Back in Banos

Alot has happened in the last week. So fast really that getting the writing catch up can get in the way of the action that is taking place. So the Puerto Lopez part of the trip included going to Agua Blanca, an archeological site. My main intention though as always was to see animals. So that was kind of sad really. There used to be an ancient civilization site there, with a river close by, however with global warming that water is no longer there and many changes have taken place because of this. I saw the tail of a squirrel and an unusual emerald green large bird and that was it. My guide said that to see animals would require a 1-2 day treck into to jungle. Very sad. Later after our very hot walk we swam and mud packed ourselves in the cool sulfur pool. Very nice. Overall a nice tour but one that is not needed to be repeated.
Next on the boat to Isla Plata, where Sir Frances Drake was said to have buried treasure there. I went with a fully ready camera and expectations. Oops. It is an hour and a half trip by boat and we were very fortunate to see a pod of humpbacked whales swimming by. You know coming from the west coast of Canada and seeing those orcas up close and personal on the beach of Point Roberts. I think that that main and most exciting part would be to dive and really see these big fellahs. It is okay to see a hump surface or a tail or a spout or a flipper but I think to really get with them would be best underwater. They are sooooo dynamic, it is like seeing an iceberg you know that there is so much more under the water.
So now we get to the island. We approached by boat, apparently there were sea turtles bobbing there heads up to wecome us, but I didn't realize that they were turtles. On this tour, we got a choice to go to one side of the island or the other. I choose the side that might possibly have the opportunity to see sea lions, (lobos de mar) unfortunately that did not happen. The island is what you might expect from the Baha in California, very dry, sparse and dry brush. Not my favorite choice of surroundings but I went to see animals not view for a new place to live. Sooooo, the blue footed boobies and other boobies and Pajaros Tropical greated us and flew on by. I love the little dance that the boobies were doing lifting their little blue feet and whistling. It was a 3 hour walk and up hill and over dale. On the coastal part I got to see a Manta Ray jumping it was like watching a cotton sheet flying out of the water and down. Apparently, in one part of the coast on a bay, lots of fish come in to rest and eat and this attracts lots of shark and manta and various sea birds. Over this one cliff I saw an albatross resting, they are a huge bird. I got some great some pictures. The island also is a nesting area for the red footed boobies who are on the extinction list. Here's the problem, on this island there are snakes and rats. The rats were so abundant that they were hopping here and there. Of course this is very sad as those furry little buggers are happily eating various flora and fauna (bird eggs), they are not indigenous nor do they have alot of preditors, hence really big problems.
So after, these two days of running about, I decided to hang out and just enjoy Puerto Lopez. Javier (pronounced Habi air) the manager of Hostel Spondylus where I stayed was nice simple and easy. I met some lovely people there just traveling through. I spent the day on the beach and hung out with my camera where another fellah showed me a lagoon/river that was the home to these beautiful white cranes. They were perched in trees by the shore and fish were jumping in the water and that water was boiling with fish. Other than birds, mamals were few and far between. Very sad.
So after 10 days of travelling, I got the call, that a certain man of mine was missing me and so I cut the trip a bit short to be with him. I travelled to Guayaquil through Jipijapa, and this little old farmer from Ayampe sat next to me and talked non stop for the whole trip. The sad thing is I have a very difficult time understanding the coastal people, their accent is so different from the mountains. But he was a lovely person and tried to show me all the agricultural details of what was being grown. I never realized the the Guayaquil area was a rice growing area. They grow rice here for all of the country. There were huge fields and drying areas.
I then called Rob in Guayaquil as I also was thinking of visiting the Iguana park in town but it was sooooo damn hot I asked Rob to give me an excuse to come home faster. I literally hopped on the next bus, seriously 10 min later and was off. Another gentleman who I could understand sat next to me and chatted for the next 4-5 hours. Fortunately he, I could understand. We did have a flat tire and had to have it changed in a town where it was really hot, Guayaquil is in its winter and according to the locals was cold. Yikes. Eventually we were on our way and within 20 minutes it was the temperature of the cool mountains, lovely. He showed me the city where they grow all the mora ( blackberries) sugar cane, choclo (a kind of corn) etc. Finally, after much talking, we stopped in his town and the neighbor wanted to chat and he moved over to sit next to me. I find the Ecuadorians very curious of the tourists and want just the chance to chat and be friendly. They are really lovely people, but they would never allow a stranger to be lonely if they could help it. They are very sweet.
I had paid for a direct ride with the bus to Banos and they didn't. They dropped me off at the terminal area-ish side of the road and left me to figure it out. Soooo, I waited in the rain for the next bus, only of have one of Rachelle friends who are going to school to be medical doctors, give me a ride right to my house. So sweet really.
That was a good night sleep as I had travelled 12 or more hours and was pooped.
Assimilating back home was interesting but okay.
Yesterday Rob and I went on a hike up accross the bridge to El Tablon, it was a 3 hour hike straight up. When I mean straight up, I mean it. Climbing wasn't too bad until I hit my saturation point of being terrified of the heights. Finally I had to stop but Rob and the dogs carried on for another half hour. I met them a while later, in a fruit field. Several tourists and a bare-footed farmer on the back of a donkey passed by like no problem. Anyway, I now have some sore muscle, but after this very long day, I slept well.
Today is the beginning of another day with new adventures.
Talk with you all later
Robin