Panama hats are made in Ecuador, who knew?

teristanford
Aug 24, 2023
2 min read

Manta, Ecuador

Panama Hats

We docked in Ecuador today. Manta, the city where we are, is the tuna capital of the world. The harbor is full of commercial tuna boats. We watched them unload a ship. We watched for over an hour. It doesn’t take much to make us happy. We got off the boat, went to a cultural museum and walked back to the ship. There’s really not much to see or do here. They’re famous for tuna fishing and at nearby Montecristi, they make Panama Hats. We ended up buying one for each of us. We did not travel there. We bought them here. I also got a cute magnet and scarves and chocolate and a little turtle made of “vegetable ivory”. It is a nut called a Tagua Nut that dries and becomes as hard as ivory. It was originally used by the Germans to make buttons.

I tried to mail Aunt Vickie’s birthday card. We asked 3 people where the post office was. It seems they do not have one. I thought I was nuts….ran into Stan and Jacqueline and she told me that she was looking for a post office and also was told they didn’t have one. So I will mail Aunt Vickie’s card in Peru. It will be late, but I have a great excuse. You will notice in one of the pictures that I have the card in my pocket! It’s addressed and ready to go!

Last night we went to the Bayou, a specialty restaurant, and surprised Gary for his birthday. It was a very nice evening. Great steaks and great company. Roscoe and I gave him crisps ( potato chips) for a present. Not kidding.

Well that’s all for today. I will post a group picture of the birthday dinner when I get a copy from Liz. Sarah, I wore the pearls just for you!