June 24, 2008

2008 Itinerary

After a typical Ecuadorian breakfast of delicious fruit, scrambled eggs and coffee, we left Puerto Viejo for the markets and shopping of Montecristi, the home of the “Panama Hat”. While we were in Montecristi, we learned that Ecuador’s constitution is being rewritten and that the popular President of the Assembly, the group responsible for writing Ecuador’s new constitution, has resigned.

We then bumped along to the La Naranijita UPOCAM Project Farm where Elsa and Pablo welcomed us and graciously served a wonderful lunch of chicken soup accompanied by fresh bananas and oranges. After lunch, we toured their 9-acre farm and learned about the farm’s medicinal herbs, shade grown coffee, sugar cane, pineapple, orange trees, guinea pigs and tilapia. Because access to water is a serious issue in Ecuador, we learned how the farm uses a catchment pond lined with plastic to supply water to its plants and products. In addition to supplying water to the farm, the pond also used to raise Red Tilapia fish. The fish, in turn, add natural fertilizer to the water as they process their diet of grains and fruit scraps. We experienced a little bit what it is like to live without reliable access to water when, prior to leaving the farm, we were told that the bathrooms were closed because there was no water.

Leaving the farm, we made our way to the rugged coastline of Ecuador on our way to Puerto Lopez on the edge of the Machalilla National Park where we will spend the next two days. Our quarters consist of cabanas, or little huts, separated by walkways in the middle of a lush tropical garden. After settling down, we relaxed on the porch of the restaurant, marveled at the sun setting on the horizon of the Pacific Ocean and anticipated yet another delicious Ecuadorian meal consisting of options such as seafood and fresh vegetables.

Q & A for June 24

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