After the appalling wasteland that is Lima, we took a two day bus ride to Guayaquil, Ecuador. Entering Ecuador was like entering one big banana plantation. In the small pocket of land near the road we passed enough banana trees to produce truckloads of exports. Containership loads. Several loads, or several ships. There are just extensive plantations as far as you can see in all directions, each tree cowed under the weight of massive bunches of green and yellowing fruits. I could have made one hell of a smoothie.
Guayaquil's the commercial centre of Ecuador, and I'd be willing to bet that its port sees its fair share of bananas. It's apparently a very dangerous city in most areas, with increased police presence improving things in the more touristy locales. Outside of these areas, petty theft and 'express kidnappings' (quick drive to the ATM to withdraw dosh) are relatively common day and night. We stuck largely to the Malecon (river promenade) and CBD areas and consciously didn't carry anything of value. We didn't have any problems.
After a few days relaxing in Guayaquil, we headed up the coast to Montañita. We both love the sea and beaches; they have an appealing calm and rhythm about them. Even the street dogs take it easy at the beach. We just chilled out for a few days amongst the usual array of surfy dudes, yoga girls and soap-dodging jewellery makers selling the kind of friendship bracelet a 12 year-old could whip up, not to mention the grubby buskers with ukuleles and wooden box drums playing the same four tunes on repeat. (The word 'tune' is used in an act of extreme generosity on my part). Not quite as bad as the appalling hippies who wanted money for waving flags and juggling badly in Peru.
Despite my cynicism, it was quite nice to escape from South America for a few days and just be in Internationalville. We wandered the beach, hung out with homeless pooches and kicked about in international style restaurants.
Sadly we also learnt in Montañita that our own lovely old pooch, Tide Sizzles has died. She had been showing signs of aging for a couple of years, so in that respect her death wasn't completely unexpected. But the last time we went to the vet they told us she might last another few years. Unfortunately it wasn't to be.
She had a great last couple of months with a friend who cared for her incredibly well. She retained a good appetite and interest in walks right to the end, so wasn't suffering. She was last seen staring at a nearby pigeon, no doubt mentally reliving her youth when she loved chasing birds. Not long after she was found dead in the garden, looking like she was asleep. It's really sad that she's gone, but I can't think of a better way for her to go. Wish I could have given her a big hug and a kiss before she went though.
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