Monticristi Ecuador

Steven wearing a Panama Hat

Montecristi Ecuador is located in the Manabi province near Manta and coast of Ecuador.  We took the local bus from the primary bus terminal located near our hotel. There is no air conditioning on the local buses but as they pick up speed the temperature is not bad.  Montecristi has about 70,000 people but we visited the old town area and saw only a few blocks.  Montecristi is famous for its straw hats. These are not just ANY straw hats. This is the location of the founding of the "Panama Hat".  The hats became very well known as "Panama hats" when Theodore Roosevelt sported one while touring the Panama Canal during its construction.

There were many vendors of knick-knacks, much of which included woven items like blankets, table linens, purses, hammocks and even lawn chairs woven with a sturdy straw. Very nice stuff.  We each picked up a hat.

On top of the mountain behind the town is a museum featuring the Constitution and independence of the country.  It also discusses the history of the train in the country.  The view is quite nice from up there.  Vendors, like everywhere in Ecuador, are present.  Our favorite vendor was the one making snow cones.  He had several flavors to choose from but we did things the easy way by saying "also" in Spanish, copying the girl in front of us.  He also poured a bit of sweetened condensed milk on top, just like they do in Louisiana.  It wasn't quite as good as a Louisiana snow ball, but still tasted yummy on such a hot day.  In the slideshow below, notice the bees buzzing around the vendor making snow cones!