Today we woke up in the port of Manta, Ecuador to a lovey view. Temperature today was 83 degrees.
We decided to try the Grand Dining Room for breakfast this morning and it was very peaceful and quiet. We had a lovely table #91 which had a lovely view out the back of the ship. Jim had Swedish pancakes, bacon, croissant and orange juice. Patricia had the Canyon Ranch Spa whole-wheat blueberry pancakes, tomato juice and the almond croissant of the day.
For lunch we ate at the Terrace Cafe. Jim had a caesar salad and a avocado crab salad on a little brown bread round. Patricia had the same little avocado crab salad round and pita bread with cucumber sauce.
Our tour today is Montecristi by Chivas which started at 2:30pm.
When we got off the ship we got on a bus that we thought was to take us to the pier for our tour but it took us to the center of the town of Manta. Jim had our water bottles opened before we left the ship and Patricia’s lid was not put on correctly so the water spilled all over her clothes and inside her purse so she was dealing with that when she got on the bus. We arrived at the center of town where the bus transfers the cruise people back and forth to the ship. The guide, Susanna, had to call the company to make sure that the Chivas bus would stop by and picked us up.
We could hear the music coming from the Chivas bus as we waited on the street to be picked up. The bus was brightly painted with red upholstered seats and no air conditioning and open air. Chivas is the most important means of transportation used by the local people and are usually depicted with overflowing produce, suitcases and the odd basket of chickens tied to the top. They crisscross the country, offering reasonably priced transportation between the towns along the coast and interior sections of Ecuador.
A local band rode atop our Chivas bus for the 30 minute ride to the town of Montecristi, home of the famous panama hat. Sites we saw along the way.
we arrived at Montecristi which was a quaint little town, and still retains the atmosphere and faded elegance of its Spanish heritage.
We were taken to a panama hat demonstration where we saw the process of how a hat is made. We saw 3 different women with 3 different stages of weaving the hat. We saw how expensive these panama hats can be because it can take up to eight months to make one hat which would be of the finest weave and could cost up to $25,000 in foreign countries like Dubai or on Rodeo Drive. The hat maker would be paid $1,000 for the hat after all that work. We saw hats from $20-$300 at this square.
Our guide, took us to a shop that had the best coffee in town but because it was so hot Jim purchased a diet cola.
What we noticed on our trip was that everyone was so friendly and had the biggest smiles on their faces while they waved to us. It also helped to have the band on top of the bus as it made it a party for everyone inside and outside the bus.
Our guide told us that the average salary is $380 per month and that they pay around $150 for rent. They said they are not able to save for a rainy day so when things catastrophes happen they have to ask others for help.
Our guide, Jonathan, was excellent and spoke perfect English.
The temperature was 83° and high humidity. So far this has been the most uncomfortable weather but we are just on day 4. Ha!
Now back to eating. We got dressed up and went to the Grand Dining Room for dinner. Jim had Chesapeake bay style crab cake, lobster bisque and château Briand. Patricia had cantaloupe, grapefruit and raspberries for an appetizer, diakon, carrot and broccoli slaw with sesame dressing and walnut ricotta ravioli. For dessert we shared a slice of Keylime pie. Everything was delicious!
Goodnight enroute to Esmeraldas, Ecuador.
Jim & Patricia's Travels 