Welcome! We certainly hope you enjoy.
Bienvenue. Nous Esperons que vous apprecierez certainement.
Monday, January 11, 2016
Bienvenida. Por cierto, esperamos que disfrute.
Welcome! We certainly hope you enjoy.
Bienvenida. Por cierto, experamos que disfrute.
Bienvenida. Por cierto, experamos que disfrute.
Bine ati venit. Ne exprimam speranta vă bucurați.
Welcome! We certainly hope you enjoy.
Bine ati venit. Ne exprimam speranta vă bucurați.
Bine ati venit. Ne exprimam speranta vă bucurați.
Herzlich willkommen. Wir hoffen, Sie genießen.
Welcome! We certainly hope you enjoy.
Herzlich willkommen. Wir hoffen, Sie genießen .
Herzlich willkommen. Wir hoffen, Sie genießen .
Oh We Can Be Heroes, Just For One Day
This is not Tamera's or Jason's Take. This is a farewell, to a friend. David Bowie Jones
Sunday, January 10, 2016
Tamera's Take: A Day In The Life, Cats, & What To Bring
Tamera's Take is about being here.
Are you ready? I am.
Woke up. Fell out of bed.
Dragged a comb across my head.
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup.
And looking up I noticed...
it was 6:00 am.
Maybe it is not this way for everyone who moves to Ecuador (or stays for an extended period of time), but for us, waking up between 5:00 am - 6:00 am was an every day fact. No way around it. No matter how hard we tried. It did not matter that at 5:00 am the sun is not yet up over the horizon. It did not matter if we went to bed at 9:00 pm or midnight the night before.
Why is this happening? More importantly, when will it end? Will it end?
Do not get me wrong. Part of me enjoyed some of those extra morning hours. After all, we live in the land of 12/12. Twelve hours of daylight, twelve hours of night. Give or take about five minutes for that ever so slight axis rotation during the winter and summer equinox. But basically it is 12/12. Every day, 365 days a year. Although, this is leap year.
I will not discuss the Mayan and Inca Calendars, except to say that they utilized multiple calendars. The calendars had different purposes. An extra day was not added to February every four years. If you want to know more about those ancient calendars of South America, check out the links.
After almost two months in Ecuador, the 5:00 am Time Warp is getting a little better.
I wake up between 6:00 am - 7:00 am now. I still comb my hair and go downstairs for a cup of coffee. Since we did not bring any of our kitchen items, I had to choose a new favorite coffee cup from the seven mugs that were provided in our new home. Admit it. You know what I am talking about. Every coffee drinker has a favorite coffee mug.
If something happens to it, we mourn the loss, then choose a new favorite. Sometimes that requires a purchase. Sometimes a friend or family member will get you a new mug. It will be perfect. How did they know. I do not know, but they did. All is right again.
My choices were;
red mug with the word "Nescafe"
white mug with a bank logo
white mug with Christmas tree and the word "Twinkle"
white mug with a green logo "bcM" ??
yellow mug with the word "Riunite"
blue mug with the word "Royal"
white mug with "Feliz Cumpleanos" in bright colors
Right off the bat we can eliminate the red mug, yellow mug and the blue mug. The mug can be any color on the outside, but the inside of the mug has to be white. I do not know why. It just looks funny. Bank logo mug - out. No explanation needed. I do not know what "bcM" means - out goes that mug. I am left with Twinkle or Feliz. I did not come all the way to Ecuador to drink out of a coffee cup with the English word Twinkle. The winner is Feliz Cumpleanos. Which means Happy Birthday. Why not?!
This coffee cup ritual only applies to me. Jason does not care what the mug looks like.
After coffee, we decide what our plans are for the day. It usually revolves around, "do we need anything?" and if so, can we get it at one of the many local tiendas, or do we have to go to town. Going to town requires a bus or taxi ride to Portoviejo.
The one thing we cannot get in Crucita is CASH.
There are no banks in Crucita. There is only one ATM machine. If your debit/credit card does not have a security chip in it, then your card will not work at this ATM. Do not fear. There are plenty of banks and ATM machines in Portoviejo. Some require chips, some do not.
If we do not need anything at all, even better. But weekly grocery shopping does not seem to be the way it is done here. I do not mind a daily trip to a tienda. It is a good way for us to meet the store owners and their families. Tiendas are family owned and operated. In most cases their homes are next to, or above the store. They are starting to get to know us. We practice our Spanish. They appreciate the effort.
We are surrounded by farms.
The fruits and vegetables are fresh, plentiful and inexpensive. Rice and potatoes are grown locally too. We buy what we want, when we need it, right here in Crucita. You can go to one of the grocery stores in Portoviejo and the fruits and vegetables are just as fresh and plentiful, but a little more expensive. Organic is less expensive than non-organic. There are some imported fruits and vegetables in the supermarkets. Very expensive!
We live in a fishing village, so it goes without saying where we buy our seafood.
We buy fresh eggs from the tiendas. Poultry, pork and beef are still sort of a mystery. Not for me since I do not eat meat but Jason does. So until we figure out where the local butcher is, we have to go to Portoviejo.
Cat food, cat litter and various cat supplies (flea medication, litter box, toys) are best purchased in town. There are pet stores.
There is a pet store in El Paseo Shopping Mall. The Hipermarket has a good selection of cat food and cat litter, but no toys, no litter boxes, no flea medication.
Spices and fresh herbs - right here in Crucita. Flour, milk, baking powder, butter, raw sugar, refined sugar, confectioners sugar, cooking oil, olive oil, dried fruits, nuts. All available in the tiendas in Crucita.
But no one can tell me where the heck I can find Arm & Hammer Baking Soda! Any brand of baking soda will do. I made Christmas chocolate chip cookies. The recipe calls for baking soda. Sorry. No baking soda. Not here or there or anywhere. I substituted baking powder. It worked but not as well. I am not giving up though. I WILL find baking soda. Maybe.
As mentioned in previous posts, we have been introduced to many new and exotic fruits, vegetables and foods. New to us.
We are not scared to try new things. Never have been. Never will be. That does not mean that I will not refuse to try something. For example, guinea pig. Lucky for me, I do not eat meat. I have a get out of jail free card.
Not so much on the coast, but in the mountain areas of Ecuador, people eat guinea pig. I cannot believe I am even writing about it. But it is a fact and part of some of the cultures, so there you go.
If you want to know more about it, look it up on the internet.
Makeup, shampoos, conditioners, nail polish, deodorant, soaps, cleaners, cleansers and stuff - all available in local tiendas. However, there is a better selection at the supermarkets in town. Where is "town"? Portoviejo. You remembered!
Plastic ware is a little more difficult to find in a small village. You guessed it. Go to Portoviejo.
Go to El Centro to be exact. A lot more to choose from. Better prices. In El Centro, do not forget to bargain a little on the pricing. It is expected. Also, it is a good idea to bring a shopping bag. The vendors will give you little bags for your purchases most of the time, but after a while you end up with a dozen or so little plastic bags. Save yourself some aggravation and bring one or two reusable shopping bags.
We were in El Centro a few days ago and had duplicate sets of keys made for our house. There are about six street vendors who make keys. Anyway, the man who made the copies did not give us a bag. Somehow we managed to lose a couple of the copies.
Not a big deal. Just means another trip to El Centro.
Probably tomorrow since we need to check our post office (Correos) box, which is just around the corner from El Centro.
Here is another little culture tidbit. If you go into a supermarket or mall store with bags of things you have already bought, you will have to put them in a locker. The lockers are located in the front of the stores. There are keys attached to security fobs, hanging out of the locks. Simply choose a locker (there are various sizes), put in your stuff, lock the door and take the key with you. This is a free service, and it is MANDATORY. When you get done shopping, just go to your locker and retrieve your items. Do not forget to leave the key, otherwise you will set off the alarm when you leave the store.
Medications must all be purchased at a pharmacy. All medications. Over-the-counter (OTC) and obviously prescription medications. This also includes things like sport cream, anti-bacterial ointment, cortisone cream. Nothing is on a shelf.
You must ask for the items you need. The brand names are not always the same. The common names are not always the same. Take the time to look up on the internet how to ask for what you need in Spanish, AND the brand name in Ecuador.
If you are buying something that has a quantity (tablets, capsules, packets, etc), the clerk will ask you how many you want. Whole boxes are rarely sold. You can buy just one aspirin if that is what you need.
Not all prescription medications are readily available in all pharmacies. They are all available in hospitals.
If you are on a life dependent medication, bring enough of your prescription with you, along with a letter from your physician. Translate that letter into Spanish and have it notarized. This will make it easier should you need to see a physician while you are here.
Some medications can be ordered from your home country while you are in Ecuador, but the process is sometimes difficult and expensive.
That being said, the health care system is set up to meet the needs of everyone here, regardless of your financial situation. Regardless of whether you are a tourist, a citizen or here on a resident visa.
Many prescription medications do not require a local prescription. There are prescription drug programs so that everyone has access to medications needed. They are monitored to ensure the health of the patient and to prevent life threatening reactions from multiple medications.
The people who are very poor pay a few dollars a month (or in some cases nothing) for continuous healthcare. One thing to keep in mind. Narcotic pain medications are only used in extreme situations, and dispensed for the most part in hospitals or under strict supervision of a physician. Very few brands of prescription pain (narcotic) medications are available in Ecuador. Aspirin, Acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory medications are available.
On a personal level, I have one prescription medication that must be taken daily.
Prior to arriving here, I met with my surgeon and my physician. I am not due for check-ups until later this year. I knew I would need time to find comparable specialists here in Ecuador.
I will continue to see my doctors when I am in the U.S. as well. That one prescription I mentioned cost me almost $100 per month in the U.S. without insurance.
The same prescription costs me $13 per month here - without insurance.
We are planning a trip to the town of Monticristi. From what I hear, it is a beautiful little town.
But we have a specific purpose for going there. Furniture. A wicker and rattan sofa to be exact.
Our house is fully furnished, but the living room furniture is small and not very comfortable. The hammocks are great, but sometimes you just want to stretch out on the sofa and read a good book. Except that we do not have a sofa.
We have two tiny, straight-back, love seats with small wood arms.
Monticristi is famous for two things, spectacular wicker furniture and Panama Hats. Real Panama Hats did not come from Panama. They were SENT to Panama from Monticristi.
The wicker furniture is custom made to order. There are no showrooms. You choose a weaver, explain (or show a picture of) what you want, then go home and wait for your furniture to be made. It takes about four to eight weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the design. They will deliver the furniture to you when it is ready or you can go back and pick it up. In some cases you can get lucky and a shop might have a couple of pieces that were already made and never bought. You could go home that day with a beautiful piece of furniture. I will let you know how this adventure turns out for us.
What to bring.
We brought cats. Four cats, 200 pounds of checked luggage, a laptop, a small carry on suitcase containing our certified, notarized documented life; and us.
There are some personal items I wish we had. I really miss all my boxes of photos.
I wish I had all of my art supplies and my cameras. Jason wishes he had all his music gear. But we made the choice to give those things up (not the photos, they are in storage), and start a new life with minimal stuff.
Little by little we will buy those things that are really important to us.
So, what to bring? That is entirely up to you.
Are you ready? I am.
Woke up. Fell out of bed.
Dragged a comb across my head.
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup.
And looking up I noticed...
it was 6:00 am.
 |
| The Fish Blanket has traveled a lot. |
Maybe it is not this way for everyone who moves to Ecuador (or stays for an extended period of time), but for us, waking up between 5:00 am - 6:00 am was an every day fact. No way around it. No matter how hard we tried. It did not matter that at 5:00 am the sun is not yet up over the horizon. It did not matter if we went to bed at 9:00 pm or midnight the night before.
Why is this happening? More importantly, when will it end? Will it end?
Do not get me wrong. Part of me enjoyed some of those extra morning hours. After all, we live in the land of 12/12. Twelve hours of daylight, twelve hours of night. Give or take about five minutes for that ever so slight axis rotation during the winter and summer equinox. But basically it is 12/12. Every day, 365 days a year. Although, this is leap year.
I will not discuss the Mayan and Inca Calendars, except to say that they utilized multiple calendars. The calendars had different purposes. An extra day was not added to February every four years. If you want to know more about those ancient calendars of South America, check out the links.
 |
| Coffee & Feliz Cumpleanos! |
I wake up between 6:00 am - 7:00 am now. I still comb my hair and go downstairs for a cup of coffee. Since we did not bring any of our kitchen items, I had to choose a new favorite coffee cup from the seven mugs that were provided in our new home. Admit it. You know what I am talking about. Every coffee drinker has a favorite coffee mug.
If something happens to it, we mourn the loss, then choose a new favorite. Sometimes that requires a purchase. Sometimes a friend or family member will get you a new mug. It will be perfect. How did they know. I do not know, but they did. All is right again.
My choices were;
red mug with the word "Nescafe"
white mug with a bank logo
white mug with Christmas tree and the word "Twinkle"
white mug with a green logo "bcM" ??
yellow mug with the word "Riunite"
blue mug with the word "Royal"
white mug with "Feliz Cumpleanos" in bright colors
Right off the bat we can eliminate the red mug, yellow mug and the blue mug. The mug can be any color on the outside, but the inside of the mug has to be white. I do not know why. It just looks funny. Bank logo mug - out. No explanation needed. I do not know what "bcM" means - out goes that mug. I am left with Twinkle or Feliz. I did not come all the way to Ecuador to drink out of a coffee cup with the English word Twinkle. The winner is Feliz Cumpleanos. Which means Happy Birthday. Why not?!
This coffee cup ritual only applies to me. Jason does not care what the mug looks like.
 |
| Bus to Portoviejo |
 |
| No chip? No cash for you. |
There are no banks in Crucita. There is only one ATM machine. If your debit/credit card does not have a security chip in it, then your card will not work at this ATM. Do not fear. There are plenty of banks and ATM machines in Portoviejo. Some require chips, some do not.
If we do not need anything at all, even better. But weekly grocery shopping does not seem to be the way it is done here. I do not mind a daily trip to a tienda. It is a good way for us to meet the store owners and their families. Tiendas are family owned and operated. In most cases their homes are next to, or above the store. They are starting to get to know us. We practice our Spanish. They appreciate the effort.
We are surrounded by farms.
The fruits and vegetables are fresh, plentiful and inexpensive. Rice and potatoes are grown locally too. We buy what we want, when we need it, right here in Crucita. You can go to one of the grocery stores in Portoviejo and the fruits and vegetables are just as fresh and plentiful, but a little more expensive. Organic is less expensive than non-organic. There are some imported fruits and vegetables in the supermarkets. Very expensive!
 |
| Extra Large Eggs |
We buy fresh eggs from the tiendas. Poultry, pork and beef are still sort of a mystery. Not for me since I do not eat meat but Jason does. So until we figure out where the local butcher is, we have to go to Portoviejo.
Cat food, cat litter and various cat supplies (flea medication, litter box, toys) are best purchased in town. There are pet stores.
There is a pet store in El Paseo Shopping Mall. The Hipermarket has a good selection of cat food and cat litter, but no toys, no litter boxes, no flea medication.
Spices and fresh herbs - right here in Crucita. Flour, milk, baking powder, butter, raw sugar, refined sugar, confectioners sugar, cooking oil, olive oil, dried fruits, nuts. All available in the tiendas in Crucita.
But no one can tell me where the heck I can find Arm & Hammer Baking Soda! Any brand of baking soda will do. I made Christmas chocolate chip cookies. The recipe calls for baking soda. Sorry. No baking soda. Not here or there or anywhere. I substituted baking powder. It worked but not as well. I am not giving up though. I WILL find baking soda. Maybe.
 |
| Fresh Herbs |
We are not scared to try new things. Never have been. Never will be. That does not mean that I will not refuse to try something. For example, guinea pig. Lucky for me, I do not eat meat. I have a get out of jail free card.
Not so much on the coast, but in the mountain areas of Ecuador, people eat guinea pig. I cannot believe I am even writing about it. But it is a fact and part of some of the cultures, so there you go.
If you want to know more about it, look it up on the internet.
Makeup, shampoos, conditioners, nail polish, deodorant, soaps, cleaners, cleansers and stuff - all available in local tiendas. However, there is a better selection at the supermarkets in town. Where is "town"? Portoviejo. You remembered!
 |
| Lockers for your stuff. |
Go to El Centro to be exact. A lot more to choose from. Better prices. In El Centro, do not forget to bargain a little on the pricing. It is expected. Also, it is a good idea to bring a shopping bag. The vendors will give you little bags for your purchases most of the time, but after a while you end up with a dozen or so little plastic bags. Save yourself some aggravation and bring one or two reusable shopping bags.
We were in El Centro a few days ago and had duplicate sets of keys made for our house. There are about six street vendors who make keys. Anyway, the man who made the copies did not give us a bag. Somehow we managed to lose a couple of the copies.
Not a big deal. Just means another trip to El Centro.
Probably tomorrow since we need to check our post office (Correos) box, which is just around the corner from El Centro.
Here is another little culture tidbit. If you go into a supermarket or mall store with bags of things you have already bought, you will have to put them in a locker. The lockers are located in the front of the stores. There are keys attached to security fobs, hanging out of the locks. Simply choose a locker (there are various sizes), put in your stuff, lock the door and take the key with you. This is a free service, and it is MANDATORY. When you get done shopping, just go to your locker and retrieve your items. Do not forget to leave the key, otherwise you will set off the alarm when you leave the store.
 |
| Keys made in El Centro |
You must ask for the items you need. The brand names are not always the same. The common names are not always the same. Take the time to look up on the internet how to ask for what you need in Spanish, AND the brand name in Ecuador.
If you are buying something that has a quantity (tablets, capsules, packets, etc), the clerk will ask you how many you want. Whole boxes are rarely sold. You can buy just one aspirin if that is what you need.
Not all prescription medications are readily available in all pharmacies. They are all available in hospitals.
If you are on a life dependent medication, bring enough of your prescription with you, along with a letter from your physician. Translate that letter into Spanish and have it notarized. This will make it easier should you need to see a physician while you are here.
 |
| Pharmacy = Farmacia |
That being said, the health care system is set up to meet the needs of everyone here, regardless of your financial situation. Regardless of whether you are a tourist, a citizen or here on a resident visa.
Many prescription medications do not require a local prescription. There are prescription drug programs so that everyone has access to medications needed. They are monitored to ensure the health of the patient and to prevent life threatening reactions from multiple medications.
The people who are very poor pay a few dollars a month (or in some cases nothing) for continuous healthcare. One thing to keep in mind. Narcotic pain medications are only used in extreme situations, and dispensed for the most part in hospitals or under strict supervision of a physician. Very few brands of prescription pain (narcotic) medications are available in Ecuador. Aspirin, Acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory medications are available.
 |
| Post Office |
Prior to arriving here, I met with my surgeon and my physician. I am not due for check-ups until later this year. I knew I would need time to find comparable specialists here in Ecuador.
I will continue to see my doctors when I am in the U.S. as well. That one prescription I mentioned cost me almost $100 per month in the U.S. without insurance.
The same prescription costs me $13 per month here - without insurance.
We are planning a trip to the town of Monticristi. From what I hear, it is a beautiful little town.
 |
| Comfortable for Kodak |
But we have a specific purpose for going there. Furniture. A wicker and rattan sofa to be exact.
Our house is fully furnished, but the living room furniture is small and not very comfortable. The hammocks are great, but sometimes you just want to stretch out on the sofa and read a good book. Except that we do not have a sofa.
We have two tiny, straight-back, love seats with small wood arms.
The wicker furniture is custom made to order. There are no showrooms. You choose a weaver, explain (or show a picture of) what you want, then go home and wait for your furniture to be made. It takes about four to eight weeks, depending on the size and complexity of the design. They will deliver the furniture to you when it is ready or you can go back and pick it up. In some cases you can get lucky and a shop might have a couple of pieces that were already made and never bought. You could go home that day with a beautiful piece of furniture. I will let you know how this adventure turns out for us.
 |
| From Jacksonville to Miami to Ecuador |
We brought cats. Four cats, 200 pounds of checked luggage, a laptop, a small carry on suitcase containing our certified, notarized documented life; and us.
There are some personal items I wish we had. I really miss all my boxes of photos.
I wish I had all of my art supplies and my cameras. Jason wishes he had all his music gear. But we made the choice to give those things up (not the photos, they are in storage), and start a new life with minimal stuff.
Little by little we will buy those things that are really important to us.
So, what to bring? That is entirely up to you.
Questions? E-mail us!
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Friday, January 8, 2016
Happy New Year (Part 3) - Is this the Sinister Shape of Things to Come?
Well, well, well. We are still alive. Our body parts or organs were not harvested. No one mugged us or molested us in unimaginable ways. Okay. Not completely true. We do still have every body part we brought with us, but we are changed. In a very good way. We realized after our first New Year post there would have to be more. There is no way to explain everything we experienced, even with three posts. We learned so much in five days it is unbelievable. Upon our arrival in November, I had a preschool level Spanish vocabulary. I now have a first grade level Ecuadorian Spanish vocabulary, Yes, there are differences between Ecuador's language and Latin American Spanish. There are different dialects between Crucita and Portoviejo, only 30 kilometers away.
Let me make one thing very clear. Mi Esposa (my spouse) speaks way more Spanish than I do. I must look to her so much when trying to understand. She is amazing but it takes its toll. It is exhausting for her. She is amazing. El mejor. Look it up. I cannot do everything for you!
Feliz Ano Nuevo! Our neighbors, now friends, tried to explain everything that was going to happen on New Years Eve, Eve. They tried and tried. They plied us with Auguardiente (homemade sugar cane moonshine; translation - Fire water!) while explaining. This was all prior to the celebration. We thought we had a good handle on everything. We were invited to the neighborhood party. A party with hard working fishermen, construction workers, and their familia (family), We drank with them, danced in the calle (street), and said "no comprendo" a lot. They drew pictures in the dirt. We did too. We had fun. What we thought we knew was inconsequential really, We learned.
First off, New Years Eve day, nothing happened. Business as usual. Swimming in the Pacific, food at home. It was largely uneventful. The familias spent time together and so did mi familia. We kept looking to see when the party would start. We put on our yellow underwear (for luck and prosperity), we prepared our monigotes (stuffed them with explosives), and we waited. We went out at 21:00 and walked to the town square. We met the viudas del nuevo ano (widows of the New Year). We saw huge monigotes. Ecuadorians took our picture with them. We went back home to sit a spell.
At about 23:00 we decided to go ahead and walk to the Malecon. Our new friends were all there awaiting us, They sent us back home for our monigotes. Upon our return the Patriarch of the Gomez familia welcomed us with shots of Augardiente. It is the custom for the Patriarch to dispense the liquor. It is a great honor and it means we are accepted as familia. They have our backs.
As we took our initial shots the younger crowd (and it was a crowd!) were cheering the gringos on. "Los gringos estan bebeindo Aguardiente!". "Los gringos hicieron!". The Americans are drinking fire water! The Americans did it!. Yes we did. They praised us for our monigotes. Peppa Pig y (and) El Toro de Pilsener (the bull of beer, Pilsener being the local beer). Our neighbors and amigos, Maria y Leo had chairs for us. The Gomez familia was also there. Leo offered me his drink. It is called Agua Loca (crazy water). It is almost the same as the Aguardiente however, it also has lime in it. Rico (delicious) and peligroso (dangerous) in the wrong hands.
People are dancing on the Malecon. Traffic is at a standstill. Fireworks are everywhere. You all remember M-80's? Whatever. The explosives are insane. We are introduced to so many people I will never remember their names. Much familia. Many amigos and compadres. Leo tells me we are his extended familia and that he has let the town know we are under his protection. Maria is telling Tamera the same. I am overwhelmed by their generosity. Then he asks where our grapes are (12 must be eaten in one minute). I run back to get them. The Patriarch offers another shot (impolite to refuse). It is close to midnight. The people are dancing and yelling. There is ZERO violence.
Leo and Maria tell us to run to the beach (five feet away) with our monigotes. We pile ours up with a multitude of others. We are then told to pay attention to the beach in both directions. The fireworks from the towns of Manta, San Jacinto, San Clemente, and of course the locals, will be visible all at one time.
Doce (twelve)! Fireworks start. Eat the grapes! Make the wishes! Fireworks everywhere! Leo grabs me, Maria grabs Tamera! To the beach! Leo beats the monigotes with a stick. This is tradition. Next year we will have our own big stick! He then douses them with gasoline. FIRE! Fires all up and down the beach as the population beats and burns the bad of 2015 away. Explosions everywhere as all the monigotes explode. Now the fun part. A drink of Agua Loca then, jump over the exploding fire! Three times is necesario (necessary). Tamera does it, Maria does it, Leo does it, I do it. The main celebration is over, or is it? We hang out on la playa with our friends. 02:00. Tamera and I are tired. We think it is over. No.
Maria and Leo make it clear (after 15 minutes of explaining) that we must come back to their casa for the traditional New Years Day dinner. It is 02:00. They want to cook for us. We learn that this is what is done for familia and amigos close to the hearts of the people of Ecuador. We are being honored. We go. Maria makes a traditional meal of arroz (rice), pollo (chicken), ensalada de vegetales (vegetable salad) and Coca Cola (perhaps not traditional). It was rico (delicious). Maria cooks so well she makes me look like I know nothing. Maybe because I know nothing. When I can cook pollo y arroz like that I will believe I can cook again.
We say thank you. We are tired. We think it is over again. Again it is not. In the morning we awake to musica. Loud. It has been going all night. They have not slept. Maria and Leo's extended familia is arriving in a bus. A private bus. Plus four trucks. They still have not slept and Maria is cooking for them. Out comes the PA. The PA's are out everywhere. Musica! Each household has them. The party continues.
One of the Gomez familia, Christopher, tried to tell us. Mañana, mañana, mañana, mañana! He is trying to tell us "next four days". The celebration lasts four days. Four days of the Malecon being packed, no vehicles allowed on Sunday. Four days of musica day and night. Four days of drinking and eating and drinking and eating. We made it one and maybe one half days. It is not drinking to excess. It is drinking to have fun. It is not eating to excess. It is eating with the familia. On January 5th everything was closed. On the 6th, open again. We had the most amazing experience of our lives.
Now we find out Carnival is coming. February 9th to be exact. Apparently we have not seen anything yet. The fiesta starts on Saturday February 6th. We will see as much as we can. Oh, yes we will. Is this the sinister shape of things to come? I seriously hope so. Adios!
 |
| Leo and Maria. |
Let me make one thing very clear. Mi Esposa (my spouse) speaks way more Spanish than I do. I must look to her so much when trying to understand. She is amazing but it takes its toll. It is exhausting for her. She is amazing. El mejor. Look it up. I cannot do everything for you!
Feliz Ano Nuevo! Our neighbors, now friends, tried to explain everything that was going to happen on New Years Eve, Eve. They tried and tried. They plied us with Auguardiente (homemade sugar cane moonshine; translation - Fire water!) while explaining. This was all prior to the celebration. We thought we had a good handle on everything. We were invited to the neighborhood party. A party with hard working fishermen, construction workers, and their familia (family), We drank with them, danced in the calle (street), and said "no comprendo" a lot. They drew pictures in the dirt. We did too. We had fun. What we thought we knew was inconsequential really, We learned.
 |
| Me, my wife, and monigotes! |
At about 23:00 we decided to go ahead and walk to the Malecon. Our new friends were all there awaiting us, They sent us back home for our monigotes. Upon our return the Patriarch of the Gomez familia welcomed us with shots of Augardiente. It is the custom for the Patriarch to dispense the liquor. It is a great honor and it means we are accepted as familia. They have our backs.
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| Leo and I with our manigotes. |
As we took our initial shots the younger crowd (and it was a crowd!) were cheering the gringos on. "Los gringos estan bebeindo Aguardiente!". "Los gringos hicieron!". The Americans are drinking fire water! The Americans did it!. Yes we did. They praised us for our monigotes. Peppa Pig y (and) El Toro de Pilsener (the bull of beer, Pilsener being the local beer). Our neighbors and amigos, Maria y Leo had chairs for us. The Gomez familia was also there. Leo offered me his drink. It is called Agua Loca (crazy water). It is almost the same as the Aguardiente however, it also has lime in it. Rico (delicious) and peligroso (dangerous) in the wrong hands.
People are dancing on the Malecon. Traffic is at a standstill. Fireworks are everywhere. You all remember M-80's? Whatever. The explosives are insane. We are introduced to so many people I will never remember their names. Much familia. Many amigos and compadres. Leo tells me we are his extended familia and that he has let the town know we are under his protection. Maria is telling Tamera the same. I am overwhelmed by their generosity. Then he asks where our grapes are (12 must be eaten in one minute). I run back to get them. The Patriarch offers another shot (impolite to refuse). It is close to midnight. The people are dancing and yelling. There is ZERO violence.
 |
| Beach side of the Malecon. Ready and waiting! |
Doce (twelve)! Fireworks start. Eat the grapes! Make the wishes! Fireworks everywhere! Leo grabs me, Maria grabs Tamera! To the beach! Leo beats the monigotes with a stick. This is tradition. Next year we will have our own big stick! He then douses them with gasoline. FIRE! Fires all up and down the beach as the population beats and burns the bad of 2015 away. Explosions everywhere as all the monigotes explode. Now the fun part. A drink of Agua Loca then, jump over the exploding fire! Three times is necesario (necessary). Tamera does it, Maria does it, Leo does it, I do it. The main celebration is over, or is it? We hang out on la playa with our friends. 02:00. Tamera and I are tired. We think it is over. No.
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| Leo beats them silly then lights them on fire. |
Maria and Leo make it clear (after 15 minutes of explaining) that we must come back to their casa for the traditional New Years Day dinner. It is 02:00. They want to cook for us. We learn that this is what is done for familia and amigos close to the hearts of the people of Ecuador. We are being honored. We go. Maria makes a traditional meal of arroz (rice), pollo (chicken), ensalada de vegetales (vegetable salad) and Coca Cola (perhaps not traditional). It was rico (delicious). Maria cooks so well she makes me look like I know nothing. Maybe because I know nothing. When I can cook pollo y arroz like that I will believe I can cook again.
We say thank you. We are tired. We think it is over again. Again it is not. In the morning we awake to musica. Loud. It has been going all night. They have not slept. Maria and Leo's extended familia is arriving in a bus. A private bus. Plus four trucks. They still have not slept and Maria is cooking for them. Out comes the PA. The PA's are out everywhere. Musica! Each household has them. The party continues.
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| The love of my life jumping through fire! |
Now we find out Carnival is coming. February 9th to be exact. Apparently we have not seen anything yet. The fiesta starts on Saturday February 6th. We will see as much as we can. Oh, yes we will. Is this the sinister shape of things to come? I seriously hope so. Adios!
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Saturday, January 2, 2016
Tamera's Take: Auld Lang Syne, Cats, and Año Nuevo (Part 2)
Tamera's Take is about being here.
There is a little more to Auld Lang Syne. Inspired by fragments of traditional songs from earlier times, the Scottish poem was written in 1788 by Robert Burns, with all of the melancholy and nostalgia that it still evokes today.
However it was not intended as a New Year's Eve song, any more than It's A Wonderful Life was intended as a Christmas movie. Such as life, things have a way of finding their place and settling in.
This was no ordinary excursion. Nothing Tamy does is ordinary. She puts a lot of thought and care into everything. Our goal for the day was to view themed displays for the Año Viejo contest. That was just the beginning.
A map of the displays was in the local newspaper,
El Diario. With map in hand, the five of us were off for another adventure.
First stop was the home of Tamy's mother & father in law. Not to view a display, but for the first of many treats. Mangos! Ripe, sweet and delicious mangos from their farm.
With map AND mangos in hand, the five of us were off (again).
Tamy drives us through the city of Portoviejo and some of the surrounding parishes. She does not simply point out areas of interest. She gives us details about the buildings, people, and economics. But more importantly, she gives us the respective cultures of each area. I am amazed at the diversity.
As with any city, there is wealth, there is extreme poverty, and there is prejudice between those "classes". A product of all that diversity. It is human nature I suppose.
If you really want to get to know a culture, you have to look past some of those things. You have to look past your own comfort zone. You have to set aside the things you know, to make room for the things you do not know. If you can do this, you will almost always have an experience to remember.
Continuing on our tour, we stop at several displays to take photos. I should mention that the judging of the displays took place on December 31st. First prize is $3,000 USD, second prize is $1,500.
Photos of all 24 entries were printed in the Año Nuevo edition of El Diario. I think we saw about half of them during our tour.
Time for another treat!
Mamey Mata Serrano! In Ecuador, this fruit does not occur on a large scale, but it is found in small farms on the coast, mainly in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Manabi.
It has the size and appearance of a small cantaloupe. We live in the province of Manabi.
Tamy sees Mamey being sold at one of the street vendors and tells us that we "must try this". We will hear that phrase a lot. We are told that this fruit is in season for a very short time, and it is not available everywhere in Ecuador. We happen to live on the coast. Lucky us!
Since we have already passed the vendor, we have to make a few turns to get back to him. This is another opportunity to absorb more culture. We drive through the fabric district. I had been wondering where to buy material. I am not sure why since I left my sewing machine back in the U.S. We are told that the fabric district is safe during the day, but not at night.
And...the electricity is out again. This does not happen too often, but it does happen.
I am usually totally unaware of it unless I happen to be using WiFi at that time.
I was using Wifi to write this segment of our blog.
Now I am using Notepad so that I can continue.
As soon as the electricity is back on I will copy and paste.
A few extra steps, but it is all part of the way of life here in Crucita.
I also take the time to say hello to a white cat who frequently stops by to visit.
He poses for a photo.
We make our way back around to the busy street. There are a lot of tall buildings - tall for Ecuador; many vendors set up all along this street; but NO street parking.
Tamy pulls up to the vendor and through the window asks the man something in Spanish. I catch a few words. Not enough to know exactly what she asks him. But in her normal style, she turns to us and translates. She then goes on to explain that Mamey can be difficult to peel and cut away from the large seed. The man is doing it very skillfully and quickly. Apparently if you do it wrong, the fruit will have a bitter taste.
A few cars honk their horns at us. The man says something to Tamy and she tells us that he said "do not worry about them, it is fine to stay where we are". We do. It is not.
We are greeted by a police siren and flashing lights. Apparently the No Standing law applies here as well as New York City.
Another circle through the fabric district and back to the vendor, where our Mamey has been peeled, sliced and put into bags for us to eat. It appears to be about 3 or 4 pounds of fruit. Total cost = $2.50 (50 cents per person). It was rico (delicious).
I cannot begin to describe the taste. I will not even try. If you find yourself in Ecuador, along the coastal area, in December - you must try this!
After we take photos (fotos) of more displays, my husband asks Tamy about something he read in a blog about "the largest flea market in Ecuador located in Portoviejo", and does she know where it is.
Puzzled look. What is a flea market?
We explain.
No. There is no flea market.
We are told that Ecuadorians do not sell used clothes, household items or furniture. They give these things away to people who need them. Silence from the gringos. I cannot speak for the others, but for my part, this is another lesson on how things should be. I will not forget it.
The mood is suddenly lifted as Tamy asks us if we like coconut milk Now I have the puzzled look. I thought it was called agua de coco. It is. But this is not.
Now you have the puzzled look.
Agua de coco is the clear liquid inside the coconut. As I have mentioned in earlier blogs, the top of the coconut (husk on) is cut off so you can use a straw to drink the agua. Coconut milk is white because it is made from the pulverized coconut meat.
A street vendor is selling ice cold coconut milk.
Yes. Of course we want some.
Apparently this woman makes the best coconut milk in the city. It is important to only buy from vendors who make sure everything is clean. We are told this many times. Our Ecuadorian friend will not be with us all the time. We have to learn these things. It is not offensive to walk away if you think a restaurant or food cart is not clean. But do not mistake worn for dirty. I cannot stress this point enough. If you do, you will probably miss out on a lot.
That will definitely be your loss.
As we drink coconut milk, we turn a corner and find ourselves in Portoviejo El Centro. This can only be described as THE shopping district. Located at "9 de Octubre e/ Chile y Ricaurte" is the store Super Exito. I promise, there is an address in that sentence. I will explain how addresses work in another segment of Tamera's Take.
Super Exito seems to be the landmark of this outdoor shopping and food extravaganza. Take a cab or a bus to get there. To experience and take full advantage of El Centro, you will have to walk it.
In front of Super Exito are two restaurants that look like outdoor lunch counters.
They are identical except that one sells sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers (Lalo's); the other sells more traditional Ecuadorian food.
Flea Market - No, but yes.
Remember that "flea market" we asked Tamy about? I think El Centro is what that blogger was trying to describe. Yes, we found it, but no - it is NOT a flea market.
This is not a shopping day though. Jason and I have already made plans to go back to Portoviejo El Centro on our own for a day of shopping and eating. After we go, we will tell you all about it.
At this point we have spent hours taking photos of displays for Ano Viejo; we have had mangos, mamey and coconut milk. We have to find a restroom!
SuperMaxi is just around the corner.
SuperMaxi break done. We could not leave there without buying a rechargeable Electric Mosquito Racquet. I love this thing.
A lot of fun for $5.83 and no mosquitos.
As we give out a few more coins to the Widows of Ano Viejo, we come to the final part of our tour of Portoviejo. The World of Monigotes and Fireworks! It is not called that. But it should be.
Thousands of paper mache Monigotes. Thousands of Fireworks. A landing strip between them. You do not want fireworks sold next to monigotes. Especially since the fireworks are constantly being demonstrated for potential customers.
Just think about it for a minute.
Paper mache. Fireworks. Paper Mache. Fireworks.
Got it? Okay.
These are not wimpy wambly wombly fireworks. These are badda big badda boom fireworks. All legal - here.
Although we have already bought two monigotes in Crucita - the Pilsener Futbol Toro & Peppa Pig, we see Sylvester Cat and buy him for $5.00 USD.
Tamy has taught us a lot about the bargaining ritual, and I have observed her enough times that I think I got the best deal on our Sylvester monigote. It turns out that I did. Practicing a few more phrases in Spanish before we got there did not hurt.
As Jason mentioned in New Year's Eve Part 1, we have to wear yellow underwear (bragas amarillas) for good luck on New Year's Eve.
You cannot buy them yourself. Someone has to buy them for you. Jason and I buy for each other.
I would be remiss if I did not remind you that the Ecuadorian people are generally smaller than us Gringos. Keep that in mind when shopping for clothing. Enough said.
Fotos, fotos and more fotos. Monigote and yellow underwear in hand.
On to Fireworks.
There is a very specific type of firework used to blow up your monigote on New Year's Eve. You will need several for each monigote, depending on its size. They are craft paper colored triangles with a fuse on one corner - four for $1.00. We bought eight of them, along with some regular size roman candles (25 cents each) and mega size roman candles ($2.00 each).
The man we bought the fireworks from gave us a bunch of jumping jacks for free.
We are now as ready as we can be for Año Nuevo. (That is code for come back for Part 3. You will not be disappointed.)
We hope you all had a Safe, Fun & Happy New Year. We did!
Are you ready? I am.
Does anyone really know the words to Auld Lang Syne? Or the tune for that matter? I have to admit, I do not. Of course I know the condensed version sung in the U.S. at midnight on New Year's Eve (Año Nuevo). The version everyone remembers at the end of the movie, It's A Wonderful Life. George and Mary Bailey. Zuzu's petals. The "every time a bell rings, an angels gets his wings" version.
 |
| One of my favorite Monigotes. |
However it was not intended as a New Year's Eve song, any more than It's A Wonderful Life was intended as a Christmas movie. Such as life, things have a way of finding their place and settling in.
Three days ago, our friend Tamy took us on a tour of Portoviejo. We were joined by two others, Bonnie and Luc, who we met at the Navidad Fiesta last week.
Bonnie and Luc arrived in Crucita a few weeks before we did.
Bonnie and Luc arrived in Crucita a few weeks before we did.
This was no ordinary excursion. Nothing Tamy does is ordinary. She puts a lot of thought and care into everything. Our goal for the day was to view themed displays for the Año Viejo contest. That was just the beginning.
 |
| The theme? Save It or Lose It. I say Right on! |
El Diario. With map in hand, the five of us were off for another adventure.
First stop was the home of Tamy's mother & father in law. Not to view a display, but for the first of many treats. Mangos! Ripe, sweet and delicious mangos from their farm.
With map AND mangos in hand, the five of us were off (again).
Tamy drives us through the city of Portoviejo and some of the surrounding parishes. She does not simply point out areas of interest. She gives us details about the buildings, people, and economics. But more importantly, she gives us the respective cultures of each area. I am amazed at the diversity.
As with any city, there is wealth, there is extreme poverty, and there is prejudice between those "classes". A product of all that diversity. It is human nature I suppose.
 |
| Mamey Mata Serrano |
 |
| Representing the Rural Life of Ecuador |
Photos of all 24 entries were printed in the Año Nuevo edition of El Diario. I think we saw about half of them during our tour.
Time for another treat!
Mamey Mata Serrano! In Ecuador, this fruit does not occur on a large scale, but it is found in small farms on the coast, mainly in the provinces of Esmeraldas, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas and Manabi.
It has the size and appearance of a small cantaloupe. We live in the province of Manabi.
Tamy sees Mamey being sold at one of the street vendors and tells us that we "must try this". We will hear that phrase a lot. We are told that this fruit is in season for a very short time, and it is not available everywhere in Ecuador. We happen to live on the coast. Lucky us!
 |
| Portoviejo El Centro |
 |
| Not our cat. Our cat's local friend. |
And...the electricity is out again. This does not happen too often, but it does happen.
I am usually totally unaware of it unless I happen to be using WiFi at that time.
I was using Wifi to write this segment of our blog.
Now I am using Notepad so that I can continue.
As soon as the electricity is back on I will copy and paste.
A few extra steps, but it is all part of the way of life here in Crucita.
I also take the time to say hello to a white cat who frequently stops by to visit.
He poses for a photo.
We make our way back around to the busy street. There are a lot of tall buildings - tall for Ecuador; many vendors set up all along this street; but NO street parking.
Tamy pulls up to the vendor and through the window asks the man something in Spanish. I catch a few words. Not enough to know exactly what she asks him. But in her normal style, she turns to us and translates. She then goes on to explain that Mamey can be difficult to peel and cut away from the large seed. The man is doing it very skillfully and quickly. Apparently if you do it wrong, the fruit will have a bitter taste.
A few cars honk their horns at us. The man says something to Tamy and she tells us that he said "do not worry about them, it is fine to stay where we are". We do. It is not.
We are greeted by a police siren and flashing lights. Apparently the No Standing law applies here as well as New York City.
 |
| Recognize Anyone? |
I cannot begin to describe the taste. I will not even try. If you find yourself in Ecuador, along the coastal area, in December - you must try this!
After we take photos (fotos) of more displays, my husband asks Tamy about something he read in a blog about "the largest flea market in Ecuador located in Portoviejo", and does she know where it is.
Puzzled look. What is a flea market?
We explain.
No. There is no flea market.
We are told that Ecuadorians do not sell used clothes, household items or furniture. They give these things away to people who need them. Silence from the gringos. I cannot speak for the others, but for my part, this is another lesson on how things should be. I will not forget it.
The mood is suddenly lifted as Tamy asks us if we like coconut milk Now I have the puzzled look. I thought it was called agua de coco. It is. But this is not.
Now you have the puzzled look.
 |
| Ecuadorians are concerned too. |
A street vendor is selling ice cold coconut milk.
Yes. Of course we want some.
Apparently this woman makes the best coconut milk in the city. It is important to only buy from vendors who make sure everything is clean. We are told this many times. Our Ecuadorian friend will not be with us all the time. We have to learn these things. It is not offensive to walk away if you think a restaurant or food cart is not clean. But do not mistake worn for dirty. I cannot stress this point enough. If you do, you will probably miss out on a lot.
That will definitely be your loss.
As we drink coconut milk, we turn a corner and find ourselves in Portoviejo El Centro. This can only be described as THE shopping district. Located at "9 de Octubre e/ Chile y Ricaurte" is the store Super Exito. I promise, there is an address in that sentence. I will explain how addresses work in another segment of Tamera's Take.
 |
| Superheroes everywhere. Emelec! |
Super Exito seems to be the landmark of this outdoor shopping and food extravaganza. Take a cab or a bus to get there. To experience and take full advantage of El Centro, you will have to walk it.
 |
| Lalo's in Portoviejo El Centro |
They are identical except that one sells sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers (Lalo's); the other sells more traditional Ecuadorian food.
Flea Market - No, but yes.
Remember that "flea market" we asked Tamy about? I think El Centro is what that blogger was trying to describe. Yes, we found it, but no - it is NOT a flea market.
This is not a shopping day though. Jason and I have already made plans to go back to Portoviejo El Centro on our own for a day of shopping and eating. After we go, we will tell you all about it.
 |
| Electric Mosquito Racquet |
At this point we have spent hours taking photos of displays for Ano Viejo; we have had mangos, mamey and coconut milk. We have to find a restroom!
SuperMaxi is just around the corner.
SuperMaxi break done. We could not leave there without buying a rechargeable Electric Mosquito Racquet. I love this thing.
A lot of fun for $5.83 and no mosquitos.
As we give out a few more coins to the Widows of Ano Viejo, we come to the final part of our tour of Portoviejo. The World of Monigotes and Fireworks! It is not called that. But it should be.
 |
| Some coins for this Widow of Ano Viejo! |
Thousands of paper mache Monigotes. Thousands of Fireworks. A landing strip between them. You do not want fireworks sold next to monigotes. Especially since the fireworks are constantly being demonstrated for potential customers.
Just think about it for a minute.
Paper mache. Fireworks. Paper Mache. Fireworks.
Got it? Okay.
These are not wimpy wambly wombly fireworks. These are badda big badda boom fireworks. All legal - here.
Although we have already bought two monigotes in Crucita - the Pilsener Futbol Toro & Peppa Pig, we see Sylvester Cat and buy him for $5.00 USD.
Tamy has taught us a lot about the bargaining ritual, and I have observed her enough times that I think I got the best deal on our Sylvester monigote. It turns out that I did. Practicing a few more phrases in Spanish before we got there did not hurt.
 |
| Special Fireworks for Sylvester! |
You cannot buy them yourself. Someone has to buy them for you. Jason and I buy for each other.
I would be remiss if I did not remind you that the Ecuadorian people are generally smaller than us Gringos. Keep that in mind when shopping for clothing. Enough said.
Fotos, fotos and more fotos. Monigote and yellow underwear in hand.
 |
| Shoppers in El Centro. |
There is a very specific type of firework used to blow up your monigote on New Year's Eve. You will need several for each monigote, depending on its size. They are craft paper colored triangles with a fuse on one corner - four for $1.00. We bought eight of them, along with some regular size roman candles (25 cents each) and mega size roman candles ($2.00 each).
The man we bought the fireworks from gave us a bunch of jumping jacks for free.
We are now as ready as we can be for Año Nuevo. (That is code for come back for Part 3. You will not be disappointed.)
 |
| Feliz Año Nuevo |
After our trip to World of Monigotes and Fireworks, we intended to take the bus back to Crucita.
Tamy insisted on driving us home. I should have known she had a surprise for us.
Tamy insisted on driving us home. I should have known she had a surprise for us.
Bam Bam Dulceria in Rocafuerte.
But that story, my cyber friends, is for another day.
But that story, my cyber friends, is for another day.
We hope you all had a Safe, Fun & Happy New Year. We did!
Questions? E-mail us!
Like what you see? Please take a moment to easily share it with your friends using the toolbar below. Thank you!
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Happy New Year! (Part 1) - Grapes, Monigotes, and Magical Unicorns
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| Tradition. Bob as Baby New Year. |
I will not go into all the details. We got all kinds of well meaning advice but the thing about advice is; you almost never know what you think you know. In any event it was mostly given with the best of intentions. We learned a lot.
We got a lot of help too and that will never be forgotten. Without that help, the final life changing event of 2015 might never have happened. We might not have made our move to Ecuador. That would have been devastating in ways I can only see now. We did make it though. We do miss our friends and family very much but we would not change anything. I would gladly go through it all again if the end result were the same. Well, maybe not gladly but I would do it.
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| My Spidey sense is tingling! |
At midnight the ball drops in Times Square. We count down as one voice, "TEN, NINE, EIGHT", the excitement is palpable, "THREE, TWO, ONE!". We all scream "HAPPY NEW YEAR!". There is a toast (lots really), champagne, kissing, hugging, tears of joy (or relief), and laughter. There are fireworks and even gunfire. Family and friends. Hope.
New Years Day brings its own traditions. In the South it generally starts with a few Goody's or BC powders. Large hangovers necessitate large coffees (I personally believe this is when the Bloody Mary is most important), and large breakfasts. The most popular New Year's Resolution in the entire history of resolutions is generally uttered at some point in the morning; "I will never drink again!". Coincidentally, it is also the most ignored. Black Eyed Peas get cooked for luck through the new year. I hate them so I do pintos with cornbread instead. A pot of greens (I make collards) is cooked for wealth and prosperity. I have found they both work as well as the Mark Zuckerberg Facebook giveaway but hey, it is tradition.
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| Shared! I've always wanted magical unicorn. |
2015 resolutions, This year I resolve to do everything differently. I will improve my quality of life and learn new things. I will travel and expand my horizons. I will lose weight and exercise. I will make new friends. Check, check, check. Check, check, check. Check, check.
2016 resolutions. More of the same please!
The traditions are different here of course. I will change mine. Not totally. Black beans instead of pintos. Easy! In Ecuador, we celebrate New Year's basically all week. Christmas time is literally the beginning of summer here. In Crucita it means the filling up of the town as people flock to the beach to begin their summer vacations. The Malecon (translates to pier but here it means beach road as far as I can tell) largely deserted during the week when we arrived, is now a hot spot all week long. Music is louder, people cruise the beach, drinking and eating establishments are full.
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| The gang' all here and yes, Freddy Krueger is too! |
People drink but they generally spend the evenings with their families and begin the actual festivities at midnight. New Year's Day (00:00:01) is when the celebration begins. Yes, effigies are beaten and burned and exploded with fireworks. By doing this any bad "mojo" is taken from you and yours. This house is clean.
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| 12 grapes, 12 wishes, 60 seconds, GO! |
It is imperative you are given a brand new pair of underwear. You wear yellow on New Years Eve to bring wealth. Red is worn for Love. You aren't supposed to buy them yourself. They must be a gift to work properly.
Men are supposed to jump over a raging bonfire twelve times for luck. I will skip that. They also throw coins in the fire for wealth and rice in the fire to bring an abundance of food. There is a fireworks show and we are assured they are not the little fireworks we see in the U.S. I am not sure what to expect or what that means. They have been shooting off "personal" fireworks all month. Mortars and such are definitely legal.
Then there are the "widows" of the old year. Since the old year is dead, men dress up as the old year's widow, They walk around the town but they are not sad. They are glad the old year is dead. In Portoviejo they stop traffic and ask for change. In the parish of Crucita they also sell small items (we bought Chiclets gum) for a pittance. We are a fishing/farming village and the men look like men. It is so funny to see them running around acting (badly) like women.
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| We bought Chiclets from this widow. |
Questions? E-mail us!
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Thursday, December 24, 2015
Tamera's Take: Gilligan's Island, Cats and Holidays
Tamera's Take is about being here.
Are you ready? I am.
One day in a public speaking class at NYU, the professor had students compose an impromptu one-minute speech on this topic: If you were stranded on a desert island, what one item would you like to have? Sherwood Schwartz was a student in that class, and the question so intrigued him that it remained lodged in the back of his mind for many years.
Who is Sherwood Schwartz? Sherwood Schwartz was a famed television producer and Emmy Award winning screenwriter, best known for Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch.
I grew up with both of those shows. With the exception of the "Hawaii Bound" episode, The Brady Bunch has nothing to do with being in Ecuador - nothing that I can think of anyway. On the other hand, Gilligan's Island seems pretty close to home.
We are not stranded on a deserted island. But at times it feels like we are on an island.
As I have mentioned in my previous posts, to the North, East and South of Crucita is a crescent of mountains. The village of Crucita is directly on the Pacific coast, and the adjacent farms are located between the village and the mountains.
The entire area is very tropical, even the farm-land. The coconut trees are endless.
Ecuadorians drink Agua de Coco (in the U.S. we call it coconut milk) directly from coconuts with a straw, then scoop out the coconut with a spoon. Restaurants simply cut off the top of a coconut with the husk on, then in goes the straw. Cold agua de coco is sold by the bag.
When I was a kid I remember bugging my mom over and over until she finally relented and bought me a coconut from the grocery store.
For those of you who were in Jacksonville during the 1970's, you may remember a store called Pantry Pride.
It had already been shelled from the husk. I had no idea how to open it. This was not going to deter me. I took a hammer and screwdriver from my dad's work bench, and began the task of beating this poor coconut.
My goal was to puncture a hole so I could get the coconut milk first.
This did not go well, for me or the coconut.
Many varieties of Bamboo (Caña de Bambu) are grown here in abundance and used by almost every family, in one way or another. Caña is used to make furniture, fishing rods, fences, and even houses. There are many uses for coconuts in addition to a source of food and beverage. Coconut husk is a fiber that can be used to make rope, rugs and fabric. Coconut shells are a source of charcoal and can be burned as fuel. They can also be used to send messages.
In a dugout canoe, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana of the Solomon Islands, located the U.S. crew of PT-109 on August 5, 1943. The crew had been stranded for three days on an inhabited island of the South Pacific after being hit by an enemy destroyer, and presumed dead. In command of that crew was Lt. John F. Kennedy.
Kumana and Gasa worked with the Coastwatchers, a network of agents based across the Pacific islands during WWII, tasked with keeping an eye on the enemy and reporting back to Allied forces.
Kennedy knew he somehow needed to get a message back to base if a rescue was to be organised, so he wrote a message on a coconut and gave it to Kumana and Gasa to return to a Coastwatchers station 35 miles (55 km) away.
Tonight is Christmas Eve.
This is our first Christmas in Ecuador. This means we will not be able to spend the holidays with our family and friends back in the states. I know this is not easy for them. It is not easy for us.
We did our Christmas shopping online for the family, made phone calls through Skype Phone, and plan to video call our family tonight through Skype on our laptop.
Most of our neighbors have decorated artificial Christmas trees. Next to their trees, they set up very beautiful Nativity scenes. We do not have a Christmas tree or a Nativity scene. After two trips to the Hipermarket last week, we still could not find any Christmas lights. I was resolved to have some type of decorations, knowing that I would plan better for next year.
We have paper stars all over the second floor of our house. It looks more like Cinco de Mayo than Christmas, but decorations are decorations.
Two days ago, after I made all those paper stars, we found lights (luces) in the little tienda around the corner from our house. They had decorations too. But those colorful paper stars have started to grow on me.
At least now we know where to buy lights and decorations.
As I am writing this I can hear a lot of festive music, including music I recognize from the states. The children have a holiday from school - today and tomorrow. There are little parties being held all throughout the neighborhood.
Christmas Eve is when Ecuadorians celebrate Christmas. The families gather all day for festivities, then open their presents at midnight.
I am not sure what will happen on Christmas Day. I will find out tomorrow.
Jason and I were lucky enough to be part of a Christmas party on December 21. Our friend Tamy and her husband Jared have a Fiesta de Navidad at their home for the children of the farmers in her parish - just outside the town of Portoviejo. Tamy raises money and organizes this event every year by herself, and on the day of the fiesta (party) family and friends volunteer to help. There was a lot of work involved.
Many of these children will not receive any presents on Christmas, except for the ones they received at this party.
There were over 250 children attending the party, along with a very entertaining clown who also acted as the MC (master of ceremonies), Santa Claus, and the very famous well-loved Peppa Pig & his brother George!
Volunteering at this party was probably the best Christmas present we could have received.
Well, it is time for me to bake some cookies.
To all of our friends, family, and to everyone else who reads our blog,
Merry Christmas & Feliz Navidad!
Good Kittie!
Are you ready? I am.
One day in a public speaking class at NYU, the professor had students compose an impromptu one-minute speech on this topic: If you were stranded on a desert island, what one item would you like to have? Sherwood Schwartz was a student in that class, and the question so intrigued him that it remained lodged in the back of his mind for many years.
Who is Sherwood Schwartz? Sherwood Schwartz was a famed television producer and Emmy Award winning screenwriter, best known for Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch.
 |
| Bamboo House |
I grew up with both of those shows. With the exception of the "Hawaii Bound" episode, The Brady Bunch has nothing to do with being in Ecuador - nothing that I can think of anyway. On the other hand, Gilligan's Island seems pretty close to home.
 |
| Ecuador and Jacksonville are on the same Longitude |
We are not stranded on a deserted island. But at times it feels like we are on an island.
As I have mentioned in my previous posts, to the North, East and South of Crucita is a crescent of mountains. The village of Crucita is directly on the Pacific coast, and the adjacent farms are located between the village and the mountains.
The entire area is very tropical, even the farm-land. The coconut trees are endless.
Ecuadorians drink Agua de Coco (in the U.S. we call it coconut milk) directly from coconuts with a straw, then scoop out the coconut with a spoon. Restaurants simply cut off the top of a coconut with the husk on, then in goes the straw. Cold agua de coco is sold by the bag.
 |
| Watch out for falling coconuts! |
When I was a kid I remember bugging my mom over and over until she finally relented and bought me a coconut from the grocery store.
For those of you who were in Jacksonville during the 1970's, you may remember a store called Pantry Pride.
It had already been shelled from the husk. I had no idea how to open it. This was not going to deter me. I took a hammer and screwdriver from my dad's work bench, and began the task of beating this poor coconut.
My goal was to puncture a hole so I could get the coconut milk first.
This did not go well, for me or the coconut.
Many varieties of Bamboo (Caña de Bambu) are grown here in abundance and used by almost every family, in one way or another. Caña is used to make furniture, fishing rods, fences, and even houses. There are many uses for coconuts in addition to a source of food and beverage. Coconut husk is a fiber that can be used to make rope, rugs and fabric. Coconut shells are a source of charcoal and can be burned as fuel. They can also be used to send messages.
 |
| JFK used this as a paperweight on his desk in the Oval Office. |
In a dugout canoe, Biuku Gasa and Eroni Kumana of the Solomon Islands, located the U.S. crew of PT-109 on August 5, 1943. The crew had been stranded for three days on an inhabited island of the South Pacific after being hit by an enemy destroyer, and presumed dead. In command of that crew was Lt. John F. Kennedy.
Kumana and Gasa worked with the Coastwatchers, a network of agents based across the Pacific islands during WWII, tasked with keeping an eye on the enemy and reporting back to Allied forces.
Kennedy knew he somehow needed to get a message back to base if a rescue was to be organised, so he wrote a message on a coconut and gave it to Kumana and Gasa to return to a Coastwatchers station 35 miles (55 km) away.
 |
| Paper Stars |
This is our first Christmas in Ecuador. This means we will not be able to spend the holidays with our family and friends back in the states. I know this is not easy for them. It is not easy for us.
We did our Christmas shopping online for the family, made phone calls through Skype Phone, and plan to video call our family tonight through Skype on our laptop.
Most of our neighbors have decorated artificial Christmas trees. Next to their trees, they set up very beautiful Nativity scenes. We do not have a Christmas tree or a Nativity scene. After two trips to the Hipermarket last week, we still could not find any Christmas lights. I was resolved to have some type of decorations, knowing that I would plan better for next year.
We have paper stars all over the second floor of our house. It looks more like Cinco de Mayo than Christmas, but decorations are decorations.
Two days ago, after I made all those paper stars, we found lights (luces) in the little tienda around the corner from our house. They had decorations too. But those colorful paper stars have started to grow on me.
At least now we know where to buy lights and decorations.
 |
| Fiesta de Navidad! |
Christmas Eve is when Ecuadorians celebrate Christmas. The families gather all day for festivities, then open their presents at midnight.
I am not sure what will happen on Christmas Day. I will find out tomorrow.
Jason and I were lucky enough to be part of a Christmas party on December 21. Our friend Tamy and her husband Jared have a Fiesta de Navidad at their home for the children of the farmers in her parish - just outside the town of Portoviejo. Tamy raises money and organizes this event every year by herself, and on the day of the fiesta (party) family and friends volunteer to help. There was a lot of work involved.
 |
| Feliz Navidad! |
There were over 250 children attending the party, along with a very entertaining clown who also acted as the MC (master of ceremonies), Santa Claus, and the very famous well-loved Peppa Pig & his brother George!
Volunteering at this party was probably the best Christmas present we could have received.
Well, it is time for me to bake some cookies.
To all of our friends, family, and to everyone else who reads our blog,
Merry Christmas & Feliz Navidad!
Good Kittie!
 |
| Kodak gets his Christmas bath! |
Questions? E-mail us!
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Saturday, December 19, 2015
Living on the Edge - Money, Shopping, and Tequila
Bienvenidos Canada!
Ah, Christmas time. Back in the good old USA they have been shopping in preparation for the big day. Some (very few actually) are done already as we are. Some are just getting geared up for the push. Some will wait until the very last second. Then there are those who did it all in January.
Here in Ecuador it is probably much the same. Yes, they celebrate Christmas here. Yes, we hear all the traditional carols, though most times they are in Spanish. There are sales in the stores, there are elves in the malls, there are Christmas lights, decorations and trees up everywhere. What there are not, are mobs or rushes. No huge lines, people being rude, pushing or shoving. Shopping has not been a nightmare and I am profoundly grateful. I do not like to shop and I especially hate Christmas shopping in the USA.
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, just not what you are compelled to do to "celebrate". Seems like a good time to talk about shopping and bills though.
We have done a good bit of shopping since we got here. Not for Christmas but to get the creature comforts we felt were needed. I did not really want to do it. We have read about so many things you can not get here that I was just a bit worried. As has happened with most things here, I should not have been worried at all.
First things first. Rent. Real estate companies do not handle many rental properties because there is little money to be made for a lot of work. There is not much you can find on the internet. There are plenty of rentals available though. For Rent (Se Alquiler) signs are everywhere. Our five bedroom, five bathroom house was not on the internet. Our agent found our house for us by driving around Crucita. We are a block off the beach with ocean views and within walking distance of too many restaurants, stores, and cantinas to count. Our rent is $700 a month USD.
Utilities. We all hate that monthly electric bill and some of us also have a gas or oil (or both) bill depending largely on where you live. Hot water heaters, air conditioning (in Florida), and heating your home will take large bite out of any Christmas budget. We read a lot about these costs in Ecuador prior to coming and I am happy to say they were largely true. Our electric, water, and gas cost us just a little under $50 for the month. WI-FI is another $25. Our Skype phone number and US calling plan is a another $6.50. Our one month utility total was $81.50 USD. Many rentals can be had which will include utilities. You just have to shop around. Short term rentals abound and a beachfront condo can be had for a month at the same price as our home.
Direct TV is pay as you go. We do not use it but the cost for Bronze service including HBO and Cinmax is $33 a month. We will have it soon but right now, we have plenty to do without it.
Budget $120 USD and that will cover all your utilities. Everything.
Food. A subject near and dear to my heart. We have had to do a little bit of searching. There are 3 main supermarkets (mercados) here. SuperMaxi, which is a higher end market. Southerners think Publix. HiperMarket is another. They are the Walmart equivalent in that they have groceries and household items, including furniture, appliance, hardware and gardening sections. SuperMaxi and HiperMarket are both located in actual shopping malls. Aki is yet another market that we have not visited yet but we will. Right now HiperMarket is our go to shopping experience. The mall also has food court with KFC and Carl's Jr. So you fast food junkies can get your fix. They also have a few organic eateries and vegetarians can generally find something. Vegan not so much. You will do better to cook your own I think. These stores have all the baking needs, vegetables, meats, and canned goods you could want.
You may not find the brands you are used to but you can find the equivalent easily enough. There is no reason not to purchase the Ecuadorian made or Latin American brands. They are less expensive (no import taxes), fresher (because they are made or grown here), and you support the local economy. If you live here, that is you too.
There are two prices for everything. There is the price for Cedula carriers (the Ecuadorian national ID) and there is the US or English price. You pay a percentage based tax (7.5%) if you are not a citizen or are without a Resident VISA. As soon as you have your Resident VISA, you get your Cedula, These prices are clearly marked on the tags. So far, we have paid no additional taxes. The citizens who work at the stores have been more than happy to use their Cedula number, as they collect rewards points for use.
After many trips into Portoviejo, we have since discovered that we can find almost all of the items we need in our own back yard. That is to say, right here in Crucita. There is no "Super" tienda. There are many tiendas and street vendors.
Vegetables are my favorite because they are not genetically modified. They are not dyed or waxed. They have not been stored for months. They have taste. A five pound bag of oranges is around $2 or $3 in the supermarket. That is about ten oranges. They look like oranges are supposed to. They are not dyed or waxed, meaning you are not paying to have them look unreal. They are delicious. Here is the really cool part. In our town the vendors ride around on bicycles and small trucks. They come by your front door. If you keep your ears open, you can walk out and catch them. After awhile, they get to know you and come by regularly. We bought 2 large green peppers, 6 tomatoes, a bag of mangos, cilantro, 6 ears of corn, and a large pineapple- all for $4. You can plant the seeds from them and grow your own. There are so many fruits and vegetables I have never seen before. It will take us a long time to try them all. I am game!
Meat can be bought from the local stores but the fresh meat is best bought from the super markets. I know there are butchers around and will find them but for now, $6 for six sirloin steaks, $2 for four chicken quarters, $3 for eight pork chops, and $3 for a pound of fresh ground chuck seems pretty reasonable. Lunch meats, hot dogs, and other sausages are plentiful.
Fish is available in the supermarkets but living in Crucita, I do not buy from them. We have all the fresh fish we could want right here. The fishermen will sell off the boat, there is the market on the north end that is jumping at 6:00 AM, and the south end also has a small market. Fish is brought in all day long. Mahi, Sea Bass, Snapper, Swordfish, Sardines, Drum, in short, everything. Mahi (Dorado) cost us $5 for three pounds at the actual fish market.
You pay a bit more there but you do not have to wait and they have everything already packaged. Pacific shrimp is $5 a pound. We have not had crab, lobster, oysters or about 100 other different kinds of fish yet. You get the picture. Like the vegetables, vendors come right by your front door almost every day.
Bakeries are plentiful, Breads, cookies, cakes, you name it. They are fresh and they are delicious. We bought butter cookies form a vendor on the bus to Portoviejo. $0.50 a package. They were still warm and made with cane sugar. They taste just like the Pepperidge Farm Bordeaux cookies for a fraction of the price. We bought loaves of Pan con Queso (Bread with Cheese) on the bus too. $0.25 a loaf. They are about the size of croissants. You can buy sandwich bread, hamburger and hot dog buns, tortillas, or fresh baked at the supermarkets as well. I have not found bagels, though cream cheese is available. They offer a range of prepared food at their deli/bakeries as well.
Spices and oils are also plentiful and affordable. I bought a bag of 100% saffron, 5 grams for $2. A large light olive oil was $4. Peanut butter can be had as well. It is more expensive than meat. You can expect to pay $3 for a little bag or $9 for a jar. The biggest surprise for me was spaghetti sauce. $9 for a small jar. Pasta cost next to nothing though so go figure. I will make my own sauce from scratch and freeze or bottle it.
Cosmetics were something we thought were hard to get, based on all of the blogs we read. Not true. Hair dye for days. The same price range as the USA. Walls of it. Shampoo, conditioner, soaps, make up, perfumes and lotions. All available. All very comparable to US pricing and quality.
Clothes and shoes can be expensive, especially at the malls. Payless Shoes has everything you see in the US however, prices range from $30 to $50 USD. Shirts can be had from $5 on up. Socks are $4-$6 for a set of three. Underwear is $4-$6 per pair depending on what your style is. Sunglasses and readers are $2 unless you want RayBans or the like. There are plenty of designer stores if that tickles your fancy. As with anywhere, mall prices are outrageous. If you are willing to explore you can find bargains. The flea market in Portoviejo is on the horizon.
Another item near and dear to my heart is alcohol. I loves me some cocktails. I am first and foremost a whisky man. Neat is the way to drink it. No other way. Black Owl Whiskey can be had for $12 a fifth. It is very good. There is a fire or cinnamon version as well. There are American versions available but I refuse to pay $50 for a fifth when comparable is available, They have rum and vodka and with all the fruit it's a good thing. I haven't seen Jager but this is a small village. There are party towns close by and I'm sure you can find what you want. Wine is another thing. We have even had locals tell us it is too expensive which was surprising. At restaurants perhaps. There is a cork fee at many. We found some wonderful South American wines for as little as $5. With all the fruit available, sangria is amazing. Tequila is an item easily found. I do not see Jose Cuervo which is a blessing. Horrible, Americanized tequila in my opinion. Here you will find lots of blanco (white) tequilas. Very smooth and delicious. Then there is beer. Pilsener is the brand here, their Budweiser if you will.
You can get Budweiser if you like sex in a canoe (if you do not get the joke my apologies). There are other "imports" to be had as well. I like beer and the Pilsener is very good. $1.40 a liter but here is the neat part. $0.50 of that $1.40 is the bottle deposit. You keep your bottles and return them to the beer truck when it comes around. They trade you out, and the beers are now only $0.90.
All of these items can be found in the supermarkets. They can also be found in the tiendas of Crucita. Get to know the locals and you will have the honor of drinking their homemade liquor. We had rice "shine" that was amazing. I'm told they also use cane sugar but I have not experienced that yet.
Pet supplies are another item we read were either hard to come by or expensive. That was, unless you went with sub par food. They have Purina products here for both dogs and cats, canned food, supplies such as litter, litter boxes, brushes, leashes, toys, etc.
The local food is just like it is in America. Some is not good, some is. A little experimentation goes a long way. You will not find Eukanuba or Blue but there are quality foods here. The cost is comparable to US pricing.
Next week we will tell you all about the Christmas party. Many of the children in rural areas do not get much for Christmas. We have volunteered to help at a party for a few hundred kids. I can't wait. A lot of kids stare at the long haired gringo with blue eyes. Apparently, I stick out in a crowd. I think we are going to have some fun!
We'll also start getting into restaurants and cuisine. You should expect it to be a running theme because as we're rapidly finding out, all the cultures and subcultures have their different takes on food. That makes for gastronomical heaven as far as I am concerned. As an amateur cook, I am loving the fresh delights we see every day.
Right now it is time to go to Calle Malecon and have some Ceviche (say-bee-chay) de Pescado (fish). A couple of shots of tequila blanco sound really, really good at the moment too. Ceviche is becoming a daily dietary need I think. That will set us back around $15 unless we have more than one shot. Adios!
Questions? E-mail us!
Ah, Christmas time. Back in the good old USA they have been shopping in preparation for the big day. Some (very few actually) are done already as we are. Some are just getting geared up for the push. Some will wait until the very last second. Then there are those who did it all in January.
 |
| One of the Malls In Portoviejo |
Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, just not what you are compelled to do to "celebrate". Seems like a good time to talk about shopping and bills though.
We have done a good bit of shopping since we got here. Not for Christmas but to get the creature comforts we felt were needed. I did not really want to do it. We have read about so many things you can not get here that I was just a bit worried. As has happened with most things here, I should not have been worried at all.
 |
| Buy at the HiperMarket. Starting at $999. |
First things first. Rent. Real estate companies do not handle many rental properties because there is little money to be made for a lot of work. There is not much you can find on the internet. There are plenty of rentals available though. For Rent (Se Alquiler) signs are everywhere. Our five bedroom, five bathroom house was not on the internet. Our agent found our house for us by driving around Crucita. We are a block off the beach with ocean views and within walking distance of too many restaurants, stores, and cantinas to count. Our rent is $700 a month USD.
Utilities. We all hate that monthly electric bill and some of us also have a gas or oil (or both) bill depending largely on where you live. Hot water heaters, air conditioning (in Florida), and heating your home will take large bite out of any Christmas budget. We read a lot about these costs in Ecuador prior to coming and I am happy to say they were largely true. Our electric, water, and gas cost us just a little under $50 for the month. WI-FI is another $25. Our Skype phone number and US calling plan is a another $6.50. Our one month utility total was $81.50 USD. Many rentals can be had which will include utilities. You just have to shop around. Short term rentals abound and a beachfront condo can be had for a month at the same price as our home.
Direct TV is pay as you go. We do not use it but the cost for Bronze service including HBO and Cinmax is $33 a month. We will have it soon but right now, we have plenty to do without it.
Budget $120 USD and that will cover all your utilities. Everything.
 |
| Beautiful Produce |
 |
| Peanut butter! |
There are two prices for everything. There is the price for Cedula carriers (the Ecuadorian national ID) and there is the US or English price. You pay a percentage based tax (7.5%) if you are not a citizen or are without a Resident VISA. As soon as you have your Resident VISA, you get your Cedula, These prices are clearly marked on the tags. So far, we have paid no additional taxes. The citizens who work at the stores have been more than happy to use their Cedula number, as they collect rewards points for use.
After many trips into Portoviejo, we have since discovered that we can find almost all of the items we need in our own back yard. That is to say, right here in Crucita. There is no "Super" tienda. There are many tiendas and street vendors.
 |
| Fresh herbs. All you want! |
Meat can be bought from the local stores but the fresh meat is best bought from the super markets. I know there are butchers around and will find them but for now, $6 for six sirloin steaks, $2 for four chicken quarters, $3 for eight pork chops, and $3 for a pound of fresh ground chuck seems pretty reasonable. Lunch meats, hot dogs, and other sausages are plentiful.
 |
| Fishing boats of Crucita |
 |
| South fish market in Crucita. Yep, our fish they are cleaning! |
Bakeries are plentiful, Breads, cookies, cakes, you name it. They are fresh and they are delicious. We bought butter cookies form a vendor on the bus to Portoviejo. $0.50 a package. They were still warm and made with cane sugar. They taste just like the Pepperidge Farm Bordeaux cookies for a fraction of the price. We bought loaves of Pan con Queso (Bread with Cheese) on the bus too. $0.25 a loaf. They are about the size of croissants. You can buy sandwich bread, hamburger and hot dog buns, tortillas, or fresh baked at the supermarkets as well. I have not found bagels, though cream cheese is available. They offer a range of prepared food at their deli/bakeries as well.
Spices and oils are also plentiful and affordable. I bought a bag of 100% saffron, 5 grams for $2. A large light olive oil was $4. Peanut butter can be had as well. It is more expensive than meat. You can expect to pay $3 for a little bag or $9 for a jar. The biggest surprise for me was spaghetti sauce. $9 for a small jar. Pasta cost next to nothing though so go figure. I will make my own sauce from scratch and freeze or bottle it.
 |
| Hair dye. Loads of the stuff. |
Cosmetics were something we thought were hard to get, based on all of the blogs we read. Not true. Hair dye for days. The same price range as the USA. Walls of it. Shampoo, conditioner, soaps, make up, perfumes and lotions. All available. All very comparable to US pricing and quality.
Clothes and shoes can be expensive, especially at the malls. Payless Shoes has everything you see in the US however, prices range from $30 to $50 USD. Shirts can be had from $5 on up. Socks are $4-$6 for a set of three. Underwear is $4-$6 per pair depending on what your style is. Sunglasses and readers are $2 unless you want RayBans or the like. There are plenty of designer stores if that tickles your fancy. As with anywhere, mall prices are outrageous. If you are willing to explore you can find bargains. The flea market in Portoviejo is on the horizon.
 |
| Whiskey. Yep. |
 |
| Vodka for my Lady. |
All of these items can be found in the supermarkets. They can also be found in the tiendas of Crucita. Get to know the locals and you will have the honor of drinking their homemade liquor. We had rice "shine" that was amazing. I'm told they also use cane sugar but I have not experienced that yet.
Pet supplies are another item we read were either hard to come by or expensive. That was, unless you went with sub par food. They have Purina products here for both dogs and cats, canned food, supplies such as litter, litter boxes, brushes, leashes, toys, etc.
 |
| Purina is here but there are better options. |
The local food is just like it is in America. Some is not good, some is. A little experimentation goes a long way. You will not find Eukanuba or Blue but there are quality foods here. The cost is comparable to US pricing.
Next week we will tell you all about the Christmas party. Many of the children in rural areas do not get much for Christmas. We have volunteered to help at a party for a few hundred kids. I can't wait. A lot of kids stare at the long haired gringo with blue eyes. Apparently, I stick out in a crowd. I think we are going to have some fun!
We'll also start getting into restaurants and cuisine. You should expect it to be a running theme because as we're rapidly finding out, all the cultures and subcultures have their different takes on food. That makes for gastronomical heaven as far as I am concerned. As an amateur cook, I am loving the fresh delights we see every day.
Right now it is time to go to Calle Malecon and have some Ceviche (say-bee-chay) de Pescado (fish). A couple of shots of tequila blanco sound really, really good at the moment too. Ceviche is becoming a daily dietary need I think. That will set us back around $15 unless we have more than one shot. Adios!
Questions? E-mail us!
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