One More Night in Escon

We are rapidly approaching our time to get back on the road to make it to the ferry to Baja from Mazatlan on time. Crazy we've already spent four nights here in Puerto Escondido--they've gone by quickly for sure. We've spent our time at the beach mostly, but also re-stocked some of our kitchen supplies at the Super Che (grocery store) yesterday and the car is currently getting a thorough washing for less than $7 US.

I have been engrossed in my book, Shantaram, while Mike has been engrossed in surfing the left point break at the south end of the beach. We met a nice couple, Nisa and Chaz, and her dad, Nick, and their dog, Buddy, who were staying across the pool from us at the Hotel Rock Away. They had moved to Puerto Vallarta (a few days drive north from here on the Pacific still) from various parts of the US and decided to drive south to look for a new place to relocate. We hung out with them all day yesterday and are going to the condo they rented this morning for dinner tonight. It's been nice meeting more travelers and having someone to hang out with on the beach while Mike surfs. They've asked me lots of surfing questions and it's been nice to help them learn about what a cool culture it really is.

Two nights ago, I woke up to a loud splash in the toilet of our hotel room and opened the curtain (not door) to see a giant rat swimming around in the bowl. I screamed, while Mike and the dogs barely woke up, then went to the reception to get someone to do something about it. By the time we got back, no less than a minute later, the rat was scurrying up the bamboo wall of our cabana and making his way out between the wall and the palapa ceiling. Now, every time either of us go in the bathroom, we've definitely been a little paranoid about swimming rats.

The waves were insanely huge three days ago and have been steadily getting a little bit smaller each day. Mike and I took pictures two mornings ago (posted below) and a couple yesterday as well. After the dog walk/picture taking of the surfers, we came back to the room and slept in a little longer, until the heat woke us up again for good. Yesterday, when we re-woke up, Nisa told us that a surfer had drowned when we were sleeping. His name was Noel Robinson, from Northern California, and the link to the Surfline article about him is posted below. Where he drowned was literally across the street from our hotel. RIP Noel:

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/rip-noel-robinson--underground-norcal-charger-filmer-drowns-at-puerto-escondido_43204/

It's time to go and pick up the car from the wash, but here are a few pictures:

• The first is of a massive wave three mornings ago, right in front of our hotel.
• The second is of a surfer getting out of a giant barrel.
• The third is of Maecito digging a hole, trying to get at a burrowed sand crab.

Remember that I also have a Facebook album with more pictures. The link is posted on the last blog entry.

I'll write more tomorrow from a new location in Mexico. It's been nice Puerto Escondido--until we meet again!