Being on the road for nearly two months and working steady on my plein work, I thought now it would be a good idea to chill out and relax during the last few days in Ecuador. I decided to spend my last week on beach and headed along the Colombian border to Las Peñas a small fishing community just north of Esmeraldas.

Sun continued to shine as I approached the coastline and all the communities, I passed by were inhabited by African decedents, which was interesting once again to see how diverse Ecuador is as a country.

Just before reaching the coast I was stopped by the police check point and got shaken up for $50 ’fine’. My car got searched for drugs and then supposedly my paper work was not up to date. After long back and forth with rental company on the phone police suggested I pay the fine on the spot otherwise they said they would impound the car and I would be walking to Quito. I suspected it was all BS all along but in Ecuador patience and smile goes a long way.

I arrived in Las Peñas late afternoon and found a hotel right on the beach for $10/night. It was bare bones, but full of character. I got to know the family that run the place and they were from Colombia.

The village consisted of several fishing bamboo/wooden structures along the ocean and many seafood restaurants with spectacular ocean views. The food was so affordable that I was going for lunch and dinner each day and made a point of visiting different restaurant each time. My all-time favorite was as always shrimp ceviche. Each place served slightly differently so it was interesting to compare it from culinary point of view.

I found the location so relaxing that decided to stay for few days and totally give in to beach life style. Being consistently warm and having a lot of sunshine was a nice change from the interior. I needed badly to replenish my vitamin D and not have to deal with challenges of altitude.

From art perspective I found the fishing structures fascinating and ended up doing few sketches right on the beach. As I was painting, fisherman would arrive in their small boats pulling it up on the beach and unloading the catch of the day. Seating like that on front of my easel, I realized the life routine probably has not changed for them for decades and it will stay the same for foreseeable future.

Notes from the Field: Las Peñas