At the beach everything is different. Time does not move hour to hour, but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and we'll forever follow the sun. — Author Unknown
Sunday, November 4, 2012 (DAY 245)
Today is the national election in Nicaragua, and unsure of how the crowd reactions may overtake even the small beach community of SJDS, a small group of us has decided for a day trip to Playa Hermosa. It is just after 12pm when we pile into the white SUV that Mandy and Nat have rented and since Simon is the tallest he has been afforded the luxury of being relocated to the front passenger seat leaving me sitting flanked between two Aussies, Damo and Mandy. Taking in the scenery, especially upon reaching the entrance to the private beach, I feel as though I am back in the jungles of Guatemala. The thick dense greenery that canopies high above us as we charge forward over uneven dirt roads that has us cross over several small streams and rivers, I am just picturing an advert back home for the latest and greatest all sport utility vehicle that of course, is never used in this manner but sticks to the routine of safely paved highway roads. After finding a parking space and carrying our bags down the path towards the sandy beach, we stop to rent two surfboards for the day before making it to the most northern secluded hut. The view is incredible in spite of the irregular colder waters of the Pacific today, but when there is nothing but blue skies and sunshine with 90-degree temps, this is the most minor discomfort of the day.
Today is the national election in Nicaragua, and unsure of how the crowd reactions may overtake even the small beach community of SJDS, a small group of us has decided for a day trip to Playa Hermosa. It is just after 12pm when we pile into the white SUV that Mandy and Nat have rented and since Simon is the tallest he has been afforded the luxury of being relocated to the front passenger seat leaving me sitting flanked between two Aussies, Damo and Mandy. Taking in the scenery, especially upon reaching the entrance to the private beach, I feel as though I am back in the jungles of Guatemala. The thick dense greenery that canopies high above us as we charge forward over uneven dirt roads that has us cross over several small streams and rivers, I am just picturing an advert back home for the latest and greatest all sport utility vehicle that of course, is never used in this manner but sticks to the routine of safely paved highway roads. After finding a parking space and carrying our bags down the path towards the sandy beach, we stop to rent two surfboards for the day before making it to the most northern secluded hut. The view is incredible in spite of the irregular colder waters of the Pacific today, but when there is nothing but blue skies and sunshine with 90-degree temps, this is the most minor discomfort of the day.
The afternoon is spent surfing and splashing around in the ocean until exhaustion and dehydration begins to overtake us one by one. Claiming one of the few tables and a hammock we lounge out in what eventually becomes our own private hut for our group as we sit around and enjoy the various conversations of the day. Oh, how I love spending time with a group of new international friends and the different views people have from the respective places they have grown up. Our random sampling of ideas represents three of the seven continents from around the globe, and yet we all have a commonality as travelers that have chosen to explore more than our home cities, towns, and countries, but to broaden our views and share with one another. It could not be a more perfect afternoon at the beach, except the sun is beginning to fade.
Working quickly to build a small bonfire down the beach in a relatively small-secluded cove, the guys gather all of our belongings and begin the relocation, while the girls finish their sunset surf. Thankfully there is no shortage of dried beach wood that is scattered along the white sands and within minutes we have fire. As we sit around on large logs around an impressive fire, the sun is dropping over the horizon on the Pacific and above us the sky is lighting up with an array of colors. Soon two more girls from New York join us and our group is lively with conversation and laughter. At one point we stop and look up and through the darkness to see an endless blanket of sparking stars. Two by two we begin to wander out towards the shoreline for a closer inspection of the beauty of the stars in the absence of city lights. The view reminds me of the night the power was out in Poptun, Guatemala and the first time I was able to see the stars with such clarity that I sat outside for an hour just looking up at the heavens. Since I am never quite sure what each day may bring, it is with this excitement that I find myself enjoying a day that is close to perfection. However just after 7pm, there is one problem that we were almost expecting earlier. The beach security has found us out and we are asked to put out our fire since the beach is now closed. Still, this will be a day that will not be easily forgotten.
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