Camping in the Van on the Beach

Its been 2 months of traveling for us and at times it feels like forever already. We have done and seen so much yet have so much more to see. Earlier this week Ryan and I both had experiences were we felt at home or at least content. Its simple moments when we stop to realize were we really are that surprises us the most. For example, last week Ryan stopped to think, “Wow I am in Nicaragua in a field surrounded by cows, horses, hut-like houses and the village garbage playing baseball with a bunch of local kids and having the time of my life. Who would have thought.” I felt this same way when we were walking pass the noisy, crowded vendor stalls set up one after another on the market street on our way to the grocery store. (A weekly routine for us) I stopped to think, “I feel like this culture is becoming a part of me…. And wow if I was at home I would probably be driving the 10 blocks it takes to get to the grocery store without interacting with anyone.”

Playa Madera our home for the weekend

And who would have thought that Ryan and I would be in Nicaragua camping out of a van on a long weekend at the beach. We found a semi-secluded beach, Madera, 20 minute drive from San Juan del Sur. Madera is a now popular beach because of its good surf and beautiful cove setting. During the day a lot of the tourist get bused in from town making it pretty crowded, especially for surfing. But at night and in the mornings it is a picturesque tranquil spot.

Camping in the van at Madera

We have camped here for two nights and in the past days we have seen lots of people come and go. We met 3 guys who are living in Costa Rica studying and/or teaching English, so of course I had lots of questions for them. One the guys said he completed the same course I will be taking, the CELTA, and is now working in Costa Rica. He highly recommended the program and enjoyed it a lot. This boosted my confidence some. We also met 4 Canadian guys whom drove down all the way from Canada in a van just like ours, but it’s a Chevy Astro van. They said they rotate sleeping spots every few nights: two in the van, one on the roof and one on the floor. Didn’t sound so bad until we saw thousands of hermit craps come out from under leaves, branches, grass, and rocks on a voyage across our homestead to the salty waters of the Pacific. Each night we watch the colorful sun set then wait for the vas galaxy of endless stars we miss living in the city life. Then its time for a friendly campfire hangout on the beach with the other temporary residences of Madera. During the day Ryan surfs, I swim, we both practice our Spanish and talk to the locals whom we have become friends with since coming here for the past two weekends. While its been relaxing and thoroughly enjoying being at the beach we decided to pack up this afternoon and headed back to Granada for the final days of a nine day celebration for the Virgin Mary.

Ryan surfing at Madera

Ryan after surfing

Ryan at Playa Madrea

Camping in the Van on the Beach

San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua