DAY 14-MANTA, ECUADOR

We crossed the Equator last night as Manta is located at 1 degree south latitude (60 miles south of the Equator).

Historical/Background Info:

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        I got this map of Ecuador off the internet but felt it important to show you how the Andes mountain range pretty much divides the country into three regions:  the coastal plains on the west, mountains in center, and rainforests in the east.  The rivers in the east flow into the Amazon River which flows past Manaus (where we will be on March 13th) in into the Atlantic Ocean near Macapa, Brazil (where we will be on March 10th  & 17th).  The Ecuadorian Andes are almost 20,000 feet high.   Peru is the border country on east side of Ecuador.  During our 2012 cruise around South America we flew from Manta to Quito for a an overnight stay in Quito and rejoined the ship the next day in Guayaquil.  It was on this excursion that we stood on the Equator.  It was a fantastic experience!  Regent did not offer it this year.  They are really cutting costs and raising cruise fares in the same breath.
        Ecuador is the smallest country in South America and about the size of Colorado.  Early on in history peoples came from basically all around:  Central America on rafts, up the Amazon basin, and from both northern and southern South America.  Probably the best known of the Ecuadorians are the Incas Indians.  Highland Ecuador became part of the Inca Empire in 1463.  The Incas fought and drove these early people away.  The Spanish explorer, Pizarro, arrived in 1563 and marched over the mountains trying to make the Incas into Catholics.  This did not go over very big.  But the Spanish also brought their diseases which the Incas did not have immunity causing high fatalities.
        Ecuador gained its independence from Spain in 1822 but the early years were marked by instability and rulers changed many times.  In 1972 a military junta overthrew the government and ruled until 1979, when an election was held and new constitution adopted.  The current President, Correa, has been successful in reducing the high levels of poverty and unemployment in Ecuador.  The population is estimated to be just over 15 million.
        Despite its small size Ecuador has the 8th largest economy in Latin America.  Oil accounts for 40% of its exports.  In the agricultural sector it is a major exporter of bananas, flowers, and cocoa.  It also produces shrimp, coffee, sugar cane, rice, cotton, and corn.  The country also has a vast resource of timber.  Tourism is on the increase because of its biodiversity.  Many tourists come here to visit the Galapagos Islands which lie 600 miles off its coast.
Overview of Manta:
        Today we are docked in Manta which is the largest sea port in Ecuador.  It has a population of approximately 200,000 and possesses one of the best economies in the country.  The main industries are fishing and tuna processing.  Processed tuna is exported to Europe and the US.  You may recognize one of the recipients of their tuna, Bumble Bee.  There are many very large fishing boats in this harbor.  Probably the most famous thing produced in the country comes from the town of Montecristi nearby.  It is the official “Panama” hat.  No, the hat does not come from Panama.  The favorite souvenir in Manta is the Panama hat.  Also, 70% of the roses imported by the US come from Ecuador.  Other good buys are:  hand knit sweaters made from sheep or alpaca wool, colorful ponchos, and patterned scarves.  Tourism is becoming increasingly important for Manta’s economy.  Various cruise ships call here on their way south and north.  Due to the Humboldtt Current Manta has an arid climate despite being just 60 miles from the Equator.  The average rainfall in Manta is 10 inches annually and the average temperature is mid-80’s.  We are here during their brief rainy season.  Believe it or not, the currency in Ecuador is the US dollar.
What We Did Last Night:

              The "007" ice carving at last night's James Bond party.  It was a lot of fun.

            This is the starters for our veal parmesan dinner up in Sette Mari restaurant.

Jade and Samuel's show last night was amazing.  She even looks like Whitney Houston and certainly sounds like her.  She recognized us from being at her show on previous cruises.  They will be joining us for dinner tonight in Compass Rose.

What We Did Today:
Amazing as it may seem, Rebecca got off the ship today.  Our tour, "Montecristi & Highlights of Manta", began at 8:15 so room service showed up with our breakfast at 7:00.  Temperature during our tour was 85F with 60% humidity and party cloudy.  Our guide said it rained heavily yesterday so we are lucky as not raining so far here today.

                             Our bus for today.  Very comfortable but the aisle was very narrow.

Driving from huge fishing port towards town.  There was a nice beach with good sized surf.

                                Our first stop was at Archaeological Museum of Ecuador.

 It was just one floor of the building so not very big.  The indigenous Inca people dates back to nearly 9000 years BC.  This is what makes Ecuador and Peru so interesting to me.

 This bus is called a "chiva".  We were suppose to be doing a tour this afternoon on one but cancelled out.

Market place

                                         Lots of roadside people selling different things.

 Hard to tell but these larger trees have green bark as well as leaves.  This is the wet season now so things are greener than normal.  It is normally very dry and good for cacti.

Our bus turned onto this muddy road.

                                           Our second stop was at this tagua factory.

Tagua phytephas equatorialis is the nut of a 15-18 foot tall palm tree found in the tropical rain forests on the coast and Amazon lowlands of Ecuador. Tagua nuts were originally used as buttons because they have a color and consistency very similar to ivory, and could be dyed. Although button manufacturing is still the main source of income for the factory, this unusual natural material is now fashioned by skilled craftsmen into a variety of small, reasonably-priced sculptures that provide a distinctive and unusual souvenir.  

 This woman wore this as she was operating a saw that sliced the nuts in thin button sized slices.

 This is the seed pod that comes from the palm.  Once opened it has several other smaller pods with maybe 7 to 10 nuts.

              The nuts are then dried for several days to make them very hard like ivory.

                                        This is the woman sawing the nuts in slices.

                                             Further process in making buttons.

                                      This man would carve your name in a nut for $1.

                                           Above two photos are of finished products.

 Above and below are carvings and jewelry.  Rebecca was disappointed because I did not bring much cash today.  I brought a credit card but no one would take credit.  She found a necklace for $15 but could not get it.

 Statue showing how women make the Panama hats.  Panama hats are NOT made in Panama but are made in Ecuador.  Our guide explained how that came about but too long of a story for here.

Fernando, our guide, showing us an agave silana leaf.  Our excursion description sheet called it a Cabuya plant.

     This is straw that comes from the leaf.  This needs to be dried over night before weaving.

                                               This is the straw after it is dried.

                                               This man is cleaning the straw.

                             These women are making the straw into thin rope-like string.

 This is 140 spools of the thread that the women made above.  It is put onto one big spool by the man above.

                                         Then it is woven into products by this loom.

Hand bags and burlap like sacks are made here.  Coffee and coca beans are shipped in the burlap bags.

                                            Some of the products made at this factory.

                                        Average income per month in Ecuador is $350.

Our next stop was at the square in Montecristi.  This is where the famous Panama hats are made.

 Above and below women showing how the Panama hats are made by hand.  The lady below has been working on this one hat for over 3 month.  It is almost complete.  Depending on the hat quality, they will sell from $20 to $300.  If you buy one in the US it will cost 5 times that amount.

                                           This is the plant that the hats are make from.

                                  This is the cathedral on the square in Montecristi.

                                                View of square taken from cathedral.

 School kids at a bus stop.  The schools here are free and there is a morning and afternoon session.

                                          Some fishing boats being overhauled by hand.

                                                             Fish market.

                                Fishing boats in the harbor.  Most tuna fishing for the canneries.

                   Chivas by our ship waiting for people on the tour to come off the ship.

I was suppose to doing this but backed out.  There is a band (in the yellow/green) playing as passengers come off the ship for the chiva excursion.

What's Happening Tonight:
At 6:00pm up on pool deck King Neptune and his court will be holding a ceremony for all "Polywogs" (those who have just crossed the Equator by ship for the first time).  During part of the ceremony they will have to kiss a fish.  Rebecca and I are called "Shellbacks" as we have crossed the Equator many times on cruises.

We will be meeting Jade and Samuel (last night's entertainers) at 6:30pm for cocktails then dinner.  Tonight's entertainer in the theater at 9:30 is Panos Karan, an internationally acclaimed pianist.  Not my cup of tea so won't be attending the show.  We are sailing for at 6:00pm for our next port, Guayaquil, 148 miles to the south.