Day 8; Jan 13, Manta, Ecuador

During the night we crossed the line and entered Southern waters.

The ship secured to the pier in Manta shortly after 0400. When we awoke later the sun was up but obscured by clouds and rain was falling. This is a commercial port used mainly by the tuna fishing industry. Most of the world's tuna comes through this port. Our view was of the tuna fleet in harbor and of the part of the residential area of the city. There is no walking ashore here so a shuttle is provided for access to the beachfront promenade and to the shopping area. Manta is the fastest growing city in Ecuador.

We opted to visit a national park and a couple of family owned manufacturing concerns. Down the coast we went and pulled off onto the beach around San Lorenzo. Hours before our damp arrival a sea turtle nest had hatched and the local children took us down to watch the baby turtles work their way from the nest (which had been fenced in to protect the eggs) down to the surf.

Back up the road we went to the park and Pocoche to a hostel/lodge for a walk through the forest and a demonstration of the preparation of a typical Ecuadorian breakfast staple of a plantain ball with cheese center. We were treated to a demonstration of the art of Tagua nut carving and then off on the road again.

Then we came to a small family farm to witness the process of making Panama hats. Dubbed “Panama” hats by Theodore Roosevelt, the fiber hats are made in Ecuador and we got an introduction to the process. Some hats take up to 8 months to make and a properly cared for hat may last a lifetime.

Off we bounced and slid along the new highway construction in Manta to a Tagua Button Factory which the owner had opened this Sunday for us to visit. Here the tagua nut, a hard white ivory like nut is processed by hand and machine into button blanks for the clothing industry. Specialists carve the nuts into animal figures and jewelery as well.

Heading back to the ship we noticed the Sunday afternoon habit of the people of Manta visiting on the streets and heading to the beach. The beachfront was busy and the many seafood restaurants there were inviting. After a brief stop back at the ship we took the shuttle with crew and passengers to the shopping center for supplies. One can learn a lot about a country by visiting their grocery stores. We found super glue, Ecuadorian coffee and chocolate, Yucca chips and, best of all, 3 dozen fresh roses for our cabin. The roses were $2.16 per dozen and are grown here in the mountains.

There is a growing Canadian and American expat community here. Gasoline is currently $1.15 per gallon. Real estate is very reasonable. The currency is the US Dollar. Best of all, the people are largely friendly and welcoming.

At 1845 we slipped the hawse and headed out of port in the rain.