Day 113 – San Juan del Sur, NI
December 15, 2010 4 Comments
113 – San Juan del Sur, NI 12/12/10 Mileage: 0
Brian told me about a great cafe for breakfast and wifi called El Gato Negro…not to be confused with the hostel I stayed at in Antigua, GU by the same name. They roast there own coffee beans and the coffee is good and strong!
El Gato Negro Cafe, San Juan del Sur, NI
The owners name is Rob and he’s originally from southern Vermont. He grew up skiing Round Top ski area, which is where my buddy Mick owns a ski house that is my home away from home in winter…well except for this winter that is. We chatted for a while and he explained the process..or…more accurately the “art” of roasting coffee beans which was interesting.
Here’s Rob at the helm of the coffee roaster which is inside the cafe and fills the entire place with the most amazing aroma!
Roasting the beans and checking their progress…
The beans are done roasting and now go into the circular hopper where they are cooled.
So after my fill of wifi and strong coffee, I was off for a walk on the beach and around town.
I had an early dinner and a few drinks at Henry’s Iguana on the waterfront which seems to be “the” place in town.
Henery’s Iguana Bar
You know you’ve had a rough night of drinking when you end up spooning the curb on the main street…
View of town from my hotel patio…
The sky was very dark despite the city lights and I spent some time goofing with the camera’s night mode (and headlamp)…and got a little carried away. After almost 4 months on the road, perhaps I’m starting to get “the shine”…pun intended!
Tomorrow I’ll be crossing into Costa Rica…country number 9!
From Deadhorse Down 
Very cool with the camera. Also, the town looks like a place I’d love to visit. Have a wonderful time and Feliz Navidad!
San juan is a great little beach town Lynn…I’m sure you’d like it. It’s a little rough around the edges, but has a bit of a hippy backpacker vibe…with some surfer lifestyle mixed in. The locals seem really laid back as well, so all in all it’s pretty chill place to be. Nicaragua or Guatemala…one of them will be the next Costa Rica or Belize…not sure which one though!
As I prepare to put on my coat, scarf, mittens, prewarm up my car it is nice to see the sun, shorts and hear about your “good time”. Also I haven’t had my coffee yet and reading about yours makes me very jealous. Enjoy.
Thanks Carla! Yeah, the coffee at El Gato Negro cafe was. great! I’d gladly trade places for a few days….you could get some beach time and I can get a few days of skiing in…if only it were that easy…stay warm!