New Life in Ecuador

Thursday January 19, 2017

We started our day with hot tea and coffee served to us by Marty. This was quickly followed by a wonderful breakfast of eggs, bacon, toasted bun, home fries, fresh fruit and juice. Jim is the chef, and Marty is the server.
After breakfast we went for a long walk on the beach. There is some litter on the beach, but our hosts said it is improving. They said there are group clean ups after all the big holiday events. Marty showed us a traditional Ecuadorian casita (home) on a lot that he has purchased. It is made of all cement, including kitchen counters. There is a living area in the front with a kitchen, a separate bedroom, and the family added a storage and bathroom in the back. The homes here have water cisterns that are filled by water trucks for household use. The septic system uses living organisms to break down waste, so everywhere you go you must put your toilet paper in the trash, not the toilet. Paper kills the organisms.
After seeing the casita, Mike and I went to watch the fishermen pulling in the nets they set out the night before. This is a very arduous process which involves about 20 men and women pulling against the tide. Over a period of about 90-120 minutes, they gradually draw the nets in closer to shore. As the nets get closer, the sea birds start circling and dive bombing for easy fish. Many locals and restaurant owners come to the beach to buy what they need right from the fishermen. One exciting thing that happened, was that there was a puffer fish in the net. He was blown up like a balloon!
Later in the afternoon, we had a photo op with Mama, Princess and Bo. Marty continued to chat with us about everything related to living in Ecuador.
We had lunch at a small place just a few meters down from the Casa, called "El Manglar" Mike had "camaron ajillo" which is shrimp cooked with peppers in a creamy sauce. I had grilled fish with the usual sides of plantain and rice. We also had fries on our plates. Apparently the owner is experimenting with fries, as they are becoming more popular here. The restaurant was busy with local workers having lunch during their midday break. According to our hosts, workers normally start around 8 am, work till about noon. Then they break till 2 pm, and work till about 6 pm. I think we should adopt this schedule in North America! Siesta
We went for a short walk through the protected mangrove area behind our Casa. There is a walkway and lookout there built by the province to assist with preservation. The walkway is damaged from the earthquake and has not yet been repaired.
Around 5 pm we went upstairs to join Marty and Jim for happy hour. The conversation ranged from the acceptance of diversity in Ecuador to the legal prostitution with some colourful stories thrown in. Mike and I walked into town for supper at CopaCabana. Although it was nighttime, we did not feel unsafe at any time. Truly, we have not felt unsafe at any time since we arrived in this beautiful country. Mike had ceviche and he said this was his favourite so far, with big chunks of fish and seafood. I had fish with "menestra" which is a local dish based on lentils. We also stopped at a bank machine, and were able to withdraw from our US account without difficulty. When we got back to the Casa, Marty checked on us and we headed for bed.