Friday, Apr 6, 2018
Cafe Closing

Cappuccino Crew at Killasisa
My favorite coffee shop closed this week. Killasisa Cafe is no longer in Montanita. I have heard rumor it may open again somewhere in Olon. I certainly hope so because there is no one that served coffee like the great crew at Killasisa!
This also means I need to find a new place for breakfast…loved Soraya’s french toast made of homemade bread, drizzled in dark maple syrup, and surrounded by fresh red strawberries.
Since this breakfast was no longer an option for me, I sought out a place to eat my “most important meal of the day”. I found this local restaurant in Montanita serving up a great desayuno. Admittedly the coffee was instant (typical here) but I put in enough leche to cover up the instant taste. The two fried eggs, croissants, fresh fruit bowl with yogurt, and glass of freshly squeezed pineapple juice more than made up for it. Oh yeah, and the price was great too…$3.00.
Familiar Routine
I’m finding my routine again. The skies are blue, the sun is bright, and the ocean is brilliant, and I am so thankful. I can’t get enough of it through my eye balls and into my brain. This week I did realize something though, I miss a lot of what I am experiencing in the moment while I’m out walking on the beach.
I started meditation up again and it became apparent. I checked out multiple times “thinking” and “feeling” things that are not in my present moment and experience. It doesn’t mean that I can’t think or feel things, but when I do I am not in the moment of where I am at. You know when you start having a conversation in your head about something that happened the last hour, the last day, last week, last year, last childhood? Lol. There are no time restrictions.
What’s cool about meditation is that it helps me be aware when I have become taken “thought hostage”. There is an easy fix for that too, just note it. “Ahh, yeah I’m thinking about XYZ”, then move back into present moment. It is quite amazing to me the space that I can create between my present experience and “thinking” thoughts when I do that. And by the way, I’m not my thoughts…and either are you.
What I get to experience everyday, only 200 feet out my sliding glass door, is something not to go unappreciated. I am blessed and choosing to be present to receive it. One of my experiences this week involved this interesting scene on the beach. I was trying to decide if all these people were just chillaxin waiting for the tide to roll in and lift their boat into the ocean, or what? What do you think was happening?

Low Tide…No Ride
Spanish Speak
Estoy estudiando mi espanol de nuevo. I finally decided that I have to know the past and future tense conjugations of the verbs I use. I am long past due. Mind you, I have been to formal classes and been taught them. I never committed to learning them. Frankly I am tired of not being well understood.
Hmmm…is that my poor Spanish or the cerveza? 😉
Sunset Spectacular
What a week of sunsets! I can’t believe the spectacular shows I get to watch. Each evening the intensity of light, presence of clouds, and spectrum of colors has varied greatly; each one creating unique paintings brushed with unashamed abandoned across the evening sky. I have probably taken close to 100 sunset pics this week.
And now you get to see them all. Just kidding. I’m only going to give you a couple still shots and a video of the actual sunset as a sample of what I have been fortunate enough to imbibe in this week. Drink up!
Chau.
So glad you are in a good space, Tod. I love the beach and the laid back lifestyle!
How about mosquitos or other biting insects? Do they bother you?
Hi Sharon, the mosquitoes are rarely a problem during the day. Sometimes at night I can get bit but it is not frequent. When they are out and about, a little bug repellent takes care of it just fine. 🙂
Thanks for reading!
Todd
I just left Montanita yesterday after being eaten alive by Mosquito’s for eight days. Deetan was no match for them unfortunately and as a last resort I just removed myself from the area and returned to Cuenca.
Wow Noel, sorry to hear that. Must be the your mountain fresh blood. 😉 Where were you staying? I’ve noticed there are some mosquitoes around in the evenings but so far my repellent has kept them away. Did you make it to Olon while you were here? Maybe less mosquitoes this way??
Thanks for reading Noel.
Todd
Hi Todd!
Thanks for sending the sunset video!
Sooooo beautiful!! You are so fortunate to see those every evening.
Enjoy!
Laree
I’m glad you enjoyed it Laree.I can’t believe how great this summer is here. So much better than last year…not as hot and humid. Usually a great breeze blowing off the ocean.
Enjoy your weekend!
Todd
Meditation is a great anchor when one’s life is in major transition – it helps one understand the true direction and not the side roads :). I am up here in the N.C. mountains wondering if winter will ever let go of it’s grip. I think about my 3 months in Ecuador and feel grateful knowing that yes, spring will arrive to stay. Enjoy your well loved beach and your journey.
Thank you Catherine. I hope it begins to warm up sooner than later for you. Like most things in life, patience required. At 55 that still is the one I need to work on. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Todd