Becca left three days ago and since then I have been moping around. Actually I booked a ticket to the Galapagos the day after she left. If marine iguanas and boobies (blue-footed) cannot put some life back in my trip I really am in trouble.
I have heard time and time that traveling alone is the best way to go, you push your limits, meet more people and get more out of the experience. After traveling alone for a bit and talking with various solo travelers, I see the draw. However if you are lucky enough to have people you do not mind spending every minute of every day with, I feel that you are a step ahead of many solo travelers. Traveling with Becca I met more people, I felt safer walking around (although that is a bit counter-intuitive seeing as a small blonde girl sticks out like a sore thumb in Ecuador), grabbed onto more opportunities that presented themselves and had nearly double the connections that I would have had alone.
Not to mention the opportunities she provided me with. Like that one time we were in Montañita and trying to get into the disco for free. The bouncer said we could if Becca kissed him. Instead Becca told him that I would kiss him and thrust me forward. We did not go into the disco and later I had a small discussion with Becca about the people she could volunteer me to kiss. Or on my birthday, she convinced everyone to throw me into the pool. But first she took my dress off in front of ten to twenty new acquaintances.
Despite the speedbumps along the way it is going to be a struggle to make it a month without a constant snuggle buddy and fellow spirit hood. Luckily she is going back to really good things. And I am going the Galapagos to learn how to be a Canadian*. So here I am among the marine iguanas, sea lions, frigate birds, trying to remember all the stuff I learned the last four and a half years.
*Galapagos trip is with the three Canadians I met in Tena. I am learning a lot observing them in their non-native habitat, although I think further study in Canada would be useful to know their true disposition.