Day 5 Nov. 24

Today was another surfing day. This time Rob and I both did it. Rob had his own style where he would make his whole body hang limp, like a dead starfish. I don't know how but it worked.

The main reason we came to Puerto Escondido this time of year is to enter in their biggest fishing tournement of the year, El Torneo Del Pez Vela 2010. First prize is a Chevy Silverado and there are seven other vhicles as prizes. There are three days of fishing with eight hours each.

Day 4 Nov. 23

Today was a Fishing day. We left at 6:30 and were just out of the bay as the sun rose. We trolled down the coast, cooking alive in the relentless sun. After an hour or so we got a strike and soon my dad had caught a 6 kilo dorado (mahi mahi). About five minutes later I brought in another one, probably the first one's mate. This dorado was about 5 kilos. We continued down the coast until about 10:00 when we decided to turn around. On our way home I heard the wizzing as the line flew off of a reel, a half second later the sound doubled as another reel got a hit. Pandemonium ensued as Rob and my dad each tried to reel their fish in and I was dangling a line in the water hoping to get one of the 2 other dorados not already hooked that were circling the boat. Eventually we got back to the town with 4 fish. In the afternoon we went to Fito's house to eat some of the dorado for lunch. Fito is one of the fishermen we go out with. His wife had made tacos estylio ensenada with the catch. Bits of deepfried dorado with salsa, chopped cabbage and cream in a tortilla. It was delicious.

Day 3 Nov. 22

I have never surfed before today. As I lay on the board, a gigantic breaker formed behind me. I just had time to duck down to the bottom, out of the wave's reach. But my board wasn't as lucky. The tumbling wake grabbed the piece of styrofoam, flipped it and sent it powerfully to shore. This would all be fine except that the board was tethered to my ankle. Every big wave I would go surging through the water, dragged by the board, towards land. Other than the huge waves the surfing was alot of fun, so much fun that I'm going back for more on Wednesday.

Day 2 Nov. 21

This morning I arose from our bed only to be attacked by a fit of coughing. Mexico city's altitude and its layer of brown, dismal smog did not combine well with my cold. Soon we were boarding a small propeller plane to Puerto Escondido. In the plane I was almost uncomfortably cold in my shorts and t-shirt but the second I stepped out into the salty Puerto air I was glad to have changed. The humidity hit me like a wall and everyone on the plane ran, rather speed walked as fast as they could in the heat, to the air conditioned comfort of the small airport.

Day 1 Nov. 20

Today we left Vancouver in the biggest snow storm that I have ever witnessed. The plane roared down the runway leaving a trail of black ashfault in the white behind it. I was sad to miss what might have been the only snow I would see all year, but the warm coasts of Mexico lay ahead, beckoning.