Arrival in El Tunco means we get to go surfing!!!

As Paddy and Dina are beginners, we all decided to hire a teacher with our boards. I'm glad we did because we were about to be negotiating the world's strongest currents, all in different directions - one from the rivermouth going down the shore, another dragging us towards a huge rocky outcrop, and finally a traditional rip current as well. Fun.

When we got in the water it was a constant battle to stand your ground let alone move anywhere, and it was not fun. But we stuck it out and were in the water for about 2 hours in the morning, and came out tired and starving. With a bit of whiplash. And with a chunk of my board missing. But in the afternoon the tide went down and the waves were more manageable, and we stayed in until our teacher was hit in the back of the head with a board and decided to call it a day. I was finally able to empty my nostrils and drink a gallon of water to replenish my body's salt balance.

Later on, the skies opened and we were treated to the ever increasing sound of droplets on the tin roof, complete with lighting and thunder and eventually, the bursting of riverbanks. When the rain stopped we had to wade through knee-deep muddy water to get anywhere. The whole town was totally flooded! There were trees washed into the sea, tables and chairs in the sea, even an overturned car!!