Since Montanita is just a small village that attracts surfers from all over the world, you would expect to see lots and lots of bikini clad beauties and shirtless, beach shorted dudes..and we were not disappointed in this respect. In fact everyone was telling us to keep a look out for boobies. Now that got my attention!! Boobies are supposed to be everywhere, or so we were told. I have to say that we went almost the entire trip without seeing boobies...but finally..a fantastic pair of boobies...and I got to sneak a snapshot of them! It had to be taken very discretely so as not to alarm anyone..but it was managed..and now it is posted proudly in this entry. Hope you like what you see as much as I did.

Here you have the blue-footed boobies on the left and the red-footed boobies on the right. Actually, I really didn't see boobies this trip, but next time at the Galapagos or La Isla de La Plata, we shoud find them in abundance. Hope you weren't expecting something different on a family friendly blog~ hehehe

Back to the business at hand and the reason for being in Montanita...the guest house/restaurant/bar on the beach that is for sale and the 10 room guest house just behind it on the beach that was also for sale. Quite the deal in the prime location, but we were saddned to see that the beach access to the restaurant/bar had been walled
off.

Side view of the place

Roadside view of the place

Front side view of the place

While walking the beach in front of the house this child came up with a grin on his face wanting to be in the picture. Couldn't resist. In the mean time, a wave broke against the sea wall and splashed me..I was not amused!

Damp and salty..just the way I like it! Nice beach shot, however, in front of the Montanita house.

The FUNKY MONKEY is a noted restaurant/bar/hotel in downtown Montanita. It is mentioned in the Ecuador guide book and in personal reviews as a favorite spot..we continued to walk the streets of the village..stopping at a vendor to buy a blanket and at a cafe for pizza! Ecuador and pizza..something about that just does NOT seem right!

Loved the mural painted on the side of this building. I hope it shows up as well once it is posted. The adjacent lot is for sale...hmmm!

Now this what this village is all about, for the tourists that visit here, that is! EL ENCANTO DEL SURF! This sign says it all and is the life blood of this little village.

The 60 km drive from Montanita to Puerto Lopez along the coastal highway was beautiful. Pristine beaches along the way with quaint little fishing villages nestled in along the bays. No big resorts, no concrete and no asphalt jungles...just water, sand and open spaces.

It was a must stop for a photo op at this juncture. The village nestled at the ocean's edge; quiet, peaceful and serene..the island and cliffs in the background...man was I getting a sensory overload with the sights and the fresh clean air. Doug was smiling big as well..as he should have been.. I was doing ALL the driving as he doesn't drive stick!

Even I had a chance for a picture..a time out from driving and a leg stretch; even managed a bit of a smile.

On the way back down to Montanita from Puerto Lopez, we saw this flock of birds, many of them diving in into the ocean in a frenzy. There must have been schools of little fish just beneath the surface

and they were filling their little bellies. Note the white water splashes in the middle of the photo.

It was 30 km north of Montanita that we saw it! We had passed it several times and wanted to see it, but this time the gate was open. So we pulled off the road to park and walked down the drive of a fantastic house on the beach that was for sale.

With a landscaped yard, the blue-roofed white house looked palacial amidst the trees and shrubs. The gardener met us and escorted us to the house.


The closer we got to the house, the more enthralled we became. With the gardener's shack on the right and the big house just in front of us we really didn't know what to expect as the door opened and the owners greeted us.


Awestruck is an understatement when I walked into the main room. Kitchen to left, sun room straight ahead, living room to the right, and an open patio beyond the sun porch...all of this looking onto the back yard

which gave way in turn to the most exquisite expanse of beach I've ever seen.

At the edge of the yard..yep, the beach to the left..


and to the right


And when I turned back to the house, this is what took my breath away..


Each side of the house has a ocean view room upstairs and downstairs..with a bathroom in each, plus 4 more bedrooms (2 and 2) with two more bathrooms shared (2 and 2).


the mirrored image other side of the house..


This spectacular place employs a full time maid and gardener. The gardener's sons keep their fishing boat on the beach at the property and came in that day with a fresh catch of halibut which they happily dressed for the owners.

Well this did it for me. I knew that I had to be here, so, it looks like Ecuador will be a new adventure and lifestyle for me. Dreams do come true, and all those emails you might get enticing you to "paradise"...well...sometimes it pays to check them out!! So, plans are being made for a return to set the house up as a guest house to accomodate the tourists that venture to the pacific for surfing or whale watching..or just seeking a place to relax and get away from it all. With delicous meals (prepard by yours truly), wonderful ambiance of the sea and the breeze and comfortable accomodations with HOT water and cocktails...did someone say cocktails? I'll take a sea breeze on the patio, please! From all of us at El Delfin Feliz (The Happy Dolphin) we hope to see you soon. More details will be posted as they become available.

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We just got word from the owner that the offer has been accepted and the paperwork has started for closing as soon as possible.

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