We left Panama City on the 11th of February. Our captain drove us to a beautiful, remote, surf resort several hours outside of Panama City for a couple days off. It was a gorgeous location, nestled in the middle of a long stretch of beach, untouched by cities or stores, with beautiful waves that curled into sleek barrels consistently throughout the day. We arrived in the early evening and took the tender to the beach for a delicious dinner under the moonlight. During the days, we kayaked to the beach from our anchorage or rode the small tender in. Since the waves were a decent size, we would be dropped off as close as the boat could get and then jump off with surfboards and dry bags to surf in to the resort. When we arrived we were nothing short of amazed. A bohemian, modern-day hippie surf retreat in Playa Venao, it is owned by a beautiful young Israeli couple whose 5 kids bounce around their outdoor shaded paradise in the middle of nowhere. Their resort offers 3 different hotels for low, mid, and high income travelers, which brings a nice mix of people to interact with. The cost is fairly inexpensive, a decent room costing around $80 a night. All get to enjoy the bamboo outdoor living room and restaurant on the water, which are connected in a very home-like setting. Surfers and families lay on couches reading, ambient-massage parlor-ethnic music plays in the background, lunches arriving to hungry guests in the restaurant. A small circular thatch covered bar hangs off of the end of the living room, patrons tipping back cold beers and looking out at the set of waves rolling in. Little boys skateboard through the restaurant, mops of curly uncut hair. We sat outside in peace each day, quietly reading our books in the outdoor living room, drinking freshly blended fruit juices. I walked up and down the beach looking for shells and taking pictures. The surf was perfect and glass-like with gentle breezes. We would return to the boat for dinner and have barbecues on the swim platform every night and enjoy sunset together. After our three months in Panama City where our activities were limited in the big city to movies, malls, restaurants, bars, and casinos…it was nice to be out of the rat race and back into the breathing world. I had begun to forget again what it was like to be in the outdoors and to be quiet in nature. After our 3 days in one of the most amazing places I have been to, we made our way through perfect, calm waters to Costa Rica. We caught two large Mahi Mahi on our first afternoon out and sailed quietly for another day before reaching Quepos. After a couple days, we arrived.
Quepos is a quiet town known for its sports fishing and for Manuel Antonio National Park. It is one of the top destinations in Costa Rica for tourists from the U.S. but still a quiet and peaceful town with beautiful beaches, mountains in the backdrop with unreal jungle mist, and an occasional monkey hanging around. HOT as hell. So much hotter than Panama but I am happy for the exchange to be able to be on the water and to actually be docked at a marina and not anchored outside of the city. We re-provision here for our next trip, relax a bit, and then the madness begins as we slowly make our way up the Pacific Coast amidst 3 long guest visits with lots of hours of work ahead.
I have only to pinch myself every day to realize this life is not a dream. It has been such a blessing, such a healing, and necessary place for my heart to grow again. I am in the best shape of my life and able to help our crew to make healthy eating choices and to encourage exercise. Some people describe it as a lonely life and perhaps that is partly true. I consider it to be a quiet, reflective time for me and a gift at this time when I needed it so much. It is STILL hard for me to think about my dear Tilly, though I try to let it go more and more each day. I see her face in every stray dog that runs the streets and long for her energy and warmth in the mornings when I am not motivated to go on runs. It seems unbelievable that anyone could have been so attached to a dog but I guess I am starting to see now how lonely I really was when I was in Vancouver and hurting still so deeply after losing my relationship with Brian. She was the only living being I felt safe opening up all my love and care to, though I know I had people in my life I could have shared that with. The crutches that have been removed have been replaced with warm hearted and loving people that I live with and a career that allows me to open up my creativity and share it with others. It's funny how life turns out sometimes when we surrender to the leap of faith. I thank God for this opportunity. It has not only made me so grateful for all that is around me, but for all of those who stood beside and behind me to help me to get to this amazing place in my life. I am one very blessed lady.
No comments:
Post a Comment