
Peeling Shrimp -“I LOVE my job!’ – La Division, Manabi, Ecuador
Summer – “The warmest season of the year, following spring and preceding autumn.” (Webster’s II New Riverside Dictionary” 1984)
Krista at WordPress prompted us to share images of ‘Summer Lovin”, and she mentioned southern vs northern hemispheres. I snickered and thought, ‘- Summer? What about those lucky ones who straddle the equator?! We don’t really have a summer on this part of Ecuador’s coast!”

After enduring Central America’s oppressive Pacific heat for eight years, I remain enchanted by Ecuador’s more-forgiving climate. Just south of the equator on the Pacific coast, the days and nights politely share 12-hour shifts; January escorts us into the rainy season (invierno), and the June solstice weans us into a dry-but-slightly-cooler verano, their version of summer. The low temperatures might bottom out at 70, and the highs rarely hit 90, although the sun can bite very fast! (This past week has been cool, and many people wore long sleeves in the daytime and jackets at night!) When the ocean breezes stop for a rest, and the temperatures rise, the nearby ocean offers instant relief!

My perch on the river is nestled between two rapidly-vanishing beaches; La Division is northeast from the river’s mouth, and Playa El Matal is southwest. The ocean stayed on its best behavior during mid July’s full moon spring/king tides, although another critical high tide will soon arrive in August.

La Division Ecuador – Nelly took a rare break from her restaurant for Mother’s Day 2013.

La Boca – Rio Jama

Once upon a time when the beach was much wider: “The Boca” with El Matal and Punta Ballena in the background. (Image from 2011)

Playa El Matal – “Where’s the beach?” – A concerned visitor assesses the vanishing beach.
Great illustrations of ‘summer’ can be found at Playa El Matal. As the ocean crowds the fishermen’s boats onto the road, the locals remain unruffled and adapt without any displays of frustration. Let’s go on a beach-inspection walk and search for a sour face! Continue reading →
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