Surfing Nosara

Quote of the Day "I don't ignore you 90% of the time, I ignore you 40% of the time"
(Erik responding to Sarah yesterday)

Erik, Andrew, and I decided on a whim that we could all benefit from a brief vacation...so we left our paradise for a five-day stint in someone else's paradise. Last week we headed for Bocas del Toro, Panama- a group of 9 islands off of the caribbean coast of panama near the Costa Rica border. After a bumpy hour-long Nature Air flight, we landed on the principal island of Colon. In the airport we brushed elbows with professional surfer, Damien Hobgood, who graciously posed for a shot with our little ripper.

We stayed on a small island, Carenero, population 436. While Colon was busy with cars, restaurants and bars, Carenero was a quiet retreat. We island hopped for $1, in a 3-minute boat taxi ride.
(Island of Colon)

(Island of Carenero)

Each morning, the guys woke up and hailed boat taxi's to take them to different surf spots. Kemper and I opted to sleep in and enjoy a lazy breakfast in our hotel, The Acuario.

The landscape of the islands is much different than our hometown; in the hazy morning hours I was fondly reminded of the Blue Ridge mountains- looking from Carenero toward the Panama mainland, each island stacks upon the next, adding a lighter shade of blue.
The view from our room

Walking around the gritty, coral sand, we discovered algae, broken coral, and sponges. The small beaches, while not very kid-friendly, are overhung with beautiful palms and other shade-giving trees.

On a morning hike, Kemper and I discovered a small peninsula which looked like the picture-perfect picnic spot.

Many of the hotels and restaurants are built out on docks over the water....Key West meets Crystal River may be the best way to describe the overall landscape and ambiance.

The islands have an entirely different feel from our home; the natives are very dark skinned and speak an 'island' Spanish with traces of Haitian and Jamaican influence. Lemongrass, coconut, and curry are the predominant flavors on the typical menus. The police have a very strong presence and enforce the no open bottle in the street policy.

While I enjoyed seeing a new landscape, tasting new flavors and traditions, I couldn't wait to return home again. Kemper couldn't wait to tear off her life jacket and run freely on our wide open beaches. Erik couldn't wait to get back to work. And Andrew couldn't wait to see Magnus again. It was a great trip....if only Nature Air could make room for the surfboards! The guys have all suffered now for over a week waiting on their boards to return from San Jose...

Playing on the dock of our hotel