Tags
Canoa Beach Hotel, Ecuador Expat Journeys, Hand=Painted Concrete Floors, jama ecuador, Jonathan Hall, Sarah Dettman, The Magic Carpet Bodega Floor, What to do in Manabi Ecuador, Where to stay in Canoa Ecuador
“What’s cooking, Ramon?”
May 2013 – Manabi Ecuador
Last Friday I traveled up the coast and met Sarah Dettman and her Ecuador Expat Journeys group in the coastal town of Pedernales. Driving south, we crossed the line of the equator and kept rolling until we reached the petite beach community of La Division, about a mile from where I live. In addition to having a picnic, we learned why almendros are so expensive! A lot of work goes into retrieving the nuts!
Ramon shows us how to crack the almendros! (almonds)
Alexandro was happy to watch from afar!
A casual fix-your-own sandwich buffet gave everyone the chance to relax and recharge before moving to the next stop.
Always-smiling Nely!
Dier tells us goodbye!
The next stop was the riverhouse; would you believe that I forgot to take photos when they stepped onto the magic carpet?
After absorbing and inspecting the just-finished floor, everyone journeyed upstairs to the living quarters. I don’t think they expected the uniqueness of the house!
Every house should have a swing, don’t you agree?
So…. what’s behind the painted panel?
After absorbing the oversized painting, If Fish Could Fly, they watched the hinged panel reveal the view of river!
(From February 2013)
After touring the house, we returned to the bus and journeyed another hour down the coast to the lovely Canoa Beach Hotel. Sarah’s business partner Jonathan Hall and his group greeted us just in time for the sunset hour! Ahhhh, who wouldn’t be pleased with these accommodations?
Early morning found some of us taking a misty beach walk-talk (practicing Spanish) while others enjoyed basking in the comfort of Canoa Beach Hotel! After a leisurely late-morning breakfast, we boarded the bus for the next leg of the journey.
Owner-builder Greg Gilliam kept us entertained as he shared tidbits of wit and wisdom during breakfast.
Time to load the bags and move to the next stop!
We rolled half an hour down the road to San Vicente, where we had an option of bailing out to cross Rio Chone by boat taxi or riding the bus over the bridge to the city of Bahia de Caraquez.
View of Bahia de Caraquez, Ecuador
Don’t change that channel! Page two is coming soon!
Z
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
What fun!!! You have the best adventures. Now I know why almonds are so expensive….
i think maybe this is a special ‘tropical’ climate almond, but i’m not real sure.
yes, every day is different with unique experiences!
z
🙂
I recently developed an allergy to almonds! love your pictures and stories. thanks for sending them along
hey!
i replied immediately last night, but who knows where it went? it’s certainly not here now!
wow, i am so sorry that you’re allergic to almonds.. tropical broad-leaved almonds or the deciduous ones from milder climates? if it’s the latter, would you be allergic to peaches and others in that family?
Beautiful pictures and a wonderful place, how i wish to visit. The picture of the floor continues to entrance me. Tony.
Muchas gracias! Friends dropped by today, and it is quite the conversation piece! I’m glad you liked the post!
I love the looks of awe and surprise and wonder when the group came in to your house.
you are so right! it was great to witness their reactions, though they had been warned!
What an amazing place, Lisa! You are very fortunate. The magic carpet is so beautiful!
thank you! you must miss the same relaxed lifestyle of panama?
When i was a child there were so many almond trees growing haphazardly all over the place. It was a joy for us kids to go hunting for them.; We cracked them open with stones and ate the fruits with relish. We called them ‘white man’s peanuts’. Now I hardly come across them anymore.
What wonderful photos 🙂
‘white man’s peanuts!’ how interesting! last week an ecuadorian friend and i cooked (boiled) fresh peanuts. i forgot how long it takes for them to get tender!
Loving the magic carpet Lisa!!
thank you! i hope that all of you find your way to come visit in person soon!
How nice to have people come to appreciate all the beauty and charm you surround yourself with! Wonderful post…looking forward to part 2!
thank you amiga.. part two just zoomed out of the gate! you’ll find some more happy smiling people!
Looks like a fantastic endeavour. Always fun to meet with new friends. Would have loved to fly on your magic carpet one day.
that would certainly make air travel much easier! just a nod and a blink, and then we’re off to the horizon! thanks, it’s always fun meeting new people, as you well know!
Canola Beach Hotel? Oh My Goodness! How beautiful is that?! And I never tire of the magic carpet photos. Absolutely crazy gorgeous! It looks like everyone smiles down there! What fun!
ha, amiga! canoa and canola are very similar but are totally different! canoa means canoe, believe that or not! i like the ring of canola beach!!!
yes, the smiles are great, and a new post will reflect more genuine smiles!
MARAVILLOSO…¡¡Looking forward to Part 2!!
con mucho gusto, y it should now be in your inbox! thanks so much for your comment! z
always breath taking:
i am so glad that the view of the river gives you such comfort! thanks so much!
btw, i finally got back to sound cloud and enjoyed some of your music tonight! z
Waiting for page 2!
thank you! i just returned from a day in town and will switch back to the edit page later tonight when the service is faster! thank you so much! z
Z, I love the natural smiles you elicit. Thanks for sharing your gift. BTG
thanks! many times when i approach a stranger to take his/her photo, i am surprised and honored at how accepting/trusting they are. sometimes i will say how nice the light and shadow is on the skin, and then show them the image.. sometimes they see themselves as beautiful perhaps for the first time ever, which reminds me that i need to have some images printed for a few of those beautiful people in my neighborhood!
z
This means people are very comfortable around you. You are the Pied Piper of Ecuador.
ha! i am lucky that people trust me, and i cherish their trust. z
Thank you for the tour, z! Your magic carpet, the beautiful window view, the hotel, lovely people…. I could stay here for a long while. 🙂
i am so glad that you were here, and i wish that you could stay longer as well!
These almendros look so tasty . I can smell them !
hey! ramon smashed them so hard with that big rock that it was hard to fish anytihing from the ‘cascara’!!! i look forward to returning and attempting to smash my own! i’ll be there on sunday for a bingo!
Take a picture please????
Pingback: New Friends, New Memories – Part 02 | Zeebra Designs & Destinations
That is one excellent floor!
thank you! it seems to have a soul of its own! z
Thanks for taking us along on your adventure Lisa. 🙂
you are so welcome! everyone was so nice, so open to new experiences, and the 24-hour detour for me was refreshing!
So cool Z, I loved seeing everyone’s reaction to your home – a place built with loving hands and creativity to the likes I’ll bet they haven’t seen before. Can only imagine the expressions on their face when they saw the floor. Wow, tough cracking those nuts open, who knew? Always fun seeing your adventures – looks like your place has become the destination of touring.
thank you amiga
yes, it was a fun two days with the group! i will be going back to that little beach spot at la division tomorrow to help with a bingo afternoon.. i’ll call them out in english and try to teach them words that start with b.. and i.. and n.. and g… and o!
Such a cool idea, painted panel, then it opens to a beautiful river view! Also, every home should have a swing OR a hammock, I prefer the latter.
thank you! yes, it’s alway fun to open that panel and take in that beautiful river view!
many mothers use hammocks as cradles – how great is that? z
So much joy and optimism with every smile I see. Whereever we go, we can create a friendship that will inspire us and others. I remember living in places for a year or two and everytime, part of me stays because I found relationships to treasure always.
yes, we are lucky to have crossed thelives of so many people!
How nice to make so many new friends in one go! They must have been blown away by the uniqueness of your house, i know I would be 😀
thank you, amiga. it’s fun to use the entire house as a creative outlet! my new friends had been warned about a new floor project, and others had seen photos, but seeing it in person is quite a visual ‘moment.’ it’s fun to share the smiles. thanks!
What an amazing experience it would be to visit your beautiful home Lisa. You have captured the delight on your new friends faces
thank you! we had a great visit, and i hope that some will keep in touch! z