The Three Amigo's Hit the Coast!

On July 14th, Mara, Lance, and I headed for the coast of Ecuador to get a taste of summer and to do some whale watching.  

Mara was kind enough to arrange for a ride from Peter, The American Transporter.  He picked us up at 6:00 in the morning and we headed through the Andes to our eco-lodge where we had reservations to stay for 3 nights.  We were fortunate to have a day with clear skies, which enabled us to see scenery in the Andes that is often blocked by fog or clouds.    

Above is a picture we took when we stopped for a brief bathroom and snack break.  At this point in our trip we were above the clouds pictured in the background.  

The ride to the coast took approximately 7 hours.  At about 1:00, we arrived at our destination, the Azuluna Eco-Lodge, which is located between Montanita and Puerto Lopez.

The lodge is charming, and it includes a lovely restaurant and friendly staff.  The rooms are located in different buildings throughout the grounds that look similar to the one you see above.  During the week we were there it wasn't very busy, but we were told that they were booked solid for the weekend.  

Here are pictures of the reception area, bar and restaurant.  On the second floor there is a game room where you can play board games, ping pong, and billiards.

Below is a peak inside our room, which included a porch with two hammocks, and a view of the ocean.  Even through the temperature was hot, we enjoyed a lovely ocean breeze.  There was mosquito netting provided above the bed, but we weren't bothered by any bugs during our stay.

Below is a view of the ocean from our porch.  The ocean is actually closer than it appears in this picture.  You can hear the waves crashing throughout the day and night.

After settling in, Mara, Lance, and I took a walk down to the ocean.  The water was very warm and the temperature of the water reminded me of my visit to the Florida Keys that I took years ago.  Although the water looked inviting, we were warned that the undertow was very strong in this location and we shouldn't swim there.  

That night we ate at the restaurant, and then went back to our rooms.  The next day we headed to Puerto Lopez for our whale watching tour.  Our tour was arranged through the lodge, so we were fortunate to be picked up and brought back by the tour company.

The all day tour we booked included a boat ride to see the humpback whales; a guided 2 hour tour of Plata Island, which is part of the Machalilla National Park; and snorkeling near a coral reef that hosts a variety of marine life.  We were able to see about 10 whales on our trip, including one whale breaching, and others with their flukes, flippers, or dorsal fin emerging from the water.  Mara and I were each able to climb to the top of the boat where the captain and spotter were located.  There, it was a little bit easier to spot the whales, both above and below the water.   Unfortunately, it was nearly impossible to snag a picture.  By the time you got your camera out and focused, they were gone.

Below are pictures of the island that we toured.  As you can see, the terrain is hot and dry.  We had to climb 180 steps to reach the exploration paths, but once there the hike became easier.   

Below is a picture of Mara and our guide having a conversation about the flora and fauna located on the island.

Above and below are two pictures of the blue footed boobies that can be found throughout the island.  They didn't seem to be bothered by the tourists, which made it easy to get a close-up picture of their feet.  

After our tour, we went back to the boat, where they provided a snack, and then most of us went snorkeling.  The water was a refreshing change from the hot, dry conditions on the island.  We were able to see many colorful fish during our brief time in the ocean.  On the way back to the mainland we had lunch on the boat, then made one more stop to look for whales.  We had a great time.     

On the third day of our trip we visited a dusty little town in the morning, which was a short walk from our lodge.  Later that afternoon we hopped a bus and headed to Montanita, where many people go to surf.  It is considered to be a party town, with many bars, hostels, and souvenir shops.  We spent some time wondering about, ate dinner, then caught the bus back to our lodge.  

On our last day, Mara and I took one more walk along the beach.  After lunch, Peter arrived to drive us home.  All in all, it was a wonderful trip.  Thanks for coming with us Mara.  We enjoyed your company, and appreciated your ability to speak Spanish to the local people.   

In other news...

The day after we returned from the coast, Lance and I had a chance to see old friends, Freddy and Caroline, at the Gran Colombia Suites.  The hotel hosted a party with wine, appetizers, and music.   It was a very enjoyable afternoon.  

And...Lance finally caught a picture of one of our hummingbirds that we watch throughout the day.   We've actually signed up for a bird watching class because we have been so fascinated by their behavior.  It meets the week after next for 2 days.   

In two weeks we will be heading to Wisconsin to visit family and friends.  We look forward to seeing all of you soon. 

  

  

     

  

  

On The Road Again

Today feels like my first day of vacation.  I know what you are thinking...why would a retired person need a vacation?  I think it has to do with the fact that since I have arrived in Cuenca, Ecuador, I have had some kind of commitment every week.  Spanish classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, homework, and, teaching at the Cuban School one day a week, which required lesson planning.  It doesn't sound like much, but it did take a chunk of my time, and sometimes prevented me from doing things that I would rather be doing.  So, I am giving myself a break.  No Spanish classes until I return from my visit to the United States in September...and, no Cuban School until September 16th, when classes resume.

Todays blog is an attempt to catch you up on some of the activities we did these past two months.  At the end of May and the middle of June we were lucky enough to be invited on two trips out of town with friends of ours.

The first trip we took was to San Bartolome, Sig Sig, Chordeleg, and Guanaco.  San Bartolome is known for their craftsmen who make guitars.

The man on the right is our English speaking guide, and the man on the left works at the shop.  Both men explained how the various guitars are created.

The prices for the guitars ranged from $80 to $800, depending on the materials used to create the instrument.  

Many of the guitars have an inlaid design like the one you see below.  They showed us how the design is created using small beads of color.

Several people in our tour group purchased a guitar, and several others tried them out...including our friend Greg.  

Next, we traveled to Sig Sig, where we visited the Panama Hat Factory.  The hats are hand woven by women in the local towns, then brought to the factory so they can create a finished product.  The cost of the hats varies depending on how tightly they are woven.  Prices can range from well under $100.00 to more than $500.00.   

Finished products are sold all over the world.  Quite a few people on our tour purchased hats at the factory store.   

After our visit to Sig Sig, we traveled to Chordeleg, where we enjoyed an almuerzo (lunch,) and a visit to the local jewelry shops.  Most of the jewelry items you see in the shops are handmade.  I don't have any photos of the shops, but below are two pictures of popular earring designs that adorn the street lights of the town.  

   

Our final visit was to Guanaco, where we stopped to see weavers that create shawls and scarves.  The designs on the products are created by using dye made from natural materials such as plants.  Below, the young woman is tying knots on the string so that it can be dipped into the dye.    

Then it is hand woven into a final product.  Many people also made purchases at this final stop...including me!  

I love the color of this shawl and would have purchased it, if he had completed it before our departure.

All in all it was a very interesting and informative tour, and we had a great time. 

Our second out of town trip involved traveling to the towns of Susudel and Oña.  In Susudel we visited an old historic church and viewed products that a group of women weavers created to help supplement their income.  A brief explanation of how the products were made was given by our Ecuadorian guide.  Sorry...no pictures of the products...but below are photos of the church.   

After a leaving the church, we made a brief stop to see if any condors could be spotted in the mountains.  The view was spectacular.  I only wish my picture could do it justice.

Next, we stopped to visit a family in the area that makes bricks.  It was Saturday, and these school aged boys were helping their father make the bricks.  It looked like a hard, dirty job, but they worked non-stop while we were there to visit. 

The girls in the family also were helping out by mixing the dirt.  At least I think that's what their job entailed.  They were happy to pose for all the gringos who wanted to take their picture.

Next, we traveled to Oña.  First we stopped at a Tequila factory where the owner explained how this alcoholic liquor is made using agave plants.  Then, anyone who wished, was given a sample of Tequila in a shot glass.     

There were also guinea pigs on the complex, that we believed were being raised for food.  

After visiting the Tequila factory, we had lunch at a cute restaurant in Oña.  On the way to the restaurant we saw this adorable lamb and her mother.  

Below is a picture of the young women who served us at the restaurant.  

After lunch, our tour bus dropped us off at the top of the hill, and we toured one of the neighborhoods that had historic buildings which the town is trying to preserve.  Then, we walked down the hill to the center of the town. 

When we arrived, we took a quick peak inside the church, then boarded the bus to head back home.   

We also participated in many other activities during June...so below are just a few photos and a brief explanation of what we've been doing.

Here are a few more pictures from Corpus Christi.  We went Saturday night...which had the biggest crowds of the 7 day festival.  There were homemade games for people to play...

and, firework castles which surrounded the parque and were set off at various intervals throughout the night.

I attended Children's Day with friends, David and Claudia at a neighborhood center.  The kids participated in a contest where they had to dance while trying to keep a ball from falling.  And, a young man entertained the audience with a song. 

 

We also attended the Fiesta De La Musica.  This was an event where there were numerous stages with bands set up throughout the city and over 400 musicians that played for this 2 day festival.   On Friday night we listened to this blues artist who performed at Goza.

On Saturday, the latin band pictured below entertained us with their music, while the handsome couple entertained us with their dance moves.

  

 

What's next?  We will be attending a 4th of July celebration for a local charity, and driving to the coast to see the humpback whales.  More on that later.  

I wish all my friends and family back home a Happy 4th of July!  I look forward to seeing you soon.