This country is the cleanest we have seen. They must sweep the streets and pick up garbage all the time as none is to be seen. At the beach they did not let us take any food, granola bars, or tissues on to the beach. None of us would give up the tissues so our bus driver kindly took them back to the bus to save them for us. It's key to always have tissues and hand cleaner with you, especially a woman!!
At the next stop there was a one room museum to peruse to see the old burial pots, and a couple of tables of crafts that looked imported to me. A trail let into the dry tropical forest. We went in a way then turned around. There was so much sand in our feet and shoes and it was very hot. So we sat and tried to clean the sand better then discovered the little restaurant. A beer was just the ticket to enjoy in the shade until the group returned to the bus.
At last we drove into the narrow drive to the hotel for lunch. It was situated on the side of the mountain overlooking the Pacific ocean with a lovely view. Our lunch was Ecuadorian food. A chicken empanada, fish, shrimp, calamari, Russian potato salad (peas and carrots not celery), vegetables, and rice. For dessert was blackberry ice cream and cake roll with spiced pineapple. It was all good. Smiles all around.
Our drive back was long and not as picturesque as it went through the mountainous country. It is green now from rain but will be dry and brown again. There is very little color anywhere with the houses build of cement or clay bricks and dull color, little paint. Dry clay yards, even the goats were dull color. I can see why bright colors in cloth is a favorite with such a lack of color in the landscape. One exception was the hotel which was bright yellow with blue trim..so nice to see. (the waiters were very formal in black and white and so nice)
We were able to see a statue created to honor the Panama hat makers. It was a woman bending over a partially woven hat, a pillow on the top and her breasts holding it all together as she bent and wove the brim. The hats are made here by a small group of artisans and NOT in Panama. They got the name when T. Roosevelt wore one when visiting Panama canal. The hats can take a year to weave and cost $500. for a fine one. A really fine hat can fit through a ring.
At the port there was a nice terminal building and a few handicraft stalls. Less expensive hats were flying off the rack and the jewelry and scarves & alpaca items as well. I purchased scarves and some necklaces made from the Taugua nut. The nuts are found only here and look like large Brazil nuts. They are ivory color. For jewelry the nut is dyed but they also carved animals in the natural form. The nuts were first used for making buttons for a French company who kept the source secret for many years. I told the young woman who was working with her mother making the jewelry to leave some undyed as they would be beautiful and ivory-like in that state.
A cool drink and a stint in the hot tub, conversation with Gs pickleball friends, then dinner and a show ended our day. I am always pooped and sleep really well on the ship. Now it's another sea day as we sail to Panama. We crossed the Equator while we slept so this morning there will be a ceremony to celebrate. The new crew members go through the ritual and kiss a fish, get covered in whipped cream and pushed into the pool. Great fun. I think we will get a certificate. It will match the one from 2012!!
keyboard is working today!! Yea!! George is playing pickleball while I blog and get organized for the day.
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