I woke up early with Aicha to meet Caitlin in the lobby. Aicha, was one of my dorm mates and a waitress at the pizzeria. She was also a surfer so we added her to the crew.
Tamara was trying to wake up Maristela and eventually, we all made it to my car. We had to get creative in order to figure out how to fit five girls plus a surfboard inside my rental car but, we figured it out after a little bit of struggling.
I woke up on July 10th and slowly made my way up to the kitchen in the hostel. For a short while, I was the only person in the space and gazed out the small window to the rooftops of tiny seaside town of Carrapateria.
Read MoreWhen I got back to the house I reach my hand out to open the door but then...click…it was locked.
Uh-oh.
Martha had to leave early in the morning for a wedding. I drove to Ribeira D’ilhas Beach to meet Chico and the other students for the surf lesson.
The grey sky loomed over me as I pulled off the main road and into the beach lot.
When Romi and I said goodbye again, this time for real, we held each other for a long time...
The morning of July 5th I had one of my best days surfing. It was another small group of people and the waves were absolutely perfect for us.
We even paddled out a little and ~ drum roll please ~ I caught my first set of green waves!
On fourth of July, I went snorkeling on the Berlengas Islands.
The third day of surfing with Naturexperience was awesome again but then some serious conversations started to happen with Finn’s Dad. We were talking on the beach while Finn and his eight year old little sister were playing in the ocean. I asked him if she was also taking surf lessons just making conversation.
Read MoreIt was another gorgeous day surfing. The class was small and the waves were perfect. I felt like I was getting the hang of everything. I was having fun even when I was wiping out and that was growth in itself....
Read MoreThe weather and waves were not cooperating on the 1st of July so I explored the medieval village of Óbidos instead.
Leah C. Michaels is a freelance web designer, social media manager, event coordinator, and consultant based in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. She focuses on collaborating with artists, small businesses, and non-profits.
Contact: leahcmichaels@gmail.com
All Rights Reserved by Leah Clare Michaels.
Copyright 2023.
