Crazy People, Groceries, Fruit Salad, and Fish Markets

I should mention we moved to Ecuador without ever travelling here.  You may find that stupid or incredibly naïve but all our decisions were based on painstaking research.  If you are reading this you probably know there is not a lot of information about Ecuador on the internet, especially a fishing village like Crucita.  The people of Ecuador do not seem to worry about the internet like Americans.  They generally do not market their shops or businesses on the internet.  The business comes when it comes.  What you need can be found though.  There are literally 30 or more cantinas, restaurants, and shops within a 5 minute walk from our front door and I can only find 3 of them on the web. 

Calle Malecon

We dug in and found reliable, trustworthy people.  We knew what we were doing and why.  Many friends and family members (you know who you are!) thought we were crazy.  Heck, we are right?   We thought we knew exactly who we were dealing with.  We were wrong.  They are better people than we dared imagine.



We moved without ever seeing our new home in person, visiting the town, or travelling to Ecuador at all.  We picked up, risked it all, and moved 1600 miles away to a third world country.  So now you know.  We are crazy.  We are also happy!

Today we went grocery shopping with our former real estate agent, now friend, Tamy.  She lives 30 kilometers away but came to pick us up.  Perhaps a bit odd in the States but not here.  I would tell you about her up front but you'll get to know her as we are; a little a time.

We went to Super Maxi Grocery (said in a huge booming voice with the echo on the end) which is located about 18 miles (30 km) from Crucita, in Portoviejo.  Next time we will take one of the buses which are hailed like cabs.  $1.10 to ride to Portoviejo. 

Super Maxi Grocery!

Contrary to popular belief, markets in Ecuador carry many American or "Americanized" brands.  They have peanut butter (though very expensive at $9.00 a jar), they have Doritos which will make my son supremely happy, they have Pepsi and Coke.  We bought none of it.

Doritos!

We feel this way about it; we moved here.  We want the experience.  We eat what they eat. There was that KFC at the mall though-

We bought Latino labels. 

Purchased today.

So far I have cooked breakfast (fresh laid eggs), lunch (the most important and largest meal of the day here) and we have enjoyed lime juice as well as dessert.  Dinner is generally light and many times consists of leftover lunch.  Everything was just as good as American brands except the vegetables and fruits which are wonderful.  They have not been shipped or stored for long periods of time.  They have taste.  They come from the farms literally 5 minutes away.  Of course we needed staples.  We had no base.  A large bag of salt was $0.95 as it is manufactured on the north end of Crucita.  Milk comes in a box.  A 5 gallon bottle of water is no more than $1.50.

Salt Manufacturing

On the whole we bought about 2 weeks worth of food and sundries including cat food, cat litter, toilet paper, and laundry detergent for $60.00.  On the way home Tamy stopped at a roadside stand.  "You must try this" she said.  Iced fruit salad or ensalada de frutas, made in a bucket by the vendor's mother.  It was excellent, as much a drink as a salad.  Dole has nothing on this lady.  We were told not to avoid the roadside stands and restaurants.  They are regulated and inspected.  We'll be back and next time I'll get pictures.  We would've today but it was so good it was gone before we thought about it.  Too bad for you right?

Well, tomorrow we hit the southern end of Crucita's fish market. There is one on the north end too. We'll be there at 06:00 to buy fresh shrimp at $4 a pound, fresh tuna, and whatever else we can get our hands on.  The earlier the fresher, the less expensive, and the bigger we're told. Someone asked me and yes, they have lobster here.  Also crab when in season. 

Southern Fish Market.

I hope we can make the 15 minute walk there and back.  One other thing- I accidentally left my reading glasses in Tamy's car.  I figured I would get them next time we saw her.  She and her husband Jared showed up at our door an hour later to return them.  Remember they live 30 kilometers away.  Adios!

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