Carnival 2021

Wow, what a disaster! After the first of the year the President decided he would no longer make country wide protocols for Covid, but leave it up to each Canton, so in essence each Mayor.

Sucre mayor, Ingrid Zambrano decided to keep the beaches open from 6am til 6pm, with social distancing of course. Restaurants were allowed to be 30 percent occupancy and hotels were 50 percent. Alcohol could be sold in restaurants until 11pm, there was to be no public drinking on the streets. Hmmm, yet this is a photo from San Clemente Sunday night in centro.

It was so bad, San Clemente was lumped in with Montanita and Salinas as the WORST beach cities for biosecurity measures in all of Ecuador. Glad I stayed home. I never did like the crowds in San Clemente on festival weekends,  San Jacinto is much more tranquil.  The weather was  perfect, it has been many years with rain, but this year, sunshine and blue skies all weekend. 

This is a picture of Carnival 7 or 8 years ago. I love that the "tourists" come and enjoy our beaches, but this year I fear for all of the tienda workers and residents who may have been infected, simply by making a living. I for one will stay near the house for awhile, and let some of the germs dissipate. 

Usually people stay thru the next weekend and have a nice long vacation, but I hope they all go home. So as always,  stay home, stay safe and, stay tuned...the adventure continues. 

May need an Ark

Seems to me I have said this phrase more than once, lol. When the season starts...it really starts, we had at least 5 nights of heavy rain! There was no way I was getting my trike out of the yard. My house is on a hill, so the dirt road in front is dry...but none of the intersections are. 

Perry and I walked to town the other morning for breakfast with friends, and I neglected to get the boots out.  Ended up walking most of the way barefoot and then washing my muddy feet in this "lake" near my old beach house. 

Not ideal...and Perry had perfect "mud boots" on all fours. The mosquito population is massive, and the weeds are out of control.  Having someone come fumigate today, as yesterday when he was scheduled it had started raining in the afternoon!

On the other hand, I took the houseplants outside, and everything is loving the magic of the rain water. So, as always...stay dry, stay tuned, the adventure continues. 

Not in Kansas anymore

Last week Facebook was flooded with pictures of a very nice looking ecuadorean man who had been killed. As the day wore on, and  more info came to light I got most of the story.

Efrain Ruales was a 36 year old reporter and tv personality living and working in Guayaquil.  He had been gunned down while starting his personal vehicle after his early morning gym session. It is said he was scheduled to testify the next day about a story he had reported on some months ago. 

Apparently people in high places did not want him to testify about the corruption he had investigated and reported on. It hit home that this latin country is very different than what I was raised in...that being said, upon more reflection I came to believe that things such as this DO happen in "first world" countries, but they are covered up much better and quicker. Spin doctors have full time jobs, and here...well they just dont really care to try and spin stories.

Which brings me to politics,  ugly business, no matter where in the world one lives. We are gearing up for presidential elections. And for us expats the biggest worry is there will be no liquor sales from Friday noon to Monday noon. (Elections take place on Sunday, and is mandatory for citizens 18-65) More to come on that topic after elections.

So, as always...stay safe and  stay tuned the adventure continues. 

Last nights sunset from Manta