Author: Jonathan “Gallo Loco” Griffin, Co-Owner of ThunderBomb surf camp in Nicaragua.
Photography: Jimmy D. Mendieta

© Jimmy D. Mendieta. All rights reserved.

Hello there.. I was born north of Boston in the USA. I never really fell under the stereotypes the world portrays Americans. I never trusted my government, my news or the law enforcers (no I don’t have a criminal record). I do however have very serious addictions…Surfing and surrounding myself with happy people. Eventually knowing I had to move to Central America I immediately canceled out moving to Costa Rica. It reminds me of Southern California. All signs from my research were pointing me to Nicaragua. I sold everything I owned.

I arrived on Halloween night 2011. Made my way to San Juan Del Sur (SJDS) hoping to find a job in the tourism industry only to find out everyone wanted a free volunteer. Well I figured I could live off of what little I had in my bank account and took a head chef position at “Parque Maderas”. “Hola”, “por favor”, and “gracias” were all I knew. Luckily the other staff members were all Nica and I learned quickly and they were more than happy to teach me. I am skipping so many stories of smiling, friendly people.

I purchased a “moto” (motorcycle) and drove up and down the coast with a surf rack looking for hidden gems and new places to call home. Not once did I ever feel unsafe. Most people might throw their trash on the ground here but there is a level of respect for one another that surpasses 100% of the places I have seen on earth. There is practically no crime here. Sure drunk people fight each other and once every month or so somebody gets robbed. That happens everywhere in the world. I can’t stress how unbelievably good people are to each other here.

I’ve seen the wet/dry season, the deserts, rain forests, mountains, beaches, islands, and volcanoes. The bio-diversity between regions and seasons is incredible. There are beaches that are not even reserves that just have no humans on them…pristine beaches. Selva Negra is the most beautiful rain forest mountains I have ever seen.

I’ve been living in Leon for over a year now, this great colonial city has everything. I started working at a hostel called Chilli Inn. In time and thru hard work I had an Investor believe in me and see my passion for Nicaragua and the surf that is here. I am now co-owner of www.Thunderbombsurf.com a surf camp in the Chinandega region where I believe the best waves are.

Some day soon I hope to be a resident. I truly love this country and the people in it.