montezuma

Montezuma is a small, two-street-no-stoplight town known exclusively for its amazing beaches, incredible surfing, and- of course- its turtle nesting.

(playa grande- where I learned how to surf)

(playa montezuma- the waves that woke me up every morning)

This is the only place I have ever been where "no shirt, no shoes, no problem" actually applies. Nothing beats walking into a grocery store in not but your swimsuit, dripping wet from the ocean and grabbing a treat for the walk home.

Montezuma has a very interesting collection of people. 

When you take your first few steps into town you will see a pizza place that sells the best pizza you will ever taste in your life (seriously). It is owned by an Argentinian couple who moved here a few years ago to live the pura vida.

Take a few more steps and, if it isn't raining, you will see a bunch of artisans on both sides of the street selling their "unique, handmade" (ha) jewelry. Each of them has a very interesting story on how they got there. One that I met, Maureen, was from San Jose. She came to Montezuma on vacation many years ago and hasn't left since. She is dating an Italian- they met in Mexico and started traveling together. Next year they are going to travel down to Brazil. If they run out of money they'll just throw a table on the side of the road and make some of their bracelets and sell them for super inflated prices to all of the tourists down there.

Turn the corner and you will meet the Italian who runs the organic restaurant and the city newspaper. He has dreadlocks that probably weigh more than his little body. But he makes super bomb ice cream.
Go across the street and you will meet the super charming English/German lady who runs the only bookshop in town. She has my dream job- she opens and closes whenever she pleases, she is surrounded by books, and works right by the ocean.
What a life.