Sorpresa!

It was Friday night and I made my way to Vinoabeber. As per my usual Friday night tradition, I was meeting up with Alexis and Sydney for dinner and drinks. This time, I got to choose the venue, and I selected my favorite watering hole since I´ve never really had the chance to try out the food menu.
I was looking forward to sharing some tasty tapas and a nice drink selection, but what I got was even better. 
I crossed through the restaurant and turned out onto the back patio, only to find all my dearest friends waiting for me with a big "Surprise!", complete with a flaming sparkler, balloons, a whole cake with my name on it, and huge smiles on their faces. 
In the whole wide world, I could not think of anything better. 

The balloons kept trying to escape! They did't want to hold still for a photo with me. 

After my heart finally stopped fluttering and I had hugged every one of my friends, we got down to the business of eating. We ordered rounds of beer and naughty little tapas...patatas bravas, arepas venezolanos, spicy sausages, fried calamari, and to assuage our consciences a little...some tomato-basil-mozarella pinchos...just to have something mildly healthy. 

Josh, the foot model here, coudn't resist sneaking his new suede shoes into the pic. Pretty snazzy! Whadya think?

Mira esas caras bonitas! I think they really enjoyed the tapas. 

Next up, a round of photos with all my favorite people.

I have such photogenic friends. Beautiful every one. 

Finally it was time to cut into the cake. 

We clinked our spoons for a final cheers and then dug in, with gusto!

This picture just makes me laugh. Look at their faces-- the exact same expression! haha

 They say that everyone comes into your life for a reason, some as a blessing, some as a lesson. But for me, my friends have been both. They have been my wisdom when I needed it, my shoulder to lean on, my wild adventures, and my fellow wandering spirits. I will carry a piece of each of them always in my heart. They make it really hard to say goodbye!

I’m not a sentimental person.  Feelings? Bleh, those are things I don’t generally talk about unless absolutely forced to. So without getting too mushy gushy on you all, I have to say this: I have loved, with my whole heart, every single breath of every single moment of every single day I have lived in this tropical wonderland. Even when I have hated it I have loved it.  And it breaks my heart to leave. Living here has made me come alive.  Alive in the fact that I have loved waking up each morning. Alive in that each day is a new adventure. Alive in that every single moment is an opportunity to learn.  Alive in that the mere act of walking to school always leaves me thinking, "Wow, this place is beautiful." I know that sounds sappy and I'm almost embarrassed to write it here, but it's true. Sometimes I look out across the city or past the mountains, and I wander, who could have even dreamed up a place so beautiful?  

Part of me wishes I could stay living this semi-gypsy lifestyle forever. Part of me knows I still have more world to discover, more truths to learn, more roads not taken to travel.  If there is one thing in life that is certain, it is change. So now it's on to the next big adventure.

I've got two weeks left on the island. Time to make the most of it!