Blogs from Bahía de Caráquez, West, Ecuador, South America

Suzanne here... We were sad to leave Puerto Lopez, but grabbed a tuk-tuk ($1 this time which is probably the going rate, but I can't say I begrudge an extra 50c) to the bus station. We were not entirely sure how to to Bahia de Calaquez. At the bus station they had told us we'd need to get a bus to Manta. It was a Sunday and the bus station was somewhat deserted. Luckily the one bus in was going to Manta. Five minutes later we were on our way. I'll admit that the beach cocktails and beers did not seem such a clever idea at this point. Luckily I was able to open the window slightly, so I did ok. The journey was longer than expected and it took just over three hours to get ... read more

So far, I’ve blogged about special days at school and the tropical paradises Keiron and I have visited since our plane touched down in Quito two months ago. But you may be wondering what our everyday life has been like. I was asked by one friend, for example, if we have running water and electricity. I cannot let fundamental questions like this go unanswered, so I’ve decided to post an update, in several installments, about the every day activities that make up our new lives. Part One: 6:00 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. or “the Job” Every morning, I wake up at 6:00 a.m., listen to some NPR during breakfast and head off to work. You’ll be happy to know that we do have running water and electricity, so I can make toast and wash ... read more

Part One: Bongos The weeks since our arrival to Bahía de Caraquez have been rife with exploration, saltwater and boisterous children. Getting accustomed to all of my classes at Genesis has made the weeks alternately challenging and rewarding, and exploring the surrounding area has made the weekends an exciting reprieve. During our first real weekend, Keiron and I headed to the nearby beach town of Canoa, where dread-locked expats and Ecuadorian surfer dudes abound, and the waves call tourists like Keiron and me in for some solid boogey-boarding time. We arrived in Canoa the safe way – by taxi – and were greeted by the sound of bongos from one of the many open-air stalls lining the beach. The tattoo-faced, pony-tailed man behind the tables of natural rock jewelry called Keiron “brother” and sculpted my name ... read more