Anyone who complains about public transportation in Ottawa or Toronto needs a reality check. We took the Manglaralto bus to Manta and back yesterday,really cheap $1.75 each for an hour trip. The bus had 3 levels of noisy, loud, even louder and very loud. Latin music played constantly and as fate would have it through a speaker directly overhead. I am sure the driver totally ignored the sign over his head saying the bus never exceeded 90 km/hr. The roads were windy and he wanted to pass every other car he came across. The trip is an hour either way and regardless of all of the above worth the experience. The unfortunate thing is we will have to do it again.
Arrived at the terminal in Manta and were instantly greeted by hawkers selling everything from computer cables to water in plastic bags with a chunk of mango in it. Don’t forget this is our first time in Manta and our mission was to get to the Supermaxi, get our groceries and get back home. We decided that first trip would not be too complicated and that we would venture further next time.
Speaking almost zero Spanish and understanding even less the next task was to convince a taxi as to where we were going. With some it didn’t seem to matter what you said the answer would be si. I spotted a younger taxi driver and with the help of my cue card he assured me he knew where to take us. So off we go. He took us directly to the grocery store, wished us well and the total was $1.50. Mission accomplished.
Had lunch at a place called the Green Room. Cappuccino and a sandwich. Simple but delicious. Walked about and dropped into a few stores and then got our shopping done. Interesting thing is that I was wearing a backpack and didn’t know that you are required to put it in a locker before going into the store. A guard reminded me very quickly. I guess there is a lot of shoplifting.
The taxi ride back to the terminal was a little worse because Marianne didn’t recognize the surroundings when we exited the taxi. With her doubt I started to second guess as well. The buses that were parked looked more like tour busses than commuter buses and I didn’t see the one I was looking for.
As soon as we starting asking people questions about the “other” terminal of Manglaralto it sparked a flurry of men surrounding us, all speaking very quickly in Spanish and calling over others to help. After what seemed like an eternity of trying to escape the help and of course the guy that thought ipad cables would solve everything a guy in a huge hat pointed to an empty bus slot and then to a ticket counter. Problem solved, our bus hadn’t arrived yet.
Home safe and sound. A long shower and a beer on the rooftop made the day a comical memory. Next stop Pacoche Jungle.