Nov 30
This gallery contains 4 photos.
On Thursday the tide was way down due to the full moon so we trekked to a cave north o Canoa along the beach. The cave is only accessible by foot during the low tide. Hiking there I was encouraged to watch for snakes and in fact a fleeting glimpse of a small brown […]
Nov 28
This gallery contains 4 photos.
Today was the first “not so nice” weather day” since I have been in Ecuador. Windy, low clouds, a bit of light rain and temperature wise the high was only 19 (that of course on the plus side for all you Canadian readers). After some Spanish lesson book time, hiked into Canoa for coffee, and […]
Nov 27
This gallery contains 5 photos.
Today I hit the books for my Spanish lessons Then went for a short walk / jog on the beach. I was not crazy about the food here at the Sundown Inn so head into Canoa in the am and again around dinner time. Much more variety and I get to exercise and enjoy the […]
Nov 25
This gallery contains 1 photo.
Day to relax and enjoy the beach and Canoa. Hiked into town this am for breakfast and enjoy the sites. Canoa definitely picks up on the weekend with lots of additional vendors and open restaurants. Hiking along the beach came across fifty plus vultures feeding on a 100 pound turtle, a bit different then the […]
From the beach in Manta I grabbed a cab (15 km – $5) to Montecristi. Montecristi produces the worlds finest straw hats, generally known as Panama Hats but the best are made in Ecuador. Some of the “superfino” hats can take 2 – 6 months to make and can cost $400 – $600 here in Ecuador and 3 – 4 times that much in the USA and Canada. Of course you can also buy them for $10. When I arrived the Saturday market and festival was going on and can best be described by my pictures (when posted). I can honestly say that I have never seen streets so full of colours, people and things to buy – “unbelievable”. I went to a number of “Hat Shops” and found a “Panama Hat” that I really liked but it was too big, probably a good thing as it was $450 (before dealing of course). Ended up with no hat but will continue to look in Cuenca where many of the hats from here are sent to sell.
I had considered staying in Manta for the night but after a long day of hiking and travel was tired. I was however not looking forward to the five plus hours of bus travel back to Canoa so decided instead to get a taxi. Forty dollars and one and one half hours later I was back at the Sundown Inn, well worth the extra money and as a bonus we travelled a different route so saw a number of additional towns and villages.
Tomorrow is Sunday and I have planned a beach day and to wait and hear who wins the Greycup (Duane – $5 on Toronto for me – bet?).
Manana
Nov 25
This gallery contains 4 photos.
Lots of travel today! Left the Sundown Inn at 7 am and flagged down a bus to San Vicente. I stopped at a small street restaurant and told the Senorita in my excellent Spanish that I wanted black coffee, scrambled eggs, ham and toast. After being met with a blank stare, she left and came […]
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