girls weekend

Last weekend Amy and I went away on one of our mini adventures! Wanted some sun and beach so off we went on the bus to our closest beach; Pedernales. On the way ee were naughty and did something banned (we bought and ate food off a street vendor!) This is massively banned since it makes you ill but since I've been immunised, had various stomach upsets and Typhoid I reckoned my system is pretty hardened. We got to Pedernales and found a hotel and booked a room. I demanded to see the potential rooms before making a choice and refused the first room because it was on the ground floor and right by the entrance. We were soo pleased with our powerful negotiating and "we are not tourists" kick ass attitude that we rather rashly got carried away with the excitement and immediatly took the 2nd room. Room was clean and had a bathroom and running water (yay) but we didn't realise until too late that there were no insect nets so we couldn't open the windows and the bathroom.. well..the bathroom was clean but basic. Shower didn't even pretend to have hot water-there was only 1 tap! It had a window but the window open into the bedroom and had no glass or anything so basically it meant there was a 3ft hole/gap into our room-showering and going to the loo was a public event!!! Lets just say it cemented our friendship ;) Mind you it only cost us £7 in total for both of us.

       Went out for lunch and pottered around then hit the beach. Weather was really cloudy but warm. Bathing in the Pacific is great-the sea was actually warm!!!!! Makes a heck of a change from the Channel or North sea! Tide was incredibly strong, we couldn't swim but just let the MASSIVE waves knock us over or just went with the tide. The bad thing is we got a lot of attraction. it's a small town with no white people in it so everywhere we were we got whistles, calls, greetings or hissing! Hissing is a Latino version of a wolf whistle but it's really off-putting! I feel like a panto baddie! Amy and I had to spend the time talking in loud English to each other over the shouts and pretending we didn't understand a word of Spanish. The men are soo keen here that if you look at them even in passing it's a come on, I've never stared so hard at a book before! Whilst walking along the sea (before bathing) we sat on a log and watched the sea. a beautiful and restful moment until...the tide suddenly turned and swept away our log! I was so surprised that I didn't react quickly enough and landed fully dressed in the sea! (once again I fail to show the Brits in a dignified way!)
        
      After the beach we went for a drink then went to the supermarket for some food so we could eat and relax in our room. On our (motorbike) taxi ride back there was a town wide power cut! Everything was pitch black! Had to find our way upstairs to our room by the hotel guy flashing his mobile phone light. We managed to prop up our mobile phones in the bathroom and shower etc from that light. After a bit our lovely hotel guy brough us up a candle and we spent the evening in candle light. 


     Sunday was a bit more relaxing. Breakfast on the beach and then backon the beach for some relaxing. That was our plan and then we saw the banana boat! You know the kind of thing-motor boat pulls a big  rubber float thing along behind with people sitting on the float. The aim is to knock everyone off the float. Amy and I couldn't resist and so off we went. Apart from the fact once in the sea it's impossible to climb back up without a couple of men heaving you up (not at all big on dignity) and once a lady fell on top of my head we had a great time! Bit more bathing and some souvenir shopping and then we were homeward bound.


      Came back hugely sunburnt but had a great time. As always, in Ecuador, things didn't go to plan but we didn't stop laughing the whole time. Was fun :)