• Around the World in 180 Days
    Tuna tributeBeach areaFish market2Unloading a tuna haulShip buildingBand playing on the chivaWeaver statue in Montecristi4Brad and the hatmakerThe chiva busDJ and driver on the chiva

    Manta and Montecristi, Ecuador

    January 29, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Arrived at the port in Manta - tuna capital of the world - this morning and headed out to explore the area after breakfast. Not really scenic but once we reached the beach area it was more interesting. It was quite hot so we headed back to the ship before noon and had lunch.

    We’d booked an excursion for the afternoon: to travel by chiva, an Ecuadorian bus, to Montecristi, where the Panama hat originated. People mistakenly believe the hats originated in Panama. UNESCO has added weaving the hats to the “List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” since there are few weavers remaining.

    We were in Ecuador in 2016 and Brad bought a Panama hat then in Quito but it got destroyed a few years ago when he put it in the overhead bin on a flight 😫. Brad’s a hat guy so he was excited to be able to replace it. Which he did. It’s in a special box so it’ll make it home safely.    Read more