We entered El Salvador with thoughts of driving right threw... it's been 6 weeks now and haven't been far in El Salvador.
As we pulled in a small coastal town with only few " chacks " found a restaurant, had a good huge fish for 5 bucks with a beer.
Doesn't get any better after the long 2 hours we spent at the border with paperwork.
Belly full, we left the restaurant and hit the road south... where do we go??? south - - - so off we go. We were happy to be by the ocean again.
Passing by the road sign - * El ZONTE * I remembered seeing the name in Lonely planet as a surf spot.
So we pulled over, told Cal," hey - lets check this out for fun, lets go back there and see the waves."
We turned around and drove down the small alley street to the end. No Place to camp here!!!
Lets see how much they want at at this place,.. so we talk to this guy, explaining our dirtbag situation with budget.
Basically, Ya " we dont want to pay" haha our Idea is never pay to sleep!
After a short talk, he says, " go see next door here, 2 doors over, these French Canadian friends of mine have a resort, a little
more pricy and fancy, but see with them..."
So we left, thinking, screw that, expensive doesn't sound good, better not RESORT! but something inside made me take a right
instead of a left out the driveway. Told Cal, " Lets check it out! after all, they can only say no??? and we go?!!"
We park the bikes, Cal lights a smoke and I walk in.... walking threw the living room, felt like a home away from home. down the
pathway Olivier - Ben - and Mao are sitting by the pool sipping on a cocktail....
MMMmmm. Resort alright! nice pool, sweet palm trees, surf 50 feet in front... doesn't get any better! A dream place really.
" A " - I say, I'm Al, ( thinking in my head... how can I say that, .. ya hi I'm a dirtbag traveler my buddy is outside and we need a place to crash).. maybe not.
" So, ya the guy next door told us to come for a visit, you're from Canada? we are too, drove down here on our bikes, going to south America."
Then the conversation went on about our trip, 15min goes by... shit forgot about Cal was still sitting in the sun out there waiting. I was ready to sip on my cocktail.
" So ya, you wouldn't happend to have a corner we could set up our tent? few days, you know...."
" I can just set up my hammock right there under the palapa, I dont need much room "
Meanwhile Olivier is thinking inside his head, thinking real hard - " Normally we don't do that here, its kind of a resort, but for you guys I feel like saying Yes, don't know why, I've been on the travel road too, and understand".
" So sure.... you guys can set up there... couple days and see "
Shit ya.... all excited I walk back to Cal, melting in the sun with his smoke, looking all depressed like if he he knew we had to hit the road in the full day heat... not looking happy.
"Dude!!!" we fuk'n scored this time!!! wait till you see this place.!!!
We pull in our bikes, Cal unpacks his gear, (first thing he always does right away) Oliver comes by with 2 rum&cokes... welcome to Eldorado... so I forget all about my bike. Straight to the pool with my cocktail. We make ourselves at home.
It's now August... our plan was to be in Panama around now... hahahaha - plans??? what are those now?
we are still in Eldorado, we moved up our base camp, Cal actually has a bed, on a floor, in a room, with open air and killer views, I sleep in my hammock, under the palapa 20 feet from the ocean, listen to waves crashing all night.
Wake up first light and get into my Yoga routine for an hour. Then I'm off in the office ( again listening to waves) and get
down with my photography organizing - emails - sipping on El Salvador strong frenchy style cafe - I give massages for few $$$ to guests if they like, set up a table under the palapa, so people only hear waves crashing while getting a treatment. Teach yoga to whoever is spyked.
We had planned to settle in Costa Rica to organize and maybe try to make money. I was going to see about teaching some yoga and massage, but hey... we didnt need to go that far, just here in El Salvador... we would of never thought!!!
Calixte is helping with the construction, fine tuning his skills in carpentry. Working overtime at night on his videos.
We blended in well as a team with the crew at Eldorado, each have our duties, Olivier takes care of all the business and making everyone feel at home at the same time, Ben is networking, getting ready for their first big Surf Comp even in Novemeber... Le Quebec Open, and Mao is being creative with her bamboo - making beautiful lamps and furniture ( check out... www.maobamboo.blogspot.com)
living life at the fullest under the stars and palm trees, dipping in the pool every once in a while... always feeling safe too !!!
Learning to surf here isn't the easiest place, El Zonte as strong current, big white wash so yes, big waves! So going out there gives you your daily dose of adrenaline and salt water detox plan.
Every week we have new guests, always a good crew of people come by, mostly french canadians since El dorado owners are from Quebec.
Time has past by fast here... after we realized it had been 6 weeks!! shit... will be hard to move on, again out into our world of unknown, ahhh... where do we sleep tonight??? ahhhhh not sure. - " Let's go eat more Tacos! Tacos! and Tacos!!
We sure are taking in every minute we have here at eldorado, living the dream, this is what the trip is about anyways right??
working, traveling, yoga, surfing, eating 5 star meals!
Ya , was all part of the plan!
Thanks to Olivier - Benjamin - and Mao, they have made our dream possible.
So we'll be here another 2 to 3 weeks,( hope not 2 - 3 years) we'll mission to Nicaragua with Ben on the 25th or so, on a surf adventure document.
Meanwhile, we just keep living under the palm trees, working away, organizing, drinking cafe, sipping on cocktails, getting beat up by big waves, drinking salt water, socializing, tanning, videoing, photoing, yoga - ing ... living the dream!
and ho ya.... Salut!!!! - Time for another Cocktail...
Keep checking the blog for more images coming up.
and also working real hard at having a movie clip soon!
visit us at...
www.surfeldorado.com
www.surfeldorado.blogspot.com
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