Beach Vacation in Esmeraldas

I'm getting REAAAALLY close to having this blog up to date now, with this blog getting me all the way into February and March, so here goes nothing...

A couple months ago I took about a week off from work in order to take a break to the beach, a place I've only been to about 3 or 4 times over my 2 years in Ecuador. I know, it's pretty pathetic to only got to the beach once or twice a year when you live in a tropical country named after the freakin' EQUATOR, but living at least 7 or more hours from the beach makes it a little difficult to just drop down the beach for a day or two.

My girlfriend (Gaby, for those who don't know her) and I, went to what is generally known as the most beautiful beach province in Ecuador: Esmeraldas. We hit a total of 5 different beaches during our week and had a wonderful time. The highlights:

Sunset in the surfer town of Mompiche, my favorite beach of all.

Living the good life.

This is not actually from Esmeraldas, it's from a bat-filled cave I found right outside my town...creepy.

Some friends at my house one night when we grilled out and made a bonfire in my patio. Not from my beach vacation, either, obviously.

Gaby, small. Trees, big. These trees line a secluded black sand beach next to Mompiche.

Gaby, sunbathing on the black sand beach.

Again, secluded...we spent two days hanging out on this beach and didn't see a single person.

Another Mompiche sunset.

Me, living the Peace Corps life.

Don't see many of these in the States anymore, huh?

Beach huts...the dream life.

Black sand.

View on the way to the secluded black sand beach

Ryan, small. Beach cliffs, big.

These houses reminded me of pictures I've seen of Greece. Actually, just a town called Same (pronounced Sah-may)

Me, boogie boarding...way too cool to surf...or maybe just too poor.

Drinking fresh-made juices and fruit milkshakes.

Bus stop...Gaby promoting Porta, my cell phone company down here.

Drinking juice...

Not from Esmeraldas...Me 'n' Killu

Killu's new preferred sleeping spot...under the bed.

A lady who sells stuff in Licto's market on Sunday's has a labrador and I offered to take care of him for a day...different kind of Lab than Killu, but they had fun playing anyways.

Gaby and Killu.

Dogs at play stopping for a water break.