Ecuador...

We got into Montañita early this morning after a front row bus ride across the border. It could have been one of the most sleep filled bus journeys that I've had here since we were in the front row and for the first time in my life I had enough leg room in a bus.... if it hadn't been for the fact that we were in the front row and woken up every 10 minutes by a street vendor coming onto the bus and yelling "Pollo Seco!!!!" into our faces. I don't know what the hell that is anyway....it doesn't make sense...it's not even dried chicken.

Ecuador is a currency enclave for the U.S dollar which means, basically, that the government decided its own currency was such shite that it would be better to adopt U.S money as its national currency. What's funny is that it was impossible for me to find any dollars in the town. No one would change my Peruvian Soles and my card didn't work at the one working ATM in the town. Luckily Anahita let me borrow money.   Montañita is a cool little town and, to me, better than Mancora. Surfing here is great...I wish I surfed. Instead, I just jump into the waves like a Salmon over and over again until I get tired. It's really the simple things in life that give you pleasure. Met up with some Israelis who we knew from Mancora and had a good time. Literally, every other day is some kind of Israeli holiday so one night they made us all this dish called Shakshouka which was delicious and then went to a bonfire. We were the only Goys in the place but it was cool since they were all super welcoming. I love Israelis...they're the only ones that party harder than Americans. It's impressive...and kind of unsettling at the same time.

After Montanita, we went to Baños, Ecuador. Baños is a small town in the Ecuadorian Highlands that has become famous because it has an active volcano looming over it that allows the people who live there to take a dip in naturally heated pools of varying temperatures and thus the name. It's the main social activity so you just enter thru the gates and can lounge around in different pools with Ecuadorian old men and families. Oh, and it's also right next to a waterfall since its outside. I know waterfalls are gay and everthing but I have to say it was one of the coolest things I've done here. We rented this small buggy and drove outside of Baños to its surrounding waterfalls which was also a ton of fun. It wasn't as impressive as Iquazu Falls but the scenery was great, especially when you see it out of a buggy that's too small for you. The last waterfall was el Pailón del Diablo and you can get right next to it after hiking for a bit. It was pretty overwhelming to see the raw power of a waterfall that close. After almost being able to not start the engine in the buggy (their was a problem with the alternator since the engine wasn't even kicking on, we got some Ecuadorian to help us. He literally stuck a Sacajawea dollar coin into the terminals and got it to start, it was awesome) we had a pretty good meal at a local Swiss restaurant and then left for Quito. I here Quito is a pit so I'm not exactly looking forward to it but I have to see it and Anahita has a tour that leaves from there so it's a must.