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Published: January 31st 2009
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Montanita - second week 18.01 to 24.01
By our second week, the rain that dominated the mornings in Montanita in our first week was beginning to clear and the sun was coming out in full force. We continued with classes and Richard was definitely better at remembering new words that I was. Spanish and French are somewhat similar so I'm finding myself thinking in French. I didn't even realise I knew enough French to think in it! While it's good in once sense, because I understand the concept of masculine and feminine words and why verbs are conjugated in certain ways, it's also really bad because I tend to pronounce things a bit like they would be in French or throw in French words, often thinking they are Spanish. Classes were pretty relaxed though, and Richard, Viktor, me and our teachers tended to joke quite a bit, especially about Viktor and his way with the ladies!
On Monday, Tom and Shannon, a married couple who are really into surfing, made dinner for most people in the cabanas, with a little help from everyone. It was a weird Mexican type thing but was pretty good, though the tequila cocktails
were moy forte. After dinner, there was a salsa lesson which was pretty funny. I can't say it was either mine or Richard's strong point but we did laugh alot while trying. I think I kept trying to Irish dance, obviously I have issues adjusting to different ways of doing thing!
It was Josh's birthday plus Josh and his two friends, Mike and Matt, were leaving Montanita the next day so after a few rum and cokes we headed to town. The three boys are surfers from Maryland in the US and are really nice. They introduced us to the only Irish person I have met so far, a guy called Martin from Maynooth. He's living up to all the stereotypes of the Irish and is partying hard while travelling! After a few more cocktails we went to La Fogata and did some dancing, though we really are getting sick of salsa and the music here. I want some music from home!
One day during the week, Richard and I were walking home from town and were crossing the bridge when a fairly small iguana ran across. We've seen a couple of iguanas here but this one was
pretty funny. It ran across the road, stopped by the edge of the bridge and looked like it was deciding whether to jump. After a couple of shouts from two Ecuadorians, the iguana jumped the 15 foot into the river, swam really fast to the wall that boarders one side of the river and ran up the vertical wall. Once it got to the top of the wall, a massive iguana popped out from around the corner and started walking towards the smaller one, shaking his head and not looking happy. He chased the small one off the wall and stood there nodding his head and looked like he was thinking, 'I am the man'! I do love the animals!
On Wednesday evening, there was an Ecuadorian cooking class at the cabanas. It wasn't very good, like something I'd make at home anyway other than the woman used mangos! Just before dinner, Shannon and I went on a beer run for everyone. On our way through the garden part of where we were staying, a snake crossed the path. I was so excited; I've never seen a non-captive snake before! Brilliant. I though I’d be scared if I saw
a snake but I wasn’t remotely. Richard also tried to get a giant spider from the girl’s cabana next to ours. The girls and Richard said the spider was the size of a regular lunchbox! There are also giant crickets around, literally massive. And tons of mosquitoes which love me, and Richard too. My legs are covered in huge red lumps because I get quite bad allergic reactions to the bites.
Montanita also has masses of dogs randering around. No one seems to own them but I think they're pretty well looked after by everyone. They don't ever seem to bite and generally are really friendly. Richard makes friends with them!
Puerto Lopez and Isla De La Plata
Had another early start on Saturday. Got the bus to Puerto Lopez with Isedro, Mya, Michelle, Marjhe, Johann and Marie. Richard didn't come because he had been a bit ill all week. Got to Puerto Lopez around 8am. It's a really nice fishing town and the local fishermen were in the throws of trying to sell the morning's catch, right on the beach. I've never seen so many fishermen or fish! Anyway Puerto Lopez is really different to Montanita which
is all wood and thatch, hippies and surfers, bars and restaurants. It looks more like a traditional town and even though Montanita is relaxed, there is always loud music and something going on. Puerto Lopez seems like the type of place you'd watch the day go by.
Around 9.30am, we got a boat to Isla de la Plata which is also called the poor man's Galapagos. The boat was small and moy rapido, as the guide liked to tell us. Anyway I'm always happy around water so was delighted getting splashed with lovely ocean water. Around 40 minutes into the trip, the guide asked if any of us would like to ride on the front of the boat. Michelle and I jumped at the chance, until we realised how we had to get up there! We had to climb through a window of the moving boat to the outside of the boat, hold on for dear life while climbing up to the top of the boat and then hold on for dear life up there. But it was so much fun. We laughed and giggled and screamed and got splashed by the waves until we arrived at the island.
At the island, we did a two hour hike to see the birds which include Blue Footed Boobies. Not only is their name weird but they look weird too with their sky blue feet. The birds, which are around the size of big ducks, stood around the pathway and we were literally a couple of inches away from them, their chicks and their eggs. Very strange.
It was so hot though. I was putting on sunscreen so often that I became a bit of a joke among the group and I still got a little burned. Not fair!
After our hike, we went back to the boat and went a little away from shore where we had some lunch and fed really big turtles watermelon! They were so big and came so close to the boat, lots of fun to watch. After that, we went to the other side of the island where we snorkelled. It took me a while to get the hang of it, I kept trying to breath with my nose but it was lots of fun once I managed it. Schools of nice tropically coloured fish swimming right next to me!
On
our way back to land, we spotted a tropical whale! Normal whales go to Isla De La Plata to mate during the summer months but usually the most you'll spot in January is a dolphin but we saw a tropical whale! I was very excited and really enjoyed the trip. It was probably one of the best days I've had so far.
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Dee
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Boobies
Wow I can't believe you saw a whale!!!! that's so cool. I'm so happy to hear that you are having fun. As always the pictures are amazing. Miss you Dee