Side Trip From Bahia

From Bahia we took a day trip to San Vicente and Canoa.  First we took a taxi to San Vicente from our Hosteria...it cost $3.00.

Some Thoughts On Dining In Bahia

Seafood dish at Armistad

Armistad Garden Seating

One of the better more reasonable dining establishments is called Muelle Uno (which means Dock 1).  They have several good cameron (shrimp) dishes there and the portions are plentiful.

Another place we thought was excellent but a little higher priced was the Puerto Armistad Restaurant and Marina. Had the best mojito ever there. They went out and picked the mint fresh. You should visit both places for a contrasting experience.

Our Accomodations in Bahia de Caráquez, Manabi, Ecuador

Our stay here has been very interesting so far.  We are staying at the Saiananda Hosteria on the outskirts of Bahia.  It is by the river but only a couple miles from the bay.  It's like a jungle park here and our host is very nice and the staff very humble and so far quite accommodating.  It's a bit warm as the building is not air conditioned but our room has a small a/c unit in it so our sweating is minimized for the evening.

Don't know what they are for sure but I have been getting bit and they really itch. They are so tiny I can hardly see them.  Most of the time I don't.  Bring with you some anti itch creme along with your heavy duty bug spray because some will find their way through the spray.  They always do.

As time goes by we found that the Hosteria was not quite as described.

On To Bahia de Caráquez, Manabi, Ecuador

Jorge our driver

Our guide, Jorge Perez, was a very knowledgeable fellow and if you are in the Manta area you should look him up. He drove us from Manta to Bahia via all of the small towns along the way (Crucita, San Silvestre, San Clemente) ... showing us and telling us what each town was known for or what it's main product for commerce is. He is also very familiar with the politics of the country, it's economics and development. He can assist in relocation services and helping you to get to know the coast. This would be especially helpful if you plan to move, invest and/or build a home.

Manta Ecuador

Steve walking from the

bus stop to the hotel.

Manta is a large city on the coast of Ecuador known as the tuna capital of the world.  Here large ships and cruise lines stop to empty their cargo and passengers for tours into the countryside.  We took the bus from Guayaquil to Manta on Tuesday, March 11, 2014, and only stayed two days.  We chose Hotel Lun Fun to spend our nights and we couldn’t have been happier.  We would stay here again anytime!

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.

Ecuador Branch Office of Jehovah's Witnesses

Today, March 10, 2014, we visited the Ecuadorian branch office of Jehovah's Witnesses.  The facility is about 30 minutes outside of downtown Guayaquil in a beautiful country setting.  An open air Assembly Hall and Kingdom Hall are also located on the property.

Guayaquil, Ecuador - March 9, 2014

Our hotel served us fresh fruit juice, coffee, bread, preserves and eggs.  We went back to our room and slept.  Guess the trip was a bit more tiring than I thought.

Later we ventured out for lunch on the Malecón 2000, a boardwalk overlooking the Guayas River in Guayaquil.  On our way to finding a restaurant we walked the Malecón which included a "mall" filled with small boutique stores of shoes, jeans, intimates, accessories, sunglasses, jewelry, etc. Outside there was a garden and a pond where kids were rolling inside giant balls on the water. Everyone seemed happy and enjoying their Sunday afternoon as families.  There are many children - lots of babies.

Lessons Learned

Well here we are in Guayaquil, Ec.  It didn't take long to start learning lessons.  Therefore I decided to do a post on lessons I (we) learn along the way.

Lesson #1 - Watch the sidewalks.  They are very bumpy and when getting out of a cab or crossing the street there is often a 8-12" drop off into a gutter.  I know...i found one the first time I got out of a cab.  It was night and down I went.  It looks as though over time they just keep adding pavement until it is that far above where the original curb and street.  Unusual.

Our Flight to Ecuador

We woke up at 4:30 to head to the Phoenix airport for a quick flight to LA on March 8, 2014.  Our dear friends, Ellison and Cynthia Acosta, volunteered to take us to the airport.  We arrived with plenty of time to take a nap.

Bon Voyage Party

March 1, before we left for Ecuador some of our friends gave us a Bon Voyage party.  Good food, good times, good people.  Thanks guys.

Getting Ready For Our Trip ... A Man's Perspective

Always wait to the last minute.  That's some people's motto.  But a trip this far away to a country like Ecuador that does not have all the amenities and options as we do here in the USA, should make a person give some forethought on what to take along and what to leave behind.