Friday, May 11, 2018
Being In Bahia de Caraquez
Well it’s been a week for me back in Bahia de Caraquez. I’ve enjoyed my time here. The weather has been great, the beach fantastic, the views spectacular, and the friends I have hung out with are good peeps. I’m very blessed in my life.
H Sports Cafe Extraordinaire
I met up with my friend Henry at H Sports Bar. Since the earthquake H Bar just keeps getting better. It basically has become a beach bar. The front faces the road for exposure to local traffic. Once inside though, it changes into an oasis for respite and recreation. The back wall of H bar is open to the river, and between it and the river is white sand, outdoor seating, volleyball, and hammocks. It is a great space to chill and relax. Upstairs is seating with open views, cool breezes, and sports on flat screen TVs. Did I mention how cold the beer is? 🙂
When I arrived I didn’t see Henry so I asked if he was around. I was told, “Yes, he is out back.” I walked out the open back wall of H bar, stepped into the hot sand, and looked around. Across the sand and next to the river I see some dude wrapped in a hammock under a shady cabana looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. Yep, that’s Henry. It was great to catch up with him. He has put so much of himself into H Sports Cafe and Bahia de Caraquez.
Henry and Me
Anto’s Pizza
I also got to spend time with my friend Doug at his pizzaria, Anto’s Pizza (named after his youngest daughter), in Leonidas Plaza, the town next to Bahia de Caraquez. When Doug and I talk I always learn something new and cool about what he has done in his life.
From contracting with the US government to find offshore munitions in Iraq, to finding treasure in the China sea, to managing conferences throughout all of Canada for the most well known self-development guru, to owning and operating a Michelin Star restaurant, Doug never fails to amaze me in what he can do. Today he is making me a wood-fire, oven-cooked pizza in Ecuador. Who would have thought, and the pizza too is also amazing.
Punta Billaca
I have been spending time at Punta Billaca. It is a beach at the southern point of the coast line in Bahia. The stretch of beach to get there is long and isolated. Often times gringos are robbed there, so it is a difficult place to travel to with anything of value.
After doing a couple “dry runs” to see who I might encounter, I decided to take my phone with me so I could gets some pics and vids of what has become my favorite place in Bahia to hang out on the beach.
And of course the seclusion allows for certain liberties while swimming and getting a tan. 😉
Take a look for yourself at this beautiful beach in the video below.
My Pal Monte
My blog post wouldn’t be complete without a pic of my pal Monte. He is the reason I am in Bahia de Caraquez this week. Monte and I have had a great time hanging out, eating table food (sorry Don and Donna), and playing on the beach.
On this particular stroll to the beach the tide was still up.
Monte looked out at the surf like “what the heck man?”. Fortunately the tide pulled out and he got to chase sticks and make me chase him to get them back. 😉
Chau.
Looks like you had a great week. Love you, brother 🙂 #notanlines
It’s gone well. Thanks! Love you too.
Nice post, Tod. How does your old stomping ground compare to your current home? Would you consider a move back to Bahia?
Hi Sharon,
Bahia does not have as nice a beach as the Olon area does. Bahia also has more crime than where I live near Olon. Bahia does have more services and better infrastructure than Olon. It also has more sun throughout the year. Most all of the people I was friends with have left the area. Those that have stayed are committed to the town and its rebuild. The locals here are nice people.
I have an emotional attachment to Bahia for something that was pre-earthquake. Some of those things still remain, but most are gone. Whatever Bahia becomes it will be a different Bahia than I experienced in my first 4 months living here. If I chose to move back I would have to have the mindset to create something new and different for myself once here. So far the pull isn’t strong enough to do that.
Thanks for your comments and questions Sharon.
Todd
First, I apologize for this comment being off-topic for the post. I wanted to contact Todd directly but did not know how to. Since he lives there in-country, I thought he might be a good source to ask. Todd, you may contact me directly at debra8wilkins@gmail.com. It’s our understanding that beginning May 1, 2018, Ecuador officials require proof of health insurance coverage for anyone entering the country. Based on this official statement (https://www.turismo.gob.ec/statement-about-foreigners-health-insurance/), it states it is in effect BUT we can’t find any exact requirements that have to be met (like what do they consider sufficient health insurance , what proof document will meet the requirement, etc.). We don’t want to be turned away at the airport because we did not meet a requirement that was too vague to understand… Has there been any recent official in-country information with more specifics for this requirement? Is there verifiable knowledge that this is being enforced?
Good luck trying to find an official statement, and even then finding 2 people who agree about it. This is the latest as I understand it: the courts decided it was an invasion of privacy to require someone to show his proof of health insurance so the law is being scrapped. Anyone can come in on a passport without proof of insurance.
So is there an official place you can find this? No. My friends who have recently visited were not asked. Other friends who live here were not asked when they just returned. I heard a story of one guy being asked. He said yes, and then started to find his proof, and was told he didn’t need to show it. Can’t verify how true that is.
If you don’t have an insurance card and want to be double safe, buy travel insurance. It’s pretty cheap. I have used 7 Corners when I travel around.
But honestly, the whole insurance thing has never been enforced. It isn’t worth stressing about. They want you to come in and spend your money 🙂
I know this isn’t the answer you are looking for, BUT #thisisecuador and definitive answers are never available on anything here.
Thanks for reading and your question Debra.
Todd