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Manta Ecuador Insider Adventures
Travel Tips |
Manta Ecuador Insider Adventures
Manta Ecuador is a tuna fishing port, a 30 minute flight from Quito. Ecuador.
Ecuador
has only 13 million people (most of whom seem to be filthy street beggars) and it is about the size of North Carolina. With an average temperature of only 77 degrees at the coast, Ecuador’s
climate is moderated by Antarctic trade winds which keep the land cool and dry.
Ecuador’s economy is very fragile, relying in income from oil wells and
fishing revenue. They “dollarized” Ecuador currency in 1999 to stop their rampant inflation
and virtually worthless currency, but
they still use local coins which have no value whatsoever anywhere outside of
Ecuador. Here is a typical street in Manta, a bustling ghetto of skanky
impoverished people:
Manta is known for their Tuna fleet and much of the "Chilean" sea bass actually
comes from Ecuadorian waters, as does their famous Tuna & Dolphin combinations.
Historically, Ecuador has been big on coffee and coca exports, and the native Ecuadorians also have a history as
master shipbuilders.
On any given day you will see hundreds of fishing boats in the Manta bay harbor:
On weekends you will see locals going to the beach to buy their fish, fresh from
the boats:
The Ecuadorian democracy laws state that an elected president will server four years, but
this rarely happens, and a new president is elected at-will, at one time having
three presidents within a single week!
The official minimum wage is $1.10 per hour (only $300 per month), but many people
earn far less. It takes a double-income family to live above the poverty line.
The city of Manta is glum and scary, with abject poverty and amazing
unemployment with scary people hanging on every street corner. If you dare
to walk the streets, they accost you with "Hey You", and bothering you for
handouts.
Here is an typical home in Manta, note the iron bars on the windows:
The Mantamanian Indians
The native Manta Indians bear a striking resemblance to ancient Egyptians and
some theorize that the Egyptians may have colonized South America centuries
before Columbus. The ancient Mantamanian Indians are pictured in museums with
huge noses worthy of Cyrano De Bergerac, and the locals say that this physical
trait is quite apparent with today’s indigenous population of Indians.
The highest point in Ecuador is over 20,000 feet, making it the farthest point
from the center of the earth. Because of the equatorial bulge, the level at the
Ecuador coast is the same distance to the center of the earth as the top of Mt.
Everest. Outside Quito there is an equatorial demarcation line where you can
stand with one foot in both hemispheres.
Like the Galapagos Islands just 500 miles to the west, Ecuador is a bastion of
biodiversity, with more species of birds than in all of North America.
The equatorial weather means no seasons and consistent sunrise and sunset times
and its surprising moderate with temperatures rarely exceeding 85 degrees on the
coast. The highest peaks get snow, so the Ecuadorian climate is as diverse as
their fauna.
The cold current from the Antarctic causes the dryness, and this is a photo of
the dry forest area, almost desert-like terrain dotted with Kapok trees and
their cottony fruit (Kapok was widely-used in life preservers until synthetic
materials were developed in the 1950’s). The area outside Manta is typical "dry
forest", scrub brush, littered with decades-old garbage and litter:
Shopping in Ecuador
The local good are quite reasonable, and the best bargains are to be found in
several areas:
The streets are full of dirty, aggressive beggars and most tourists are escorted
by policia to keep the tourists from being accosted.
Panama Hats
Fine Panama Hats are the Roles Royce's of the hat world. A masterwork of craftsmanship, all
genuine Panama hats are painstakingly hand woven, and even the most modest
Panama hat takes several days of tedious weaving to create from fine straw.
Panama hats have always great appeal to wealthy people who
appreciate their fine quality and craftsmanship, and each Panama hat is unique
and created entirely by-hand.
The La Pila Market
At La Pila (The Fountain) area outside of Manta, there is a special area where the locals sell their
wares, closely watched by armed policemen. The star attraction is the local art pottery
such as this hollow apple, which reveals a nasty naked couple inside. Note
the quality of craftsmanship, typical of Ecuadorian pottery at La Pila:
La Pila also offers colorful hand-woven blankets and Alpaca items:
And you can also get some amazing intricate carved gourds, useless but
interesting display items.
You can find ad-hoc markets on almost every street corner, full of goodies
that are guaranteed to give you the squirts:
The Ecuador government mandates free medical care, but the hospitals often cannot provide
medicine and supplies. Ecuador has a predominantly Catholic population,
and the street vendors are everywhere in Manta.
Bargaining when shopping in Ecuador
Be forewarned that the Ecuador street vendors are VERY aggressive, thrusting crap
in your face, and following you everywhere. It’s recommended that you not go out
without a local escort since they can spot a tourist a half-mile away.
Vendors at public markets don’t expect you to pay the opening price, and you
can expect the “real” price to be about 25% less.
Hence, you should counter-offer with
one-half the vendors opening price, BUT ONLY if you intend to buy (it’s
considered very rude to bargain and not make the purchase).
Here is a sample of the Tagua (vegetable ivory),
a cheap and popular souvenir:
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This is an excerpt from the book
South America Insider Adventures by Rampant TechPress.
This is the definitive guide for the U.S. American traveler who seeks
to safely explore South America. You can order it directly from
the publisher and save over 30% at
this link. |
