La Playa!!! (the Ocean!)

This past week i had the amazing opportunity to go to the beach here in Ecuador. i must say it was absolutely fantastic! we went to a beach town called Salinas. it is about a 12 hour drive from Quito. (yes horrible i know, but it totally is worth it!) we left Quito at 11 on friday night. i went with my course from school, kind of like one last Hoorah before i left! not to mention the beach was one of the things I HAD to go to before i went home. So we set off on our trip to the beach.
We drove all night arriving in Salinas about ten the next morning. i was actually on the phone with my mom in the states when we suddenly turned a corner and then all of the sudden there was the ocean stretching out forever and ever, curving with the earth. the blueness of it is indescribable and breath taking. we drove along the side of the water for a few hours before arriving and checking into our 5 star hotel.
however there is a story that must be told before i get to the good stuff. given typical Ecuadorian standards it really did not surprise me one bit when we arrived at our hotel and they weren´t ready for us!!! we had to wait a few hours before we could enter the hotel. now, i hope just for sanity´s sake that they just weren´t ready at that time for us, and not that they weren´t expecting us at all..haha.
Anyway, Barcelona Colón as seen is this picture sits right on the edge of the sand. with access right from the hotel to the beach! it was so amazing, there was a 24-7 all you can eat buffet full of foods from all over the world built to cater to everyone´s needs.
we spent hours soaking up the sun on the beach, and swimming in the pool on the terrace. there were little waiters that catered to your every whim..haha and we stayed in large suites with separate bedrooms for each person and separate bathrooms. (perfect for a room full of girls)
we also not only played in the beaches right by the hotel but took the bus to see many other beaches in the area. one in particular had huge fun waves to play in we jumped the waves, which by the way was warm water!!! (well the temperature of the air, which is...well...warm!)
the water by the hotel was calm and quiet, kindof reminded me of bear lake, not really large waves but really calm. where as many of the other beaches we went to were rough and large waves. we went one day to the "look out point" which is where the light house is. the light house was very tiny and actually quite funny looking, but being up on the cliffs over looking the water was so breath takingly beautiful.
at night my classmates all chose to go out in party, and i quietly stayed behind, at first i thought i wouldn´t like that, but in the end it proved to be very relaxing just sitting by the pool or taking nightly walks down by the water. and i had my own room so i could basically just chill, it was the perfect beach experience!

I am soooooo glad i finally got to go to the beach here in Ecuador! it was so GREAT, not to mention i spent four days relaxing in the sand, and swimming in warm water. i got an AMAZING tan!!!!
Over all it was totally worth the 12 hour bus ride!!!

Emily