Rainy days

Flu week

Last week, I had surfed five days in a row and was feeling pretty exhausted. However, an invitation to play some pool and hang with friends in Zicatela was too tempting to refuse. When we headed out, I noticed that I had developed some sinus congestion and a case of the sniffles. I figured my body was just in need of a day off, and while I wondered if going out was a bad idea, I crawled into the taxi, and headed out.

The bar was quiet when we arrived, and the lack of music was noticed immediately. We were told their speaker had recently blown, and that's why it was quiet. "No matter." I thought. Typically, I find bars too loud for my introvert ears, so the ability to hear my friends, as we conversed over pool and drinks, was a treat. As typically happens though, each round of drinks paved the way for the next, and by the end of the night, I knew I would be paying for this night well into tomorrow.

My premonition was realized as my eyes opened around 7am the next morning. I was parched, and my whole body ached. "I'm getting to old for this." I thought, as I reached for the water bottle next to my bed. I chugged a half liter and fought for another hour of sleep. As the day progressed, my dehydration was replaced by a fever and I knew my immune system had been stretched too thin. Over the course of the next  two days, I would sleep about 30 hours. On day three I was feeling decent, but wasn't sure if I was ready to surf again. However, I found out that it was photo day, and if I wanted photos of my surfing (which are used for the weekly coaching sessions each Friday night), I would need to muster my energy and hit the waves, despite my not feeling 100%.

Once I was on the water, I was feeling pretty good. The salt provided a nice nasal rinse, and the constant movement was a welcomed change, after laying in my bed or hammock the past few days. The sky was grey, and we were circled by a number of large black black birds (not sure the name of them). I actually rode quite a few waves that day, which was surprising, since I hadn't been in the water for a few days prior.

After we got out of the water though, I knew I hadn't recovered from the sickness. My body ached and felt like I had been hit by a train. I closed my eyes as we drove back home, and immediately went back to bed - sleeping another 5 hours in the afternoon, and then again 12 hours when night came. Fortunately, I recovered again in the next couple days, and i'm happy to say that I feel fine at the time of writing this.

Rainy days

It turned out that the timing of my getting sick could not have been better. I had just completed the rest of my Spanish lessons the week before, so I didn't have class to miss, and Puerto Escondido had a tropical depression brewing off the coast, that was expected to drop 8-12 inches of rain on our paradise town during the same week.

​It rained for about 3 days in a row, causing small rivers to form in the streets. During this week was the first time I seriously considered leaving, and continuing my travels elsewhere. apart from surfing, this town doesn't offer a whole lot in terms of entertainment, so when the beaches are flooded, cabin fever sets in fast.

As soon as the storm subsided, the sun broke through, and it was back to the beaches!