I could write thousands of words in dismay over this “surf camp” but I’ll leave it to a couple hundred. The most disappointing is that I paid for surfing lessons and I have yet to receive a single word of instruction. Strangely, nobody has taken an interest in even talking to me about the waves, and I really would like someone to explain them to me. This has made me heart Surf Simply even more than I did before. Today I needed a big smile and thumb’s up from Alex when I ate it in 3 feet of waves. I terribly missed Ru correcting my technique and telling me to do drills. And I needed Kerianne to communicate “quit complaining and just do it” in her kind and motivating way.
Instead I got Sha-WOW who just pointed out at the ocean and sent me out back with Mona Lisa.
No, No! Not the painting, Silly. Not even a blow up doll version, which would have been way cooler. Instead I got a very serious German snow board instructor who is trying to learn how to surf. She either chose a new name later in life or has parents who were afraid they might forget what to call her one day.
As we piled into Sha WOW’s filthy hatch back trying to avoid the cigarette butts and dog hair, Mona Lisa turned to me and said, “We’re going out back together today. It’s safer for me that way.”
Really? I’m here to protect you Mona Lisa? I’ll add it to my resume.
That gave Wowsa time to focus his beginner’s training on the new American father and son duo here celebrating high school graduation. Ironically, the father and I used to work with the same colleagues in Seattle and they are originally from Rochester, MN. These two are really, really normal and I fear for their well being.
A nice thing about this part of the world is that people are trustworthy and kind (even if the surf camp operators are not). I am happily surprised that you can go surfing here and leave your valuables on the beach. In Costa Rica petty thieves would find your stinky flip flops hidden in a hole dug half way to China.
Trustworthiness aside, I wasn't worried about the unattended 50 euros in my shorts pockets because I only lasted 30 minutes in the water. I didn’t know what to do with the waves, my heart wasn’t in it and Mona Lisa insisted on being as close to me as possible while having no control of her board.
That ended my surfing experience in Ericeira and I went back to doing something I need no instruction for - drinking beer, eating salty snacks and reading at the beach.
This was an interesting experiment and I think I learned a lesson (outside of surfing that is).
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