The evening we were in Panama we had a Panama Hat night in the dining room. Everyone got Panama hats to wear and to keep. They’re pretty nice actually! Last night was our second gala night so I’ve included a little food porn here. And at midnight last night, we crossed the equator. Since this was our ship’s last time through the Canal before she is turned over to the German company who bought her, the captain thought the transit should be memorialized with a photo of all of the passengers and crew. We all received a complementary copy of it as well.
For a quarter of the cost of a ship tour, Kathi, Patty and I hired a taxi this morning to take us around Manta, and up to two towns - Montecristi, and Chorillo. These towns are known respectively for their "Panama" hat making, and for their agave fiber products. We also stopped above the town for some nice views, and then toured around Manta for a bit. For three hours, it cost us each $25. When we were dropped back at the Plaza in town where the shuttle bus was, we spent a little more time browsing and shopping at the craft vendors who had set up shop there, just for our ship. We were the only game in town today.
View of Montecristi
Man showing agave fiber after it's been bleached and boiled
Alfaro Museum above Montecristi
Our ship photo commemorating the Prinsendam's final Panama Canal transit
Workers in the agave fiber factory, spinning the fibers from the bleached plant leaves
There's a whole row along the beach of beat up and abandoned boats - some are being restored
Patty cannot decide on which Panama hat to buy
A man working hard on finishing a hat. They are called Panama hats because they were/are sold in Panama, but the hats actually are made and come from Ecuador.
Agave fibers
Funky crabs we saw at a tabletop vendor in the middle of a traffic roundabout. They were still alive!!
Our certificate for crossing the Equator
Tagua nut, looks like coconut and is very hard. Is used to carve jewelry, and make buttons
Eloy Alfaro, great hero of Ecuador and early president
Snort thought he might try on a hat.
From left to right, Kathi, Patty, little lady making hat, me.
We thought this was an interesting street sigh. Still can't figure it out.
Agave fiber loom
From the museum above Montecristi
Different bleached fibers
Inside the church in Montecristi
This little woman works bent over at nearly a 90 degree angle. She works like this 6 hours a day
The town square in Montecrisiti. This town is renowned for the Panama hat making.
Our table at dinner. Standing: Roy, me. Sitting L to R Andrea, Jim, Patty
This is a cool statue in the middle of a roundabout between Manta and Montecristi
Our taxi driver, Fernando
Making agave mats
The agave factory
Here's some more of those crabs
Double chocolate cheesecake. OMG, it was delish.
Filet mignon Oscar. That's crab meat on top, and bernaise sauce.
It was raining when I took this through the window of the shuttle bus on the way back to the ship. Manta is known for it's tuna fishing industry
View of some tuna boats at our pier
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