Tama-Lindo

I got back from Tamarindo last night at about 8pm. I had one of the best weekends of my life!

Our ride there was about 5 hours but it was fun because there were about 20 of us on the bus and we were talking and laughing and for once, seeing the mountains from inside them, instead of outside. We were all excited to "be on vacation" this weekend and everything was new and exciting. We actually drove through the clouds! Here is a pic of us in the bus...

We got to our hotel, which was not the best place I had ever stayed in, but it did the job. Our AC was broken and we didn't have any towels, but since I have been here, I have just not cared about things like that... we used our beach towels when we needed one! (I think we were also too lazy to go get another room...) I stayed with a girl named Lilly who has quickly become a great friend of mine. She is interesting and well traveled and an Art major in Salt Lake City. She is a hippy/surfer chick who just learned how to surf. Basically, she is a damn good time. She is trying to convince me to "backpack" in Panama with her when I am done with school here...

So we got to the hotel and went to eat at a nearby restaurant. We got a "bottle" of wine, which was really 3 mini-glasses and some pizzas. Pizza is big in Tamarindo, we learned. After dinner, Lilly, and 2 other of our new friends Bryant and Nelle, and I went to this bar called Monkey Club. Here we tried to Latin-dance the night away.

The next day, Saturday, we woke up and went directly to the beach. We purchased lawn chairs and an umbrella for $10 for the whole day. We layed here all day, jumping in the beautiful ocean and playing in the waves occasionally. The beach was comfortably filled with people, surfers, vendors and dogs and it was surrounded by beautiful, lush, green mountains. The beach was on the Pacific north coast of Costa Rica and the water was VERY warm and clean. After a lazy morning of sitting on the beach and playing in the water, Lilly, another girl Nicole and I took surf lessons!! They were so much fun. Our instructor was very helpful and we all stood up on the first try!!! We had a two hour private lesson for $35 and it was well worth it! Lilly was a rockstar surfer (we learned later that she is a snow boarder so it was much easier for her) but I definitely will need some more practice. I was pretty good for my first time, but certainly not able to do it with out being pushed by my teacher.

After surfing we went and got a quick dinner (pizza again actually) and went back to the room to wash the ocean off of us. We later found "board burns" and that surfing causes sore ribs. For the rest of the night, the "surfers" of the day bonded over how sore and tired we were and poked each other in the ribs to be jerks because it hurts SO bad. It feels like a mixture of sore muscles and bruises, and I actually can't lay on my stomach still... It was so much fun though. :) :) My surf instructor below...

Later that night we went out to a few different places. We started at a small beach bar which was beautiful. I took a lot of pictures here because it was so pretty. I felt so euphoric from the whole day that I was in love with everything. The streets of Tamarindo at night are so worth the trip on their own. It's such a cute little town with Christmas-esque lights strewn across the streets and cute little store fronts and restaurants. After this beach bar, we went gathered the rest of our group and went to a few other bars. Highlights include: us thinking that Martin "had game" and realizing (today) that he was accidentally talking to a hooker all night; walking along the beach at night; meeting a lot of fun people; ladies night=free drinks; dancing; late night swimming at our hotel pool; lots of laughs and so much more. I did accidentally drop my camera in the sand, and now the lens wont close, but at least it wasn't in the water, per my usual MO. I'm going to have to get it fixed though (a little computer duster should do it)!

Sunday morning we woke up and headed back to the beach, in the same spot, and hung out until we had to leave. We tried surfing again, but being so sore from the day before and the much more crowded area made for not so great conditions.

I purchased a lot of jewelry, which really isn't like me. I got 2 bracelets, a necklace and a ring. I havent been wearing my "good" jewelry because if I got robbed, I would be devastated to lose it, so I spent like $4 on a little wooden ring and wear that instead. :)

The ride back to San Jose was a bit of a mess. Our ride to Tamarindo was 5 hours, the ride back was 7. There was so much traffic from the weekend get-awayers going back into the city and a lot of people were complaining about not being able to do any homework because they got home so late... etc. If they were smart (like me!) they would have done it before the weekend started. I was completely relaxed on the way home and was not bothered by the traffic in the slightest bit. The entire weekend was so serene and perfect for me. Plus, Lilly and I were laughing at stupid things the entire way home, so I had fun.

I am DEFINITELY going back to Tamarindo and you all should go too. I know that some of you are surfers, so you would definitely love it there, but even those of you who aren't, will love it. I recommend it 100%, don't have any complaints about it; it became my favorite place ever! Even if you are not into beaches, some of the other people in our group went horseback riding through the mountains and saw some monkeys! There is so much to do there, that I cant WAIT to go back. Who's coming with me?!?!

The amazing weekend left me with some sunburn, surfer-blonde hair, mosquito bites, sore ribs and surfboard burns but all in all, it was truly amazing.

Now its back to the real world: MUCHO school work and rainy San Jose (which doesn't suck). My first week here has been amazing so far, and has flown by so fast. Next weekend: Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast..... :) :)

Much love!