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Published: December 5th 2014
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Guayaquil - Day 11
After breakfast, we spent some time on the porch, reviewing our information on Guayaquil. A friendly dog came by and settled down under Bob's hammock. We decided to call a taxi to get to the bus station. Cab fair was cheap, $1.50, and definitely worth not struggling with our luggage. The bus was very prompt, very comfortanle, approximately a 3 hour trip for $6.00.
As we got out of Montanita, several little towns had hammocks for sale. We followed the beach for quite a while, just the sand and no structures or people. In Valdivia, supposedly the oldest culture in Ecuador, fishing boats lined the beach. Then passed a few little shacks with tall sunflowers in the yard. Saw a long dock protruding out into the ocean with a big pipe within, probably for oil. Followed the ocean to San Pablo, then turned inland. Saw some dry areas and some very green and lush. Saw alot of banana trees, with the fruit covered with plastic bags, probably to keep out the bugs.
The bus depot in Guayaquil was the largest we have ever seen. It was immense, three floors with escalators, very modern. We
wanted to get information on the bus to Cuenca for tomorrow; we found it after a few wrong turns and trips up and down the escalator. We can buy the tickets tomorrow, and there are many buses. Then found a taxi to the hotel.
We got settled in our hotel, Hotel Centro on Junin and Cordova. Very nice, clean, WiFi, TV. When we first walked in I thought we had the wrong place; it looked nicer then the $34 per night. This is the perfect location for walking to see the city.
We were very impressed with the city, very clean and modern. We first walked south along the Malecon 2000 (walkway along Rio Guayas). A wide boardwalk followed the river, decorated for Christmas with trees and a gingerbread house, lots of restaurants and fast food, A couple of charcoal portrait artists were stationed along the way. A pirate ship was moored along the river, which was used for dinner cruises. A long indoor mall-like shopping area stretched along the river to the south. Good place to walk because it was air-conditioned, and it was a very hot day in Guayaquil.
Then walked back up north along
the Malecon. We saw the famous Moorish-style clock tower. It dates from 1770 but has been replaced several times. Right across the street are the Palacio Municipal and Palacio de Gobierno (Palace of Governors). Lots of fun for the kids along the Malecon, with little go-carts around a track, and almost a carnival ride atmosphere. Further along was our favorite spot along the river, the tropical garden, with beautiful flowers and trees, fountains, ponds, benches, pathways, and stone walls with cascading vines. The garden continued for many blocks. It was a good place to get out of the hot sun.
At the northernmost end of the Malecon, you can walk up a stairway of 444 steps leading to a lighthouse at the top. The pathway goes by along some residences, restaurants and shops. Two neighborhoods have been refurbished into a quaint South American hillside village. The homes are brightly painted and the alleyways are cobblestone. The stairs are numbered so you know how many you have left. Up by the lighthouse you get an awesome view of the city. The lighthouse was closed though, so we couldn't get inside. The cannons at the top of the hill were used
to protect Guayaquil from pirates, and are still used today for celebrations.
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I hope you used some of that money you are saving by staying in cheap hotels and traveling by bus to buy some food for that dog.