Blogs from West, Ecuador, South America - page 13

Geo: -2.20382, -79.8975So we're enjoying the evening on the Mandala's beautiful veranda--soft ocean breezes, pounding waves, flaming sunset--you know the usual, and we're trying to decide what to do next. We'd made a reservation in a bigger city north of here called Manta thinking we'd keep enjoying this heavenly sunshine for a few more days before returning to cold, high Quito and heading home when we about face...again.We're off to Peru. Peru was beyond our budget for weeks because the flights there are so dang expensive, but we found one that didn't quite kill us so we're off to Cusco the 29th. Cusco, at 11,000 feet!For you Montanan's, that's higher than Beartooth Pass and within 600 feet of Granite Peak. It's freakin' far.We left Puerto Lopez in a dash to catch the "nice" bus an hour ... read more

Geo: -1.56124, -80.8072We met a fun couple from Canada here at the Mandala and after spending the day sharing travel stories, they decided they'd join us on our boat ride to Isla Salango for a swim and some snorkeling.Our day started with a 25 cent bus ride south to a neighboring fishing village called Salango, a place Bob and I had been with Ligia and Sook our first week here. But this time we found a fisherman eager to take tourists out to the island and what a trip.It's quite a task just getting the boat off the shore and past the breakers, as there's no dock. But that accomplished, it was a quick trip to the island. During the first 5 minutes of the trip our crew member dashed forward--rummaged in the hold and came ... read more

Montanita is the perfect town to hangout for a while. It´s got beach, good surf and a very good nightlife. Lots of bars, restaurant and a very nice cocktailbar alley. Lots of things to do over there and in half an hour you can be in the rainforest if you like. There is a great mix of people from all over the world and from all walks of life. The vibe is absolutely Relaxed with a big R. If you visit Ecuador, than this is a ´must go´. Although there are a lot of tourists and backpackers, it doesn´t feel too touristic. The town is one of a kind and you just feel good if you´re hanging out there. I have stayed for a week with my wife and it was good fun. We decided to ... read more

Geo: -0.866667, -80.2667In commemoration of your birthday, Jeff, we've been luxuriating in the hot sun for a week now, laying by the pool, strolling the beach watching the bikinis flirting with the surfboards, eating our guts crazy and getting in a little more luxuriating.Take this morning's breakfast for instance. Crepes Suzette filled with apples and topped with a dab of vanilla ice cream, fresh pear juice, fresh rolls w/butter, dulce de leche (caramel) and jam, and for the second course--shrimp cocktail. We don't have to eat again until dinner. The owners here are a Swiss/Ecuadorian couple who run it like a Swiss clock--a gregarious Swiss clock. It's a most delightful place and we recommend it highly. So Happy Birthday Jeffrey! We're enjoying the sun and surf FOR you--maybe we'll even bring you home a bottle.... read more

So here I am almost just past the halfway point in my travels. I am behind in blog posts but not in stories to tell. Maybe one day I will catch up, who knows. So 7 months in and I have been to only 3 countries. At the beginning of my trip I imagined I would have covered a lot more territory at this point . But I guess I have always been the slow steady type. If you were to ask me what would I have changed up to this point in my trip I say nothing. I spent almost six months in Colombia, never thought I would have been there for so long. Four of those months at Manos Amigas and Let's Go Volunteer working with the kids, which so far is the highlight ... read more