I have been on the move since the last blog from Lima, Peru. I did indeed trade out my beard and boots for board shorts and Clifford, the big red surfboard (named after the big red dog that always seems to get into precarious situations and adventures). I spent the first three weeks of April surfing my way up the coast of Peru. The first wave I caught (barely) was at a break called Chicama, which breaks for almost a mile and is claimed to be the longest left breaking wave in the world. There are actually rickshaw mototaxis on the beach to shuttle you back to the start of the wave. I opted to walk and try to rest my tired arms.
After three weeks of surfing everyday, I somehow managed to strain something in my chest that made it hurt to lie on the surfboard, so Clifford and I headed inland and crossed the border into Ecuador. I visited a handful of wonderful places as I made my way slowly north, eventually crossing the equator. I saw everything from bullfights to large indigenous markets to isolated alpine lakes to beautiful cathedrals to exploding volcanoes. After having the best ice-cream in all of Ecuador – there is a lot to choose from- I made my way into Colombia.
The first person I met after crossing into Colombia told me that Colombia is a country of a thousand colors… they just all happen to be different shade of green. Colombia sees very little tourism as there is still a stigma that hangs over this complicated country. There is a civil war being fought here, but you would never know it. The people are the most friendly I have met in all my travels and they have salsa (music) running through their veins. I spent the next couple weeks traveling north on my way to Cartagena on the Caribbean. As I swam in the warm crystalline waters and napped in a hammock, Patagonia and the beginning of my travels seemed a long way away…
In Cartagena, I had a serendipitous run in with a captain of a 44 foot sailboat headed to Panama and jumped on board two days later. My time in South America had all too quickly disappeared as the Colombian coast faded away and we made the 36 hour push to the beautiful San Blas archipelago south of Panama. We spent four days among the some 365 islands (some literally have a single palm tree on them) snorkeling, fishing, and making new friends.
Today I am in Panama City on the Pacific side of skinny Panama. I went and visited the marvel of the Panama Canal this morning and will likely push off tomorrow as my days of traveling are coming to an end. I will look for some more waves to surf along the Pacific if my chest can handle it and make my way back to the motherland from Costa Rica at the end of May.
I hope you are all well and I look forward to seeing you and hearing from you as I get settled back into Boulder and start a new chapter in business school…
Much love to all!
Clean shaved and loving the beach and beautiful sunsets in Pacasmayo, Peru.
First wave that I caught after buying Clifford, the big red surfboard.
There are a few (billion) bananas in Ecuador. Indiginous market outside Alausi.
Turning old bus tires into bowls and wash basins is a lucrative business...
The pancho, wool hat, and rubber gum boots are signature apparel in Ecuador.
This pig was the biggest I have ever seen and was selling for $600, by far the most expensive animal at this early morning animal market in Otovalo, Ecuador.
The Saturday market in Otovalo is the largest in Ecuador. If you can´t find something here, you are not going to find it anywhere...
Volcan Tungurahua (16,552 ft) has been blowing ash for over a decade and the town of Banos far below has come to terms with it... and also built a road for quick evacuation.
Bullfight in Riobamba, Ecuador.
The gargoyles of this beautiful Basilica in Quito, Ecuador are all animals only found on the Galopagos islands. Cool touch.
Middle of the world. Funky little museum that does little experiments for tourists that can only be seen at the equator, like seeing water flushed counter clockwise, clockwise, and with no whirlpool at all... or standing an egg easily on a nail... cool!
Clifford and I crossing into Colombia...
Popayan, the "white city", has kept its Colonial character since 1537.
High above Bogota, Colombia, as the suns rays shone down on this sprawling and lively city.
Melody, my trusty transport from Cartagena, Colombia to Portobelo, Panama.
Sunrise soak in the San Blas islands.
The Kuna are the native people of the San Blas and the kids are always the first to welcome you when you arrive.
More headstand fun. Sunset in the San Blas islands.
Captain Jota. Best watch out!
The textbook island. One of 365 in the San Blas Archapelago.
