La Ruta de Spondylus... Return to the Coast

Summer vacation had just started (July 4th for me) and it is just about over. Since you are reading the blog of a teacher, I get the duly right to complain about how short my vacations are. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do. I also love being able to think and talk about anything other than work, seeing as I put in HOURS of work after work hours during the school year. You can call me one of the hardest workers you know. At least just do it for me 😜

Puerto Lopez

In all honesty, as written before, my vacation did not feel much like a vacation. As one of my beloved colleagues (who just happens to be in Venezuela now) likes to spend at least some of her vacation— I just need time being alone. Teaching is my contribution to parenthood. I do not want children of my own, and all my students will tell you I say this often enough. Why? Children require so much attention and time and love... I would just rather spend those on myself. Call me selfish, but I feel it makes me quite good at my job (any of my former students reading this, feel free to chime in). Almost all of the first five weeks were spent running around and seeing people, both in USofA and Ecuador. The time I had alone was either (1) spent driving in the US or (2) in my apartment in Quito. I'd prefer to not have to do the former, and the latter is just a normal night for me. With my visitors gone, I garnered the strength to get out of my home and head back to the coast: a place I don't feel bad about getting lazy and looking gross.

HA!, because I don't plan ahead for these kinds of trips, I failed to realize that I would be traveling during Ecuador's Independence Day / First Battle of Independence. (Note: one of the books I read over this aummer was a dry but highly informative biography of Simón Bolivar's significant role in the indenpendence of the northern South American countries. Oh, and he also basically is responsible for why we have a UN. I'm glad I read this book because it helps me understand more of where I live. If you follow me on GoodReads, it's one of the books I have finished recently). To make a long story short (too late), my plan was to spend time for sure in Puerto Lopez. I was worried about accommodations but managed to book one night in the first place I ever stayed the first time I was ever there: Hostal Fragata. It was kind of perfect it happened this way. That I began this trip where it started. No plan except for the first night. This has been the theme of my past year: change. Places and people change. Puerto Lopez and Hostal Fragata have changed yet still retain familiarity. The same goes for people. But what this brief solo vacation revealed to me is just how still I just really needed to be.

The new, improved malecón in Puerto Lopez

I took the night bus to Puerto Lopez, leaving Terminal Quitumbe at 8:45 PM, with Reina del Camino. Primarily for my reference (or those of you who may be inspired to come here and know this beautiful country), there is an office near Parque El Ejido in Quito where you can purchase your ticket, without having to actually go to the terminal. It is located on the corner of Portoviejo y Versalles. This helps to reserve your asiento without having to travel all the way to southern Quito. And it prevents the risk you get to the terminal and there not be any available asientos. It really is convenient, and something I don't see much in Ecuador, compared to my trips elsewhere. On this night bus, I didn't sleep very well even though I slept a fair amount of it (maybe because I was aware of what route we were taking). This one was significantly faster than the one I took last year, only nine-and-a-half hours, compared to the daytime one that can average twelve hours. Of course, I was immediately greeted by someone offering to organize tours... even at 5:30 AM, there is someone hustling. Take note, children. Money can always be made. So he "helped" me find my hostal and began negotiating my prices. Now, I don't brag about my Spanish skills because they are enough for me to comfortably travel and get by. But considering I arrived three years ago and (contractually/teacherly) speak in English most of the day for most of the year, my skills are pretty good. But c'mon man! I am not a fluent person in English for a while after I wake up, and you interrogating me in your Manabita accent this early made me feel really dumb. But I appreciate your help, and that you found me the following day to talk with me. He did all the work to arrange my whale watching tour and dives in Puerto Lopez. Watch my away-from-home videos to see how I kept myself busy.

Turkey Vulture in Puerto Lopez

After Puerto Lopez, I decided to head south to Montañita. I was there the first time right before Puerto Lopez, almost three years ago. I actually came back here this past February... started writing a blog entry... and got tired from work and my Master's program to finish it. I came here with one aim, mostly: go diving. Really, my three aims for this trip were to Relax, Dive, and Read. RDR. Sounds either like my favorite TV show or some messed up variety of ADHD medication.

It was here where I realized just how exhausting my Summer had been. Granted, I did not do some grand trip like last year (and I may never do one like that again); however, I was moving around a lot and going to plenty of different locations. In Montañita, I booked a bed in a dorm in a party hostal, yet still managed to sleep from 10 PM to 8 AM both nights I stayed. Part of this, I think, is from the dives that I did. Most of it was just from being tired. I was originally planning on staying at the coast for about a week-and-a-half, yet I didn't think I had the energy. The people in the room with me were friendly and tried to invite me out to things, but I was just too tired. So, after five days, I went back to Quito on a night bus. Back home.

The rest of my time before the school year has been spent designing and filling up my patio of my apartment. This was actually quite enjoyable, as now I have an outdoor seating area and a developing vegetable garden. I think it was beneficial for me to just stay home and accomplish this, not having any kind of pressure to leave or anything. For what it's worth, I found the stillness I was looking for. And I feel refreshed to begin my fourth school year in Quito and reveal to myself new changes to come.

Pelicans gliding over the ocean

It was quite interesting and enlightening to basically recreate my first solo trip in Ecuador this Summer and witness how much the coast has transformed. Damage from the earthquake in 2016, general improvement in infrastructure, and my own ability to navigate between cities using interprovincial buses. But traveling alone most of the time for the past three years is getting lonely. I think I am finally ready to share my time and memories with more people.