Rio Verde

Just got back from a beachy weekend in Rio Verde with some amigos. This weekend getaway was much more tranquilo than the others. We went to the beach, a whole 50 yrds from our room, spent time with the owners, which was Mateo’s host family, went on a short little boat ride up a river out to sea, ate some delicious ceviche, and not much else. I have had an immense craving for ceviche ever since the first bowl. Something about the combination of seafood, lime juice, cilantro, red onion, tomatoes, and salt just seem to work. Add some patacones (fried bananas) on the side and you’re in heaven.
Life in Rio Verde is much more simplified than what most of us are used to. Many live in huts along the river, fish for sustenance, play a lot of soccer, and pass the day with their families and neighbors. Most of the citizens are black and I think for some of the lit’uns, it was their first time seeing a blonde-haired, blue-eyed person. We only saw a couple other tourists throughout the four days, so needless to say we stuck out a little.
Our beach hardly had a soul on it. We spent hours swimming in the warm ocean (Mateo kayaking and Kristen and I bobbing around in child-sized inner tubes) and walking alone the shore with nothing around us but the vast Pacific and the wide sandy beach. It was a dream. I knew it would be last time at the beach in Ecuador so I tried to soak it in as much as I could.
Well this five day weekend has come to a close. Back to the books! 46 days left.