What does paradise look like for you?
For me, it looks like the scene before my very eyes.
I’m sitting here on my balcony with a delicious local cold brew coffee. There’s a nice ocean breeze, and I can see palm trees swaying just ahead… There are waves crashing against the shore and whales occasionally splashing out at sea.
I hear the faint sounds of a wandering mariachi band as they stroll the beach. It’s only 3 p.m. on a Friday, but it sure seems like there’s a party going on down there.
I’m not quite ready to join, though, so I’ll hit the gym and take a dip in the pool. When I’m ready, it’s just a quick and cheap bus ride to town.
A short walk on the oceanfront promenade known as the Malecón will take me by the stunning church that is the symbol of this city, passing by dozens of unique sculptures along the way…
Once I cross the river, I’ll arrive in Old Town where I’ll meet some friends for happy hour at a beachfront place. The bartenders smile and greet us by name. They already know our order—margaritas and cold cervezas along with the day’s tapas plate.
After sunset we’ll go for dinner, perhaps from one of the countless taco trucks or maybe in a more up-scale place tonight. It could be Italian, Thai, or that new vegan place we’ve heard so much about. Either way, it’ll be delicious and affordable.
From there, our options are plentiful. We might go see a friend’s rock band play in a dive bar. There’s also a drag show going on that seems like fun. Or maybe we’ll just hit a swanky rooftop bar for craft cocktails and good conversation.
Then again, we may just call it an early night and plan an adventure for tomorrow. We could hike to remote beaches, head out on a snorkeling tour, check out the weekly farmer’s market, or ride ATVs up in the mountains.
