In 2009, Costa Rica was home base and I was traveling up to Nicaragua for a quick, one-week trip. The day before we were supposed to head back to CR, the border shut down. Fantastic.I had $5.00 to my name until the border opened up three days later (no ATMs in Popoyo, FYI). In the meantime, I snuck into the internet cafe to assure my family I was safe, the surf was pumping, and I had plenty of money (uh-huh that's right).
Business was done, I snuck out, got halfway down the dirt road, and heard a man yelling after me, "You pay, you must pay!!!" All I could do was yell back "I'm soooorrrryyyyy!!" as I ran down the road in my bare feet with such guilt that I stole two minutes from this man's internet cafe.
While guilt struck, yet laughing, I realized I was literally broke, brown, barefoot, and I was happy. I spent the last $5.00 on a bottle of Flor de Caña (which I shared with the hostel staff in exchange for meals), got some of the best waves of my life and I wouldn't have done it any different.
The End.
"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air." -Ralk Waldo Emerson
