Santa Teresa, Costa Rica day 8

Holy crap! have we been here a week already?  Feels like we just got here...

 

It was a very nice day today, actually everyday is nice, kind of like this! ...The water is about 75degrees...just right. The beach stretches for miles and miles, there are some rocky outcroppings along the way with lots of cool shells and tidepools with all kinds of crabs running around and fish, stingrays jumping out of the water, lots of life...just watch out for the miniature jellyfish that can be found washed up on the beach here and there...Tracey may have stepped on one the other day and got a little sting on her big toe but it's hard to say.

It was so dang hot on the beach today that we had to retreat to the shade.  Good thing there are trees lining the beach so all you have to do is find a spot that is unclaimed.  We are staying on a relatively uncrowded section of the beach...which is good. The only local Costa Ricans we have made friends with was this dog that hung out with us all day yesterday.  Curiously, it seems like there are just as many Italians in Santa Teresa than Costa Ricans or anyone else. Many have settled down and started hotels, restaurants, and surf shops.   Very international vibe here, touristy is some areas but not others, lots of development though...The whole town is on one very long street sprinkled with backpacker hostels, local sodas, fancy resort hotels, markets, an eclectic mix...(isn't much nightlife or dancing clubs...still a sleepy surf town)..I have a feeling that in 10-20 years, most of the Costa Ricans that currently own property on the main drag will get bought out by some rich investors, many of them already have left. At the moment though, it still has some local flavor.

 

Yes, if you're not smiling in this place, there is probably something wrong with you.

 

We have a hammock on our porch...Ben is demonstrating how to take a nap after a 3 hour surf session and a huge plate of gallo pinto (which we make ourselves...muy bien!)

 

This is our cozy little surf shack...A/C, kitchen, wifi, outdoor shower...what else do you need?...just a 5 minute walk to the waves and you don't even have to wear sandals, just need a pair of shorts and a board.  There are 2 other bungalows like this on the property, each one is self-sufficient.  The owner lives in a  house up above...he is an Italian named Ugo.

Tracey with her sick ass rental board..6'8"x 20.5" wide x 2 1/2"...she is definitely getting the hang of it. Today she caught a better wave than I did and rode it all the way in.  The waves are about 3' faces, which is about as small as it gets around here.  There is always something to surf in Santa Teresa.  Best time to go is in the morning when its glassy, but evening sunset sessions are nice too.

 Oh yeah!!! My new baby... Just picked up my new board that I had custom made by Italian-shaper Dennis of Denga Surf Shop.  He did it in 5 days can you believe that! 6'2 x 21" wide x 2 1/2" thick with full rails, 5 fin plugs so I can ride it as a quad or a thruster.  Swallow tail and Fish-like design because I'm into the retro thing. We even have an extra bed for it to sleep in.

F-ing' sweet what can I say?  Tracey has her eye on it, so hopefully I'll get to ride it once or twice, we better hurry up and get her a board now too!  She isn't quite sure what she wants yet....

Ok gang, hasta luego!