Even though it is one of the smaller countries in South America, Ecuador is filled with endless amounts of fun and variety. From the Oriente, to the Andes, the Amazon, Coastal lowlands and the amazing Galapagos Islands; every spot we take up root for the night seems to have something new to offer us.
Our first stop in mainland Ecuador after returning from the Galapagos was a small town called Montanita. It is supposedly famed for its year-round good surf, but perhaps year-round was a stretch. I believe it to be more popular as a sort of community of acceptance, encouraging the individual to embrace and express their desires and inner-self. When you settle in to Montanita you trade in the initially overwhelming feeling of a bustling mini-city with questionable characters; instead for a welcoming embrace by a community of misfits.
The people of Montanita come from all walks of life, perhaps more foreigners than Ecuadorians have taken up root here. However they all seem to share the vision of a simple and care free life. They make money through the expression of their talents, whether it be cooking, jewelry making, music, fire juggling, machete juggling atop a 7 foot unicycle (for real), or any other way in which they see fit. They dress how they want, work when they want, play when they want, do what they want, and be whoever they want. It is truly a sight to behold and a quality to be desired.
Chalk drawing of a soccer player
This town however, is far from perfect and it is not for everyone. The nightly party was a bit too grand for my taste, and the trashed aftermath of the natural spaces was incomprehensible.
It is rare though to find any town or city as of yet that has not been treated as a giant garbage can. Just now on the bus, a man ate a bag of fruit, throwing the seeds out the window in front of us, then as though it was just as natural as the seed of a fruit, threw out the plastic bag in which they were housed. Does he not notice the difference, feel shame in the look of his homeland, or desire change? In talking with another American about this problem he pointed out the almost obvious notion that if a child grows up in a world of trash where she watches her mother and her father throw their trash in the street, can we expect her to think any differently of the matter?
This is a problem all over the world, the only difference is that some areas have more money to clean up after man’s lazy habits. Regardless of these actions we must remember that nature is the victim and continue to see her beauty even through the destruction of man. As I write this we are passing through the countryside from Quevedo to Latacunga, this is considered to be one of the most beautiful journey’s in the country, and rightfully so. While a $4.10 bus ride bought us 3-4 hours of butts and armpits in our faces (seriously, clown car doesn’t even begin to describe how packed this bus is),it also bought us incredible views of rivers, mountains, and a 100′ waterfall.
You can’t see their heads because people are small in Latin America, but the seats are more than full, and the aisle was much more packed a few minutes earlier.
Our next stop is Banos, and from the strict orders given to us by other backpackers not to leave until we see Banos; I assume we will have at least a few fun stories for you soon!
Our first stop in mainland Ecuador after returning from the Galapagos was a small town called Montanita. It is supposedly famed for its year-round good surf, but perhaps year-round was a stretch. I believe it to be more popular as a sort of community of acceptance, encouraging the individual to embrace and express their desires and inner-self. When you settle in to Montanita you trade in the initially overwhelming feeling of a bustling mini-city with questionable characters; instead for a welcoming embrace by a community of misfits.
The people of Montanita come from all walks of life, perhaps more foreigners than Ecuadorians have taken up root here. However they all seem to share the vision of a simple and care free life. They make money through the expression of their talents, whether it be cooking, jewelry making, music, fire juggling, machete juggling atop a 7 foot unicycle (for real), or any other way in which they see fit. They dress how they want, work when they want, play when they want, do what they want, and be whoever they want. It is truly a sight to behold and a quality to be desired.
Chalk drawing of a soccer player
This town however, is far from perfect and it is not for everyone. The nightly party was a bit too grand for my taste, and the trashed aftermath of the natural spaces was incomprehensible.
It is rare though to find any town or city as of yet that has not been treated as a giant garbage can. Just now on the bus, a man ate a bag of fruit, throwing the seeds out the window in front of us, then as though it was just as natural as the seed of a fruit, threw out the plastic bag in which they were housed. Does he not notice the difference, feel shame in the look of his homeland, or desire change? In talking with another American about this problem he pointed out the almost obvious notion that if a child grows up in a world of trash where she watches her mother and her father throw their trash in the street, can we expect her to think any differently of the matter?
This is a problem all over the world, the only difference is that some areas have more money to clean up after man’s lazy habits. Regardless of these actions we must remember that nature is the victim and continue to see her beauty even through the destruction of man. As I write this we are passing through the countryside from Quevedo to Latacunga, this is considered to be one of the most beautiful journey’s in the country, and rightfully so. While a $4.10 bus ride bought us 3-4 hours of butts and armpits in our faces (seriously, clown car doesn’t even begin to describe how packed this bus is),it also bought us incredible views of rivers, mountains, and a 100′ waterfall.
You can’t see their heads because people are small in Latin America, but the seats are more than full, and the aisle was much more packed a few minutes earlier.
Our next stop is Banos, and from the strict orders given to us by other backpackers not to leave until we see Banos; I assume we will have at least a few fun stories for you soon!
