All aboard the Ecuador Bus! We went to the bus station at 7am yesterday
morning in search of a bus that would take us about 180 miles down the coast to
our next destination. After lengthy discussions in Spanish with about a dozen
kind Ecuadorians, we were escorted to the right bus and seated comfortably in
the front seats. As our bus started down the dirt road we then kicked off our
flip flops and settled in for a long boring ride. Imagine our surprise when our
bus came to a stop about fifteen minutes later next to a large group of people
on the side of the road. Instantly, with wicker baskets of all shapes and sizes
in hand, they entered the bus showing their goods to the bus driver and his
side kick. It became apparent that they both received free
samples as the price of admission onto the bus. To our delight, moments later
the baskets were all held in front of us the two smiling Americans in the front
seat. Unlike many, Roy and I have never been geeked by street food prepared in
some faraway place under God knows what conditions of cleanliness. In fact, we
have eaten some of the tastiest delights prepared by locals. So, since it was
early morning, our first choice were two warm corn muffins filled with a salty
cheese for 50 cents. The next stop was about an hour later
where we indulged in two huge plastic cups filled with an array of cut up fruit
$1 dollar. Third stop twenty minutes or so we scored us a dish of french
fries covered with ketchup, mayo and a hot dog on top just $1.00. I would like to
say that’s where it ended but to be honest…it was only the beginning. In the
next few hours stop after stop we managed to have warm honey filled cookies,
fried bananas, ice cream cones, boiled corn with cheese, some drink concoction
and several bottled waters. We did show some restraint and passed on the stuffed
green rolled up thing and the deep fried bread filled with what we thought was
fish. Time just flew between courses of food we purchased especially when a man
standing in front of us started to sing and shake maracas as his little boy went around with a hat
and collected money. Then there was a loose chicken for a bit that had everyone
laughing and screaming. But the best was that at every stop a pitch man jumped
on the bus to sell some special powerful lotion to keep you young. The men
reminded me of the guys selling stuff at the State Fair every summer. Although I
was tempted, it was clear from the looks of things that the pitchman didn’t
benefit from their products… so I passed.
Most people would think that we would catch a little shut
eye on a five hour bus a trip in Ecuador but who would want to sleep with all
this amazing activity going on. The time just flew and I have to admit that we
were a little sad when we finally reached our destination. It felt like we were leaving
a big party filled with really good friends. But the time had come so we bid our bus
driver, his side kick and all our new friends adios.
Today, while sitting on the best beach ever in Ecuador, I
found myself imaging what might possibly be on the Ecuador traveling bus next
week when we once again climb aboard. Maybe
we will even try that wrapped green thing or stand up and sing a song or two of
our own! Gotta say we LOVE LOVE this place!
