Lester Earl.

Lester Earl McConnell is coming back into town this afternoon and I am SO excited. It's just not the same around here without him. Can't wait for our afternoon surf..."hya hya" and pushups. Gotta Love Les.

Oh Me, Oh My...OREJAS!

I know that I've mentioned it before -- and despite trying to "eat healthy", I simply cannot get enough of OREJAS. They are sweet, but not too sweet. They are delicious with your morning coffee, just right as a mid-afternoon after-surf snack, perfect dipped in some hot tea - or used as a spoon for vanilla bean ice cream. Soooo delightful. Atenas John introduced me to this highly-addictive, completely-unhealthy and ridiculously inexpensive treats. It's all his fault. Orejas are thin and kinda crispy...and some of them (depending upon the bakery) they are almost chewy on the bottom where all of the sugar has carmelized. Mmmmmm!!!

"Orejas” (’ears") are similar to Spain’s “palmeras,” France’s “palmiers,” and America’s “elephant ears.” The latin american pastry is flaky and sweetened and can look like either “palm leaves” or “ears.”

Atenas John, the ear-addict.

Mikey's Birthday.

Last night was my main man Mikey's birthday!! He partied....a lot....and when I borrowed the guitar from the band to serenade Mike with a song, he decided to enjoy the tune from the floor - a safe place. We all had a blast and the Chupacabra's put out some amazing tunes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE!!!!

* FYI : Monday's (dec 7th) Yoga @ El Vago's has been changed to ***9am****

Another Day, Another Doctor

Goddamnit. For as healthy as I eat, the supplements I take, and all the yoga that I do you would think that I'd have an infinite clean-bill of health. So you'd think. Atleast this time it was nothing serious (like when I was stranded in the Amazon), but we are back on Tico Time - and that means that you wait...and wait....and wait. Anyways, one hour and a hundred dollars later (we aren't in Ecuador anymore) I had my prescription in hand, was fully drenched in sweat, and headed back to Esterillos. Oh, it's not just me that's broken, the carborator on the Land Cruiser needs some TLC...aka it needs to be rebuilt. Not too worry, I have the only brand of car in Costa Rica that is easily fixed.

Shawn and I made curry shrimp over rice with a tomato salad for lunch, and now I'm going surfing. Vavavooooooom.

YOGA : Esterillos Oeste

Yoga Lessons are ON.

Starting this MONDAY (December 7th) at 7am.

*****

Where: El Vago (Esterillos Oeste),
on the opposite side of the fence where the pool tables are

When: MONDAYS & THURSDAYS 7am
This time is subject to change: influenced by the waves and the tide. Pretty soon there will be a board up out front of Brett's surf shop stating any time changes. Also, there will be emails sent if times are changed, if you'd like to be a part of this mailing list then email me with the subject line YOGA : cailin.callahan@gmail.com

How Much: Donation
This is something that I stressed over. I certainly can't charge what I charged in the states, and I don't want to discourage anyone from coming if they are low on cash - yoga is for EVERYONE - so I decided to put out a "LOVE BUCKET" and you can make a donation of your choice. I'd like to recommend around a 2mil donation, but use your discretion.
What to Bring: Yoga Mat, Blocks, Pillow, Strap
All of this is completely optional, aside from the mat (if you don't have a mat, don't fret...I have a few that are available to loan). Blocks, a pillow and a strap are just nice accessories to have. A small throw pillow helps aid some different asanas (postures), and the blocks and straps help deepen poses as well. Again, if you just show up empty handed this is fine - and if you show up with a mat EVEN BETTER :)

Yoga should be done in a peaceful, clean, spacious area -- with that said, it's somewhat limiting in Oeste. Yoga can really be done anywhere, I've taught it on the beach in Jersey, done it on a sailboat in the Galapagos, and been cramped into a congested downstairs basement -- but VAGO has been wonderful enough to let us Yogi's take over the other half of his bar. This spot is ideal because it is a flat surface, right on the beach - with a roof, rescuing us from the sun and rain. As I said, the 7am time may be subject to change on days that there are waves and the hide tide is early -- but it shouldn't interfere too much. I hope to see some familiar (and unfamiliar) faces this coming Monday, and remember - YOGA is for EVERYONE. All skill levels are welcomed...from first timers to the advanced Yogi. Different variations of asanas will be demonstrated and I urge the beginners to listen to their bodies and take it slow.

Namaste!

Yoga can be done anywhere, and I'm thankful that VAGO has let us use his place...

Yoga atop the volcano Sierra Negra, Galapagos Islands


Yoga along the hostal walk-way, Banos, Ecuador

Yoga @ Hostal Tiana, Latacunga, Ecuador

Yoga on a post, Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands

Yoga aboard the sailboat Sulidae, Galapagos Islands

mini update.

Had some of the crew over last night for a Greek Feast...MmMmMm good. This morning had Pat, Maria and Adam over for a "test" yoga class. Well, all went pretty great and I think that I'm going to start holding class twice a week. Pretty sick right now, still fighting off snot and a fever...slept for 5 hours this afternoon! BAH. Trying to get it together and get healthy...high season is right around the corner. Tonight is the Full Moon Party @ LowTide Lounge and tomorrow is MIKEY'S BIRTHDAY!! I'm going to bake him a key lime pie...MmmMm. God, I love food.

Going to sign up for some SPANISH LESSONS...enroll in school or private lessons, so for all of you people in Costa Rica - if you have any recommendations, fire them at me!

Yo Regreso para DOMINICAL.

Hey Hey Hey. SO, after a huge thanksgiving feast @ El Vago I rolled myself back to the Soda and somehow managed to surf...and have a great session. It was early to bed that night...at Pat's, even though I had Annes, cause I was a little scared of the dark - it being a new place and all! PLUS, I definitely wanted to spend my Thanksgiving with Pat, silly to sleep all alone in my new casita. The next morning I woke up early, packed a bag for Dominical (did I mention that I STILL have yet to unpack my Ecuador bag?!?) and trekked down the hill to the Soda. Noah, (Atenas) John and I were hopping in John's car for a 3 day trip to Dominical. John had never been and I was glad to be able to show him around my old stomping grounds. The bumpy, awful 3 hour drive was an hour and a half of smooth sailing on pavement!!! What a WONDERFUL surprise!! We were arrived in no-time and set up camp @ Tortilla Flats....20 bucks a night for the 3 of us, right on the beach. We surfed some not-so-great-waves and then I was sound asleep by 630pm. Seriously. I woke up the next morning at 6am. Did some yoga, had coffee and gallo pinto at my favorite SODA NANYOA with John, and then we headed up to Billy's house. The boys were obviously blown away by the beauty of Bill's oasis, but still wanted to go for a surf in the (crappy) waves in Dominical. I opted to hang at Bill's and head over with him to Jeff and Kris's house while he worked on their car. I played with their dog rita, read my Yoga magazine, and shot the shit with Jeff...comparing our Ecuador/Galapagos stories (he was there in the 70's.....). Met up with the boys later at Billy's and I made us a big dinner: a nice salad, linguine with homemade sauce, bread and roasted garlic in olive oil. We had OREJAS for dessert. You are going to hear a ton about Oreja's...so I'll prep you. "Oreja" means EAR. This dessert is just flour, sugar and honey but holy christ it's delicious...and it somewhat resembles an ear. Anyways, having slept for 12 hours the night before, I was ready for a night out...and hoping to see some old friends. The 3 of us went to Que Nivel, my friend Taylor's bar, and hung out with the crew...so good to catch up over a few beers. And though we said we weren't going to go to the disco, Roca Verde, at midnight John and I were hopping in the cab en route for some dancing!!! We got home a little after 2 am, woke up Noah - pissed off Noah...both the boys went to sleep, and continually ripped awful farts from then until 8am that morning. Our last day in town, today, was the most successful surf day. It was windy, but the waves were fun and fast and a decent size. I said goodbye to all my friends and then hopped back in the car, back to Esterillos. Rolled into town, stopped at El Vago, had a club soda and some gratis Chicheronnes and then up to my little casita to FINALLY unpack and do some fucking laundry!!! BAH. Tonight I'm headin to Cameron's for dinner...he's making a pineapple curry, and then tomorrow Adam and I pick up Shawnie at the airport. VaVaVOOOOM.

Thanksgiving, Oeste Style.

I woke up this morning, totally overwhelmed by all that I was thankful for. This year I am going to dedicate this thanksgiving blog to Eseterillos Oeste, though it certainly extends much further than here, I feel a special connection with this place and these people.

I am thankful for Pat. After a month of traveling with me, I have been camped out at her house, in her bed, in her space...she is truly family. I tell her my thoughts and dreams and fears and she listens...with an open mind and open heart. Í'm thankful for her CONSTANT positivity and her ability to see the best in everyone. I am thankful for Mikey. He drove 3 hours to the airport to pick me up when I arrived from the states...along with my 9foot double board bag, my guitar, and my huge bookbag. Bah. THEN, a month later, he drove back AGAIN to the airport to pick up Pat and I. He is always there when you need him, and as apathetic as he always comes across, he is infinitely stoked and he certainly lives up to his nickname, THE LEGEND. I'm thankful for Soda Mary and the whole crew that makes up this wonderful group of rifraf. Brett. Lagarto. When Pat and I pulled into town late at night, everyone was waiting for us - cold beer, burgers and smiles and hugs. Brett, who drinks like a goddamn fish and has a heart of gold. I'm thankful for the love he gives me, the meals he cooks me, and his neverending want to make ya happy. I'm thankful for ADAM, that motherfucker. Love him to death. He hauls my ass around in the car to wherever I need to go, makes up some MEAN french toast and hashbrowns, and has let me store my boatload of shit in his spare bedroom. He is constantly busting my chops, but it's always out of love. I'm thankful for Cameron...for "Cam and Eggs", for his UNDYING PASSION for the water, he is a wave-slave through and through. I'm thankful for his shared love of food and cookies with tea...and I'm thankful for his soft-spoken kindness and constant generosity. I'm thankful for Noah, his simplicity...love of waves and weed, and for his inspiration in the water. I'm thankful for Adam's BEAUTIFUL girlfriend Maria, for welcoming me into the town and instantly as a friend. I'm thankful for her being patient with my shitty spanish and for her smile. I'm thankful for CRAZY STEVE, who despite being absolutely insane is an amazing, interesting, complex and talented person. I'm thankful for his rendition of ALL ALONG THE WATCHTOWER, his extravagant stories of being on the road with rockstars: sex, drugs and rock and roll, and for his passion of raw food -- I'm currently eating some figs he grew that are soaked in raw honey. BAH. Delightful. I'm thankful for Lika, little lika, the dog of a local gardener in town. She is small and fat and somewhat resembles a mini-pin, but she is so happy all the time that her body wiggles all over the place. The other dog in town that makes me so happy is STAINER, the local cooks dog who sets up his home wherever he pleases. Sweet to the core and one of the best dogs in Costa Rica. I'm thankful for Anne, allowing me to set up camp in her home for the next 5 weeks, for free. I'm thankful for every little act of kindness that everyone in this town has shown me, and there have been MANY. I'm thankful that despite being thousands of miles away from my family that I love so much, I still manage to feel at home. El Vago is having a thanksgiving feast today, and I'm thankful for the community that I will share it with.

I'm thankful for Oeste...for offering up a family in every sense of the word.

I am THANKFUL.

Home Sweet Home

I'm back home in Oeste and damn, it feels good to be back. Mikey picked us up from San Jose and when Pat and I pulled into Oeste there was a welcoming party waiting for us, as well as a few cold beers and 1/2 pound monster burgers. We were deliriously tired so the party didn't last too long. I stayed with Pat...the poor woman couldn't shake me if she tried!! I bought some food for her fridge and promised to cook her delicious meals as well as some free yoga classes. We get along like 2 peas in a pod, so it's no problem really. Since I've been back I've been trying to catch up with the crew, log some water time, and edit the 3,000 photos that Pat and I took! Well, when we were sitting on her porch today, reminiscing about our great trip and trying to figure out where I'm going to live and work in town, Anne came walking up the stairs with a proposition. Anne is from Canada, but has lived in Costa Rica for years now. She is heading home for the holidays and her house will be empty for the next 5 weeks...and she needed someone to watch the place. SO, for the next month I will be living in an amazing place for $40 (I have to pay the utilities), and now all I need is to find a job! Wohooo, pura vida is in action.

Galapagos Part 2

So...I´m not going to write day by day descriptions...I´m just going to fill you in on some of the highlights during the last 4 days aboard the Sulidae, sailing the Galapagos, with some of the most wonderful people.

Poop.

We had a slight poo problem. Actually, it was a MAJOR poo problem. The toilets aboard the sailboat were pretty interesting, and add some poo into the bowl and it was just no good for anyone. The first two days I managed to flush my morning poo´s with the assistance of Pat. God bless her. The pump to flush the toilet is right next to the bowl, so as you are frantically pumping you are simultaneously face to face with the dirty deed. Ew. I have never been so intimate with poop in my whole life. I finally stepped on deck and desperately asked if anyone else was having flush problems, and luckily my dear friends and neighbors aboard the sulidae, Peter and Shane, were having some serious problems as well. They had to call Floro to bail them out once or twice, but said that with about a half hour worth of time, plunging the toilet with the toilet cleaner, adding water and pumping - all at the same time - you could manage to get most of it down. Shane and I often got into discussions about our FEAR to go to the bathroom. When you wake up at 6am, having to shit like you wouldn´t believe, we would lie in bed on the brink of tears...knowing that our sleepy morning would start off staring at last nights dinner. !Que malo! Anyways, on day 3 we started having serious problems and I had to call on Floro to flush for us more times than I´d care to share. One time I left a nice note on the toilet (he cleans the rooms while we were on excursions), other times I cried and apologized, and sometimes I just laughed hysterically because really...who knew that poo could be so stressful!! Shit! Literally...shit! Pat and I laughed about it every morning as we battled the toilet, clenching our sides and gasping for air as we laughed about how frustrating and funny and totally gross our situation was. And every day that we left, having left a present for Floro to clean up, we were worried that he wouldn´t be able to look at us the same...but everytime upon our arrival back, we entered our room to beautifully folded towels! (side note- floro didnt fold anyone elses towels...just ours. and not only did he fold them, but they were folded into swans, hearts, manta rays, snakes and more!).

Peter...and his several ATTACKS

We were in town, killing some time and all of the sudden here comes Peter, covered in blood!! He cries that he was attacked by a tree, and though Pat, Shane and I love him dearly we all could not control our hysterical laughter. No good deed goes unpunished, and when Peter ran to retrieve a stray volleyball from the game going on at the courts, he ran face first into a vicious tree!! He´s lucky that he didn´t break his nose or break his teeth, and even more lucky that his bestest bud and bunk mate is a doctor. When we got back to the boat Shane began nursing him back to health. He gave him ibprofuen, and set up a cleaning station...hot water, salt, and neosporin cream. He cleaned out the inside of his lip, cleaned up his nose and nursed the wounds. Poor Peter...battered and bruised and bloody, though he still managed to choke down two plates of food for dinner.

Attack Number 2. Despite his face, Peter accompanied me snorkeling in Libera (no one else would go in because it was too cold). We saw several turtles and a couple seals. Well, it´s mating season in the Galapagos, and the male sea lions are very aggressive. As we were getting out of the water, the male sea lion on the beach became very aggitated and then quick as lightening he jetted into the water and bit Peters ass!! It all happened so quickly, and once again - knowing that he was alive - the 3 of us laughed til we cried. Peter, the big German in his tiny speedo, bitten in the arse by a sea lion. What are the fucking odds. Once again, upon our return to the ship, Doctor Shane busted out his tools and cleaned up Peters buttocks. We have pictures to prove it.

Unfortunately traveling through the Galapagos with a tour guide is a little like being on a field trip in preschool. Over supervised and completely obnoxious. Well, we finally see a Blue Footed Booby and Peter dashes into the water so he can get a closer view and some good photos. Our guide is having a heartattack because Peter is in knee deep water and he may ¨cut his foot on a rock¨...mind you, Peter is 32 years old and has traveled the world 5 times over. She was calling for him the way that a kindergarten teacher scolds a child. Peter held strong though and trekked on to get some amazing photos. While we were walking away the guide said ¨Well, he´s been attacked by a tree and a sea lion, anything is possible with that boy.¨ Hahahahaha. Oh peter.

Our Final Days

Our last two days aboard the Sulidae were the best. We got EIGHT new people on board, most of them rather dry, but we got two AMAZING people, Walter and Ellen. Walt and Ellen have lived on their sailboat for 14 years now, traveling the world...they are amazing people with amazing stories, and hopefully they will be sailing into Costa Rica sometime this winter for a visit. The 4 of us became quick friends with them and the laughs continued. The two final days were in San Cristobal, the best of the islands. We had sunshine for TWO WHOLE DAYS, a nice alternative to the drab weather we´d been having. Also, we got lots of water time. We snorkeled at some amazing spots...with sharks, turtles, manta rays, and more seal lions. Peter wasn´t attacked and all was well in the water world. We had some time in town so we rented bikes, and within 5 minutes we stopped at the bakery for some pastries and cold milk. In town on the beach were all the mothers and their little babies...so we saw them nursing, which was precious. At night we took the panga back into town with Floro. We were the only people in the bar, but played some pool and drank lots of beer.


The 4 of us left Saturday morning, and the guide was glad to see us go. I think she was more used to old, rich ¨bird watchers¨who didnt want to wade through rocky water to take photos, and who relied on a strict schedule. We laughed all the way back to Quito, where Pat and decided to forgo Otavalo and spend the rest of the day with the boys. We checked back into Secret Garden, my FAVORITE hostal, and then we all met up at Peters´friends home thats just here in town. We had some drinks, went out for some pizza, then had a sad goodbye. Two wonderful gentlemen, whom I feel VERY blessed to have met. Pat and I are already planning our trip to Venezuela this January to visit Peter. Pat went right to bed after dinner, and though that was my plan, my friends at Secret Garden felt otherwise. I played some music and then Ravi and Mindy twisted my arm into loading onto the party bus to new town to go salsa dancing. I had a BLAST dancing, though I will say I´m just not crazy about ¨structured dancing¨ such as salsa. Came home, did some yoga in the computer room with Ravi at around 2am, and then slept til NINE the next morning. I love Ecuador.

Pat and I are now at Secret Garden and ready to leave town tomorrow. Tonight is some world domination card competitions, music and maybe some yoga. Tomorrow night is beers back in Esterillos Oeste with the fam. Pura Vida.