Santa Ana, Manabi Province, Ecuador – The maps and online information spell this small city’s name with two words. Last week at high noon in the very-busy city of Portoviejo when I asked directions for Santa Ana, the locals asked back, “Donde?”
I repeated as clearly as possible, “Santa. Ana.”
You won’t find Santa Ana on this tourism map…
“Arrrrrrriba Rio Portoviejo,” I described with hands and body English illustrating ‘up the Portoviejo River.’
“Oh!” one nice guard outside a bank smiled, “Santana!” and then walked me to the street, pointed left, told me to drive two blocks, take another left, then drive ‘muy largo’ —a long distance and —
A bus might have been the better choice!
I made an unspoken decision to drive that far and stop again to ask for directions. Continue reading
