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Blogs from Esmeraldas , North, Ecuador, South America
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Reconnecting with Ecuadorian Friends
Published: October 9th 2010South America » Ecuador » North » Esmeraldas
October 3rd 2010
After nearly 2 months away, it was great to get back "home" and reconnect with friends in the mountains and on the coast. We gathered a group of expat ladies who have been in Ecuador for years and years to celebrate Shana's 40th anniversary here. A few of these gals I had known back in the 1980's when I was working at the American School in Quito. It was fun to catch up on our respective lives and compare what we'd each been doing in the intervening years. Arriving on the coast I went to visit Freddy and his young family. This is the waiter from Mandala whom I helped out when his very pregnant wife needed a FAST drive up to the clinic in Jipijapa. As you can see from the photo, we made it ... read more
Ibarra, Esmeraldas, and the Police
Published: October 21st 2008South America » Ecuador » North » Esmeraldas
October 21st 2008
Buenas tardes everybody. It has been some time since my latest dispatch, and a lot has happened. I have also been sitting at this computer for about an hour and half now, writing emails. So I guess this is a warning to the reader...this blog might be sloppy. My last entry was from Otavalo, a popular market town a couple hours north of Quito, in the mountains. A notable event from there: I watched the Ecuador Chile eliminatorias game (a league game to determine who gets into the 2010 World Cup, this game did not determine if Chile or Ecuador made it, per say, but its nearing the end of the eliminatorias and was certainly important)...I watched this game in a packed theater with a bunch of Otavaleños. They served popcorn and soda, had stadium seating, ... read more
Reflections are clearer without mirrors
Published: March 21st 2008South America » Ecuador » North » Esmeraldas
March 4th 2008
Wow! I wish you could hear my new way of saying that....as my friends in Muisne have taught me....its more of a Wooowwww. Its been a long time, kids! Speaking of long time, its taking forever to load the pictures, so those will have to wait. But I need to tell you about the absolutely amazing perspective-altering experiences I have been having in Ecuador! I was lucky to have met Rebecca (Georgetown student from DC who was to become one of my best friends at the reserve) at my orientation in Quito the day before, so I met my travel buddy at 6am for our 12 hour bus journey to the coast. The town I was going to was on an island on the Pacific (seperated from the mainland by only a small river)called Muisne. We ... read more
Boas, Bats, Bugs and other such things at Congal
Published: August 6th 2007South America » Ecuador » North » Esmeraldas
August 6th 2007
I have just returned to Quito from 4 weeks on the coast of Ecuador. I volunteered with an organisation called Jatun Sacha at the Congal Biostation (NW Ecuador) on conservation issues. I had a really great time and learnt so much about Ecuador, the people, and the conservation issues on the coast and also ate some great seafood (lots of shrimp!). My work varied a lot - I participated in mangrove reforestation, fruit and tagua planting and harvesting, trail clearing and weeding with a machete, beach clean-ups, turtle monitoring, making rubbish bins for the neighbouring town of Muisne, working on the organic shrimp farms, working in the day care, caring for a sick sea turtle at the station, and assisting with a project on improving the quality of the drinking water in Muisne. The station was ... read more
February 10th 2007
The bus station was full. I was the only gringo in there, and as I sat there clutching my bags and sensing peoples eyes examining me and my belongings I thought "This is what travelling alone must be like alot of the time". The sensation certainly wasn't lost at all as I sat in my bus seat and felt kids under my seat tugging on my bag, which I clutched with sufficient strength to deter the slightly simple youngsters. Otherwise the bus ride was great... Ohhh... Except for the fact that I had to take a piss after to hours, but wasn't comfortable leaving my bags unattended, so I held on for 10 hours, often having to lend some physical assistance to the hold. I believe the experience has atleast increased my bladder capacity! Finally I ... read more
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Esmeraldas, Esmeraldas - Ecuador
Published: July 7th 2006South America » Ecuador » North » Esmeraldas
June 15th 1980
June 15, 1980 *City official name :Esmeraldas *Founded date :? *Location :Esmeraldas Province *Elavation :0 ft (0 m) *Area :Approximately ? square miles (? km²). *Facts :The conquistadors were astounded to find Indians bedecked in emeralds awaiting them on shore when they landed. Convinced that the region was abundant in the brilliant gems, they named it Esmeraldas. ... read more
