Eight Days of Ecuador…Day 7

Our incredible eight days of Ecuador photography travel abroad class was winding down, with Day 7 marking our very last chance to explore. At this point, the cumulative effect of long days, minimal sleep, and stress was really taking a toll on my health. I was officially sick. With just one more day of travel ahead, my main goal was simply to make it through to the end of the trip. If you missed it, be sure to catch up on Day 6!

Day 7: Thursday, April 26: Our Final Ecuadorian Farewell

Before my recent trip, I wasn’t aware that in 2016, scientists teamed up to prove Mount Chimborazo, a massive volcano in central Ecuador, is actually the highest point on Earth when measured from the center of the planet, not Mount Everest! This fascinating fact only emerged as I researched for our travel journey.

This particular day marked our final full day of our eight-day days of Ecuador travels, with a lengthy 4.5-hour bus ride back to Guayaquil ahead of us as we prepared for our flight home. In the early morning, some of us joined Alfredo and Chantal for a walk along the beach. I’d unfortunately come down with a pretty nasty sinus infection by this point, so I skipped the morning swim, but still enjoyed the exercise and the serene beach.

After our last meal at the Saianada hotel, we tipped the staff and thanked them all for the wonderful hospitality.

Downtown Bahía de Caráquez: Market & Culture

We packed up the bus and headed downtown for some last-minute sightseeing, wanting to see more of the culture. We visited the semi-open-air market in downtown Bahia de Caraquez.

The market provides a large selection of seafood and meat, such as beef, pork, chicken, fish, and shrimp. It also offers a large variety of fresh fruits and veggies. We enjoyed samples of some of the homemade sweets and the peanut butter.

Fresh Markets and Food Culture in Ecuador

During my visit, I learned that while Ecuador is encouraging large agricultural companies to use sprays and chemicals for increased yields, much of what was available at the local markets appeared to be GMO-free. The market itself was a vibrant hub of independently prepared meat, seafood, and produce. The grass-fed beef, for instance, is raised in a valley just north of the city, and many of the vegetables were so fresh they still had dirt on them. From the appearance of the chickens, it seemed likely they had been butchered just that morning. Overall, everything seemed incredibly fresh, likely delivered within a day or two.

However, I couldn’t help but wonder how these perishable items remained safe given the open-air market and scorching temperatures. The seafood, chickens, and various cuts of meat were openly displayed without refrigeration or even much ice. It’s clear the local people are accustomed to this system, but personally, I’d be quite concerned about food poisoning!

From Market to Montecristi: Panama Hats and Ceibo Trees

After exploring the vibrant market, we embarked on a two-hour drive to Montecristi, a historic city in Ecuador’s Manabí province. Founded around 1536 by settlers fleeing pirate attacks in Manta, Montecristi holds significant historical weight. It’s the birthplace of Eloy Alfaro Delgado, a former president of Ecuador and a key leader in the Ecuadorian Liberal Revolution. This charming city is also famously known as the true home of the Panama hat.

Along the way, we made a few stops, including a local museum and a shop where we watched a woman skillfully weaving a hat by hand outdoors. Many students took the opportunity to purchase authentic Panama hats there, as the prices were significantly lower than in the States.

During the long drive into Guayaquil, I was captivated by the numerous Ceibo trees (pronounced “SAY-bo”) lining the curving roads. I truly wish we’d had the chance to see one up close; their vibrant green color, unusual shapes, and unique bark texture made them look like something straight out of a Disney cartoon. Interestingly, the silky fluff produced by the Ceibo fruits is universally known as Kapok.

From there, we had lunch at a small restaurant along the way, and I had my final personal favorite dish (other than Ceviche) of Camarones al Ajillo, shrimp in garlic sauce.

Sunset Ascent: Las Peñas Lighthouse in Guayaquil

We arrived back in Guayaquil just around sunset. Matthew, our local guide, offered to accompany us to the Las Peñas lighthouse, a climb of 500 steps we hadn’t managed on our first day in the city. Though I was feeling quite sick at this point, I decided I didn’t want to miss this final adventure by staying in my room.

A small group of us walked down the boardwalk one last time, admiring the evening views and browsing the local vendors. We took our time ascending the many steps to the top of the hill, where a charming church and the entrance to the lighthouse awaited. From the very top of the lighthouse, we were rewarded with a breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of Guayaquil. It’s a sight I’m incredibly glad I didn’t skip out on!

The Journey Home: A Fond Farewell and Final Reflections

We arrived back at the hotel around 8:30 PM that night, saying our goodbyes to Matthew. It was genuinely sad to see him go. He truly made the entire trip a wonderful adventure for all of us. I headed back to my room at the Manso Boutique Guesthouse Hotel, where our journey had begun on the first night.

After quickly cleaning up and packing my bags, I set my alarm for a jarring 2:15 AM, preparing for the bus ride to the airport and our early flight back to Nashville. By this point, I was feeling absolutely terrible and couldn’t wait to get home to tackle the cold that had taken hold. Unfortunately, knowing I had to be up in just a few hours made for a pretty miserable night’s sleep.

I’m sure if you’ve followed along this far, you’re probably as tired of hearing about the trip as I was by the end of it! The days had certainly started to blur together.

My final blog post will showcase a few of my favorite memories and photographs from the journey. I hope you’ll check back for my last insights, where I’ll share how this trip, like so many others to foreign countries, has left an indelible mark on me. Thank you for reading!

If you missed day 6, you can go here to read more.

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