night in Jaco was everything I thought it would be: shady, dangerous, and loads of fun.
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Tags: 420, bus, costa rica, dangerous, Jaco, La Cometa, Mecca, party, Pura Vida, surf, tico
The Water-taxi that turned Death into Zen. I love all means of transport, it sounded like a brilliant idea at the time; avoid a 4 hour shuttle bus to Jaco by taking a 1 hour water-taxi from Montezuma. Walking to the beach, I was filled with anticipation and excitement. The first thing our captain said was “it’s going to be a rough ride, any rougher and I wouldn’t dare even try; prepare to get a little wet.” No problem, I thought to myself as they began to hand out heavy duty garbage bags to wrap up our bags.
Standing on the warm sandy beach, the sun warmed my early morning spirit; the Ocean seemed to be inviting us with open arms. The initial ride out was pleasant, I was enjoying every moment on the sea and under the sun. We crossed a threshold, the cross wind immediately picked up, the beach was almost out of sight, and the realization we were on the open sea soon came spraying over the side of the boat. Little by little the waves grew in size; my imagination was wandering in some distant dream until it was sucked back into the now by a huge crash as the Skipper cut the engine. I looked to my side and saw nothing but the deep blue Ocean. My pulse quickened as the engine began to roar into gear once more. The immense waves completely engulfed our little vessel, so big the horizon line was disappearing with each rise up and down, the Ocean slapping us in the face with salt water, as our little boat was tossed left and right. Nobody was enjoying the ride any longer, a quick scan revealed not a life-jacket in sight; the Captain never taking his eyes off the Ocean in front of him. Pleasure soon turned to fear as it often does, gripping the rail at my side with tight white knuckles; I took a recount of my life thus far and couldn’t remember the last time I felt the fear of death.
Death drops the grains of sand in the hourglass ever so slowly. Finally, after almost 2 hours of deep blue, we passed through the eye of the beast and motored into calm water. Relieved, I sat back a felt a heightened sense of being and wonder in my soul; it was a triumphant feeling. I could see the land again, it was a beautiful sight, but the taxi made a sharp left turn and seemed to be heading towards the open sea once more. The words “what the fuck” passed through my mind. The captain pointed out and uttered his first word since the beach “Dolfino”.
It was our reward for bravery in the face of death: a huge swarm of dolphins racing along, jumping high in the sky with magnificent twirls, seeking only the pleasurable. Together with the dolphins at our side, we enjoyed a true Zen filled moment of wonder; we loved their beautiful presence, and they seemed to love ours. Although that will probably be my last water-taxi ride; when Death turns to Zen, it can only be described as: SPECTACULAR.
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Tags: , beach, costa rica, death, dolphin, Jaco, Montezuma, ocean, sea, taxi, transport, water, zen
I am a true backpacker in every sense; I try to make the most of every experience. In regards to accommodations, as long as my backpack is safe, it doesn’t really matter. To be honest, I am going to pass out anyways, as long as it’s not on a street corner or in an alley; I’ll be fine.
In comparison to some of the true ghettos I have crashed in, my Costa Rican laundry room was an Oasis. In Nice, it was a cockroach invested cubicle with a dirty mattress on the floor, no air conditioning, and mysterious grease stays everywhere. We had only one rule, never turn on the lights at night, because the sight of that many cockroaches was like the horror movie Arachnophobia redone to be even more grotesque. The true dump in Northern Spain, had what I thought looked like gang graffiti on the wall. Let’s not even talk about what the communal bathroom looked like in Rome; it’s a memory to painful to relive.
I thought we might have to sleep on the beach our second night in Santa Theresa. We begged the owners of Playa Carmen to find us a room for another night. “Well, we have a laundry room”, is all she said. “O.K. fine, we’ll take it.” Not sure what to expect, we went out for a day at the beach. When we returned, we were delighted to find two nice beds, a clean and spacious room, two fans, towels, and private bathroom; the only notable difference was two laundry machines in the corner. It was actually quite nice, it exceeded all of our expectations; they went out of their way to transform a laundry room into a little Oasis for two desperate travelers. We probably could have found another place to stay after New Years, but after we both got laid in the laundry room by two cute Tico girls, the Laundry Cabin became a funny joke and home sweet home. Looking back it was probably the weirdest, yet coolest place I have ever stayed. The journey in life is always what you make of it. To Quote Kahlil Gibran once again: “”Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”
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Tags: accommodations, backpacker, Costa Rican, ghettos, girls, home, laundry room, Mal Pais, oasis, places, tico, to stay, weird
“Alcohol is like love. The first kiss is magic, the second is intimate, the third is routine. After that you take the girl’s clothes off.” RAYMOND CHANDLER.
This was my first New Years away from Canada. Santa Theresa was a brilliant spot to enjoy the party festivities. Ultimately, I have 7 guidelines for New Years: Make a list of impossible resolutions; and of course include the trail over from last year’s list. Hold absolutely nothing back; it’s the last day of the year and you can’t get it back; so listen to your heart and go for it. Make as many new friends as possible; talk to everyone; drink with a complete stranger; just be open and know no limits. Always spend way more money then you planned. A friend once told me: “if you’re not living beyond your means, you’re not living at all.” Besides, it’s the last money you’re going to spend this year; right. Kiss someone special, or random, at the stroke of midnight (it really doesn’t matter which one) Always remember this year, unlike all the rest, is your year to flourish. Last but not least; never, ever, ever ever ever; sleep alone. Everyone wants a night to remember on this day; to start the New Year off on right foot; so start it off with a bang! (Excuse the pun) I won’t delve to long in the blurry details; but I proudly accomplished all 7 this year in Costa Rica. Here is the summary: got shit-faced on Red bull orange juice, got even drunker on rum and Coke, switched to beer when things got intense. I stood to close to the old hippie shooting fireworks and ended up covered in black shit. Stumbled around like the prince of the universe; received accolades and praise from all ten bartenders; pissed on every corner of the beach party. Found a temporary Costa Rican girlfriend for my stay in Santa Theresa. Shared a wonderful, yet sloppy, Red Bull rum and coke midnight kiss; later failed to live up to my true great potential due to high intoxication levels. Finally, while walking home to the sunrise, I smiled a priceless smile…..Upon returning to my cabin, I was forced to sleep on the bench outside while my roommate apparently lived up to his full potential. I think that covers it. Cheers and Pura Vida forever.
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Tags: , alcohol, costa rica, fuzzy, guidelines, kiss, memories, midnight, New Year, party, resolutions, Santa Theresa, travelogue
Traveling by the seat of my pants, with no reservations, plans, or agenda; I always expect a few bumps in the road. As we traveled on the shuttle bus towards Santa Theresa, I marveled at the beautiful lush green landscape of Costa Rica. As time quickly faded into the past, we arrived at our destination with only one goal in mind; to find a place to sleep. The other travelers and I quickly bonded while we searched from place to place. It was two days before New Years; desperation was slowly creeping in as the sad news that every suitable accommodation was filled. The only available place to stay was a shady campground, complemented by two old shabby tents. The clock was ticking, so we decided to grab what we could, store our backpacks and continue the search. Finally, a reservation never showed, we lucked out with a beautiful seaside cabin. Reveling in our good fortune, we sipped Imperial on our porch to the great conversation of travel. The question of “should we or shouldn’t we hit the town tonight” came up, and me, being a pioneer of pleasure, was able to persuade one of my comrades to join me for a few drinks in town. As we walked the dusty dirt roads, it was clear that the booming commercialization had yet to make its way to Santa Theresa. The Day and Night bar, located right on the beach, was a happening place filled with open travelers seeking stories, friendship, and romance. It wasn’t long before we were chatting up three cute Tico girls. The language barrier was quickly broken down by openness, alcohol, and the desire to reach out and make new friends. She caught my eye right away with her soothing presence and adorable brown eyes. Eyes speak the language of the soul; they will tell you everything you need to know about someone. Hers told me of subtle passion and longing for fleeting love. Before the night ended, we were exchanging soft passionate kisses under the radiant glow of the moon and the twinkles of the stars. Her big luscious lips entranced me in delight as we enjoyed the embrace of fresh love. The day’s long desperate search ended in the perfection of a first kiss; telling my being to never stop moving toward the unknown horizon before me. It’s the pursuit of what I do know or expect that fills me with enchanting beauty. Being pleasantly surprised each step of the way; I take nothing for granted, each moment in time lingering forever in my traveling heart.
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Tags: , backpacking, bar, costa rica, Day and night, heart, kiss, love, passion, Santa Theresa, Traveling
The devastating combination of tequila, Jager, and Guaro…I’m an insatiable fanatic for life; loving all things good and most things bad. People tell me, time and time again, that I have no limits when it comes to pleasure. My last night in Tamarindo is a true testament to this statement. We decided to start the night off right and hit our favorite restaurant in Tamarindo, Bruno’s, located on a beautiful balcony patio over looking the city. My two new best friends, Jon and Sage, joined me for a wonderful dinner while watching the sunset. In a Zen like manner, I tasted every bite of my Alfredo mushroom pasta; like it was the first bite I have ever eaten. When we returned to the hostel, it was time to round up the team and start the party. Of course, we needed two bottles of Guaro (local moonshine), a sort family tradition at our new home, to get things off on the right foot. For there it gets a little blurry; but I do remember an amazing complement one of my Spanish friends said to me: “I have seen a lot of things in life, but nothing like what I have seen here with you in Tamarindo. You have absolutely No Limits when it comes to a good time: you have partied harder then anyone I have ever seen or known! It has been a true pleasure to meet you.” Everyone made sure to join us, we had a great group come out for our last night to say good-bye. We started the night of at Pase Tiempo, a golden oldies rock bar, and eventually made our way back to Monkey bar. The highlight of the night was last call; I was running a tab, which always leads me to get even more carried away. John and I stood at the bar and decided we needed a shot of both tequila and jager to say good-bye to this very special place. Then the fuzzy realization hit us, “wait a god-damm minute here, who are we kidding, we can’t leave without one more shot of Guaro.” And that was it, any form of sobriety was flushed to the wayside-we proudly became the two drunkest men in Costa Rica that evening. As we stumbled to the after party at Ray Sole, we ate about 10 Chicken skewers each, so many we had to take a break half way and just sit by the side of the road like a couple of belligerent drunks. That is pretty much my last true memory of Tamarindo, sitting by the side of the road laughing and babbling nonsense at our own profound ignorance in a beautiful way-if that is even possible; being incoherent just for the love of it all. I awoke to a wretched hangover and a big smile. After two amazing weeks, it was time to travel forward…
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Tags: , belligerent, combination, devastating, drunk, good time, guaro, jager, last night, Monkey bar, no limits, pleasure, tamarindo, tequila, travel
When my heart feels the sad longing for beaches and sunsets of Costa Rica; a good rant will bring a nostalgic smile to my soul. The eternity of stars twinkling wonder from above; I gazed in complete merriment. I miss the ever present smell of mysterious warmth flowing freely from the Ocean; the multitude of green shrubs brightening the day as tiny flowers show their grandeur. To bath under the life breath of the planet while searching for nothing more then to just be present. Ah, just being! Dreaming the unforgettable dreams of the traveler, so tangible and near; so possible and present; so alive with imagination. Closing my eyes for a moment, I can feel the song of freedom playing ever so gently in the wind, whispering one-whispering here-whispering now. To once again feel excited for the simple pleasure of watching the sun cascade below the horizon in a myriad of changing hues. How did I not know to kiss my Tico lover one more time on the sandy beach before the moon, one more kiss for my unforgettable memories; one more kiss to leave my soul singing Pura Vida. Would that have satisfied my insatiable soul? Maybe two kisses or three, maybe even four, perhaps five or six. Could I ever cease wanting more? No or never, it matters not, for I was always destined to miss; just that one more kiss.
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Tags: , beaches, costa rica, kiss, lover, rant, reflection, Santa Theresa, soul, sunsets, wonder
So here I am in Costa Rica with a gang full of new best friends that I made overnight. There was absolutely no question about whether or not we were going to hit the town each and every night to paint the sky red with laughter and mirth. Amongst the gang, there is always a couple stars that stick out; the Polish Prince was one of the brightest. He had an energy that shouted loudly at the top of his lungs: laugh with me, drink with me, share with me; because I’m here for a good time, for this is the only moment that matters. Monkey bar was one of my favorite drinking holes in Tamarindo. A three level bar with two dances floors, one for salsa and the other for hip-hop, and a sunken middle platform housing a large bamboo themed lounge. Like all Princes, this one wanted the ability to communicate with everyone, so he never left home without his Spanish translation book. We would joke that 15 minutes couldn’t pass without him making some attempt to pick up on a girl. He never refused a drink as he roamed from girl to girl trying his best to womanize everything with a pulse. As he drunkenly thumbed through his translation book; he found his hook, line and sinker. Funny and ridiculous pick up lines that were translated into Spanish. We all had a grand laugh when he shared them with us. From that moment on, it was his only mission to use one of these lines to meet a willing female who wanted some of his polish sausage. The lines were so out-right ridiculous that they made for a great ice breaker that would open the door of possibility. His approach was classic, walking up with a serious look, he tried to say the lines before he showed them the text that would always get a good laugh from his prey. I would later ask him for the exact lines he was using from his book; so that I could share them with you. Actual lines taken from a Spanish translation book:
- Can I kiss you?
Te puedo dar un beso?
- You’re just using me for sex.
Solo estas jugando conmigo.
- You look like someone I know
Me pareces conocido/a
- Pillow talk:
My chicken - Mi pollo/a
My fatty Mi gordo/a
- Will you meet my parents?
Conocerias a mis papas?
- He/She Gets around
El/Ella es un perro/una perra.
- You’re cool, but no thanks.
Me caes muy bien, pero no gracias.
- Don’t worry, I’ll do it myself.
No te preocupes, yo lo hago solo/a.
The last one I found to be the funniest. We went far beyond the call of duty that night and became beligerent spanish pick-up line speaking fools. No women in her right mind wanted to speak with us after the local Guaro ( moonshine) took hold-as we stumbled around the playing field. So when all else failed, the Prince relied on the fail safe for comfort; the Putas. The Putas would dance with any Gringo looking to have a good time; no matter what their condition. So the Prince danced like no one was watching, he danced his ass off with the Putas; and they loved it. He grinded his way into infamy that night, but to the Putas dismay it ended there, he didn’t take them up on their many offer that went like so: “hot sex for money, hot sex for money”. Apperently that was the only english translated pick-up line they knew how to say! Although the night ended without any luck or hot sex for money. It was a grand night that I will never soon forget. Looking back, I made more close friends in my month in Costa Rica then I have from living in Vancouver for two years. P.S. If you still don’t know what a Putas is, you will have to look that one up on your own. Pura Vida Amigo
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Tags: , book, costa rica, dance, fail safe, female, for money, friends, funny, hot sex, infamy, laughter, Monkey bar, pick up lines, polish, prey, prince, putas, Spanish, stories, tamarindo, translation, travel, womanize
The following is what I wrote in my moleskin journal right after my second surf lesson. Once you turn in and actually ride the wave before the break, words can’t describe the true feeling of complete awe inspiring Zen; this can only give you an idea of how I felt.
“Today was AMAZING! I felt the rush of the waves breaking my mind wide open. There is only the present moment in the Ocean; no room for the past or future. All your attention and energy is completely focused. Your senses become alive with the moment. The constant sun warms your skin, the salt removing all the bitter tastes that resided there before: the Ocean testing you with each push, each step, and each paddle forward. And when it finally happens, you pop up and feel at one with the wave; it’s spectacular; it’s grandiose; it’s pure Zen. The mind ceases and the soul begins.”
Although my first surf lesson at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp was amazing, I decided to go with La Botella de Leche Surf School for my second go at it. I heard through the grapevine that Wences, the instructor, was a local legend who could teach you three weeks of surfing in a single day. Wences is known for his magical ability read the incoming waves, a skill that takes years to perfect, getting you right in the sweet spot. This is of course one of the hardest part of surfing; a knowledge only a true Guru can hope to obtain. By the end of our first lesson, I was getting up almost every time, turning in and riding the wave all the way in. The highly recommended Botella de Leche Surf school in Tamarindo which is located in from of the 70’s Surf Shop right on the main drag.
Wences was a true Guru in every sense of the word: a couple of times, I actually saw him get up on the board and ride it right into and over the oncoming waves; a true genius. With every attempt, he would give me little pointers about holding the board in position until my feet were set, getting lower, keeping my arms out for balance, etc. Little by little I got better each time; building more confidence with each wave. Surfing lessons are a must in my opinion. I laughed at all those stubborn people who had too much pride and wanted to learn on their own without any direction. I would see them fail again and again, because they had no idea what they were doing wrong. I found my lesson both inspiring and informative. I don’t think I would have enjoyed surfing as much without some concrete lessons, because it’s all about getting up and actually riding the waves; not being pulled and stretched every which way in the backwash.
Pura Vida Forever…
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Tags: , 70s surf shop, amazing, awe, backwash, break, costa rica, feeling, guru, inspire, inspiring, knowledge, la botella de leche, lessons, mind, ocean, present moment, rush, soul, spectacular, sun, surf, surf school, surfing, tamarindo, teacher, waves, wences, zen
It’s Monday morning, the Giants just pulled off the biggest Super Bowl upset of all time; for obvious reasons I have no clear and decisive thoughts to share with my audience. So instead, I will rant randomly in a true nonsensical manner about everything I love to miss about Costa Rica. So forget about proper English for the moment; embark on this small voyage while my heart spews forth the rant of an inspired traveler. I miss the sheer and stark beauty of it all, the magnificent splendor of the sunsets; Feeling freedom deep within my soul. Not knowing or caring what time it is, and then finally figuring it out by looking at the position of the sun in the sky above: Everyone acknowledging your presence with a nod or smile; hearing Pura Vida time and time again. I miss longing for being soothed by the sounds of waves crashing upon the beach; to see the remarkable beauty of the sunrise and to feel the absolute openness of other people; just because it is right. Not knowing what the day will bring. Thinking that if I died it would be to the sound of new music in my ears while knowing all the strangers I see generally like me; and they don’t know why this is or care to figure it out; it is because it is. The feeling that I like them for no reason at all, because of the oneness shared by all: thus I miss knowing today will be remembered. Living a life devoid of routine while enjoying the gentle gawking cry of the gecko; the heart pounding desire within me to make this day special as my nose becomes filled with the enchanting smell of ocean while the warm sand tickles my toes. I miss enjoying the feeling of being completely happy and free for no reason at all; while being touched deeply by the random love in my heart and the heart of others: The cool refreshing waves daring me to push forward. Loving it all and not having to worry why; the true sensation of being lucky to be here at this moment; knowing no matter what that I will meet someone new on this special day, love sweet love. Knowing that the monkeys in the trees are living in peace and freedom: and that I’m making a small difference to the soul of the world by nourishing it with happiness by being, just being; by living, just living. I grave the Feeling of the now more then the present or past while loving each and every moment of my small existence to the maximum of its potential; Loving everything just a little bit more; expecting the world to taste better. Now, I am enjoying sharing with you this knowledge, and the knowledge that one day nostalgia will bring my soul back to Costa Rica. I miss it all; even simply writing in Costa Rica the true statement Pura Vida forever into my Moleskin journal.
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Tags: , beauty, costa rica, heart, I miss, inspired, knowledge, love, magnificent, miss, nostalgia, ocean, openness, past, poetry, present, random, rant, sand, soothed, soul, splendor, stark, sunset, the now, the world, things, time, travel, traveler, waves, writing
Sometimes I feel like the luckiest man alive. As if some mystical force has chosen me the lucky one amongst all the others. There is a Swedish proverb that says, “Luck never gives; it only lends”. Well, it has been lending me my whole life and the accumulated balance seems astonishing to some; unbelievable to others. I will attribute my first surf lesson to just such an experience: I must thank you Fortuna, Goddess of luck, for your continued blessings. There were a number of different names on the board for surf instructors at the Witches Rock Surf Camp in Tamarindo Costa Rica. I chose Julie for my first lesson. So as I sat in the lobby waiting and anticipating a great day of surfing, this unbelievably hot 18 year old French Goddess walked up to me at said, “Jonathan”. I could barely erase the huge smile that broadened my face. I simply just stared into her eyes with disbelief. Was this actually my surf instructor for the day? “So are you ready for a great day of surf”, she asked. I responded with a definite, “YES, I am”. When it comes to describing the true beauty of a woman; I’m often at a loss. No real words can ever put an accurate description into the readers head. Not any of mine at least. Trying to think of a reason why I feel this way, all that I am able come up with is the following: no piece of art, sunset, picture or anything else on earth has me finding the beauty I see in the opposite sex. So may different shapes, colors, expressions all magnificently amalgamated by god to form each a different, yet perfect, expression of beauty. As she grabbed her board and strutted down to the beach in front of me, wearing the sexiest Brazilian bikini possible (or skimpiest, my brain being on sensory overload it was HARD to tell), I was in complete AWE. I feel the need to attempt the impossible here: such sooth skin permeating a perfectly tanned voluptuous body that would make Jessica Alba jealous. Her long dirty blond hair blowing ever so gently in the wind as the muscular jiggle in her butt bounced side to side. Peaking at my curiosity, there was not a tan line to be scene anywhere, her flat stomach leading to her hour glass shaped hips that could make time stand still. She quickly glanced back with a perfect ten smile indicating; yes I know! Her eyes were filled with Charisma and the striking features of her face leading to young round sun kissed cheeks. A French goddess of perfection that would have any man swoon and quickly give away all the fortune for just one moment in time with her rapped in his arms. So there I was, desperately trying to focus on her instructions while fearing looking like a fool trying to get up on my board for the first time. She would dive into the oncoming waves that were trying as hard as my imagination to strip away those two little pieces of cloth separating temptation from heaven. I could and would like to go on forever about this picture perfect being; but I shall stop the incessant rambling there and continue with my story. Being a natural athlete and accomplished snowboarder, my initial attempts had the Ocean taking my pride away with the high tide. Its no easy thing to learn to surf, a completely different balance is needed on the open water. Eventually, I would get up and stand upon the wave with the surf breaking behind me as Zen filled present being. Crouching down in your stance, the body and mind are overwhelmed with sensations causing the mind to halt and the soul to begin. The sun began to set and leave an orange glow upon the face of the Ocean. I sat up on my board and simply marveled at the experience of it all. She could see, with a sense of pride, the feeling of joy I was experiencing; for I was in the moment of the Now. I moment I wish would’ve lasted forever. I was a surfer for the first time, a dream was checked off by my heart; this wonderful moment would never be forgotten. Yes, it was that absolutely breathtaking. Pura Vida forever! P.S. I took over 800 pictures in my month in Costa Rica. This story was the only one that escaped without being photographed; perhaps for the better. For my imagination will always hold a photo of this day tightly ingrained in my consciousness.
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Tags: , beauty, bikini, body, Brazilian, breathtaking, costa rica, day, features, first, forever, Fortuna, French, goddess, great, heaven, imagination, joy, lesson, lessons, luck, marveled, moments, ocean, Pura Vida, skimpy, striking, sunset, surf, surfing, tamarindo, temptation, the now, time, unbelievable, voluptuous, waves, Witch’s Rock surf camp, zen
So what is Guaro you ask? It’s a common myth that Costa Rica doesn’t have a national drink. In a nation of drinkers as prevalent as this one: of course there had to be a national drink, and what better then local moonshine dressed up in a respectable bottle and sold everywhere.
Costa Ricans love their booze as much as anyone; historically more then most. I tried to find some related statistics to share with you, but my research came up empty. I can tell you that I met many Costa Ricans or Ticos (as they like to be called), during my stay, and they all had the same thing to say when it came to alcohol. “Tico’s love to drink; love it.” Well, I guess that will have to do.
Many travelers and Tico’s won’t touch the stuff. Bollocks I say! I loved it. Here is how to enjoy it, and get Guaro-oed like we say at the Botella de Leche; the finest hostel in C.R. Straight up it tastes like a mild ouzo with a rubbing alcohol finish. For shots, definitely chill it and add some fresh squeezed limes to the shaker; refreshing and cheap. For cocktails, any juice will do; but a lemon lime juice is the best complement to this moonshine liquor. Like all moonshines, the effects on the body and mind are like a hot knife through butter; so take it easy at first. It also tends to linger longer in the system then most other boozes. I can tell you on many occasions in the morning while trying to get up early to make high tide; I was defiantly still Guaro-oed. Dizziness and wrenching headache had me climb right back into bed and try again tomorrow; both the surfing and Guaro. On my third night out in Tamarindo, we had a good group of travelers from the hostel hit the town together. The idea of doing some shots eventually surfaced; later reports indicating I was the culprit. So when we asked the bartender what the cheapest shots were; the bartender said with a knowing smile: “Guaro of course, it’s the national drink of Costa Rica”. Perfect. As first time Guaro drinkers, soon to be experts, we did them straight up; no ice or limes, in Dixie cups that were three quarters full. They were a thousand Colones each (two dollars), looking at the shear monstrosity of the shots in front of us; we thought it was a superb value and the next best thing to sliced bread. What ensued was shear drunken madness. I won’t attempt to describe it; partially because I don’t remember shit about it. I will tell you we did have a great night and Guaro became a short of local legend and tradition at the hostel. The night finished with Kalen and I, my new obliterated buddy, in a heated debate over the book The Power of Now. It almost ended badly until we both realized what belligerent fools we were when the sun started to rise. I got a funny facebook message a month later from Kalen that made me laugh my ass off. “I just wanted to inform you that I’m currently reading the Power of Now. hahaha, hope all is well dude, see ya again sometime soon!” Apparently on Guaro, Kalen was able to passionately debate the book without ever reading it. LOL Cheers buddy and Pura Vida forever. On Guaro the all knowing Wikipedia had this to say. “It is a clear liquor made from sugar cane, and therefore has a slightly sweeter taste than comparable liquors. Guaro is a popular alcoholic drink in Costa Rica, although in many places guaro can refer to almost any liquor. Guaro is made by a distillation process of sugarcane juices, resulting in an alcohol that is clear in color and has a slightly sweet flavor.Sometimes guaro is referred to as a “soft vodka” because it has a lower alcohol content than vodka. In Costa Rica, the government nationalized the manufacturing of Guaro in an effort to quell the clandestine production of liquor. The “Fabrica Nacional de Licores” (National Liquor Factory) was founded for this reason, and currently produces the only legal brand of Guaro, the Guaro Cacique. Some clandestine liquor production still occurs, but it is seen more as a tradition than a business because as it would be difficult to compete with the nationally produced guaro.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guaro_%28drink%29
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