Ecuador Here We come

It is the first of March and we are on a flight out of Phoenix on our way to Ecuador.  I have struggled to be excited about our trip due to the profound loss of our sweet UBe.  Missing her has taken up most of my thought process and heart space for almost two weeks now.  Even today we are flying without a little kennel at our feet.  Strange for sure.  Upon takeoff out of Houston my excitement started to show itself!  4 1/2 hours from now we will be landing in Quito.  After a five hour layover where we will catch some shuteye in an airport lounge, we will take a quick 50 minute flight and find ourselves landing in Manta, Ecuador.  There we will be met by our host from Las Olas and take a 30 minute drive down to Bahia de Curaquez.

The first time on a big trip always provides us with a lesson or two for a second or third trip.  What we learned on this journey to Bahia was the first night upon arrival in Quito, we should immediately have taken a hotel bus into town and stayed at a city hotel.  There are none by the airport although an airport hotel is slated to open soon.  That way, our first night would provide us with a good sleep rather than arriving at midnight and sitting in a chair for 5 hours trying to be comfortable and nod off.  Quito has so much to offer and to see that this would be a great solution.

We arrived at Mana airport  and were greeted by Julio.  Such a wonderful young man.  He grew up in New Jersey but wanted to get out of that rat race so thought he would come on a two week holiday to Ecuador.  8 years later he is still here!  He met the love of his life while visiting Bahia and they were married and now have a 2 and 4 year old.  His English was wonderful and during the one hour and fifteen minute drive from Manta to Bahia, we were delighted with all that he had to share with us and how well he could answer our many questions.

One of those questions was about an unusual but very beautiful tree . The Ciebo (pronounced say-bo) tree also known as the magical trees of Coastal Ecuador.  They have a shrek-green trunk and it is huge and some are gnarled.  In early times, the would be hollowed out and made into boats/canoes.  They also produce a very unique type of moisture-repellent cotton.  I found some great pictures of them on www.ecuadorbeachfrontproperty.com

The drive north was certainly an eye opener as to the poor living conditions.  We drove by nothing but tiny wood or brick shacks, town after town.  All were wallowing in mud from a recent rain storm.  Julio said none would have running water. Water is delivered weekly.  Most of them didn't have any windows --- maybe a curtain drawn across for the cool nights.  We would occasionally catch a glimpse of the interior and someone would be swaying on a hammock strung up inside the shack.

We also drove by the most lushest of lush hillsides - many covered with corn stalks - hundreds of acres - and all planted by hand.  Some had papaya trees.  There were rice paddies everywhere in the flat areas between the hilly areas and many people out working in both fields and paddies.

It certainly is another life here ... A simple life in a beautiful country with wonderful weather.

Arriving at our 'home away from home' for the next few days, we were drop dead exhausted and could not wait to get some sleep.  We dashed across the street for a quick egg and toast at the hotel and then back to the apartment for a sound 2 1/2 hour sleep.  Recharged, we set out to walk into the city centre and find a place for lunch.

The town is currently undergoing some major street upgrading so it is kind of a mess to walk around but we managed.  It certainly needs some cleaning up.  It kind of reminds me of a Mexican border town but on the water !  Very old, little table and chair restaurants everywhere under a little free-standing canopy, a vendor here and there peddling wares and then the nicer restaurants in town on the water.  There are many little bicycle rickshaws for hire for about fifty cents. With the high humidity which followed the rain, I was tempted to flag one down but the walk was good as well.

We found the most amazing little restaurant called El Buen Sabor.  Right on the water and many patrons inside which always indicates to us good food!   The server started us with what would be the equivalent of taco chips and salsa - but this was a "Requeson" which translates into a ricotta-like cottage cheese.  The "Drifle" chip looked like a thin length wise peeled banana slice that was deep fried like a tortilla chip but was not sweet.  The little waitress wrote it on a paper for me but I can't find it in the translation services.  For lunch, I had the grilled fish dish and Joe had a shrimp dish.  OMG !!  For $18 we had the most amazing meals accompanied by two very large bottleS of ice cold beer !  Life just couldn't get any better in the food department.  I could go back there every day for the same meal.  The side plate was white rice and come kind of cooked lentils which can be mixed together to eat.  Yummy !!  the main plate had some green salad, something else we don't know the name of and the fish !  Lots of it !! All filleted and ever so yummy.  Highly recommend a stop here if you are ever in Bahia.

Walking back to the apartment, we enjoyed seeing families playing together on the beach and swimming in the Pacific.  There was a delightful breeze off the water once we reached the end of the river area and out to the Pacific side of things.  Weary and sleepy bodies asked us to enjoy most of the late afternoon and evening at home catching up on lost sleep and travel weary bodies.