Since we arrived in Manta so late Jo drove us to the Super Maxi, huge grocery store, we had exactly 45 minutes to fill the cart with things on our list. Since Jo decided to stay in the car to watch our luggage we had the big challenge in figuring out names of things. Most things were self explanatory and prices were relatively the same as in Canada, high prices were shampoos, sun screen. Beer $3.77 for 6 bottles, wine cheapest $7.60, I guess I will become a beer drinker this trip. Cart full with everything we thought we would need for the first days, totaling $163. not too bad. Forty five minute drive dark but could see fishing villages lots of green areas to our rental house. Eleven o’clock exhausted, sweaty, hungry and of the people who know me, I had to unpack and get organized. One hour later I gave in to a long needed shower, glass of wine and toast with brown sugar YUMMY. Sleep till knock on the door at 8:30, our hosts to welcome us and to see if we needed anything. Breakfast, coffee dressed and to the ocean, our first of many beach walks. WOW what a place bustling with construction, beautiful homes, palm trees and flowers. So far this week we have done a lot of nothing, vegging, walking exploring Mirador San Jose, OOPs I think I called it something else. Beach walking has been our favourite past time, the surfs have been amazing. Yesterday was the hottest so far 30 feels like 35 and my poor legs are taking a toll, not fun having lymphodema. Nothing much I can do wear compression knee socks in the evenings and don’t fret as Leo says….On our way to the corner yesterday met the veggie truck, that was an experience in it self. Open truck things a kind of covered with burlap tarps, he seemed to understand what I was asking for and went to another part of the truck and gave me the best of best. We got 8 potatoes, 8 tomatoes, 2 cucumbers, 2 white onions, parsley, bag of strawberries, another fruit??green onions and beans all for $6 not bad EH!!!! Today was really hot this morning and now very windy and a very bearable temperature, time to make a beach walk, swim and find out what the pub is like on site for supper. Till Tomorrow……
Getting here
Well February 1st has finally arrived, we are at the Ottawa airport checking in our luggage. We have been so careful not to go over the fifty pounds allowed, although we could each have had 2 suitcases we only had one each. We had not been as careful with our carryon luggage as we were told by others they usually don’t check the weight. Leo’s camera equipment was over 3 lbs and my carry on was over by 2. It took a lot of ‘what should we be doing’ and maybe not arguing with the lady and she quit saying I should not allow this to go one and she finally put on an “approved sticker”. WHEW we got that through. Boarding passes and passports in hand headed to the plane. Quick flight to TO . Which should have been a 1 ½ layover changed to 5 hour layover because of plane to Peru problems.Finally on the Air Canada Rouge, the rouge did not mean a high classed plane, like no leg room, it smelt and was huge. We had noticed in the loading all the young mothers with little ones on their own. The stewardess’ and stewards of looked like they were right of a Vogue cover page. The one steward really stood out not only did he look like a model but exactly like Elvis, .helping a young mother carrying here baby while she attended to her other toddler, quit the picture….This flight was a torturous 8 hours long, food was bearable, tea horrible and booze very expensive. The night was very long, neither of us slept and kept walking to the back of plane to beg for some water. The airport in Lima was massive lots of neat stores and restaurants. We ate at Millers Brewery Pub looked safe, had a Montreal smoked sandwich and an organic beer all very good for a total of $38.98 not including tip. Headed to the loading area to try and catch some sleep before our next flight to Quito. Layover in Lima about 4 hours, flight to Quito was only 2 1/2 hours on Avianca, beautiful plane, lots of room food and wine good and service excellent. Six hour layover in Quito ( airport is gorgeous with a look of mountains outside), shuttle bus to plane met a guy from Quebec who had been affiliated with El Mirador (the project where we are staying), small world. Very short flight to Manta, Leo ended up with excruiting pains in his ears with the sudden decent to the Manta airport. Manta airport what can I say very small quaint. Got our luggage, YEAH all was there and none had been lost considering all of the stops. Outside was a very friendly face holding a sign with our names on it, our driver Jo Lynn.