And don't forget the FUCKING Cheeeese!!!!

After the strong week in Quito I actually never wanted to drink again… Not because I didn’t appreciate a good buzz (I’m sure every one does) but because my stomache was hurting from the cheap rum that we got almost for free a the hostel.

So I was already focused on popping by my internship place, make a good first impression and finally throw myself into the working life of a dive and surf instructor; a healthier life including physical exercise and a healthier way of eating, too.

So upon arriving in Montanita, I asked the first guy next to me (in Spanish) where I could find the Surf & Dive Club and if he knew a decent hostel for a few nights. As a reply I got „Ey ey, no Spanish, English buddy!“…
Fair enough, I thought. I repeated the question in English and received „I don’t know, I don’t care, I’ve just been on the bus for 3 hours and I don’t know about you, but I need a beer… Would you care to join?“ as an answer.

Despite my intention to never drink again, I somehow cared to join and suprising 7 beers later my new best friend Lee and I split up to drop our luggage at whichever hostel and grab dinner together. In the end, we let the day fade away while sipping Cuba Libres and watching Sunday night football.

GOOD TIMES!!!!

By then I didn’t know yet what was about to happen and how much time Lee and I would be spending during the days to come. And since we met a shitload of people while doing this, fort he purpose of this blog, it is easier to introduce the groups one by one.

The Trio:

The place that Lee and I hit first for beers that Sunday afternoon is called Zoe and offers 2 for 1 food deals on Mondays and Tuesdays. It hence seemed perfect to be the place for us to meet up for lunch. Before getting there the next day, I met Jana, the 3rd member of our little group, who I knew back from Quito and who took part in the absolute banter night in the zona rosa.

Together we hung out every day, and after having chosen Zoe’s as “My place” for eating, we had to find another 2 places for Lee and Jana. Jana already had “her place” and it was one of the cocktail stands in cocktail alley called “Galan”. After 5 days of searching we finally found a 3^rd place, which Lee could call his home. It was a Indian-style Bar right at the beach which offers the sickest sunset view, depending on the clouds of course and supplies their visitors with Shisha (a.k.a. Hookah) and Coronas.

The Portugues:

The next addition to our little group, were two Portuguese fellas (Sebastian & Diogo) being on vacation from home for a few weeks. We met them Tuesday night at Jana’s place in cocktail alley and despite their physical disability to keep drinks from spilling over ones pants or  “not-dropping their glasses” in general, they were absolute fantastic company and we had much fun together. The first night we even got into a club and got 2 bottles of vodka between the 5 of us. Whereas Sebastian got lucky, Diogo preferred a nap on the sofas and Lee, Jana and I were the last to leave the place.

  

Team America:

Another group that we hung out with on a regular basis were 4 lads from Florida who “saved about 1.500$ each by flying out from Miami and not Orlando, although it was a 12hrs ride down there”, to quote Lee´s first words about them. J
He met them since they were staying in the same hostel as he was, right at the other side of the beach, a good 10mins+ walk from the town centre. One Floridian (Michael) used to be professional Wakeskater and got sponsored during Uni, the other (Austin) used to be sponsored by the big brands for his sick surfing and the 3^rd (Alex) is best pals with the surfer guys from bondi rescue, lives half the year in Sydney and is in the board industry…

My point is, besides being keen drinkers and party goers, each one of them had quite a few stories to tell. Unfortunately I don’t have a picture with all of them, but I’ll try to get one together.

The Dutch:

A few days before Lee left, there was a massive birthday party of one of the other guests of the cabanas that Lee stayed in. The birthday child was a Dutch guy named Alex who stayed in Montanita for language lessons. So half the Cabanas and half the Spanish school showed up for the celebrations of his 32nd anniversary. Among were two other Dutch girls, sisters to be precise, who with Alex, formed Team Holland, and probably were as solid in drinking as Lee, Jana and me. Team America joined, too, as well as Team Canada, 3 girls who bought the Casa del Sol (Lee´s Hotel) only a few weeks earlier and provided catering for the festivities. It was a sick night and everyone had an absolute blast.

I think that was the night, that Lee suddenly started singing “I got a pineapple on my head” and held a pineapple as well as other different fruits in his face. Everyone in the round was convinced the pineapple would look just dynamite on their head and we finally managed to get about 100 pictures of people with pineapples on their head.

Again: GREAT TIMES!!!

Sadly, as most good things end, the trio had to split up eventually, too. It was Lee who departed first and left poor Jana and me by ourselves in Montanita. It was good times and we only let him go after promising to come and visit us again, either in Montanita or anywhere else in the world. And seriously, with 130 flights a years this seems very likely to run into each other again somewhere. :D

As a few of you might wonder what’s the story behind the weird post-name, I might explain this real quick. It was one of the constant catch phrases that Lee, Jana and I would yell at each other on the street, in bars, at the beach or anywhere else, we felt like it. Here are a few of these phrases and the subject they rely to.

-         “Eyes like sourceror´s pinwheels” (by Lee) about his facial expression after another binge drinking night

-         “We need some deep, deep house music” (by Lee) commenting on the DJ´s poor choice of music variety

-         “Coockadoodle dooooo” (by Lee) vs. “Piu Piu Piu” (by Giam); intercultural clash of animal noises, here a roster

-         “What´s more harmless than a toothpick? – Queuetip!!!!!” (by Lee & me) talking about Jana´s arm size

-         “And don´t forget the fucking cheese!” (by me) politely notifying the others that their fajitas would possibly improve their taste if a product made from milk was added

Lee´s last day was a Monday, which usually was celebrated at a reggae party at the far end of the beach. Usually the music itself is absolute crap and eventually they switch later to the whole musical repertois of mainstream artist “Gentleman”. That night went by way too fast and finally at one point we had to say good bye to each other. It was a good week together and I cannot wait for the next encounter with Jana and Lee!!!

*Miss you guys!!*