Journey day

Journey day from the sierra to the coast.

Bumping and sliding, meandering and shaknig down the circuitous track from the Sierra to the Coast. Looking down on clouds below, above the clouds (!), but we are in no airplane. Dropping down, down hugging the slopes. The Cordillera Occidental. 10,000 feet all the way to sea level by bus. My water bottle gasping and contorting from the pressure like when you step off the airport tarmac....

The lowlands. Green and cut up, banana and cacao plantations marring the flat lands where once there was living breathing jungle life. Through the black hole slums of Guayaquill crowded on the Jipijapa express rumbling through the darkness to arrive to the salt smell of the Pacific. Still humidity, soft sea breeze, and nonchalance of the coast. Puerto Lopez, our base for exploring the folded hills of dry scrub and sandy coastline full of gangly sea birds and brawny fishermen over these next couple days...