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Palo Santo products made in Puerto Lopez, Ecuador #AtoZChallenge
For centuries, Palo Santo has been used for it’s healing and cleansing properties. The tree grows in coastal areas of South America, is in the citrus family, and smells of pine, mint and lemon. It is a relative of Frankincense, Myrrh and Copal. Palo Santo translates to “Holy Wood” or “Sacred Wood” in English. Dante Bolcato (top photo, lower left) makes products sold on his website, El Artesan, in Puerto Lopez. While walking along the malecon, you can find his store by following your nose – there is always Palo Santo wood smoking on the front sidewalk. In fact, in the evenings, you will smell Palo Santo smoking in many Puerto Lopez…
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Fish Market – Puerto Lopez #AtoZChallenge
Add the fish market to your Puerto Lopez bucket list. Fish, shrimp, octopus are weighed, sold and loaded on trucks. Fresh seafood for your next meal! __________________________________________ A look back Last year, I wrote Fireworks – Any time is the right time The photo for Coconut Water on Puerto Lopez Beach was also taken at the fish market.
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Vegetable Ivory – Tagua #AtoZChallenge
Thinking in generations also means enabling our young to have a decent standard of living. — Paul Tsongas Tagua, sometimes called vegetable ivory for it’s resemblance to elephant ivory, is a nut from the Tagua palm tree. The hard white inner nut can be carved and polished like ivory. Artists carve it into jewelry, figurines, and many other products. My friend Marianne Fry in Puerto Lopez has been designing and exporting hand-carved Tagua products for 18 years through her company, Feel Good Exports. Each piece is hand crafted by artisans living in remote areas. These products afford families an opportunity to make a decent life for themselves who could…
