Mancora

Trip Start Dec 26, 2008
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7
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Trip End Jan 15, 2009


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Sunday, January 4, 2009

I want to talk to you about my 7 hour layover and Johnny, a local I met that took me around town, and to loverīs park which i in miraflores and is just gorgeous. poetry about love inscribed in various colors.. indecribably romantic really. Donīt get the wrong idea. It wasnīt romantic with Johnny, just the area itself was incredibly romantic.  Although I was thankful to have him to show me around. We also ate at a local peruvian restaurant, with a cute little old man who sat next to me, who I later came to find was the owner. He was so humble, and gentle.  He told me my heart made me beautiful, but I think he was the one with the beautiful heart.

Anyway, instead I want to tell you I am finally at the beach.  After arriving in Tumbes around 830 I found 3 other people heading toward Mancora and we shared a cab to split up the cost. We arrived around 1030 at Laguna Camp. Did i mention that Mariīs mom Pilar (marianaīs friend who traveled with us) owns this highly acclaimed camp... her name is even mentioned in lonelyplanet: pilar.  So, i  am pretty much getting the hook up. Iīm staying in a very clean room with a nice shower, and hamocks and palm trees everywhere.  pilar is letting me borrow her boards for free, and i think sheīs letting me stay for free too. iīm going to for sure give her some money though when I leave. 

So yea, twice in one day, God just took care of me entirely. The old man I told you about at the restaurant told me itīs not good to travel alone, and then I met so many people traveling in groups of 4, 5, 6 or more who asked me why Íīm alone... but in reality Iīm not alone. I feel like that in everyplace I go, I am able to find a home in some way or manner that seems like it was prearranged before I even arrived.  that doesnīt mean at times I donīt get lonely and wouldnīt love someone to be with me... and that i donīt miss my friends back home, it just means Iīm learning that i can trust.

So Pilar, she is so precious. Sheīs definitely lives the life of the surfer. you could see it in her hair, skin, and especially her relaxed way of living. the moment i arrived she layed down on a bed next to mine and just started chatting with me about life, and the town and Mari. i felt so welcomed.

That night Pilar took me on her moto on a quick tour of the very small strip of town, and then we sat down and had some drinks with some of her friends... one of whom just so happens to be Roscio... the 2nd world champion woman surfer. no big deal (sarcasm). but the best part is that she didnīt mention it once. it was her daughter, and then her husband that sung praises about her. She is also very humble.

I think this is what makes a person truly magnificent. When they do things out of the pure love of it, and work hard out of that love, and thus donīt need the assurance of other peopleīs praises.

Anyway, we had drinks. then I went out dancing till 2 or 3 with one of the other surferīs at Laguna Camp, a chileano se llama Diego.  The best part of this evening was that I though I was going to go to bed early so I could wake up early, but the night kept getting longer.  On the way back to Laguna Camp we stopped at one other bar and saw Pilar who was hanging out with some locals. 

Almost immediately after we sat down, and I felt the sand between my toes, and heard the waves crashing, i immediately realized I was home. The ocean was so near. I ran to it and just jumped in. I was so overwhelmingly excited.  The water here is so warm by the way.

I ended up going to sleep around 4 in the morning (definitely so rare for me these days), woke up at around 730 am, did some yoga, went on a run-swim around the surf spot, and then surfed for hours on a 9 ft that Iīm borrowing. I met so many cool people in the water, from LA, Argentina! and Brooklyn.

Unfortunatley though it was also crowded. The Waikiki of Peru really, on top of it there was localism. I tried to be nice to the main woman creating the localism feal, but i dontī think she was having any of it.  I really have never met this much hostility.

But I was glad to see the groms surf. I saw one of them wearing a shirt from some tournament in oceanside. i think the kids here are mini pros... and even if theyīre not, theyīre amazing to watch. They cut up and down the wave like itīs natural.  There was also a guy out surfing with his golden retriever.

Right now I am taking a break, and will be back in the water in about an hour.  Did i mention the water is warm... i was out for 3 hours without a wetsuit.

Iīm so thankful, honestly. Being here makes me want to start up a hostel in some remote area on the beach, and have all the profits go to the neighboring kids and to the community. Iīm going to hopefully see an outreach program similar to this when I go to Huenchaco in a couple of days.

On that note, Iīm off to take a nap in the hammock, surf, and then spend the night dancing.

on my next entry iīll try to talk more about the politics of hostals and travelers and the type of people who are here. 

besos y abrazos
michelle E
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