Ecuador
Cantón Manta

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    • Day 15

      Manta, Ecuador

      January 29, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

      Hello South America!

      Our trip to Manta was absolutely fascinating as we found out how much work it takes to manually make anything these days ... and in some places it’s still the only way (and often the best way). Manta, is a port city known for tuna fishing, and fish markets. It is a large city of 200,000 people. There are some great beaches and surfing here too, making it a big tourist destination.

      Next to our ship, they were loading nets full of fish onto trucks around the clock. (photo 1)

      In 1735 Charles Marie de La Condamine used this port as he was measuring the location of the equator. The airbase here was used extensively by U.S. air forces in 1999-2009 to support anti-drug operations against Columbian drug cartels.

      First, we went to the archaeological museum and learned all about the history in Equator and how people lived for the first half of this Century. They were very clever in their use of materials to make household items and building materials and in deconstructing plants and trees, made incredible efforts to figure out that every piece of material was utilized in some productive manner.

      We saw how the beautiful Guayacan wood is used to make boats. Usually, they are high tech fishing boats with instrumentation and fishing equipment making them cost upwards of $800,000. I would just like to have one in case I met Noah one day and he needed a replacement (below, photo 2).

      In the Cabuya Factory we were treated to a demo of plant weaving in the last factory that still makes coffee bean bags by hand (mostly they are now made/shipped in plastic containers).

      In order to make woven bags and coffee bean bags the plant fibers are extracted from the leaves (see video clip at https://youtu.be/fnaIGam4fPM) (photos 4, 5, 6 and 7)

      Next, the course leaves are softened and separated by "smacking" them against nails and then individual fibers are wound together and connected by hand to make spools of fiber. (photos 8 and 9)

      The last steps take 144 spools and bring them together into 1 spool that is weaved together to make it tighter and stronger (see these two videos of how they make this into a coffee bean bag https://youtu.be/fb2s8118aGs and https://youtu.be/yG_rdzpL-Yo)!!!!

      In total, 144 spools make 50 bags (see photo with the tour guide above in the green shirt with the owner that has been making these bags for 60 years) at $4 per bag. Now thats a lot of work $200 (50 x 4). (photos 10 and 11)

      Our next stop was a demonstration of how to make the famous "Panama" hats (which are actually "Montecristi Hats" from Ecuador that made their way to Panama and became famous there when President Roosevelt wore one for a photo op at the Canal). You know the type, a traditional brimmed straw hat, made from the plaited leaves or jipijapa palm or toquilla straw.

      They are light-colored (not white, these are the knock-offs), lightweight, and worn in the summer. The tightness of the weave and time spent making them determine the quality and price ($50 - $25,000). It can take days, weeks or up to 3 months to make one hat! (photos 12, 13, 14 and 15)

      Watch this video of the weaver doing her magic as she makes a hat!
      https://youtu.be/LuZ57eZYrBw

      Lastly, we watched as buttons and incredible pieces of art were made from TAGUA. It is a vegetable that looks like ivory and hardens to a hard finish that can be made into shirt buttons, carved into animals (we got a blue-footed booby), and made into other sculptures.

      The plant that comes off the tree (photo 17)
      Button (photo 18)
      After a busy day (photo 19 and 20)
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    • Day 49

      Coffee by the Sea

      January 29, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

      The first time we visited Manta — in 2014 — we did the typical tour that included Montecristi and Pile … where we saw how “Panama-hats-that-are-not-really-Panama-hats” were made. Yes, indeed … these hats are actually Ecuador hats 😊

      For this second visit, I went back to the same company — NARWELL Tours — and asked for suggestions for something different to do. And that’s how we came to be on the Coffee & Beach Experience today … with Sonia & Boris and Pat & Norm, who all agreed to join us even though this was their first time visiting Manta.

      We started out shortly after 8:00a, took the “required” port shuttle to get from the ship to the cruise terminal, and met up with our guide, Javier. Our destination, at a much higher elevation than where we started off at sea level, was the Dos Maños coffee farm located within the Pacoche Wildlife Natural Refuge.

      Dos Maños translates as two monkeys … for the howlers and the capuchins that inhabit the area … though the latter are quite endangered. We saw neither species, but the howlers made their presence known … loud and clear.

      Our host was Juan — originally from Puerto Rico, but living and working in Ecuador for quite a while now. A charming host with a great sense of humor … a philanthropist at heart who is heavily involved in community projects … sometimes at his own expense … sometimes in partnership with the local government.

      After hearing about the three different methods used to process coffee, we went for a walk amongst the coffee plants. Juan had told us that the “cherry,” as the coffee bean that is still encased in its red or yellow outer skin is known, was sweet and could be eaten like candy. We kept an eye out for the few cherries that were still on the plants that had otherwise been harvested already.

      Because of the humidity levels at the high elevation at which the coffee farm is located, the drying beds are actually at sea level. This seemed counterintuitive to me, but … hey, he’s the expert. Juan took us to see the beds, and explained how the beans are dried, raked, and ground to different degrees of “powderyness” (if that is a word).

      Then, Juan escorted us to his house for a coffee tasting … after a quick detour to an overlook to see in the distance a beach where turtles nest. He explained that the beach has been badly eroded by the rough surf and the turtle eggs were being washed out to sea. To protect them, he’s been involved in building nurseries to collect and incubate the eggs after they have been laid by the mama turtle.

      We had a delightful chat with Juan who — together with Monke, his chihuahua — generously shared his home with us. He regaled us with interesting stories, invited us to go up to his third floor terrace to enjoy the views of the San Lorenzo Beach, and showed us his collection of artifacts, most of which he has traded for with the locals. He intends to have the collection donated to a museum after he passes.

      We could have easily stayed at Juan’s for the rest of the afternoon to enjoy his company … not to mention the cooling breezes. But we had to move on for lunch … at Fish Cevicheria, a restaurant on the beach in nearby Santa Marianita. An obviously popular place, we were seated on the second floor from where we could enjoy views of the surf crashing ashore and watch the kite boarders dancing on the ocean as we ate a most delicious meal.

      (I deleted the audio of the surf videos as the noise from the wind was a serious distraction. Trust me, however, when I say that those waves were booming.)

      Our last stop was supposed to have been a “beach break.” Javier took us to a place called Ocean Freaks … a kiteboarding school that dedicates its time to wildlife and beach conservation during the off season … which is from January to May. Unfortunately, none of us were willing to brave the rough surf. Some of us went for a stroll on the hard-packed beach instead. When we were all gathered in one place again, we decided to head back into the city.

      En route to the port, we kept our eyes peeled for a fruit stand. No luck. However, we stopped at a market instead. OMG! I haven’t had one of the bananas yet, but those mangoes are to die for. And only $1.98 for 4 big mangoes, 4 bananas, and 1 granadilla. Yes, that is USD $1.98 since the US dollar is the official currency here.

      After we bid Javier adios, we all agreed that we’d had a great tour. It’s always great to return from an outing totally satisfied with the experience.

      We were at the Polo Grill for dinner with Sonia & Boris … hosted by GM Claudio and Executive Concierge Julio [EC here on out]. Mui and I know them both from previous cruises and sailed with them last when we jumped on Insignia last spring for a “revised segment” of RTW2022. We’ve been catching up with them both here and there around the ship, but it was especially nice to have a sit down chat while we enjoyed a delicious meal. Oooops! Forgot to take a photo again.

      We wrapped up our day with an encore performance by Jared Freiburg & the Vagabonds. They put on another rousing show of mostly 50s music and received another standing ovation.

      Tomorrow … another port in Ecuador … this time with an overnight stay.
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    • Day 46

      Manta und Umgebung

      March 19, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

      Melde mich mal wieder…bin nun schon seit 1 1/2 Wochen in Manta auf dem Festland.
      Bin beim joggen auf die Gymgruppe gestossen, welche jeden Morgen 1 Std. am Strand trainiert, Preis 1.-. Lustiges Trüppli 😊…
      Ebenfalls da am Strand ist der riesige Fischmarkt 😋, der jeden Tag grosse Mengen an 🎣 etc. anbietet.
      Etwas außerhalb von Manta wird viel Handwerk angeboten, diverse Holzgegenstände, Kochtöpfe aus Ton etc.
      Fortsetzung folgt…😉
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    • Day 63

      Ecuador

      January 19, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

      Heut haben wir nur einen kleinen Abstecher nach Ecuador gemacht. Für mich ging es dabei in ein Tropenwildreservat. Neben Brüllaffen habe ich auch die Beinchen einer ordentlichen Vogelspinne gesehen. War auch ok für mich, dass der Rest des Körpers im Bau blieb. 😀
      Danach haben wir lecker gekocht. Es sieht zwar eeniger schmackhaft aus aber es war saulecker!
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    • Day 200

      Manta

      March 24, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

      To Manta we arrived next day, as we didn't find any couchsurfing we decided to book the cheapest hostel. We also met Raphael, guy from Switzerland whom we met 6 month ago in Mexico. We also met his couchsurfer and we played some volleyball together. We didn't like Manta so much as it was really big city without any nice city centre, so we decided to head to Puerto Lopez next day.Read more

    • Day 177

      What a nice welcome to the coast

      January 13, 2020 in Ecuador ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

      First thing we saw was.. a place next to our hostel for selecting your coffin 😅🥺 and the second thing was this cardoor with bullets everywhere 😅🙈 -> very safe place to be 😂
      And yeah the bus was freezing cold but they can't change it 🤦
      At least we had a nice "dinner" in the bus 😋
      And
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    • Day 149

      Manta, Ecuador 🇪🇨

      October 1, 2023 in Ecuador

      Recently visited Manta, Ecuador, and was captivated by the city's unique charm. The bustling streets tell tales of a vibrant tuna industry, while the stunning beaches offer a perfect escape. Spent a blissful day by the coast, enjoying the rhythmic waves and exploring the city's rich maritime culture. Manta's blend of lively urban energy and serene coastal beauty makes it a must-visit for any traveler seeking a delightful fusion of city life and beach relaxation. #Manta #Ecuador #TravelAdventureRead more

    • Day 96

      Carnaval in Manta

      February 23, 2020 in Ecuador ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

      In Quito habe ich eine Gruppe Ecuadorianer kennengelernt, die mich gefragt haben ob ich mit ihnen mit zum Karneval nach Manta fahren will. Ich hab natürlich zugesagt. Also sind wir am Freitag Abend an die Küste nach Manta gefahren. Der Karneval in Ecuador ist, wie in Deutschland eines der Top Highlights des Jahres. Die meisten Ecuadorianer fahren für die 4 Tage an die Küste um dort exzessiv zu feiern. Das Wetter ist dort sehr heiß, so hatten wir Tagsüber knapp 35° und nachts nie weniger als 27°. In Manta wurde für Karneval ein Festival organisiert, mit vielen Konzerten am Strand, hauptsächlich nur Reggaeton. Die Stimmung war sehr gut und die Strassen waren bis spät in die Nacht gefüllt mit Menschen, lauter Musik und Schaum. In Ecuador ist es Tradition andere Leute an Karneval mit einer Art Rasierschaum zu besprühen, Wasser von Pick Up Trucks oder Hausern auf sie zu schütten, Farbe ins Gesicht zu schmieren und sie mit rohen Eiern zu bewerfen. Dadurch kommt es teilweise zu regelrechten Strassenschlachten.
      Tagsüber waren wir am Strand und haben uns von den Nächten erholt. Es war eine sehr gute Erfahrung mal nur mit Ecuadorianern zu reisen und nur Spanisch zu reden. Caranaval in Manta war definitiv eines meiner Highlights auf meiner Reise.
      Montag Abend ging es dann wieder mit dem Auto zurück nach Quito.
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    • Day 6

      Tuna Capital

      April 6, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ 🌧 81 °F

      No wonder I saw so many tuna leaping in the sea as we approached Ecuador: Manta is the Tuna Capital of the World.

      Our guide rattled off the names of several tuna brands including Bumblebee and Starkist. They all get their fish from Manta, Ecuador.

      The harbor was full of fishing boats, some of which even had helicopters on deck for spotting tuna.

      I also enjoyed seeing frigate birds again, as you can tell from the last photo. They do some mighty fancy flying.
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    • Day 125

      Manta

      September 2, 2023 in Ecuador ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

      Von Pedernales reise ich nun südlich die Küste runter und besuche die Orte, die mich ansprechen. Oft reise ich auch mit meiner Intuition; heisst ich informiere mich im Voraus nicht akribisch über die Gegend, die ich besuche und lasse mein Gefühl in die Entscheidungen miteinfliessen. Ich mag das so. So lerne ich einen Ort kennen, ohne zuvor schon alle Highlits im Internet gesehen zu haben.

      Mein erster Halt ist im Fischerdorf Canoa. Wie viele Strände hier, ist es wegen seinen grossen Wellen bei Surfern beliebt. Es gibt sehr viele Restaurants und Bars im ganzen Dorf, nur besucht sind sie nicht gut - ich sitze ganz alleine in der Pizzeria, also höre ich zum Essen einen Podcast um etwas Abwechslung von den eigenen Gedanken zu haben.

      Am nächsten Tag reise ich durch wunderschöne Landschaften nach Manta. Ecuador ist landschaftlich schon beeindruckend abwechslungsreich. Hier tauchen plötzlich Reisfelder (?) und wunderschöne Bäume, die ich als afrikanische Bäume bezeichnen würde, auf. Sie haben einen dicken Stamm uns strahlen viel Wissen und Stärke aus.
      Als ich Gabriela (meine ecuadorianische Freundin in der Schweiz) nach den Bäumen frage, klärt sie mich auf: Der Baum heisst "Ceiba" und produziert etwas ähnliches wie Baumwolle.

      In Manta treffe ich, an meinem zweiten Abend, Pam (wir haben uns über eine Datingapp kennengelernt). Ich hole sie beim grossen Shoppingzentrum "Pacifico" ab und wir verbringen die Zeit zusammen vor meinem Hotelzimmer und im Swimmingpool. Wir verstehen uns gut und die Energie stimmt.
      Sie übernachtet bei mir. Doch irgendwie können wir beide nicht schlafen, also entscheiden wir uns um 4 Uhr morgens runter an den Strand zu gehen, wo wir in der ruhigen Nacht dem Meer entlang spazieren.

      Am nächsten Tag besuchen wir eine beliebte Empanaderia (hat mir auch Gabriela, die hier in Manta aufgewachsen ist, empfohlen) und haben es lustig zusammen.

      Die folgenden Tage verbringe ich abwechselnd alleine und mit Pam in Manta.
      Wir gehen zusammen ins Kino, ich erkunde die Stadt, wir schauen uns auf der Grossleinwand am Malecon den Fussballmatch Ecuador gegen Argentinien an (Pam ist grosser Ecuador Fan), ich verbringe einen schönen Nachmittag am Strand.
      Pam studiert Englisch und Pädagogik an der Uni hier. Sie hat jeweils von Freitag Mittag bis Montag Abend frei. Ich frage sie, ob sie mit mir für diese Zeit nach Puerto Lopez reisen will. Sie ist dabei.

      Wir treffen uns am Freitag Abend vor dem Terminal und reisen zusammen über Jipijapa nach Puerto Lopez. Die Fahrt in die Nacht hinein ist für mich sehr berührend und wohltuend. Der Bus ist voll mit Schüler*innen und anderen Heimreisenden, Pam und ich hören zusammen Musik und geben uns die Hand. Ich fühle mich glücklich und angekommen.
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Cantón Manta, Canton Manta

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