Yesterday we were in Manta, Ecuador. Who would have guessed that this would turn into one of our favorite port days? We booked an excursion, something we don’t do too often. It consisted of taking the Chivas bus to the near by town of Montecristi to the Panama hat market. What made the whole trip so fun was the local Chivas bus. They’re brightly colored open air busses, all decorated with streamers and balloons with Latino music blaring at unbelievable decibels. We had 3 of these busses caravanning….two with the band on top and ours where we were able to sit on top. Of course all 3 were playing different loud Latino music which just added to the fun. You could hear us coming for blocks and people would come out of their homes, restaurants, stand on roof tops and balconies, not to mention all the people already on the street on a Saturday morning….waving! I felt like I was in the Rose parade waving to hundreds (probably thousands) of people we’d pass. We were the parade!! I was so happy that we lucked into the one where we could crawl up and sit on top of the bus. Of course once we got to the Panama hat market everyone was buying hats and such. I bought a bright pink one! So what do you do once you own a Panama hat? Obviously, you need to have a Panama hat party…any excuse for another party works with this group!! We (probably about 30 of us) all wore hats to the Seven Seas Society party before dinner last night then we ate in LaVeranda wearing all our colorful, decorated hats. After dinner most of us then went to Kenny Smile’s show where he immediately spotted all of us in our Panama hats and made us the brunt of several jokes.
After returning yesterday afternoon Tom and I took the Radisson shuttle into town and (geez what a surprise) we found a wonderful spa/salon. This was the Beverly Hills salon of Manta, Ecuador. Tom got a massage. You could get an hour massage for $25 or an hour and a half for $30. He opted for the longer one while I got a shampoo and blow dry ($6), a new set of nails and a pedicure (also $6). Great afternoon!
I’ve meant to mention this before but always forget to tell you how beautiful the people in South America are. Other than those of Inca decent (mostly in the Cusco/Machu Picchu area) most have the high cheek bones and such beautiful olive complexions. I noticed it again in the salon yesterday amazed at how beautiful the people of Ecuador are. Their diets consists so much of fish and vegetables so most are very fit and trim. There are so many men who are Antonio Banderas look alikes and the women are stunning.
Today before lunch we’re having our “match the spouse†party in the back half of LaVeranda. We found the perfect new segment couple with a great sense of humor. They don’t yet know who belongs to whom. Perfect! We have gay friends we’re including too so it should all be fun. Whoever we’re matched with is who we’re eating lunch with today.
Tonight we’re having a private cocktail party and dinner for all the Los Marineros (full SA passengers). We’re at sea today and will have the King Neptune pool side “crossing the equator†ceremony/party. We crossed the equator last night…sad reminder of how close we are to ending this great trip!.
More photos await you: (someone else took a photo of our Panama Hat table so I’ll add it later but I took some of the other tables in our group)
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