04/21/2012, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Alia arrived Saturday morning at 6:00 on Mar 10 and our plan was to spend a day quickly touring the city and a day to meet the family of Emma's fiancée, Alfredo, prior to our departure for a 3 day tour of the beaches and then inland.
With Alia having the power of youth and a sleep on the plane we headed out. Our first stop was to Emma's work at the university and then went on to the "Miramar" a lookout over the city where we shared a local dish (Emma is displaying the dish I believe is called Bolones de Verde which is mashed young plantain with cheese and shaped into a ball).
Emma and Alfredo live in a refurbished section of what was the original heart of the city, on a hill overlooking the river. On the Saturday we toured two high spots overlooking the city, including the hike up the 442 steps to the top of the historic town centre hill with its remains of old fortress and the still functioning church and lighthouse. (You can see the pics of this from the album called the "Hill Walk" that was posted earlier)
The city, with some foresight, has dismantled some of the historic old buildings in the core rather than demolish them. They were reassembled in a park we toured at the suggestion of Alfredo's father. The park also exhibited the wildlife indigenous to the area in a series of well-maintained enclosures in the adjoining mangrove forest. The most impressive building for me was a massive hospital, two stories high, about 200' by 300' with a chapel in its centre.
Traditionally there was a courtyard around the chapel and then the actual hospital surrounding the courtyard such that the entire hospital would have had a view and access to the courtyard. A very magnificent building in its day and today.
Sunday we hosted a barbeque beside the apartment pool (Emma & Alfredo's home) and had the pleasure of meeting Alfredo's family. As you can see by the pics most everyone enjoyed jumping into the pool followed by a huge feast. In true rainy season we had a heavy rainfall. The buildings are designed to handle this very eventuality and we dined in comfort under the covered outdoor patio.
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Comments [0]
03/08/2012, Guayaquil
Our first real visit together. Alfredo's family has made me feel very welcome. I have never been kissed so much in my life!!!! I was pretty nervous but they were so friendly and Emma was busy translating. The young woman between Hugo and Andrea is Paulina who is Hugo's wife.
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Glad to see everyone is having an excellent time! Someday we will have to visit too.
Ozzie looks ready to pounce at a moments notice.
We just got skype going and would love a video chat. Maybe we will see you all later!
Love,
Bruce and Jill
03/08/2012, Guayaquil
This is a picture of Alfredo's Family: From Left to right at the back, Hugo (brother), Alfredo (Papa), Alfredo. In the front: Andrea (sister), me, Emma, Eugenia (Mama) and Denise (sister)
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03/08/2012, Guayaquil
Ozzie is fun to play with and he has been keeping me company while we wait for Reg to join us
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03/08/2012, Guayaquil
A pic of Ozzie - a great little boy cat!!!
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03/08/2012, Guayaquil
This is a picture of me and the family dog who happens to have the same name as me!!!! Funny enough the dog already had the name Phoebe when they got her
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