Punta Banco continued...

I am beginning to feel like a local in Punta Banco. In the past three weeks, this place is starting to feel like home. I have met many great people here and have had many exciting adventures. Since it would take hours to explain everything I am experiencing, I will give a few highlights.

A few days ago, while in Pavones, I was waiting for a ride back to town and drinking a beer with friends. I ended up meeting a few locals who have shown me another side to this place. The next day I walked to their house to pass the afternoon and learned their story. All eight of them are originally from Florida and now live down here as missionaries. They are really great people with big hearts to serve the youth of Punta Banco and Pavones. It was a real blessing to meet these people. Some of them are going to take me out surfing tomorrow, another great adventure I´m sure.

Yesterday I woke up at 4:30 along with four other volunteers to head out for a fishing trip in the Gulfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) off the shores of town. Our ponga (a small fishing boat) was a rickety, rusted, fiber glass boat who had seen better days but nevertheless, she was the best 30 foot boat around. The fishermen rolled the boat down to the ocean on big logs, then one guy carried a 180-pound motor down and our ship and we were ready to head off . All we needed was our Capitan, Dillan, who had one arm in a sling.

We headed out on the rolling turquoise waves with our essential supplies: fishing poles, bait, beer and snacks. The view was amazing, light fluffy clouds hovered over the green mountains at the sun was turning dawn into day.

I had never been on a fishing trip like this before but all my years of fishing for flounder with my dad paid off. Within the first 15 minutes, I caught my first 3-foot-long dorado! It was tough wresteling this guy in the boat but I eventually got my bright blue fish on board. It was quite an experience. Being the animal lover I am, a part of me wanted to toss him back in the ocean. We trolled around the gulf and passed time by singing songs and taking dips in the sea. Like always, I had to hang over the boat a few times to relieve myself. Some things just never change.

After 8 hours on the water we came back to shore with two dorados and enough fish meat for everyone back at the turtle station. We decided to have a few celebratory drinks and some of our fresh fish at a local bar on the water. We piled into the back of a truck bed and went on our way down the bumpy dirt road. The reggae music was good, the beer was cold and the seared fish was the best tasting fish I have ever had. Our short trip to the bar ended up lasting until sundown. It was a great day.

I have one more week here in Punta Banco, then I am off to Manuel Antonio. I will spend a week with my dad and stepmom, then work at an eco-lodge for 4 weeks.

Stay tuned!