So, after leaving our wonderful hosts in Berlin Jipijapa in probably the most luxury form of travelling I've been blessed with the experience of riding (a pickup truck with two mattresses in the back) we were dropped off on the outskirts of Puerto Cayo and wished a fond farewell. We started walking up the hill and suddenly we were met with an amazing view of the local beach embraced by rocky cliff faces and light blue shores. We stopped for a photo and then stuck our thumbs out. We waited 4 minutes or so before a lady and her son, who were travelling from Quito to Montañita for a weekend break at the beach slowed down and told us they don't know exactly where they are but they knew they were heading south. We jumped in and enjoyed the views from the coastal road. We approached Parque nacional de los Frailes and she asked us if we were in a hurry and if not, did we mind going in. Of course we jumped at the opportunity, figuratively speaking. It was generally a wasteland of the deasert persuasion until we arrive at a carpark half full and with ice cream stalls. It turned out there was a beach here and what a beautiful beach indeed. We just stayed for some pictures promising we would return. And on the way out this awesome lady bought us ice creams, a luxury I had almost forgotten about. Upon arrival we were just looking for somewhere cheap to stay while we went to check out a Workaway option we had organised last minute at a travel agency. We found a cool little family run place which was empty and we were given a room to ourselves. After going to the agency the following day we were told that it was a minimum requirement of a month stay and so the few days we wanted to stay would not suffice. The next few days were spent searching for a new option occasionally being brought plates of food and slices of cake by the amazing a super sweat Richard (the owner) after a few days were spent with no luck we decided to try our luck in Manta. We headed out from the hostel having been told we will only pay for two days not the four that we had been there. We said no but of course he insisted. And we parted happily.
We started our journey north, on foot hoping (not hopping) for someone to pick us up. After a kilometre or so we walked by a mechanics where a guy started a conversation with us and told us he can take us to his house which is near manta and then he will be going to Manta the next day. For some reason I fell asleep almost immediately and awoke to a beach town called San Lorenzo which is one of the beaches where the turtles lay eggs. These are protected and can be identified by the yellow tape. We continued up the windy road which slowly became greener and greener only to find ourselves at a restaurant in the jungle which turned out to be his house. This place was full of amazingly colourful plants and even more colourful people. We were greeted warmly by everyone there and sat down for dinner. This was amazing and the best part was they had a keyboard in the restaurant and for my first time in almost 10 months I got to play! I felt a bit rusty but couldn't have enjoyed it more.
The next day after being invited to stay as long as we want we still decided to continue to manta where we could check the internet to see if any of our Workaway hosts had replied. After hitching a few rides we arrived and checked the internet for the first time in a couple of days. Happily we discovered that we had a place secured in a hotel. Slightly less happily I read that it was located on the beach in...... You probably didn't guess it, San Lorenzo. We giggled and began heading back in the same direction only with the risk of darkness lingering, time was against us. We eventually got picked up by a huge lorry and were transported. We arrived at San Lorenzo in the dark and only had a picture of the place to go by. At first I was doubtful but after walking 4 or 5 blocks we found it. This place was called 'Gringo on the beach', hilarious. We were greeted and surprisingly expected at the door and shown to a mini house which we shared with two other volunteers. That night we went and met the owner who is a really nice, unassuming and generous guy from Chicago. We made mojitos (a speciality of mine at this point).
The following day we awoke early for our induction to the Gringo on the beach breakfast special. We quickly picked this up and were set free to enjoy our first day in San Lorenzo. First we headed into the town for little look around. But it seemed we were already staying in the best part so we made our way back where we were informed of some caves, only accessible during low tide this would be the next stop. We were later invited to the very restaurant from whence we came. We seem to be in some kind of Infinite loop. It was here I ate one of the biggest empenandas of my life and definitely the most delicious.
