Pushing Pesos: Montinita

We decided to continue our beach time by making our first stop in Ecuador, the renown beach town Montinita. We had heard amongst other travellers that there was a street called cocktail alley where all cocktails where only $2.00 each. Excited of the prospects of more good times with our friends on the cheap we left Mancora on an overnight bus.

This consisted of a long boarder check stop from Peru to Ecuador. Mainly due to 200 people arriving and only one man working behind each station, typing your border stamp by hand and printing it on each persons passport.

During our wait we encountered quite possibly the strangest person we have ever met. He happened to be queuing behind us so we had the pleasure of hearing his whole strange conversation with his Ecuadorian wife. He was an American called John and we actually noticed his first outburst before we arrived at the border check. The bus had come to a stop (this is pretty standard in South America so no one cared much). Then suddenly this loud American voice could be heard shouting down the passage way "Its a road block, the farmers are at it again! GOD DAM! Blocking roads and making women and children walk across the deserts for miles. If we get 10 men together me can move this GOD DAMM BLOCKAGE!!"

Everyone looked around awkwardly, no one moved. John looked aggrieved "C'mon guys we can't let the farmers win, we have to stop them." At this point we heard the wheels come to life and the bus moved, continuing with our journey. Turns out we were just waiting in traffic. John soon returned to his seat without a sound.

Half asleep at the border check que I noticed 'John' was in front of us. I heard him ask his wife if there was toilets at which point she said she didn't know. He started yelling "Are we a team? Are me and you not a team here?" More stares followed. He was then questioned about his immigration slip at the Peru side as he did not have it (everyone who enters the country is given this and it is stamped when you leave) John had obviously lost his but instead he began to shout at the officer saying he thought this was a conspiracy. His poor wife dragged him away embarrassed and joined the que for the Ecuadorian side. The whole time he was muttering and swearing. His wife then pointed to a fly on the wall and said "Look John it's a fly, you like flies" which to my surprise John replied back with "You know I don't care about flies, I only like Mosquitos!!!!!" Well, me and Michael and our friends were now beside ourselves. Soon after it was Johns turn and we heard he did not have the correct visas and would have to return in the morning. At this point it was all too much for John and he stormed out with his wife lagging behind him. We all thought this was a sign that she should maybe just part with John, life without John would probably be better for everyone.

Anyway, crazy John got on the bus and crossed the border anyway. Beware Ecuador he is out there somewhere!

We parted with John the illegal and took another bus to the seaside town.

When we arrived we dumped our bags at the cheapest hostel we could find, well we thought it was cheap. It took us a while to think in dollars the curreny in Ecuador and not Peruvian sole. We headed to cocktail alley which was indeed $2.00 for any cocktail freshly made by ladies behind a que of pop up stalls surrounded by plastic tables and chairs.

Montinita is very small, consisting of a handful of hostels, restaurants/bars and surf shops. Montanita is renown for its good waves and held a surf competition only a few months earlier. We had a great time, by the first day I got a hippy braid by a rasta man that looked like Jimmy Hendrix,I thought I was really cool and Michael thought it was funny. Most days were spent in cocktail alley and relaxing on the beach so nothing much to report on tours or expeditions. We just chilled and reminisced about crazy John. Here are some pics.