Viva San Juan Baptista

Dia Quatro

First, the rest of last night. We party in the center of town until the rain starts coming down, and then it's a run and duck for cover at the corner bar. Here a group of random travelers including surfers with no real home, volunteers, and permanent vacationers are drinking, smoking, and enjoying the company. Melissa and I join a couple of gentlemen for a friendly game of Texas Hold'em. We have nothing of value to offer for betting so we settle on drinks of Tona and Victoria. Small blind = one drink, and big blind = two. I amaze myself with how well I'm playing... if only it were for actual money. However, when you play loser has to drink... everyone wins. I do not hesitate to have my fill of cerveza... in the hopes it will help me sleep through the long, hot night. I can tell even Gil is starting to feel the effects of the heat.

The morning brings weary humans slumbering uncomfortably anywhere that provides shade and a cool breeze. Scarlett is following my lead to the porch. I fear that soon we will all be sleeping together.

The day party kicked off at 5am with a parade through town. Considering our evening of drinking we lay around until noon before joining.

A group of men struggle up a greased pole with a flag at the top. The group that makes it wins cash. Other festivities include singing, dancing, a beauty contest, greased pig chase, and a rodeo of bull riding.

The man of the hour... San Juan Baptista.

The entire village of San Juan del Sur has come out for the festivities. The local population is approximately 10,000 (with more than half being under the age of 14), and a there are very few gringos here besides us. The community has not been overly affected by the outside world and there is both a mix of new technology including cell phones and Internet shops as well as old including horse drawn carriages and handwashed clothing.
You have to love fire crackers outside your window at all times of day and night.

Beauty contest.

The greased pole went on for hours as these gentlemen spit and cursed their way to the top. It was pure comedy to watch.


The rodeo. Not exactly sure what was going on in the arena. Sometimes bull riding. The rest of the time... harassing whatever poor animal was unlucky enough to find themselves amongst the crowd of teenage men that climbed up and over the fence.
Typical mode of transportation for the Nicans.
Pollo Rico! Yum. Yum.