Castles in the Sand

Sometime earlier this week a notice showed up on Facebook advertising a sand sculpture event in Crucita Boca, it said it was to take place Friday at 9am, so we waited. Friday morning low tide was at 8 and we walked down to see what we could see from across the river, not much. A couple piles of sand and the tents being put up was all we could see. A little before 11am, I contacted our friends at Casa WF who got out the binoculars, but said they couldn't see any sculptures as there were too many bystanders, so at least there was good turnout. I found out from Facebook that one of the expats in San Clemente was on his way back on his bike, so I knew there were pictures to be seen.

John McDonald did do a blog post about it, but his pictures were too large for me to share with you here, but this morning, again on Facebook, PortoViejo tourism posted these.

They had a stage with music, and dancers of Manabi, and quite the shindig from what I hear.  They only had til about 4 when high tide would probably take all this away, but til then fun was had!

The flyer had said there would be two sculptures, but I guess they had enough sand for more, not sure who was working on them, but they did a good job.

Casa WF in the background, across the river.

And the favorite of the day was this one, with bonus water and greenery. This week has been a holiday, with kids out of school, so the tourism department picked a good day for it. It was a great crowd.

Growing up at the beach in Southern California, I've seen some sand sculptures, this brought back some fond, although faint memories. It's true, you can take the girl from the beach, but not the beach from the girl...and here I am, back at the beach. Stay tuned, the adventure continues!

Mangrove project Part 1

Sometime in May our friends at the Boca (mouth of the PV River) told us of some construction going on behind their house in the mangroves. It was several weeks before we ever saw anything other than these pilons, but over the past 5 months things have really progressed! This is the architect and job foreman, there was a crew of maybe six, a truck dropped them off every morning with their tools and supplies.  While we house sat (June 1-15) we watched them everyday, watched the wives bring lunch and the children to eat with the men, and they always waved and said good morning or evening.

Then on top of the footings, multiple walkways were built.

At this point, we learned it was an Observation Platform, something about being able to watch the river, the mangroves and wildlife. This is the view one would see from the deck.

There were some weeks that nothing was being done, and we thought the project was abandoned, but when they came back to work, we found out they had been called to another job. All is well, the project will be finished...and added to...a Zip line!? That's what they said, a zip line to where? The mangroves on the other side of the river? Then what?! So many questions...still unanswered, but we wait.

This sign was finally placed on the main road to educate the public. And we saw this on Facebook.

The project continued, more and more wood was brought in for the railings, and we could kinda tell what it was going to look like, a lot of speculation and sneaking over after the workers left to check on progress.

Of course the workers had tide issues the whole time, and when the ocean threatened to wash away their small piece of beach, they took it in stride, always a smile and a wave! Phase one is finally complete, stay tuned! The Mangrove project and the adventure continues!

Today's the day

Today is Carnavale, we were warned that it was to be crazy insane. We did loose power Monday midnight and it came on about noon, losing power meant loosing the floor fan, but other than that we weren't too bothered, coffee made on the gas stove, no worries. Flexible. Sunday We walked thru town and down the Malecon towards the old stomping ground, San Alejo, that WAS crazy insane. So glad we don't live there anymore, life would REALLY have been disrupted. The tide turns out to be high in the afternoon, so after the beach is gone, the partiers party on the Malecon. Bus traffic had to be diverted and getting a car thru is very slow going.

So many vendors, both food and jewelry/clothing. Beer tents, shaved ice carts and grill carts roaming the Malecon, activity everywhere. Car stereos competing with each other, honking horns and so much whistling. 

We were able to take our coffee at low tide this morning and see the beach as it was just waking up. It wasn't until noon yesterday that the beach infront of our house got full. Today will be another big beach day, and then tomorrow it should be back to normal. (Being our first, we will have to wait and see)

Tents at Crucita, across the Boca (mouth of the river)

Tents on the stretch of beach between the Boca and San Jacinto, never seen this many tents in this area before.

CottonCandy vendor on the beach out in front of our house, not something you see everyday...

The fishermen built a restaurant, that turned out to be great! Shrimp ceviche to days in a row, the yummiest I've ever had, really! Had drinks the other night with them, after the kitchen closed, Ramon, Fernando and Raphael are the fishermen we see everyday, and now we know the wives too. Very good neighbors! Vecino Bueno! 

Before and after its paint job, and our view from inside looking out, at our house.

Went into town last night, none of my pictures turned out tho, so we will try it again tonight. There was a bandstand set up, and I heard the band start around 10pm, but it wasn't loud enough to keep us awake, and once Mike woke up at 2am, he said it was quiet. San Jacinto just turns out to be a quieter, more tranquil kind of party. If you want wall to wall bodies, so loud your ears (almost) bleed, and paint/foam fights, go to San Clemente, they have the crazy.

So, like I said, since this is our first Carnavale, we have to wait and see, can't take anyone's word for how it will be, since we are all wired so differently. So far, if we want crazy we know where to find it. But stay tuned, because the adventure continues!

Walking the beach with "our dog".