Hello everyone,

I know the trip hasn't started yet and I'm sure all of you coming out here are smitten with excitement, so I thought I'd just liven your taste buds up with a little taste of Centro America and my adventures over the past 10 days.

I flew into San Jose, Costa Rica on 7th Jan, stayed the night, battled hard with my bank card in the morning (eventually getting it to work after calling the bank several times) and started my trek up to Northern Nicaragua. It was a 2 day mission, starting on the reasonably priced and moderately luxurious Tica Bus (think National Express). 12 hours (3 of which were spent sweating profusely at the border) I arrived in the capital of Nicaragua, Managua. It has a less than sweet reputation especially at night time so I headed straight for the nearest hostel.

Morning comes early in Central America, with temperatures reaching the thirties over midday it has too! Its hard enough going for a surf in those temperatures, let alone doing a days solid graft! (I lied there, its not actually hard going for a surf at all, especially when the water is 8 degrees at home!) Anyway, heading down the the city's national bus station I looked for the bus to take me on my next leg of the journey...the aptly named 'Chicken Bus'!! Amidst the hustle and bustle of an early morning market place / bus station I found my way to the right bus and we set off!

Another half day later and I arrive at my destination. A small fishing village in Northern Nicaragua. I have been asked not to name names by the locals as it is regarded as a bit of a secret spot, so you'll have to ply me with a few 'Cerveca's' when you see me to get the low down!
I was staying with a local family in their humble 'hospedaje' or hostel. It has only 2 rooms and is the quintessential Nicaraguan house, with home cooking and very little English conversation! My Spanish phrase book is now more 'thummed' than all the menus in Jamie Oliver's restaurants put together!

My time there flew by in a haze of early mornings, siestas, some of the best waves in my life and a lot of 'gallo pinto' (a local rice and beans dish)! My staple diet became gallo pinto, fresh fish, coconut milk and raw sugar cane. My staple activities...errrr...surfing, surfing and some fishing when the winds went onshore!

One of the most beautiful places my travels have taken me to yet and full of the most welcoming, hospitable people. It is a stark contrast coming from living in London during the midst of an economic recession, to living with people who will never own a pair of shoes in their life!

I am sat writing this in a hostel in Leon, Nicaragua on my way back down to Costa Rica. It is full of travelers on their various paths up and down this great continent, and I am about to go and grab a nice cold beer and listen to some war stories from the Wild West!

I hope this sparks your imagination and gets the excitement levels rising for those of you about to join me out here!

Until next time....

Sam

Buenos Tardes or Good Afternoon from Santa Teresa!!

I had originally written this before the group all arrived, but was unable to upload it in time, and in the meantime everyone has arrived safely. We've got a great looking group, and everyone got to San Jose yesterday, some early, some late, some tired, but all excited. We've all had a well earned rest, and are getting ready to head down to where our home will be for the next 6 weeks. So I thought I would give you all a bit of an update of what life is like in Santa T so that you can have a good understanding of what everyone can expect!

Life here runs at a very Central American pace….tranquillo! I have been here for the best part of a week now and I have to say I love it! The day usually starts at around 5:30 / 6 for me with a quick stroll down to the palm fringed beach for a surf check. I don’t know why I do this as it’s the same everyday…perfect! I think it just helps me wake up and limber up from the previous days surfing. A slightly quicker walk back, boardies on, wax my board, slap on the sunscreen and a good 2-hour session follows. If the waves aren’t up to much or the tide is wrong, I’ll grab my spear fishing kit and head off for a morning catching fish and lobster for dinner!

Breakfast I usually get at the Funky Monkey (our groups residence for the next 6 weeks). Rafi the chef lays out a king sized fruit plate and yogurt for me, washed down with a fresh coffee and I am ready for a solid day of work! Well I would be if that was needed, luckily I have had a relatively, how can I put it, Central American job so far!

The last week for me has been dotted with meetings with our various service providers, saying hello over freshly made smoothies, or checking out a new range of boards, that kind of monotonous day to day grind. Then just when I think life can’t possibly get any worse, the waves come up and I have to go for a surf! I hope I’m getting some sympathy…I feel I definitely deserve it!

I have been in close contact with George, who is our guy on the ground over here. He is the head instructor for surf lessons here and is a coach with years of experience behind him and a very nice life ahead of him. George spent a number of years working at the British Surfing Association as a coach and then photographer, with winters spent all over Costa Rica. He currently resides in Santa Teresa for 10 months of the year with his lovely wife Linia (who teaches us Yoga) and his two beautiful kids Malia and Leo, and spends the remainder of the time in-between Sweden and England.

We have a whole list of activities planned for our time out here so please check back to keep yourselves updated!

In the meantime wrap up warm and enjoy yourselves!!

Sam

So 4 days in to our trip, everyone is starting to make Santa Teresa their home. We have been doing plenty of surfing and some Yoga and Spanish to mix it up a bit and now we are starting our first full week! Ahead of us is more Spanish, Yoga, heaps of surfing and a Canopy Tour, so make sure you check back regularly for our updates!

Sam

The last few days have been spent in a malay of Yoga, Surfing, and Spanish, with a little added adrenaline at the Canopy Tour Del Pacifico. High above the tree tops in the Cabo Blanco nature reserve we tackled the zip lines (some up to half a kilometre long) with a buzz in the air!!

The temperature here is still in the 30's and the sea is warmer than a bath so the shade is the only place to be over the midday period!

Hope everyone is well at home and that the days are getting lighter quickly!

Sam