Border Run and Beach

Our family had to make a last minute “border run” recently. We found out on Monday exactly two weeks ago that we needed to leave Peru that Thursday in order to avoid the penalty that would come from exceeding our 183 day visa. With the great assistance of Matt’s employer, arrangements were quickly put in place for us to travel north into Ecuador.

Because of Fiestas Patrias (July 28 – Peru’s independence day) and the 11^th hour nature of our trip, we had to take a bus from Lima to Tumbes in the north of Peru and then go through an assortment of steps, the last of which entailed crossing the bridge to Ecuador on foot. Once in Ecuador, we needed to take a taxi to Machala which is a little more than an hour from the border. The best parts of the trip were the posh bus “suites” with 180 degree reclining seats and the incredible patience of our young children. The worst part – there’s only one. It took us 25 hours to get from Lima to our hotel in Ecuador!

We only spent a little more than a day in Ecuador, but got to see thousands of banana trees on our taxi ride in and out of Machala, the banana capital of the world (no we never actually ate a banana there). We also experienced some unique travel as we took a 20-seater motor boat to the island of Jambali, sailing past mangroves and lots of exotic looking birds. In Jambali’s tired beach town, we rejoiced at being in the sun, warmth and water! We ate oranges the way the locals do with the orange peel removed leaving only the thick white pith and top removed. Just squeeze and suck the juice. (They also have Magnums in Ecuador, which a few of you will appreciate.)

After only 2 nights in Machala, it was hard to convince Caroline and Luke that it was time to hit the road again. Luke’s response to this information, “I’m not leaving this hotel again, EVER!” Somehow (read: chocolate), 4 hours later, we were back in Peru and truly on vacation in Punta Sal.

All I could say was, “Wow, this A LOT nicer than I thought it was going to be.” Matt totally agreed. Remember that we had almost no lead time for this trip so expectations were low and we were very pleasantly surprised.

Our little place, the Hotel Sunset, was expecting a big turnout for the holiday on July 28 (my brother’s birthday, incidently), but the first 2 days of our stay, the place belonged to us. We enjoyed the pool deck overlooking the beach, the shaded outdoor seating area, our room with private porch (and bunk beds for the kids ala my parents’ house in Chatham) and a great sandy beach and healing ocean. I said more than several times, “This is heaven.” For those of you who read my last blog entry, I could feel a smile spreading through my sad soul.

It was a perfect, relaxing family vacation. Our agenda was simple. Have fun. Laugh a lot. No fighting. Eat well. Lose track of time. Get plenty of rest. No sunburns. No throwing sand (Luke). We did it all and more – early morning walks on the beach, sunsets, a run or two, “girl time” and “guy time” (even some quality “grown-up time” on the porch post kids bedtime), dino-mans and pearls (an elaborate sand sculpture of dinosaurs and “pearls” and ocean-inspired bendaroos created by Matt and kids). Matt and I finished a book each – in only a few days. We happily stuck to the game plan and nailed it.

It was so simple, yet so great. After a 17 hour bus ride, we are now back in Lima and able to stay in Peru for an additional 183 days. It is still cloudy here and will be for months more. Things look much the way they did before we left, yet I feel different inside for there are great memories in my head and there IS sunshine… in my heart.