The Beach Day 1
After awaking many times during the night we finally awake for the last time as we enter Guayaquil. It´s around 6 a.m. and the sun is beginning to rise on the bustling town. Speaking of bustling there never seems to be a shortage of hustling as we exit the bus. We are trying to figure out the best way for us to get from the terminal to the Branch, via taxi or via bus. We are literally surrounded by taxi drivers and as we close ranks and circle our luggage to try and form an intelligent plan of action they won´t shut up. Nathan and I consult the map and finally, much to the chagrine of the taxi drivers, decide to take a bus headed toward the coast. Taxi drivers yell that we could get there for only 25 bucks, but 6 dollars later we have 3 bus tickets to where we want to go. It is a tiring hike at 6 a.m. to the bus terminal dragging our luggage which are seemingly suddenly heavier from our shopping expeditions. Once we are loaded up it takes about 2 hours to get to the outskirts of town and the Branch, it´s at Kilometer 23 1/2 to be exact. Fortunately we have seats, because by the time we are headed for the coast there isn´t an inch of room on the bus as it is apparently the weekend and people go to the beach during that time period, a strange Ecuadorian custom to be sure! The branch is beautiful and we soon have our extra luggage dropped off. Then it is time for us to catch a bus to the coast. That would prove to be difficult. The first bus we take, drops us off about 3 minutes up the road at a toll booth. Buses pass that are too full to take us on. So we wait, in the hot noon sun. Hot, tired, and hungry. Not a good combination. Finally we get on a bus but have to stand as all the seats are taken. Fortunately we are the only ones standing and most all windows are open. The trip goes quickly as I sit at the back listening to my ipod and working on crossword puzzles. I am uninterested in the ride as it is mostly desert and not attractive at all. Our first stop at the coast is to take the next bus north, toward Montanita and Olon. We arrive in Montanita an hour later and find a nice hotel owned by a Cuban from NYC. It is very nice and on the quiet side of town. Montanita has boomed since I was here last 3 years ago. It is full of tourists looking to surf and escape reality. Rastafarians line the streets selling handwoven jewelry. Although all the cigarette packages in the country have huge letters on the front saying Cigarettes Kill! Many people here smoke. Our hotel room is on the second floor with a nice view of the ocean. The sound is soothing. The day ends uneventfully as we are pretty exhausted and I collapse in sleep first around 8. It will be nice to do nothing for the next couple of days.