Grand South America & Antarctica Voyage, Manta, Ecuador...

The visibility was not great sailing in this morning and remained cloudy for most of the day. Ann, Cathy and I took the ship shuttle to the terminal and arranged for a taxi to take us to Monte Christi and San Lorenzo. Before leaving Manta, Daniel our driver, stopped at the fish market and wooden boatyard. Manta is known as the country's main seaport, for commercial tuna fishing and tourism. Cathy took a spill and skinned her knees, elbow and missed her chance to see pelicans; her white shorts will definitely need the laundry….it could have been much worse! There is also a lot of other fish being caught here…Shark was a popular catch today. After spending some time with the fishermen, we drove up to a lookout over the town of Montecristi known as the Ciudad Alfaro Complex. We were very fortunate to be allowed in to the Complex at all! Tomorrow is the Ecuadorian elections and there is expected to be protests and violence…so much so the authorities were using the Complex as a staging area for the Military troops being deployed. The guard on the gate made our driver leave his car outside the gate and they allowed us to walk in to take pictures. From here we drove back down into town to Montecristi Square where we found the Catholic Basilica of The Virgin of Monserrat. The beautiful church flanks the square and park with many stalls and sellers offering various wares like Panama hats, jewelry and local woven souvenirs. Montecristi is known internationally as the principal place for the manufacture of Panama hats. Leaving Montecristi behind, we traveled north through a semi desert like area and then through the Pacoche Rain Forest and Wildlife Reserve before arriving at Playa San Lorenzo…it was foggy and misty.  San Lorenzo is a small, traditional, Ecuadorian beach town, about 30 minutes south of Manta and 18 miles south of the Columbia border.  It’s a place where sea turtles’ nest and has a beautiful view from the lighthouse hill.  I climbed the Sendero El Faro trail to the lighthouse for some great pictures of the coastline and Pacific Ocean. We returned to the ship, sat by the midship pool and following the Annular Eclipse…We came prepared with our glasses for the Eclipse but it was so cloudy today the glasses were not needed.  Once again, way too many photos...  I'm a lost cause! Another wonderful day!!!!