Canoa

On Monday morning we took a short trip to Canoa, a "surfer town" a little north of Bahia. Hang-gliding, an insane sport I've always wanted to try, is also supposed to be big there. Sadly I didn't see a single glider while we were there--perhaps the wind wasn't suitable. But the waves were happening,



and this lifelong body surfer hit the water along with our friend Patricio, the owner of CasaGrande, who brought along his board.

Surfing is a pure Zen experience. When you're in the middle of a big wave you ARE the wave and the wave is you. There's no thinking about anything else or you bust. I followed my usual M.O. of riding in, walking out, riding in, walking out until I was exhausted. Meanwhile Cynthia distinguished herself by being the only person on the beach doing Tai Chi.



Wandering around a bit afterward I found Canoa to be an excellent day trip but I don't think we'd stay there overnight.



It's really small and rustic, and its main appeal is to surfers and backpackers. But for a fun day of surf, cheap beer, fresh seafood, and plenty of atmosphere it's outstanding. And a measly $5 taxi ride from Bahia.



We came back to Bahia and ate a tasty lunch at a little place up the street called D'Camaron
,


which from the name and logo you might guess specializes in shrimp dishes. There are many shrimp farms around here so this item is available on most menus.

Afterward we wandered around for a bit to familiarize ourselves with the area.



Bahia is tiny compared to Cuenca and the main areas are all within a 10 minute walk. Still, if you're pooped or carrying packages bicycle taxis take you anywhere in town for a whopping 50 cents.



Following the morning at Canoa, an afternoon in the sun by the pool left us wilted and uninterested in a night out, so I found a pizza joint nearby and brought food and alcohol provisions back to the room. We went to bed early and slept soundly.