Life
Ecuador life - parades, earthquakes, experiences
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Zapatos in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
Puerto Lopez is hard on zapatos (shoes). As I explained in Mototaxis, walking is the most popular way to get around town. Paved streets bake in the sun, in turn wearing down shoe soles. When it rains, dirt roads turn to sticky mud, threatening to become one with your footwear. Puerto Lopez shoe repair When your shoes are falling apart, you buy new shoes or repair the ones you own. The Zapateria above has repaired my ten year old Teva sandals twice. I wear them nearly every day so they are well worn but still going because of Zapateria repairs. I am wearing them in the…
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Workout on Puerto Lopez beach, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
After a few days in Puerto Lopez, you have snorkeled, dived, hiked, ridden horseback, swum and kayaked. Now you are wondering where you will do your pullups and rope climbing. I have great news for you! You can do them right on Puerto Lopez beach! If you are looking for more diversity in your workout, you can pull some large tires around in soft sand. Recruit a friend and make it a competition! The folks in the next photo even had people sit on the tires. Start children young and workouts become part of their routine. I admire the dedication these folks have. Many of them show up every day…
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Tiendas – Puerto Lopez, Ecuador’s neighborhood stores #AtoZChallenge
Neighborhood tiendas (stores) are part of the fabric of Puerto Lopez, Ecuador. They supplement larger grocery stores by stocking single rolls of toilet paper, small containers of milk, yogurt, ice cream, cooking oils, sugar, and other daily essentials. Tiendas have daily necessities Let’s say you are seven years old and helping your siblings fix a bike in front of your home. Your mom is making dinner and realizes she is out of milk. She calls to you, hands you money and sends you to get milk. Tienda door visible on far left Two tiendas are about a minute from your house, one in each direction. The tienda uphill…
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Quake: Puerto Lopez two years after a 7.8 rocked Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
April 16, 2016 at 6:58pm, a 7.8 earthquake shook Ecuador’s coast. If you have not read my reliving of that night in Puerto Lopez, find it here. Some have asked what the buildings in the photos look like now. What follows are the photos from April 17, 2016 and the same location two years later. The first building was torn down and has not been rebuilt. The second building was rebuilt with some finishing work still to be completed. The fire house had to be completely demolished. Puerto Lopez has turned the land into a parking lot and the fire department has moved to a new location. The night…
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Nets, Fishing Nets Made in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
As you walk around Puerto Lopez, you will likely find someone working on a fishing net. One of the steps in creating a new net is to string rope between two posts and attach the net. As one long section is completed, the rope is moved along and retied, finished portion on the ground. The fish market I wrote about recently (see it here) is behind the guys in the first photo. In the second, they are working along a river walk 5 minutes from the fish market. __________________________________________ A look back Last year, I wrote Nurturing Owl Parents.
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Javico, A Puerto Lopez Grocery Store #AtoZChallenge
You will find several grocery stores in Puerto Lopez. Family owned and run Comercial Javico is one of the two largest. The store is on the main through street, the only stoplight is a few steps away. If you click here to view it on Google Maps, you can see Javico is right in the middle of Puerto Lopez. Alberto, in the above photo, seems to work every day and always with a smile and kind word. Javico sells to the public and to small businesses, who in turn sell the products in their neighborhood stores or use them in their restaurants. Bulk foods are carefully weighed and packaged…
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Alcohol Free Ecuador Elections
“The biggest danger for a politician is to shake hands with a man who is physically stronger, has been drinking, and is voting for the other guy.” — William Proxmire Do you celebrate election night victories with a cocktail? Or drown your election losses with a few beers once the polls close? These are illegal activities during Ecuador election weekends. There is little chance of the quote above happening during election weekend. You can, however, have the beach almost all to yourself. Puerto Lopez beach Voting in Ecuador is compulsory for citizens between 18 and 65 years old. If you do not vote, you must pay a fine prior to…
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Ecuador Navy Armada Includes WWII Tugboat
“fate unknown” — Status of the subject of this post, according to this page Ecuador Navy ships periodically anchor in Puerto Lopez bay. Military men and women come to town and play fútbol and volleyball, eat at restaurants and generally enjoy some time on land. They are always polite and friendly. Even their casual tops and shorts are identical and well pressed. Ed, a Peace Corps worker in town, mentioned that the boat currently anchored offshore was previously a WWII tugboat for the USA. I began to research this ship and found it has a long history. BAE Chimborazo (RA-70) anchored off Puerto Lopez November 5, 2017 Ecuador’s Navy Armada…
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International Triathlon Excites Puerto Lopez, Ecuador
“Dirt roads, stray dogs & a community with passion for triathlon. Tomorrow’s event will most certainly be an experience” — Jarrod Evans, USA Triathlon Coach, in a tweet the day before the Puerto Lopez triathlon (see screen shot later in post for accompanying photos) A triathlon in a picturesque Ecuador coastal fishing village invites athletes to enjoy pleasant weather, warm ocean temperatures, and fresh fruits. Puerto Lopez hosted the CAMTRI Triathlon American Championship for the first time. Elite athletes from around the world descended on Puerto Lopez to compete. The week prior to the triathlon, the malecon (oceanfront road) was filled with bicyclists and runners, enjoying their pre-race workouts and learning…
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Fresh and Simple Tomato Puree and Stewed Tomatoes
The tomato offers its gift of fiery color and cool completeness. –Pablo Neruda, Ode to Tomatoes Do you need stewed tomatoes or tomato puree for your dinner recipe? You can make either from scratch in under 30 minutes. When we moved to Ecuador in 2013, I often could not find canned tomatoes. I adapted my recipes to use fresh tomatoes instead. Canned tomatoes are easier to find now but I prefer using fresh ingredients so I still make my own sauces. My favorite chili recipe calls for cans of stewed tomatoes, tomato sauce and tomato paste. I make it using only unstrained tomato puree. Thought I would share with you how…
