Oh i do like to be beside the seaside

Ah, deep breath. it is indeed v nice to be back by the sea. After spending so much time waterlogged on my last trip, i hadnt realised just how much i had missed it. Unfortunately the garuia (big grey mist cloud thing) is well and truly over the coast at the moment as the guidebook said it would (in my own, unique way i had of course decided that the guidebook would be wrong and it would be glorious sunshine) but even the constant greyness hasnt been too bad and i have spent a lovely couple of days lazing around in hammocks, braving the wind (and small ecuadorean children) on the beach and going for long bracing walks. Rather more excitingly, i was bored whilst eating brekkie and translated an add for my favourite ice creams over here (kind of ice lollies made with just squished fruit) and turns out they are advertised on teh basis of being the ice cream that makes you healthy (or something along those lines) so feel decidedly pious now every time i eat one!!!

Really liked canoa as it was lovely and small and i was one of about 5 gringos in the entire place, so once i got used to all the stares, it was kind of fun. Plus it was so nice and tranquil after the hecticness that was quito. Spent friday night chatting to the owner of the hostal i was staying in (who could speak nearly fluent english which made a nice break). Then on saturday, i bumped into a friend from Quito who was now volunteering out here so spent sat night with her. Which was really lovely as they were having this big concert/ disco thing at my hostal so it meant i had a friend to go with. And it turned out to be a v fun evening, with at least 4 men vying to dance with me (and they were all tall, hurrah for costal men!) and a really good band playing. Highlight of the eve was being told quite a few times (normally with a faint hint of surprise) that I am a good dancer. David (my lovely salsa teacher and rachs lovely boyfriend) was worth every penny! Unfortunately the main stage was approx 2 m from the door to my bedroom so had no choice but to stay up till 4.30 when the music finally died down! Now theres a good excuse!

Unfortunately seemed like less of a good idea this morning when my alarm went off at 9am for my fun day of bus rides to puerto lopez (where i am now). lovely array of buses ranging from super delux to bone shakingly awful, with an equally lovely array of bus companions, including obligatory crazy old man who wanted to tell me why there were problems in ireland (apparently all becuase england is anglican and ireland is catholic, who would have guessed!!!). Also eaten nothign but bus food today (ie nothing but stuff sold by people who come on toe buses with plastic bowls of surprise food) so after 2 bread rolls, 2 bottles of water, a chicken empanada, a tub of chicken and rice and a bag of coconut water (hallelujah.....i love that stuff) I am now ready for a lovely healthy dinner, if i can just track one down amongst the oceans of fried fish adn fried chicken on offer!

Have made my way to puerto lopez and it is the capital of whale spotting jun- sept and as such had dutifully signed myself up for a trip tommorrow. Am more excited than a grown woman should be so keep your fingers crossed for lots of sighting.