Ecuador!

Wed, Jan 11 – Manta, Ecuador
Our second time in this port and it grows on you. Manta possesses the largest seaport in the country and since 1999 has been used a a military location for the US Air Forces in supporting anti-narcotics military operations against Columbian drug trafficking cartels. Free shuttle to the Plaza Civica, which has a great market. We hired a cab for $15 an hour and drove past the many tuna factories (Starkist purchases from them), through the dry/arid countryside to Montecristi, the home of the Panamanian hat. Saw how the toquilla plant (looks like bamboo) is boiled, thinned down, woven, trimmed, dried, pounded and shaped into beautiful hats. Who knew a Panamanian hat could cost up to $500! So many varieties to choose from – the best hats are those where you do NOT see sunlight through the woven bands. Bought some tagua jewelry (substitute of ivory/ comes from a tree), cotton shirt…we passed several home factories where they make the popular outdoor furniture of thick woven hemp; the items looked gorgeous. Guess we could have bought them and brought them to the ship! What an easy way to get them home, or at least to Ft. Lauderdale.

At the top of the hill, there is a new building for events and meetings, a wonderful museum on the life of the Ecuadorian President Alfaro (born in this town) and his mausoleum (underground) and a nice handicraft exhibition. Beautiful view of the mountains (high ones) around you and a view out to the sea…

In town, we parked near the fire station – and the fire truck was from Stamford, CT! The name is still on the truck, along with its current location, Montecristi. They also have the old fire hoses from early the 1900s. We went to find some pigs, cows, chickens, goats on the way back to Manta (Gene’s request). At the water’s edge, they were shipbuilding and the local fish market still smelled very fishy from the day’s catch. We went back to the ship for a quick snack and back to town on the shuttle. Internet for $1 an hour (love it) and did quite a bit. Ran through the market for a few last minutes purchases and back to the ship. They were hauling in the tuna catch of the day and trucks were lined up waiting their turn. HUGE tuna – many fisherman boats in the harbor so it is a lovely spot.

“Montecristi produces the finest straw hat on the planet.”

We ate dinner by ourselves on the outer deck as we sailed out from Manta and down the coast. Cloudy for sunset. Francisco Yglesias was our Paraguayan harpist for the show – excellent! And then we went to see “The Perfect Game” movie—a very good TRUE story of a 1957 little league team from Monterrey, Mexico who won the little league world series; we really enjoyed it.

Ecuador: Currency is the US dollar. I would like to know how they get their currency. Do banks order our money for delivery to Ecuador?? I guess so. That is interesting.

Manta is the 5th largest city in Ecuador; population of 185,000.

Thursday, January 12 – Guayaquil, Ecuador

Guayaquil is Ecuador’s largest city. It is inland on the Guayas River so we picked up the pilot about 3:30 AM for our 4+ hour sail up the river to the city. We docked in the large commercial port AFTER waiting for the banana boat to depart from our berth. We are NOT the priority here. Free shuttle to the city center, about ½ hour drive away – Plaza de Iguanas (yes, it is named so because of the many iguanas walking through the plaza and in the trees above your heads (yech)!). The square is also called Parque Seminario, as the Cathedral is across the street.

We walked to the Municipal Museum of Guayaquil where the “tsantsas” shrunken heads were to be on exhibition but we found out, “only in February”! so we toured it and had a private guide give us the history of the city. After exploring a few pharmacies for some products, we hired a nice cab driver to go up to the White Cemetery, which is one of the city’s most impressive sights. More than 200 mausoleums in elaborately carved white marble line the neat paths. A guard is at each gate of entry and they keep your passport copy and entry card to the country as you enter and return it when you leave. Very elaborate monuments contrasted with the handwritten cremation blocks. On the area of Las Penas, the original “village” of Guayaquil which now houses their art district. Cobble stone streets just wide enough for one vehicle, intimate restaurants, beautiful wooden doors hiding treasures behind them and hilly paths with brightly colored homes…very nice area which was has been recently brought back to life.

We were here 20 years ago and it was known for crime and pickpockets. That danger still exists but they are rapidly changing for the better. “A far cry from its unsavory reputation of yesteryear, Guayaquil is not only the besting commercial heart of the country but a vibrant sprawling city growing every more confident.”
“TIA” grocery store held up captive for socks and water and then the internet – a whopping $0.80 per hour! Whoopee! But did not have the paperwork with me to do much but did what we could.

Back on the shuttle to the ship and was exhausted. Rested before a nice dinner with Francisco Yglesias, and we really enjoyed learning about Paraguay and his life. He was born in the Paraguayan jungle, there are 8 siblings, a priest noticed his musical abilities and sent him away to a seminary to study and those studies began his career in music thus enabling him to move his mother to Asuncion, the capitol city, to her first home with water and electricity. It took her 10 years to adjust to not having chickens and pigs in the yard.

The show was Frank King, comedian. Nice music and the Panama hat party as we were all given Panama hats!

Friday, January 13 – at Sea
Rested in the morning – worked – rested – ate – worked – dressed for formal night. Hazy and actually chilly (I dare not write COLD as this is nothing like what they are having at home!). Nice formal dinner with lobster and cherries jubilee and a a wonderful entertainer.