Today was the day we were most looking forward to, Montecristi and area. Juan, our taxi driver, met us at the front gate of MSJ at 9:30 am. We were very surprised of how young he looked standing next to a yellow taxi cab. At first hand shake we knew it was going to be an awesome day. Juan is 32 years old, has a son of 8 years old and a very beautiful wife Gaby, who is a stay at home Mom. They live with Juan’s parents, paying $200 a month rent. Juan’s father was a factory worker, the factory shut down and put his father out of work which was 3 years away from getting his pension. To get his pension he had to buy back 3 years of salary. His father now works part time as a taxi driver with Juan.
To explain more about the taxi industry in Ecuador which is huge, you have to be in a Co-op if you are not like Juan he had to pay $10K to be his own co-op, buy his own car and special taxi license. But still being in the co-op he still has to go to the meetings (I gather the same as being in a union) every month. It is very difficult work because he still has to market himself to get work. Yesterday he drove the 90 km to pick us up from Manta where he lives and then drive back past Manta to Montecristi where our tour actual started. I think all of you know Montecristi is where they make by hand the famous Panama hat. Yes Leo got one and you will see in the pictures looks really good on him he talked the owner of the shop down from $100 to $60 which is awesome.
He gave him a small wooden box (almost the size of a wine box) and showed Leo how to roll it up YIKES for the travel back home. From Montecristi Juan drove us to his house in Manta (met his son) and the area where he grew up, to ship building yards in San Mateo, past the beaches in Santa Marianita for a fantastic lunch at a beach restaurant, after lunch to San Lorenzo stopped to take pictures at the lighthouse, lookouts and the surf on the beaches. Last stop Pina where we bought fish from the fishermen. It was quite a day and all for $80 WOW!!!
Back home rest, shower and a beautiful night on the upper patio eating barbequed fish, fresh salad and Chilean wine.
It is Friday again, Veggie truck guys, ended walking about 4 km to catch the truck. No too much to buy today because we are gone for 4 days next week, cucumbers, tomatoes, pineapple, strawberries and plums.
I have also added pictures from our Manta trip (horrible for Leo – takes after Ellie bus sick ugh, no gravol didn’t help); Leo at the bus stop pretending he is the boss, me at the Manta sign and a guy selling liquid yogourt at the bus stop YIKES 32 degrees not sure if his wagon is really cold.
