Day 21: Feliz Navidad The Remix (12/18/09)
Today we woke up early and left the condos around 8:15.
We dropped Camila off at her school to get ready for their Christmas program, then headed to a few places for Brent and Elsa´s house building project.
Brent dropped us off at Camila´s school to watch the program and then went to drop the truck off in Bahia.
The program didn´t start until 10 and we had to leave before Camila even performed. Everyone at the school (kids and teachers) were all dressed in ¨nice¨ normal clothes, rather then their usual uniforms. People, especially older women and teachers, dress a lot differently than I´ve ever noticed in Portland. Can you imagine coming to parent teacher night and having your 5th grade teacher wearing a sheer lace cleavage showing tank top with booty shorts and 4-6 in. heels?
We were supposed to take the smaller passenger boat to the truck and then drive to Manta to pick up Jack, but the ferry wasn´t running (because the tide was too low). So, we had the pleasure of driving an extra 30-45 minutes on an extra torn up road around the bay. Even with the road as confusing as it was, we made it to Manta a bit early.
We ate lunch on the beach and were harassed by several vendors. There was only seafood, but the fish I has was pretty good.
After lunch we went to the airport to pick up Jack. His flight was late and he was one of the last people off of the plane.
It turns out that he had a run in with the Ecuadorian security over some PVC glue he was bringing for Brent. They pulled him aside and did a little questioning and took his passport and boarding pass for a while. They wound up letting him on the plane without the glue.
Once we had Jack we went to KFC so he could have some lunch before our grocery shopping trip.
We went to the SuperMaxi to the toy store so Elsa and Brent could pick up a Christmas present for Camila. Then we went to the food part of the store and did our shopping. They didn´t have a lot of the random stuff I was looking for, but I won´t die without it.
After shopping we piled back in the truck and headed to the condos.
We made it back to Bahia in less than half the time it had taken to get to Manta. And made it in time for the ferry to San Vincente.
Once we were back we unloaded the truck and had snacks and scotch.
Margaret and Jack went to bed and I attempted to watch a movie (something about parting waves?) but it was very slow and strange (it reminded me a bit of ¨Dancer In The Dark¨). I watched half and went to sleep.
We dropped Camila off at her school to get ready for their Christmas program, then headed to a few places for Brent and Elsa´s house building project.
Brent dropped us off at Camila´s school to watch the program and then went to drop the truck off in Bahia.
The program didn´t start until 10 and we had to leave before Camila even performed. Everyone at the school (kids and teachers) were all dressed in ¨nice¨ normal clothes, rather then their usual uniforms. People, especially older women and teachers, dress a lot differently than I´ve ever noticed in Portland. Can you imagine coming to parent teacher night and having your 5th grade teacher wearing a sheer lace cleavage showing tank top with booty shorts and 4-6 in. heels?
We were supposed to take the smaller passenger boat to the truck and then drive to Manta to pick up Jack, but the ferry wasn´t running (because the tide was too low). So, we had the pleasure of driving an extra 30-45 minutes on an extra torn up road around the bay. Even with the road as confusing as it was, we made it to Manta a bit early.
We ate lunch on the beach and were harassed by several vendors. There was only seafood, but the fish I has was pretty good.
After lunch we went to the airport to pick up Jack. His flight was late and he was one of the last people off of the plane.
It turns out that he had a run in with the Ecuadorian security over some PVC glue he was bringing for Brent. They pulled him aside and did a little questioning and took his passport and boarding pass for a while. They wound up letting him on the plane without the glue.
Once we had Jack we went to KFC so he could have some lunch before our grocery shopping trip.
We went to the SuperMaxi to the toy store so Elsa and Brent could pick up a Christmas present for Camila. Then we went to the food part of the store and did our shopping. They didn´t have a lot of the random stuff I was looking for, but I won´t die without it.
After shopping we piled back in the truck and headed to the condos.
We made it back to Bahia in less than half the time it had taken to get to Manta. And made it in time for the ferry to San Vincente.
Once we were back we unloaded the truck and had snacks and scotch.
Margaret and Jack went to bed and I attempted to watch a movie (something about parting waves?) but it was very slow and strange (it reminded me a bit of ¨Dancer In The Dark¨). I watched half and went to sleep.
Day 22: Bahia/Letters? pt. 2 (12/19/09)
Today I woke up at 6, as per usual, then headed back to bed. Woke up at 8:30 or so and quickly decided to get up because they were working on the highway about 25-30 ft from my bedroom window. Margaret and Jack were up making breakfast so I joined them for some crepe/pancakes.
A little while after eating they decided to walk up the beach to Canoa. I watched the second half of the movie from the night before.
After the movie, I got ready to go, then ate some lunch. Just as I was grabbing my purse to leave, Camila came home. She wanted me to wait, then she would join me.
I waited while she showered and got ready. She showed me the dresses her oldest sister had sent from Sweden for her, then we waited for the bus.
There were a few other people waiting. A man, his wife and son (I think) were waiting. The man said something about being from L.A. and could speak perfect English, but with a heavy accent. They were pretty friendly, they asked if I was Canadian.
We took the ferry to Bahia and went to Tía to buy a couple things and break my $20.
We walked to the post office next, but it was closed, so we walked to an internet cafe. It was surprisingly nice and well kept inside. The most confusing part was the keyboard. To get an ¨@¨symbol you have to press Ctrl+Alt+2, because the normal shift+2=" the guy next to me explained it for me.
I emailed my mom to let her know that everything went pretty smoothly with Jack and to thank her for sending things with him for me.
After the internet cafe, we looked for shoes for Camila and then took the ferry back to San Vincente. In San Vincente we went back to the shop where I had seen a shirt I liked. I tried it on, but it didn´t fit, so we hopped a bus back to the condos.
I had told Camila I would go swimming, but once we got back I changed my mind. A short while later I ate some dinner with Margaret and Jack.
Jack took apart one of the ceiling fans that wasn´t working properly and tried to fix it. About 5 minutes later the power went out. He didn´t want to give up get so he was trying to reassemble it by candle and flashlight. He was forced to give up even after the power had come back on.
With the power back on I started reading one of the books my mom sent for me. ¨Throw Like A Girl¨is a book of short stories about different women. I´ve read two of the short stories so far. They´re easy to read, but not that engrossing.
A little while after eating they decided to walk up the beach to Canoa. I watched the second half of the movie from the night before.
After the movie, I got ready to go, then ate some lunch. Just as I was grabbing my purse to leave, Camila came home. She wanted me to wait, then she would join me.
I waited while she showered and got ready. She showed me the dresses her oldest sister had sent from Sweden for her, then we waited for the bus.
There were a few other people waiting. A man, his wife and son (I think) were waiting. The man said something about being from L.A. and could speak perfect English, but with a heavy accent. They were pretty friendly, they asked if I was Canadian.
We took the ferry to Bahia and went to Tía to buy a couple things and break my $20.
We walked to the post office next, but it was closed, so we walked to an internet cafe. It was surprisingly nice and well kept inside. The most confusing part was the keyboard. To get an ¨@¨symbol you have to press Ctrl+Alt+2, because the normal shift+2=" the guy next to me explained it for me.
I emailed my mom to let her know that everything went pretty smoothly with Jack and to thank her for sending things with him for me.
After the internet cafe, we looked for shoes for Camila and then took the ferry back to San Vincente. In San Vincente we went back to the shop where I had seen a shirt I liked. I tried it on, but it didn´t fit, so we hopped a bus back to the condos.
I had told Camila I would go swimming, but once we got back I changed my mind. A short while later I ate some dinner with Margaret and Jack.
Jack took apart one of the ceiling fans that wasn´t working properly and tried to fix it. About 5 minutes later the power went out. He didn´t want to give up get so he was trying to reassemble it by candle and flashlight. He was forced to give up even after the power had come back on.
With the power back on I started reading one of the books my mom sent for me. ¨Throw Like A Girl¨is a book of short stories about different women. I´ve read two of the short stories so far. They´re easy to read, but not that engrossing.
Day 23: El Matal (Jama/Manantial) (12/29/09)
My favorite part of this weekly picnic is getting to talk to Elsa. Most of the time she is too busy with Brent and Camila (and the house building errands) to really have a conversation, but when we come for the picnic we always get to talk. Today, because the tide is low, we take our ¨treasure hunt¨walk first.
Elsa asked why I might not go to Quito with Margaret when Jack has to leave. I told her that I was hoping to stay in Cuenca and take some Spanish then maybe head to the Galapagos or Peru after. And that there is a chance that one of my friends might meet me in Central America for a week or two.
She said that when we get to Cuenca she´ll introduce me to a lawyer friend of hers that can help me figure out my Galapagos trip. She said that he is 28, gay, and really nice (my guess is that she knows him through her son Leo).
On our drive to El Matal that day she had called him and made reservations for us in Cuenca, so we´re all going for sure!
We walked for a lot longer that before. It was nice though. I think it was good for me because I´ve been pretty stagnant lately.
After walking we went to our usual leafy hut and ate sandwiches. Brent, Camila, and Brigit we swimming. I talked to Margaret and Elsa for a while and then did some reading.
I read for about an hour and then realized I had to pee really badly. So, I grabbed 25 cents and some toilet paper and headed for the baños we used last time. It was closed, so I walked back to ask if Elsa knew of another place, but she didn´t. I walked down the road a long ways, but didn´t see any other baños.
When I got back to the blanket Brent and Jack were back from wandering. They said that the guy who´d been kite boarding earlier let them use the bathroom at the shrimp lab across the street. So, I did the same.
When I got back they were about ready to leave so we loaded the truck and headed back towards the condos.
We stopped by the gas station for gas, water, ice cream and chips. Then we stopped by the cabaña ¨Margaritaville¨to pick up some chairs and empty beer crates.
When we got to the condos Camila, Brigit, me and Tasha (? the Russian kid) went swimming. I think we swam for about 2 hours.
It felt so good to take a proper shower after swimming (the water didn´t stop running 2 minutes into the shower).
Then I ate and got to go online. I guess when I emailed on Saturday I had accidentally sent the email to myself instead of my mom. So I resent an email to my mom and emailed my grandma.
I also got to talk to Natallie and Hana for a bit.
I went back to the condo and drank some wine and talked to Jack and Margaret for a while. When they both went to bed I watched ¨Wild At Heart.¨t was good. Nicholas Cage and Laura Dern (and a few others) were in it. It´s by David Lynch, who is kind of hit or miss for me, but I liked it.
Elsa asked why I might not go to Quito with Margaret when Jack has to leave. I told her that I was hoping to stay in Cuenca and take some Spanish then maybe head to the Galapagos or Peru after. And that there is a chance that one of my friends might meet me in Central America for a week or two.
She said that when we get to Cuenca she´ll introduce me to a lawyer friend of hers that can help me figure out my Galapagos trip. She said that he is 28, gay, and really nice (my guess is that she knows him through her son Leo).
On our drive to El Matal that day she had called him and made reservations for us in Cuenca, so we´re all going for sure!
We walked for a lot longer that before. It was nice though. I think it was good for me because I´ve been pretty stagnant lately.
After walking we went to our usual leafy hut and ate sandwiches. Brent, Camila, and Brigit we swimming. I talked to Margaret and Elsa for a while and then did some reading.
I read for about an hour and then realized I had to pee really badly. So, I grabbed 25 cents and some toilet paper and headed for the baños we used last time. It was closed, so I walked back to ask if Elsa knew of another place, but she didn´t. I walked down the road a long ways, but didn´t see any other baños.
When I got back to the blanket Brent and Jack were back from wandering. They said that the guy who´d been kite boarding earlier let them use the bathroom at the shrimp lab across the street. So, I did the same.
When I got back they were about ready to leave so we loaded the truck and headed back towards the condos.
We stopped by the gas station for gas, water, ice cream and chips. Then we stopped by the cabaña ¨Margaritaville¨to pick up some chairs and empty beer crates.
When we got to the condos Camila, Brigit, me and Tasha (? the Russian kid) went swimming. I think we swam for about 2 hours.
It felt so good to take a proper shower after swimming (the water didn´t stop running 2 minutes into the shower).
Then I ate and got to go online. I guess when I emailed on Saturday I had accidentally sent the email to myself instead of my mom. So I resent an email to my mom and emailed my grandma.
I also got to talk to Natallie and Hana for a bit.
I went back to the condo and drank some wine and talked to Jack and Margaret for a while. When they both went to bed I watched ¨Wild At Heart.¨t was good. Nicholas Cage and Laura Dern (and a few others) were in it. It´s by David Lynch, who is kind of hit or miss for me, but I liked it.
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