After the hike on Isla de la Plata, the guides got us back on the boat and served us lunch: watermelon, a slice of pineapple, two hot dog sized sandwiches (one tuna salad, the other ham and cheese), served with Coke. We ate while the boat moved to the snorkeling area. Without speaking Spanish I missed all the description. Medusa
Javier told me to show up about 9:30 AM for the tour. I was the first one there, two other chicas showing up shortly after I did. Although Javier told me the guides would speak English, neither of them did. So much for learning about the blue footed booby from my guide, Hiro. We walked the short distance from the
Javier, Isla de le Plata tour operator, recommended Los Frailes, a long, deep crescent of beautiful beach within the bounds of Machalilla Park. This park is made up of what they call dry forest. It looks like a bunch of dead scrub. I think of George Bush and Texas every time I see it. Los Frailes has the reputation of
The light rain kept me from swimming in the pool this morning. Instead, I hung in the hammock under a thatched roof shelter and read until it slowed to barely a sprinkle. My quest today was to find a tour to take me to Isla de la Plata, the Island of Silver. While walking down the street one of the
The city of Quito is at such a high elevation the temperature is mild and it is in the clouds. From the air it is an amazing place that goes on and on and on. Crowded with people and car/bus/taxi traffic. There is a sense of orderlessness, a casual chaos to just about everything (which may be pervasive to this
Waiting in the Quito airport for the flight to Manta I sat opposite a tall gringo with naturally curly, graying for the last couple years or so, hair that was up in a pony on the back/top part of his head. Tan, 63, with a soul patch and two silver hooped earrings in his left ear, he mostly paced back
Danielle and I sat next to each other on the flight from Atlanta to Quito. This is her first trip to Ecuador, as well. She attends the University of Illinois and in her program of study she is required to study abroad. Shell be here for six months, in school for five of those, travelling as a tourist for the
Wide faced, dark hair, Andean looking and a good driver, Patricio took me to and from the hotel/airport. It was very late when I landed yet he was patient and gracious with me, speaking easy slow Spanish and enough English to have short conversations. And when I didnt understand and we ran out of topics the silence was comfortable. Traffic
Manta seems like a dirty dry town. The guidebook says that this is one of the few towns in Ecuador that is more conducive to cars than foot traffic. Its along the Pacific, smells like it, and is humid as all get out. This part of Ecuador is dry. Even with a daily rain shower, the land looks barren and
Patricio drove me to the airport this morning through the traffic of Quito. Its congested with cars and people and seems like chaos. While waiting for my flight to Manta, I spotted a gringo in the waiting area and, after a bit, got the courage to see if he indeed was an English speaking American. Wearing Levis and a long