Santa Marianita to Canoa and Back

Trip Start Dec 27, 2010
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Trip End Jan 20, 2011


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Where I stayed
Santa Marianita, Linda's House, Donkey Den

Flag of Ecuador  , Manabí,
Saturday, January 15, 2011

Santa Marianita was a total surprize. I thought it would be a home base to go off to other places instead it turned into "home". I loved my stay at Linda's House on the beach. I met extreme sporters, kite surfers, locals, a charming hungarian couple, retired ex pats from Canada and the US, diplomats, and best of all Martine from Toronto. We clicked and soon we were off to Canoa for a few days. We took the bus from Manta to Canoa and man was it ridiculous. There is no direct bus. "Lo mas directo" does not exist in Ecuador. We went thru Porto Viejo. That town is a dump. Lo siento pero es verdad. We waited for an hour and half to get outta there. We coulda driven to Canoa in that time. Then the bus went thru Sacote where they make tagua jewlery. Then San Jancinto and then Rocafuerte. I will say it was interesting to see the people in the towns. Martine and I sat in the back row of the bus. She took the right window and I took the left. I had tons of great pics and vids but I screwed up and deleted them from my memory card. 
There were lots of white egret birds, purple flowering plants in low lying areas, grape agriculture, coconut trees, herds of cows and goats
Canoa somewhere
Canoa somewhere
. And lots of bus fumes and dust which helped to bring on a bit of a cold.When we finally got to San Vincente and yep that bridge over the Chone is definitely open we were so desperate to get up the road into Canoa that we jumped in a moto taxi. DONT DO IT! Slow ass moto taxi and everyone was blowin by us. It was embarrasing. shoot lost my mototaxi vid too when I accidently deleted stuff on camera.
So what shoulda coulda woulda been an hour and half trip from Manta to Canoa turned into an all day affair.

 We stayed at the Baloo cabanas the first night as the Bambu was full. At 7.30 am  we were awakened by a chainsaw. We left, went down to the Bambu for breakfast and waited until we saw some other backpackers ck out. We got a great room. The best time for me was my early morning walks down the beach and Sunset was spectacular. *pics
Just will say we took a cab ride back to Manta that costs us 35 bucks and worth every single penny.  FYI, there is a police ck point when heading out of Canoa. We saw somebody getting searched and shook down pretty good.  Don't have to worry about that anymore Whew. We were back in just under and hour and half. I couldn't wait to get back to Marianita. The next day on the beach was mellow. The place was empty. Our beach house had cleared out too
overlooking street from the Bambu in Canoa
overlooking street from the Bambu in Canoa
. We had kite surfing Champion Armando of Ecuador and Columbia practicing.Just a terrific relaxing day.

Our internet there kept slowing to a halt so uploading the days photos was impossible. Went to bed instead of waiting for uploads and I slept like a baby with the sound of the waves. Today I left on an AeroGal flight for Quito. I'm pooped and need to get my mountain clothes I left behind with friends in the morning. I will see Otavalo tomorrow after 33 years. I've been told it has changed a lot. Then I hope to get up to Apuela another 3 or 4 hr up into the GREEN SPECTACULAR ANDES. One can keep Quito, I am just not a city girl. I hate it. Too intense for me. ok.. as my eyelids are drooping, let me get a few pics up I hope.
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