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Published: June 10th 2008
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On Our way to Canoa
Robin & I on the ferry ride. We've been here for two weeks, now, and we seem to be settling in well. Robin has been doing some small boat projects; some plumbing issues, etc. Gotten ourselves into somewhat of a routine, after the initial, WOW had passed.
After about 4 days here we had to take a trip into the port town called Manta for immigration visas. We had been told that it is a pretty big, dirty port town with lots of fishing fleets there, no cruisers. We also were told that the immigration people were only supposed to charge $15 for the boat, visas are free for people. The cruisers who went before us, had to pay $25, and this other cruiser told me that she only paid $15, she said maybe it was because she spoke to him spanish the whole time, so I thought, OK, I can do that....
We get to Manta , after about a 3 1/2 hour bus ride , not too bad actually (got to see the country), and it was air conditioned and comfortable seats.
We find the immigration office and wait patiently for someone to help us. Finally we get seated in an office and I
Interesting cabbie
They hook a seat with awning on the back of their motorcyles for cabs. begin chatting away in spanish to this young guy. We converse about all kinds of things, just blah, blah, blah, stuff. Conversation that I'm not particularly good at in English, but I gave it my best, smilling, etc. all the time. Half hour after being there, the electricity goes off! We have to wait until 3pm!!! (It was 11:30am) So I smile, and we walk out...I am a little tired of this small chit chat, but I would have been a trouper and continued just to get this paperwork done.. So we leave and go get some breakfast, and shop a little, then head back to the office by 3pm. The office was full of people now, and in the morning, there wasn't anyone there. Luckily our paperwork was still on his desk, and he took us in first. Smiling and chatting about what-not, finally he hands the papers to us to sign, etc., and he says, $25, and I said, HUH? I show him the paper the owner of the marina we are at, gave me, about costs and what to bring to each place we had to go upon entry into the country. I show him on the paper it says, $15, he explains that things are more expensive now. The actual slip for the boat entry said $15, but I didn't see it until we left the building~!! I was pretty p'--od, to say the least...all that silly chit chat, about his family, his job, etc, yuk! After slightly arguing with him, not feverently, because, you know, he is IMMIGRATION after all, and we do want to be here, we left. Just chalk it up to another fun experience in a foreign country.
A couple days after that episode, we took a day trip to a little beach town (surfing) called Canoa. We had to take a ferry over the river where the boats are. Then we caught a little bus to the town, which is about 30 min. away. Lots of young people there, and they rent surfboards., We didn't walk the beach, I don't know why. We were with some other cruisers, and bought some locally made jewelry, then went to eat at a kinda cool resturant, then headed back to Bahia via bus after lunch. One thing about this life style, it seems that after lunch you naturally fall into this "siesta" feeling. You want to lay down somewhere, read, or snooze, and not get back up until later in the afternoon. What's more interesting, is that it's not real hot and humid here like Central America. When the sun does come out, it can be hot but not humid. When there are clouds and drizzle, it is cool. We are REALLY enjoying the weather, simply lovely.
After that little side trip to Canoa, we decided to take a trip to Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador. It's a major port south of here. We got the scoop from other cruisers where to stay and what to visit, which helped. The bus terminal was quite impressive,. looked like an airport terminal. It was three floors high with food courts and little shops. Very impressive. We caught a taxi and went to a computer place to get our laptop looked at. (It kinda pooped out ) We got there, jumped out with the backpacks, hand bags, and computer. The place had moved! Luckily a store there gave us newer info about the computer service place's address. I had him write it down, as they talk awfully fast here. We hailed another taxi and found our place., Spoke with a really nice young man there who was going to look at the computer for us and let us know the next day. They work on Dell, HP, Sony, and Toshiba. We caught another taxi. Yes, lots of taxi's there. Gas here is $1.48 a gallon, deisel is $1.03 a gallon, It is subsidized by the government, so that is a wonderful thing for us, after paying $4.50 a gallon for deisel in Costa Rica, and most other places. And yes, I heard about US gas prices...double yuck!
We got to a Hotel called Hostel Linda, and it was very nice, lots of marble, hot showers, air conditioning, and cable TV. We were right in the old downtown area, about 6 blocks from the famous Malecon (which was a major project in 2000 to uplift the image of the city). The next day we decided to walk the malecon, In the morning, no one was on it, mostly people go to it in the afternoon and evening. Lots of police everywhere, which makes the place extra safe. We were dying for coffee, but no resturants here sell coffee, and most are not open for breakfast either. We went to the Ramada Inn next to the Malecon, and paid $7.50 each for an American breakfast! It was real expensive for us, but it was also REAL GOOD!!!
We headed up to a lighthouse along these 400 or so steps that are well maintained, watched over by police, and have real cute little cafes/bars/resturants and jewelry stores. I thought about going there later, having some drinks, then trying not to stumble down those stairs...no railings to help you, it would not be a pretty sight, to say the least. The vista was gorgeous. The pictures of the city didn't do it justice, so I didnt I put any on this blog. Safe to say, it is a huge metropolis with some good areas, and some areas you just DON'T GO TO, which is common to a lot of big cities anyhow.
Our computer was fixed...simply needed to be cleaned, due to the salty air it's surrounded by most of the time. So that was better than buying a new computer. They suggested every 6-12 mo. to get it cleaned. They did a bunch of tests on the computer, and everything was running well after the cleaning. WHEW! A couple days previous to this trip, I had a guy download all my music, photos, and programs on to CD's just in case. I'm glad I have a back-up for future computer episodes.
The bus trip there was OK, we watched a terrible movie called Human Traffic in spanish and english, but at least it helped pass the time. On the trip back, no movie....it was a longggg trip back. It's like 5 hours or so, airconditioned and comfy, but still, sitting for long periods on a bus kinda gets your legs somewhat cramped, actually all of your body cramped. We shared my IPOD, and tried to read when the road was smoother than usual. We were glad to get back to the boat and stretch out.
The next couple days may be interesting down here, as there is another anchorage that many people want to go to (including us) that is cheaper, quieter and just as secure, but the port captain has told everyone no one can go there right now. The other owner is using his lawyers to see how he can get cruisers to his place. We had a mooring reservation for July for there, but had found out all boats had to stay here at Puerto Amistad for the time being. Tomorrow the Minister of Tourism is coming to visit this other anchorage, and I will be there with my trusty camera and good ears to get all the juice. We may be moving down there soon. It is safe, and the moorings are both bow and stern (like in America's Cup Harbor in SD), and it's $100 a month cheaper. I will keep you all posted to, As Ecuador Turns....
Take care to my friends and family, enjoy the photos, Love, Robin & Jean
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