Interesting People You Meet at Random Places to Eat

Greetings,

Something wonderful about traveling around the world is the fun of sniffing out where to eat. You look around and try and find those little holes in the wall that don’t cater to the random tourist looking to be separated from their coin. If you dig deep, you’ll find places that have the freshest food at the lowest prices and a steady supply of locals who dine their regularly. You’ll also meet some real characters…

The other night I went out with my friends and we drank jungle juice spiked with rum before heading to a beach club of sorts. Don’t get crazy with the old imagination station, ok? It was like some slow beach resort thing and whenever I go I’m like ehhh why didn’t I stay at home but this is important to the story, sorta. Suffice to say we woke up wondering who these garden gnomes were and who let them into the house to bang about our heads with bananas looking all tough wearing bandannas.

I woke up at 4am in the beach house outside Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica with a headache and realized we had NO fresh water in the house, whoops. Alright we had like one glass but there is a lady living here and I’m a gent so I left it for her. Suffice to say after an hour or so of tossing and turning it was time to get to town. The grocer opens at 7 but I know this little hole in the wall that opens at 6am. I was locked out once forever and ended up going there for a glass of water after a long jog but I digress.

So I roll into this little diner and it’s filled with random local people going about their business. A gent walks in and we exchange greetings as I’m finishing my eggs. Turns out what followed was one of the most intellectually stimulating conversations I’d had in a long time. It was one of those conversations you have with another well traveled character that when you leave, your perception on things have changed slightly and you’re better for it.

The moral to this story, if there is one? Always chat with the people you meet at those weird little places you sniff out to chill at and eat. You’ll meet some real memorable characters and you just might learn something! Besides a pleasant breakfast and enlightening conversation, this view of the bay just after sunrise wasn’t too shabby either…

Tips hat,