Beaches beaches beaches

So the last couple weeks have been filled some amazing beach time. First was the beginning of last week (almost 2 weeks ago) When me, Kendra, and Meghan went to Canoa. That beach is my favorite beach in Ecuador (though I didn't see them all or some great ones in the south) I loved it! It was a very small town with really cool backpacker hostals, lots of interesting travelers and locals and some really nice beach. We spend about 3 days 2 nights there laying around on the beaches and drinking some unbelieveable juices and cocktails. We took some slightly tramatic night buses to make the 9 hour trip each way but definitely found it to be worth the trip!

At the end of the week after we had rested a bit after the night bus on thursday, friday we took a girls night out. We went to this phenomenal wine and tapas bar for a bit of a spurge on $15 for all you can drink wine and all you can eat tapas... Not a bad deal. Then the 4 of us went out salsa dancing. We had an absloute blast and the night surved as a great going away party for Kendra (who left last weds) and myself who left for Colombia before her departure (I left Monday) That weekend involved a date with a very nice chico from Mexico where we went to the Guyasamin Museum in town (he is the most famous artist in Ecuador) looked at some art, drank cappuccini and watched an Italian film... to bad I am leaving the country so soon.

Monday morning Dylan and I preped ourselves for our trip running errands and such then caught our flight in the afternoon and after a connection in Bogota we arrived in Cartagena. It was kind of an adventure being so tired having to change currencies, catch a cab to a general part of town to search for a hostal (after having called around all morning with no hostal availability). We luckly found one around midnight and after chatting with our british roommates went to bed. When we woke up we wondered around town sight seeing before clumsily catching a bus to the bus terminal for Santa Marta. 2 buses, 1 taxi and 6 hours later we were there!

We pull up to this building in awe... it is on the beach, brand new and really expensive looking, how do 2 american boys who teach english live here you ask? Because the rent is about $600,000 pesos or about 300.00 dollars a month.. TOTAL. They are on the 11 floor with beach front property in a 2 floor condo with a maid and cook. We basically hit the jackpot. We stayed with them for 2 days hanging by one of the 2 pools and touring Santa Marta. 2 days ago we set off for a nearby national park called Tyrona.

After hiking through the jungle seeing some monkeys, taking a '50's truck to the trail head, hiking another hour in we reached the beach and it was SO beautiful. We slept in hammocks and drank fresh squeze juices and layed in the sun. There were some good hikes around we took and found some isolated beaches with no one else around. It was so tropical and beautiful! We moved to a beach a little further in for our second night there and it was even prettier (if possible). It was busy because it was a Colombian holiday but filled with international travellers and Colombian couples (it was quite romantic). We had a blast but were exhausted after the hour and a half long muggie jungle hike out, bus ride and taxi home to a hot shower and air conditioning!

Dylan and I are parting from the boys off to Cartagena for a 2 night and a full day of seeing the city before our flight back to Quito. We are both dreading returning to the real world and leaving the Carribean. I am leaving so soon and feeling really torn, excited for school but not wanting to leave. It will be here before I know it... barely 3 more days.