It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas...

Arrived home just in time for a huge snowstorm. Yesterday morning I was put to work shoveling the driveway and sweeping off the cars. It steady snowed all day yesterday, through the night. Our Christmas Party was a bit smaller than planned, only the daring and adventurous making their way through the blizzard all in the name of a Callahan party. We ate and drank and ate and drank, and half the party slept over. We woke this morning for more shoveling and breakfast! I made my green scrambled eggs {portobella mushrooms, onions, spinach and asparagus} with homemade scrapple on the side and a little bowl of chili. Boom. The days plan is to play in the snow, eat, watch movies, eat, shovel, eat, watch movies and eat. I'm coming back to Costa Rica 15 pounds heavier....with a huge smile on my face.

Cold Weather, Hot Chocolate

After a day of traveling I am now sitting in Miami International Airport...ALMOST to my final destination, filthy Philadelphia. It's chilly here, yep - even in Miami! But I gotta say, I was thankful for the chilly weather - if only for a few minutes - so that I could enjoy a $3 Starbucks Hot Chocolate. Damn...deliciouso! It's little things like hot chocolate that I appreciate about being home, because hot chocolate in hot weather just isn't the same. Also, as much as I've been trying to get into the Christmas "Spirit" in Costa, it's difficult while you are wearing a bathingsuit and sweating all day. Sure, Tico's decorate with christmas lights and festive christmas trees - but nothing puts me more into the holiday mood than my parents house on the holidays - it looks like ol' saint nick just threw up christmas all over the place! Top to bottom! Christmas lights, christmas music, and christmas decorations galor. Did I mention that my ma makes egg nog that has so much booze in it that it will literally put hair on your chest and fur on your tongue?! Soooo goood. So... Ho Ho Ho, I think that I'm going to enjoy being home for the holidays. Extra hot chocolate...MmMmM.

La Dron's Strike Again!!

CSI Samara!

My last night in Samara we were robbed. The thieves got away with some sweet gear - about 18,000$ worth!! 6 Mac Laptops, several ipods, speakers, external hard-drives, cash and a boatload of clothes... they even took all of the guys flip flops from outside and the boardshorts they had hanging on the back of chairs. Poor Dietz - they took everything he owned, except for his Green Man suit and the clothes that he was wearing - boxers and a shirt that said "Babes and Waves" in neon writing. They took Lenny's whole bookbag - wallet, passport - everything. None of the guys speak Spanish, so I stayed an extra day to be an interpreter. Well, typical Costa RIca - we get down to the police station and they act as if we are the first people to EVER get robbed in Costa Rica. I can't explain it to people who haven't been here - but for those of you who are from Costa or frequent this beautiful country, you know that something as basic as filing a police report in a thieve-filled-country can take a WHOLE DAY. We were here, we were there - we talked to this person, that person and that persons friend. Brian took matters into his own hands, going around to some locals and ruffing them up and talking to his good friends who live in town and know whats up. The "OIJ" which is similar to the FBI came to our house and dusted for FINGERPRINTS. HA. We all just laughed. I'm totally bummed for the guys, but glad that none of us ran into the robbers...who knows what could have happened. The bad guys had been watching the house and waited for us to go to bed - and anyone who entered a house with NINE full grown men in it - one of them a very scary Brian Bourgeios - well, they must have been armed - cause there is no way that they had the cajones otherwise. Another quote for Costa Rica is "Welcome to Costa Rica, you've just been robbed." Have a beer. Pura Vida.

You Can't Have a PLAN in Costa Rica...but You Can Have a BEER.

Been having a good time in the house. I can't stress enough what a sweet place that Brian got - and how stoked I am on Ben paying for all the food, just letting me cook up whatever I want. It's like a mini bed and breakfast....and I think that I'm pretty good at it and that this is my calling in life. Surfed Camaronal today -- got ripped again by Ben and Brian for being a "BD"..."Barrel Dodger". Ha. Still, got some super fun waves and Nate got them on film. Woohooo. I am supposed to leave tomorrow after our morning surf. This was the plan. But...the problem is that we are in Costa Rica, and in Costa Rica you cannot have a plan. Waves should stay this way - small and fun...and their friend Johnny, who is opening a sushi restaurant, is coming over tomorrow and making sushi for all of us...IF I decide to stick around. The holdup is my yoga lesson on Thursday morning. I hate to let down my students, so I'm going to try and find a balance. Hmmmm -- I will make my decision tomorrow after the surf.

Pura Vida.

Marbella.

SO - last night we surfed Camaronal - and it was well overhead with no one out. Surfed til sunset and then headed back to the house where I made some dinner. Earlier that day I made a breakfast that Ben was stoked on...so later on he insisted that I went to the supermarket with him. He basically just followed me around with the baskets and let me buy anything and everything, and he paid for it. I was excited to have all of this food to cook and eat, and was even more excited that I didn't have to pay for it. Anyways -for dinner I whipped up some salad and pasta. MmMmMm delicious. We retired early...no need to repeat our previous night of rum and more rum. I was asleep by 8pm. This morning we were all up at 5am and prepping for an hour ride to Marbella, a spot a bit north of Nosara. The ride was bumpy and river-filled, but we arrived to perfect head high beachbreak with only 3 people out. Ben (Bouregious) is a pro-surfer and was a little bummed about the "small" waves, but inside I was doing jumping jacks!! THANK GOD! I didn't want to surf death barrels, and from the looks of it Marbella gets pretty insane, not exactly prime conditions for a log. Ben and Brian were giving me lessons on how to get barreled, legitimately and in a fast, firing wave. I wasn't so successful with this, but I did get some super fun waves and the cameraman Nate got clips of a few of em. Woohooo!! Tonight two more people arrive and for dinner we are having fish tacos!! Pura Vida.

Rum...with a shot of ginger ale.

Rum...with a shot of ginger ale.

Last night I had 3 rums, on ice -- with a splash of ginger ale and a wedge of lime. The most I've drank in a while...sleep deprived and stressed from 3 point turns, my 3 drinks put me over the edge and right to bed. The search for waves begins....

Samara.

I arrived in Samara, and I didn't kill or maim anyone. I still stand strong on my love for automatic cars, this stick shift shit is simply not for me. Atleast this clown car that I am renting for way-too-much-a-day has power steering and power brakes....but everytime I think that I have this whole "stick shift" thing down I pull some dumb shit: for example....

-passing a truck, putting car in 5th gear to do so, after passing - going back down to 4th but accidentally put into 2nd gear...car clearly doesnt like this and freaks out and the truck which i just passed almost ran me over.

-missing my exit...going down an empty dead end street...trying to make a 3 point turn and stall, 6 times. thats 2 times for each point in the 3 point turn - and by the end of it there are 3 cars beeping at me -- clearly not as amused as i was at my inability to drive in reverse.

I could go on, but for my parents sanity I will stop there. Mom and Dad (and Shawn) - I promise...I'm not an AWFUL driver, just a couple slipups, and I'm still ALIVE!!! woohooo!!!

I arrive into Samara in 4 hours and miss Brian and the video guy, Nate, by 10 minutes. Kill well over an hour outside of the amazing house I will be staying at. House locked up - I'm held hostage by my car which makes Adam's golf cart look like a luxury ride - because I don't want hoodlums to steal my shit.

My internet won't work on my ancient laptop - so I'm forced to borrow some internet time from one of the boys - who are more addicted to the world wide web than I am!! Holy shit.

Gotta go. Pura Vida. Pray for waves, cause right now its FLAT.

Yoga in Da Ghetto.

Monday and Thursday morning Yoga Classes are a HIT!! I'm so proud of the regular Yogi's who have been coming out and to the NEW Yogi's who have discovered a love in Yoga! Today Brett brought along two of his surf students, telling them that this was part of the surf lesson! hahaha. Oh Lagarto, you are a paddling MACHINE! It's all causa yoga - and I think that you are lookin skinnier already....

I'm so glad that the class is a success and I'm sure that it will only get better. There's only one trouble maker in the class, Adam -- always talking about how different asanas ("poses") affect his balls, but that's okay - we just get into the Zen Zone...and well, zone him out.

Oh Adam...

{Also being zoned out...the very loud, very smelly trash truck "Okay class, very shallow, short breaths...}

Hasta Luego Atenas John!

John and I: Taking a break from Orejas and
snacking on some Passion Fruit in Dominical.

John Barret Lancaster left Costa Rica today. For the past two years he has been living in Atenas and spending as much time as possible down the beach here at Esterillos Oeste, camped out at the one and only, Soda Mary. John is headed back to the States (Georgia) for the next 4 years to become a chiropractor - and he plans to return a hopefully start up a practice in the neighboring town, Jaco. John - you will be missed...but we know that we will be seeing you again!

Me, John and Pat -- party hats @ Mikey's Bday Fiesta.

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!