Canoa Beach Culture

Brian called this The Beach at the End of the World and we wrote a poem together that he began with that as the first line. This does have the feel of being at the edge of the planet. Actually, I am pretty sure this town was planned by ex-pats, surfers, and locals wanting to cash in. Besides the tiny mosquitos who have the power to wreak havoc on your sanity, it is a perfect little place to get away away... but not too far because otherwise I would not be able to post this blog (there is Internet but no ATM in Canoa).

I am in a restaurant/bar called Surf Shack owned by an ex-pat US citizen from Colorado. He was also fooled into thinking that on the equator it would be hot and sunny, but six months out of the year there are many cloud covered days where the sun is a hazy light in the sky. The rest of the year it rains and then there is sun and then it rains. That is the rainy season.

Yesterday we had some rare sun and the Pacific ocean was warm. Today is the norm (overcast). There are places with books to exchange and surf boards to rent. And because of the ex-pat population there is hot sauce (and crushed red pepper for your pizza) and French press of "real damn coffee". In a few days we will be going to Río Muchacho Organic Farm for four days to learn about organic farming and will hopefully see monkeys!! Brian and I are on a quest to see monkeys (in their natural habitats).

Then it will be Quito. Away from the beach. It is a hard life... four months of travel deserve a week of relaxation at the beach. It ain't the Caribbean though. It is Ecuador and that means nothing will be what you expected. And that is a good thing for me.