Tentacles and Boobies

Our first excursion since reuniting in Guayaquil led us to a coastal town called Puerto Lopez. Puerto Lopez is a small pueblo an the verge of blowing up from the tourist interest in the nearby Isla de la Plata. Isla dela Plata has many bird species with similarities to the Galapogos, but trips are relatively one one-hundreth of the price! We stayed at Hostal Spondylous and had one of those awesome canopy beds. Kelly wanted to take a picture with me holding the quintessential Barbie Doll. Fortunately Toys R Us hasn´t discovered Puerto Lopez... yet. Fresh tuna, shrimp, octopus and conch are served at many of the oceanside restaurants. The beach has many boats in view and the town is a cape enveloped by rocky cliffs. The water has a calm current and is turquois by mid day, then gives way to a cobalt hue by sunset. Kelly booked a trip to Scuba, and I, not having a license, walked the Island, and snorkelled. We set out about nine-thirty am met Adam our guide, along with the rest of our group. Kelly was the only one diving so she recites procedure to herself as we crash through the in coming tide toward the island. We arrive after one hour and meet at a house for drinks while Kelly heads out for her adventure. I learn that this house was built in the sixties by a guayaquilian entrepreneur who had wanted to open the island for tourism, but went under due to lack of interest, twenty or thirty years ahead of his time, he went as far as to construct a landing strip on the northern end of the island. We walked through ecquatorial heat to the top and saw countless Blue-footed boobies, Frigate-birds, and Nazca Boobies. I asked why the island was called ¨de Plata¨,meaning, of silver, and Adam replied that it is because when the sun set upon it the Spanish saw a silver reflection. Thinking it was Silver they naturally approached only to find the source of the reflection to be bird guano. We then returned to the boat for some lunch and snorkeling. The island has a bit of a coral reef and many ropical fish. Snorkelling is pretty cool, but I think I´ll pick it up when I´m seventy. Kelly´s got the real story...

While Mike walked around looking at Boobies, I submerged myself in the blue. I GOT TO TOUCH A FREAKIN OCTOPUS!!!!! It was smooth, soft, and a bit slimey! My diving buddy, Luis, knew where his home was and dug around in there for a bit before finally his hand emerged holding the octopus who immediately inked upon meeting me. It´s main body was a bit smaller than my head and his tentacles a bit shorter than my arms. He eventually warmed up to me and ran his tentacles over my arms, sucking on my skin a bit. I couldn´t believe what was happening. Chillin there, perfectly bouyant in the water, holding an octopus! I missed Cheri alot at that moment, my ol´diving buddy! I couldn´t give the ¨tranquilo¨ signs or do flips, Luis may have been really confused! Honestly, I was a little nervous diving again after over a year and without much instruction, but it all came back so naturally. It felt so comfortable to be amist the schools of fish. There were some beautiful purple starfish and one fatty that had bright silver spects and red spikes. Also saw some moray eel, purple and pink coral, tons of colorful fish, and two real big turtles! Loved every minute! There was a bit of a current and each second was a different temperature. I loved being able to let the current lead me in whatever direction it wanted. If you have never dived before, I highly recommend it!
Now we are about to head to Isla Corazon. And we´ll catch a bus to Quito tonight. Lots of love to everyone!