It’s amazing to me just how many lovely people we have met due to this blog. Folks we have communicated with by email arrived in San Clemente yesterday morning. Doug and Jac have been very good sports through their adventure on the Ecuadorian roadways. I must say that they have been on an adventure since landing in Guayaquil. They set up to stay there first night at a hostel within two blocks of the airport but, after driving around Guayaquil for three hours and not finding it they gave up and drove to Salinas where they found accommodations. They hit the road heading north towards San Clemente and within a very short drive hit an unmarked speed bump and flattened a tire and bent the rim. We were expecting them late afternoon on Wednesday but they never arrived in San Clemente until Thursday morning. They have now experienced the reality of traveling on the roadways of Ecuador – signage is sparse if any, roads have potholes, unmarked speed bumps and many other hazards like cows or burros walking in the middle of the road, no lights on vehicles, a two lane road with two cars coming at you while someone is passing you…when they left here yesterday afternoon they were headed to turn in the car in Guayaquil and continue their journey up towards Cuenca by bus.
From left to right: Harold and Barbara and Doug and Jac.
They invited us to lunch at Viviana’s mostly because we talk about our favorite restaurant so much in our blog that they needed to check out the excellent seafood dishes themselves. After a walk down the beach a cold Pilsener hit the spot and I think everyone enjoyed their fresh shrimp and fish dishes.
It was great meeting all of you, enjoy the balance of your time in Ecuador. If their plans go according to schedule we will be seeing Doug and Jac back here in August as they will be moving here, maybe not to the coast, but we will know more after they complete their tour of the areas around Cuenca and Loja.
Thanks again for taking the time to drive up the coast to visit us. Buena suerte!