PUERTO ESCONDIDO: POSOLE
A traditional oaxacan soup...
I had never thought of having avocado in a soup, but jeez this was delicious!! Full of chicken, avocado, coriander, squeezed lime, and so forth. Good for the soul indeed!
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: AFTERNOON SUN
Afternoon sun...
No matter where you watch the sunset from it is beautiful. One of the best spots is from the hammock at the Villa at Sunset Point.
The way the light hits the trees gives you a feeling of calmness.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: MIGUELS
MIguels has a good burger...
Miguels is off the main drag at La Punta, and I ordered a burger and then another one is was that good. Cheap and delicious. Just like Maccas.
Good burgers are hard to come by in Mexico: this is the best one I have had since arriving in Puerto.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: CAFE OLE
Nice decor....
Cafe Ole is pretty expensive and not really Mexico fare, but the omlettes are really really delicious, and nicely washed down with a Vampiro Juice (beetroot, ginger and other delicious stuff).
This photo was taken in the courtyard of the hostel attached.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: DON'T MIND IF I DO
I still have my holiday reading to get onto. Here seems as good as place as any.
Hammocks. Lots and lots of hammocks. I cannot really choose.
Every time I see a hammock I see it as an invitation to chill out. This shot was taken at the "One Love" hostel, which is moderately new. It is a pretty hostel, but the location is really really awkward.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: HOME COOKING
Home cooking. All you need....
I always find it amazing what the local kitchens can produce with a few pots and pans. Me? I refuse to cook a stir fry unless I have a good wok. At this little hole in the wall, I purchased a Burrito, but apparently they are not really a Mexican thing: they just make them for the westerners.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: MORE MARKETS
Fresh from the market .
I was reluctant to go to the Mercado in Puerto Escondido on a Saturday as I imagined it would be something like a suburban Ikea. I could not have been more wrong. It buzzes, and everything is super fresh.
There are aisles and aisles of goodness: taco stands, juice stands, all different types of meat, dried fish, flowers, clothes. I could stay there for days.
This little haul of flowers, avocados, bananas, tomatoes and limes set me back $5. If that.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: A CHANGE OF SCENERY
Let down your hair...
Christmas is getting close, so my friends, Eddy and Jordan, have gone back to California to visit family.
Being the indecisive lady I am, I did not know if I would be here so did not commit to anything. I did manage to find a room for $25 per night until the 27th, but then my friends stepped in and offered me their tower for ten days.
I think I am Rapunzel whenever I head up the stairs to the second story (where the windows are). The only problem is that I am slightly afraid of creepy crawlies, so I consider the walk home quite treacherous. That is how I explain having a small dog who is afraid of fireworks walk me home every night.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: TLAYUDAS @ LAS CABINITAS
Sampling some more local cuisine.
It is not a pizza, but a relative, and a delicious one at that. At only three euros, you cannot go wrong. With lashings of vegetables and extra chicken, it was flavorsome and delicious.
For ambiance, like many places in the area, there was a tv on in the background with a Spanish soap opera on, which the owner watched as she prepared the food.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: HUNGRY HUNGRY CATERPILLARS
I called it spike.
I encountered this little dude, who is probably very hungry, on my way to get my morning coffee. Then I saw all of his brothers and sisters. And aunts and uncles.
Apparently they turn into a wasp moth. No shit. That is after they dine out on all the frangipani and oleander trees.
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/oleander_caterpillar.htm
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: A SMALL TASTE OF SUCCESS
It is amazing how the tiniest amount of success can propel you forward.
Today I had my first taste of success: it was not huge, but it was enough for inspiration. Having posted an article about things to do it St Anton during winter, it got shared. Again and again. Then it got shared by visit Tirol, a tourism site with 15000 members. So far I have 500 likes and it feels good!
It was a roller coaster of a day, and one that made me think that there was a possibility I am actually going to pull off my dream of being a paid travel writer.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: PADDLE BOARDING (LESSON 3)
I am on the verge of having a little confidence.
This is a picture of Carlos, from Azulea Adventures who I am taking the lessons with. Even though he aint no man mountain, this demonstrates the size of the boards. In order: normal surfboard, long board, paddle board.
Today was my third lesson, but it was quite choppy, which made it difficult. Each time my legs are able to endure the balancing position for that little but longer, so clearly it is doing my fitness the world of good.
I was informed today that it is ok if I go out on the Paddle Board, as long as I do not try and catch a wave: that just makes you look like a douche. Thanks for the heads up Gaz, but I am a long way from that.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: GRASSHOPPER TIME
"You can't come to Oaxaca and not try grasshoppers" she said.
The thought of eating a grasshopper has me wanting to hurl, but for the sake of my blog I am going to try it.
I am not going to do it alone though, and have convinced the crazy Frenchman to try it with me.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: PADDLE BOARDING (LESSON TWO)
I don't actually have a photo of me paddle boarding, so here is a pretty sunset.
Today was my second lesson, and I managed to stand up for most of the time. Aside from when I saw a huge school of fish, got distracted., stopped concentrating for a moment and fell off the paddleboard. I barely had time to say, "Ooh fishies" before I hit the water.
In a few short days I have gone from being shit scared of the waves to thoroughly enjoying my time in the water.
As far as fitness goes, I aint no Guru, but I would say it is pretty good for you the way it gives you an all over workout (especially the thighs). That may explain why it is becoming a hugely popular sport.
AGUA BLANCA: HOLY SHUCK
A half-day trip for an oyster lunch which was well worth it.
So today we went for oysters about 30 minutes away from Puerto Escondido. I am pretty sure that they were fresh, as she shucked them right there, plus the beach was deserted aside from the fisherman.
Thew were delicious, but I could only eat two as they were just so big! (I also had twelve fried ones). It was washed down with coconut juice, straight from the tree. Not the juice itself, but the coconuts.
A mineral water, eighteen oysters and a coconut cost me 250 pesos, which is less than $20.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: PADDLE BOARDING (LESSON 1)
That is a paddle board, and I actually went out on it.
I was pretty quick in moving my desire to go paddle boarding into a master plan, and I am glad I did.
Even though I had a lot of trouble standing up and my legs were burning (totally my fault for choosing cupcakes over CrossFit in New York) I cannot wait to do it again.
It is almost the love child of Yoga and surfing, and there is something rewarding about getting up at 7am and going out in the ocean.
Will be doing a full blog post when I have finished my lessons :)
LAGUNA de MANIALTEPEC: SWIMMING IN PHOSPHORESCENCE
I still cannot believe that I went swimming in here. At night. Voluntarily.
During the rainy season at Laguna de Manialtepec, the plankton comes in from the ocean to breed, but when the plankton is aggravated it glows. I suppose that it is supposed to be a defense mechanism, but it has the opposite effect to deterring people.
At first the thought of going into water at night and swimming around in liquid twinkles sounded amazing, but when I was actually on the boat and looking into the water only to see what looked like radioactive fishies swimming around, the water lost its' appeal. But then when everyone else jumped in (including a six year old child) I came down with an acute case of FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out).
So I did it. I got into a dirty lagoon where my feet could touch the slimy bottom to try it out. Frankly it is the closest you will come to taking drugs without actually taking them. the experience was nothing short of surreal, and memorable. The experiences that take you out of your comfort zone always are.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: I AM NOT QUITE READY FOR SURFING
Paddle Boarding may be the way forward.
I have thought about trying surfing as frankly the physiques of surfers are nothing short of extraordinary (both male and female) but I cannot seem to move past the danger aspects of it, nor relinquishing all control, especially as I will not even open my eyes under water.
Paddle-boarding on the other hand is something I could be convinced to try, as apparently it is amazing for your abs.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: THE JUICES AT MORRO'S
One of my favourite things about Mexico: the juices.
This little puppy., filled to the brim with cactus buds, Aloe Vera, spinach, alfalfa equivalent, pineapple, lemon, apple and honey set me back 25 pesos, which is a little but over two dollars.
One of the highlights of my day. Every day.
PUERTO ESCONDIDO: THE SPLIT COCONUT (REVIEW)
So nice to feel young again!
I went for dinner tonight at the Split Coconut, and I felt young again. The main clientele for this meaty restaurant being ex-pat Canadians of a certain vintage meant that I was the youngest person in the room (for a littel while).
Hearing it is the place to go for burgers and ribs, (a nice alternative to tacos which they also have), I was happy to give it a try.
The burger was a 7 on my scale of one to Cosy Corner. Actually, make that an 8, an extra point considering the burger with fries and a drink cost me less than 100 Pesos.