Athena Pappas

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  • Monthly Archives: July 2016

    • Adventures in Nicaragua: San Juan del Sur

      Posted at 10:31 am by athenapappas, on July 25, 2016
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      I will have to admit that my last post was a bit of a tease, since we didn’t make it to Nicaragua, but it was all a part of the adventure! Late Sunday night, our Hosh adventure team landed in Managua and were shuttled immediately to our house rental in San Juan del Sur, about a two hour drive from Managua, on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua (I slept the entire van ride). I didn’t really explore our awesome digs until the next day. A two-story colonial-style house, the bedrooms were mostly upstairs. Downstairs, there was a pool! The living/dining areas were all outdoors. The house was located near the water, at the edge of the main drag of the town.

      Since July is the winter season (read: rainy season), I was woken by the steady beat of a torrential downpour Monday morning. As I wish every morning could start, we began the day’s activities with an invigorating 45 minute yoga class with a 15 minute guided meditation. Although I was skeptical at first about doing a meditation twice a day for an entire week, I did try to focus as much as a I could and give it a shot. Throughout the week our classes were taught by the fabulous Zui Duckers Lyle (shameless promotion… she teaches classes at Hosh on Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Just go.).

      …and on to our first official adventure…surfing!

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      A short truck ride from our villa (and trust me, you need a vehicle that can handle the mud and roads), is Playa Remanzo, a beautiful, small bay. On the way, I managed to take a lot of cow butt photos (see above). The landscape was lush and tropical, dotted with homes, a few lavish in the hillside but most barely shacks.

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      I have never surfed before, but I was excited to learn. We started before lunchtime, so the waves were pretty small, perfect for beginners. First, came a lesson on the beach. The instructors taught us the different ways to get up on the board and basic safety lessons. I wish I had known to bring my own Lycra shirt/rash guard… the one I borrowed was beyond funky smelling. After practicing on the sand, we were ready to hit the waves! Luckily our teachers were in the water to guide us. Overall, surfing was fun! I only got up once or twice, I mostly ended up in the water. But it was a great experience. My knees got pretty banged up, but I never had any scary tumbles. Since the waves were smaller, it was pretty easy to be guided. I think I stuck with my intention to go with the flow!

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      After learning to surf, I had the obligatory Tona on the beach! There was some pretty interesting people watching on the beach. Some surfers were much more experienced than others. There was even an all-female surf school, which was pretty cool (“empowering women one wave at a time”).

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      Later in the afternoon, we explored the main streets of San Juan del Sur. Very much a surfing town, there were board shops on almost every corner. Restaurants and bars lined the street by the waterfront, waiters in front trying to lure in customers. You could tell it was the off season for tourists, everything seemed very quiet.

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      In the evening, we wound down with yoga practice, while this massive moth looked on! That was one of the most enchanting things about Nicaragua… there were beautiful butterflies and moths everywhere!

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      When it came time to eat, we were totally spoiled! With a local cook creating meals for us, each one was even better than the next. We had the staples… rice and beans! Usually plantains in different forms, cheese, and meat dish. Simple yet super, super delicious!

      By the end of the first day,  I was tired, a little bit sore, but ready to see what would come next!

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

      Posted in Adventures, Nicaragua, Travel | 0 Comments | Tagged Beach, food, Nicaragua, San Juan del sur, Surfing, Travel, Yoga
    • Yoga Adventures in Nicaragua: Part I

      Posted at 9:00 am by athenapappas, on July 18, 2016

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      For months, I have eagerly been anticipating my summer vacation, like a kid waiting for the first day of summer break. My yoga studio, the amazing Hosh in Greenpoint, was leading a trip to Nicaragua that promised adventure, beauty, and plenty of yoga. It delivered all of that and more!

      An important part of one’s yoga practice is setting an intention, which is bringing your awareness to a quality or virtue you want to grow both on and off the mat. For this trip, I sent my intention to go with the flow more, give up control of the moment. The plans for the trip were out of my control, I didn’t want to spend time worrying or feeling anxious.

      Nearly immediately my intention was tested. Weather delayed our flight out of New York, we were never going to make our flight late Saturday night from Fort Lauderdale to Managua, Nicaragua. Instead of worrying, I trusted in our group leaders to work everything out. We learned that when life gives you delays… go to the beach!

      Since the earliest flight we could get out of Florida would be Sunday night, our group went ahead to Ft. Lauderdale to spend the day at the beach! They found us a great hotel right on the beach with a pool and comfortable rooms. Who can turn down breakfast beachside? 

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      Our hotel was even featured in the movie Analyze This. The inside bar had windows to a pool, but we never got to see the mermaid show.

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      For our last meal in the US, we took a trip down the main strip of Fort Lauderdale to the Drunken Taco. With oversized margaritas and outdoor seating, it was a great place to spend a few hours in the afternoon. We snacked on chips & guacamole, quesadillas, and other appetizers. Just because you miss your flight doesn’t mean you have to hang out bored in the airport all day! I was happy to be out of the city and eager to see what awaited in Nicaragua. Check in next week to see more about my yoga adventure in Nicaragua!

       

      Posted in Adventures, Travel | 1 Comment | Tagged Adventure, Florida, Hosh, Nicaragua, Travel, Yoga
    • Restaurtant Review: Colador Cafe

      Posted at 9:00 am by athenapappas, on July 5, 2016

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      Off the Bedford-Nostrad G stop is a delicious café, restaurant, and bar called the Colador. You can catch a Mets game there, grab a bite, or sip one of their beers on tap. One things I really love about the Colador is that they always have a very unique selection of drafts. Gabe, of the band Trash Gendar, (above) tried Ballast Point’s Habanero Sculpin. A light hoppy brew with a kick in every sip, it was too spicy for me! I’m going to stick to their other Sculpin flavors (like pineapple and grapefruit). I drank the much less spicy New Belgium Slow Ride Session IPA, a very fruit-flavored IPA.

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      On to the food! I will have to confess that I have only tried the Panini’s at Colador, but they do have a full breakfast menu, salads, burgers, and quesadillas. The other evening, I tried the ham and cheese Panini, a crunchy, delicious, and filling meal. And their fries! Try them with an extra side of the chipotle sauce for dipping. Crisp, not too greasy, these fries are perfection. If you are in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and looking for a quick meal or a cold beer and the Mets game, stop by the Colador Café.

      Posted in Adventures, New York, Restaurants, Review | 1 Comment | Tagged Bed-Stuy, beer, Brooklyn, Fries, New York, Review
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