Giving Up Surfing

Itamambuca / Brazil, June 2022

It‘s been almost a year since I last surfed. It was during a stay nearby Oporto and I had a great time! Thank God. Because I will remember it as the last real good surf I had.

During this little escape with Guggi to Itamambuca, I have decided to give up on it because my physical conditions just wont allow me to have fun anymore. A bitter pill to swallow but I got used to it by now. I have already given up running, hiking and now surfing. So what? Will get into swimming in the Mediterranean more intensely and search definitely for something else sooner or later. Yoga has become my main activity to fight agains stiffness anyway.

Whereas Guggi is really into it and enjoys every day‘s surf session to the max. I brought along my very good wetsuit, which she will keep from now on for the cold days, plus the booties. She is in the water for hours, meanwhile I do my yoga and stretching exercises on the hard sand during low tide. I feel happy, still happy to be able to travel to this amazing laid back, remote and sleepy village by the beach that consists by only one main road with 3 tiny stores and 5 restaurants. Gravel roads are muddy after weeks of heavy rain but soon after our arrival, sun came out and stayed until we left 4 days after.

We love to watch the others surf during sunset between 5 and 6 pm. These guys come out of the water when it‘s already super dark with only shorties on their bodies. What a life! It‘s really nice to observe and be part of as a simple spectator. Guggi and I keep our days and evenings super chilled and go to bed very early. We love the guesthouse chosen, even more because we‘re the only guests staying, as it’s winter time, out of season and during the week. Usually, Itamambuca is THE hide out for the surf crowd living in the big city of Sao Paulo, of whom some of them keep their weekend houses close to beach behind the protected forest.

No disturbance is seen in the very wild nature in forest and beach, thanks to the local society of nature lovers to protect and keep it absolutely unspoiled.

The last evening, Guggi has an extended run on the beach while I tip toe and jump around the sand to keep in action. A tall good looking surf dude my age group comes up to have a chat. We have seen and greeted each other already from the distance these days on the beach. He is very straight forward and proposes to spend the evening together. I am quiet gobsmacked and overrun by this move and politely deny his offer. First of all I am totally out of the market and second I only want to spend my precious time with Guggi. Funny, I thought I had started to become invisible and non-attractive already on the market. Hmm. It’s probably because of my barbie-pink shorts and the blond hair, looking like a total tourist. Easy target.

My beautiful sister comes jogging back and saves me from the situation. Off for a hot shower and a chilled evening in bed with fresh fruits and a nonsense movie.