16. A Latino in Ecuador: Guayaquil & The Coast

October 18, 2018 by Ivan in Music ⋅ Travel

I arrived in Guayaquil on the night of October 8th. It felt amazing to finally be back in a Spanish-speaking country after so long. My friends JC and Bernardo picked me up with a cold six-pack of beer, the perfect welcome to the tropical weather.

I stayed at JC’s beautiful, spacious house, which was perfect for working and even had a piano and guitar.

JC gave me the grand tour of Guayaquil, introducing me to his friends (Ecuadorians are incredibly welcoming) and the local cuisine. My absolute favorite? The ceviche.

We also took a trip to the coast, visiting Olón and Montañita. Even though the weather wasn’t perfect, I actually swam in the sea for the first time this year (ironic, considering I live in Barcelona!). In Montañita, I reunited with Guillermo, a primary school classmate I hadn’t seen in over 12 years. He now runs a successful hotel there and was great company during the two days I stayed on my own.

Back in Guayaquil, I played an impromptu last-minute gig at Diva Nicotina, a historic venue where legends like Charly García have performed.

I also caught up with Bernardo to review some Tangel Trio ‘Violentour’ material we plan to release soon.

I leave Ecuador with wonderful memories: iguanas roaming the streets, fruit trees everywhere, giant tortoises, and endless laughter.

Now, it’s time to keep heading South.