Day 5 Ecuador - The Journey Home

What a wonderful few days we have had getting to know Bahia de Cuaraquez, Ecuador.  It is exciting to know that over the next few years, our winter months will be spent getting to know the continent of South America.  For sure - an adventurous time in our life is ahead!

We enjoyed coffee at our local "H Bar and Coffee" spot on our last morning.  Met a couple from Kelowna who have been living in Ecuador full time for two years now.  They too have purchased a lot on the same street as us at Las Olas.  Norbert and Glenys are young retirees and totally love their life in Ecuador.  The cost of living is fabulous.  The pace of life is casual.  The people are great - both locals and expats.  Norbert has a passion for cooking (we were told he makes amazing home-made sausage) and Glenys makes beautiful hand crafted jewellery.

Dave and Victoria made us our last couple of cappuccino's in Ecuador from that farm direct, incredible high altitude mountain bean "Taza Dorada 2015" from Finca Pangko.    Many of the people we  associated with all week came wandering in for Sunday morning coffee and breakfast as well.  That is just how it is in Ecuador ...  Your next good friends are just around the corner in a local coffee bar!

After breakfast, Kim (who is an amazing goodwill ambassador of Los Olas and the developers wife) walked us through town and up to the farmers market that takes place each day from early hours to 1:00 pm.  They have a fresh fruit and vegetable side and a meat and fish side.  I certainly know where I will be buying my produce when living at Las Oals!

Sadly, it was time to get back to the apartment, pack up and wait for Dave to pick us up.  We stopped at the property one last time to take pictures and enjoy the waves of the Pacific rolling to shore right in front of our future home.  The sun was starting to set and the temperature was glorious !  Took a bunch of pictures once again of the property and the view from our home site.

Dave got us to the Manta airport on time only for us to find out the flight was delayed for 4 hours!  It was a brand new A320 and had to have a 'brand new airplane service" in Quito.  So, we people watched which is such a great past time in any airport - but especially in a foreign one.  What was cute is a young Customer Service Agent for Avianca Air had been hiccuping for most of the 4 hours we were there.  He told us it was from terrible acid reflux problems.  I happened to mention Joe has some great medicine for it ... But it was in his suitcase.  We said he was welcome to the 3 Nexium pills Joe had left .  He jumped into action!  Even though our luggage was checked, he hauled Joe out to the luggage gathering area and got Joe security clearance so they could go out and get those 3 precious pills out of the suitcase!   There wasn't a customer/passenger in the terminal who would get his attention until he had those pills.  He was trying to explain that one time he had been in New York and discovered Tums !   So he got our last few tums as well.  I wrote down the name of the medicine which is over the counter here and he was a happy boy.  By the time he was taking our boarding pass, his hiccups had gone away.

We finally were on our way in that beautiful new Airbus and 40 minutes later were pulling up to the gates in Quito.  I was wishing we had more time there because it is a beautiful airport with some wonderful looking shoots!  On our way down, it was all closed up.  A quick walk and security check there, and we were on our way to Houston.  Houston customs and security can take up to 90 minutes so give yourself at least that time if you are booking flights through Houston that require you to claim luggage, go through security, and re-check it.  This morning we experienced something for a first time.  We all had to walk single file by a drug sniffing dog after dropping the luggage off and let him sniff anything we were carrying.  It was neat to watch the yellow lab at work.  He did look old and tired though.

Back in Phoenix 16 hours after leaving Manta, we are tired but excited about our future in Ecuador.  If you are reading this blog, you should plan on visiting this area.  Ocean front condo's can be rented for around $600-$800 / month.  Look at VRBO for Canoa area, Bahia area.  You never know, you might fall in love with Ecuador as well and become one of our new neighbors at Las Olas !!

Day 4, Bahia Ecuador

And what a day it has been.  We started out with a tricyclica (tricycle) taxi into town for coffee at Fika coffee shop and restaurant.  Outstanding cappuccino and omelet.  Owned by a young American gal, she has travelled to and lived in many countries around the world.  Originally, she is from Vermont.  Ecuador is home for her right now.   We ran into people we had met the evening before while enjoying a cold Pilsner.  It becomes a small town when you start seeing the same people at different places!

We walked off lunch by heading down to the new mall in town.  Thought we should explore what is available at the big supermarket there.  It also has a large hardware section and dry goods section.  Kind of like a super-store actually.  Joe and I both find it so sad that there just isn't enough money to hire street cleaners and get this little city tuned up because it has such a beautiful setting.  But if there is no money - there is no money !

The sun came out and as the locals say ..."when we have an el-Nino year, it is more humid that normal and when the sun comes out, it is telling us it is angry and causes much humidity".  

We strolled along the street by the water and found our other 'watering hole' where Dave and Victoria greeted us and made us a delicious banana/strawberry smoothie.  The fruits had come fresh that morning from the local farmers market that can be visited every morning.  I had read about this market a few weeks ago and completely forgot about it !! I love farmers markets and if time  permits tomorrow morning, we will go check it out before our ride picks us up to take us to the airport to start our journey back to Phoenix.

During our conversations here this week, we have learned that there is a wonderful Toronto-trained dentist who comes here from Quito a few days each month and his speciality is implants.  He will do
an implant for $1000.  A little less than the $4000 I paid for my last one!!  The fact that he is trained at Toronoto Univeristy or dental school is good enough for me!

We also learned that the best heart hospital in the country is one hour form here in Manta.  That is the final destination airport when we fly here.

After our smoothie, we caught another tricyclica taxi to the museum.  The museum is free and is 3 floors.  Two floors are fascinating archaeological artifacts on the top floor was an art exhibit.  It was delightfully cool inside and we totally enjoyed our time there.

The other night at dinner, Kim introduced us to a man who she knew.  He had cancer a few years ago and went deep into the Amazon and spent time with Shaman healers.  He came out totally cancer free.  He also learned much about their healing medicines and blended a "Jungle Rub" which he sold successfully a couple of years back.  It is better than any topical pain relief cream ever !  He is currently trying to sell the 'recipe'.  Many people here have used it and even the disbelievers and sceptics say it works.  Kim was able to get us a tube of it to try.  He is now looking at property with organic cacao pods for a new holistic treatment protocol.  A very interesting man needless to say and one I would love to spend long conversations with.

We found our way to a lovely ocean side restaurant and enjoyed lunch with the cool ocean breeze on us.  Joe had his usual shrimp feed and I enjoyed a shrimp Caesar which was so fresh and so good!  The lettuce tasted like it had been hand picked from my grandfathers garden just this morning.

One fun thing here is that the sunrise and sunset never vary all year long by more than about 15 minutes.  Of course - being so close the the equator it makes complete sense!  We didn't really think about that though.

We enjoyed the most amazing steak dinner with Las Olas friends tonight and were kept very good company by 3 street dogs.  They are everywhere and know the outdoor restaurants very well.  The daughter of Pascal and Jennifer joined us.  She will soon be 14 but the sweet little gal dedicates all of her spare time raising money to help feed, neuter and spay these street dogs and cats.  She lives and breathes her 'foudnation'.  Joe and I gave her money to have a cat and a dog spayed which is only $40 here.  So if any of you pet lovers want to help Lori-Ann with her cause, I am happy to take your money and send it to her!  As in all third world countries, it is a major problem here and someone has to help get it under control.  it is always the Westerners who start the process of education etc. With regard to the problem.

Time for bed here in Ecuador but we've had a wonderful few days and are excited to spend more time here next year.  Tomorrow we leave in the afternoon for the airport to begin the journey home.