After a big day yesterday we slept in till 9ish. Ashley wanted a pastry breakfast so we went to Carmen’s Cafecito for breaky, this suits me just fine since they do a killer “tortas de creme de cacahuate” in english it is a peanut butter sandwich with sliced banana on top.
Anyway on the way there we pass by the entrance to the Chez Ines hotel… and Taj Burrows walks out!! I wasn’t sure at first so I give Ashley a whisper…
Justin : “Is that him?”
Ashley : “What?”
Justin : “Taj Burrows” I say in an urgent whisper.
Ashley : “Yeah that’s him” as he walks on trying to look like he doesn’t care.
We sat down in the bakery side of Carmen’s Cafecito while Taj Burrows with some of his mates had a table over in the restuarant side (It’s two places joined, Carmens Bakery and Carmen’s Restuarant… the whole places makes the Cafecito).
I whipped out my camera to have it at the ready, Ashley mutters something about the “Paparazzi” and I pretended I didn’t really hear that comment. I couldn’t summon up the courage to go over to the table and ask for a photo, I was thinking “poor guy he must get hassled all the time“. Ashley left for the internet joint to catch up on his emails while I stayed behind to see if I could get an opportunity to take a photo with him.
I walked out the front passed the restuarant and stood waiting half way between his hotel and the cafe. He came out of the cafe by himself… and I say…
Justin : “Hey Taj. How you doing?”
Taj Burrows : “Yeah good!” in a big friendly smile.
Justin : “My name is Justin. (as i reach out and shake his hand) I’m from Australia, would you mind if I get a photo? My friends back home arn’t going to believe this”
Taj Burrows : “Yeah sure man, where do you want to take one?”
Justin : “Oh anywhere… here is fine” so I snap a couple of shots and ask as I take a photo.
Justin : “Is this your first time to Puerto”
Taj Burrows : “This is my first time to Mexico”
Justin : “Really… yeah me too… it’s a great place isn’t it?”
Taj Burrows : “Yeah it sure is.”
His mates come on out of the cafe and Taj Burrows says to one of them to snap a photo of us. We the walk backtoward the hotel.
Taj Burrows : “So do you Surf?”
Justin : “Yeah… but my board is out of action. I broke two fins out in the surf the other day. It didn’t damage the board but the fins are RedX and are abit hard to get here”
Taj Burrows : “arghh… that’s a shame.”
Justin : “Yeah… there’s a surf factory that apparently shapes with that system here so I’m going to go and get some there hopefully.”
We chatted a bit more about how cheap board repairs are here and what a good job they do in fixing them up. We reached the hotel…
Taj Burrows : “See ya later Justin”
Justin : “Yeah see ya Taj… and thanks for the photos”
Taj Burrows : “No problem”
So I’m glad I made the effort to say G’Day, he’s a super nice dude. And that ends my story of my brush with Australia’s surfing elite.
Andrew is not going to believe this!!!! I can’t believe Ashley didn’t hang around and try to get a photo…oh well it’s hard sometimes to keep up a supercool image…only joking Ash! Although I have reacted exactly the same way in the presence of “the elite” weird isn’t it. Love reading about your trip. We had the rehearsals for the circuit assembly last night and I think that Barry was a bit crushed that he had to omit a crucial piece of his part. Poor guy I felt for him.
All the best, Lynne
Hi Guys,
Hate to admit it, but I have no idea WHO this Taj guy is (sooooo uncool, I know), but I’m pleased you got to meet him. It really is fantastic when these kind of flukey chance meetings happen. Keep safe and enjoy the journey. Love, Ang. xxxxx
yay taj i think u r a great surfer.i like your movies and ive got lots of posters of u.i am doing a project on u at school and i need some info.i am a surfer as well.
Taj – its time – this is your year to take control and exert dominance. Parko and Mick will follow, but YOU have to lead !
hey taj i think your the best! u have your own little world when it comes 2 surfin ! hope u win the whole way through, i have a huge pic of u on my wall @ home and im also a surfer aswell
luv kourt -xxx- perth 2006
hey taj, i hope you get this fan mail on justin’s blog. i didn’t know you knew justin so well. but i’m a surfer too so i guess that makes me your friend as well. once when i went surfing the surfboard hit me in the nose and i had a swollen face for a few days, my nose is good now. anyway, catch ya later dude.