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My first night my friend Nadia's sister, Luz and her brother, Luis took me around for a quick night tour of the city and for some tacos & soy milk for dinner!The next morning, Nadia's brother, Luis took me for a nice stroll in Malecon el Salado by the University and then to the southern part of the Malecon 2000 along the waterfront.There we stopped for a humita (like a tamal) and a hayaca (sweet tamal w/ smoother softer dough & chicken inside).I also tried the jugo de tomatillo (or tomate de arbol - a sweeter tomato) but I didn't really like it which isn't surprising since I don't like tomatoes!!From there we stopped in a museum that had artifacts from early Ecuadorian cultures as well as a full room about the history of Guayaquil.It is amazing how the city survived several fires (one that decimated half the city!), horrible pirate attacks and plagues.They are quite proud of having survived so much and as well they should be!After the free museum we went to Parque Simon Bolivar which everyone calls the iguana park since it is full of iguanas!They are so used to being around people that they have no fear and don't even move when you touch them!There was also a pond w/ 2 different kinds of turtles!After the iguana park we went into the cathedral and then back along the Malecon to the Polytecnico where they have some Galapagos turtles.At night, we had a quick walk through parque Centenario before watching a folkloric dance show.Finally, we walked back along the Malecon to Cerro Santa Ana where we went up the 444 steps to the lighthouse at the top which was closed!There was a great view of the city from there though!
Day 2 in Guayaquil I spent w/ Luz's daughter, Suyin & Luis' daughter, Hilary.We went to the Parque Historico where they had a lot of rainforest animals including the 2 toed sloth & tapirs as well as parrots & monkeys etc…They also had a typical country house & a plantation house.The plantation actors were good, asking about our journey etc…At night we headed back to the Malecon and took a little ride along the river on the Morgan boat.It wasn't very interesting but the views of the city were nice enough.We met back up w/ Luz after her long day of work & classes and then had shwarma (chicken gyro) for dinner.
My last day in Guayaquil I headed out to the Malecon solo. I went into the MAAC museum which had some uninteresting modern art & more Ecuadorian artifacts.Then I went to another museum about the history of Guayaquil and listened to most of it.It was little miniature displays with descriptions in Spanish that they narrated or translated into English.I then saw Transformers 2 in the IMAX and took a quick walk along the side of Cerro Santa Ana into an art gallery and along the water.I went into the Julio Jaramillo singer museum there since it was free - he was an Ecuadorian Frank Sinatra.From there I met Luz and her coworker & we went to the artisans market.That night I went back to the Malecon el Salado to eat cangrejo (fresh whole crab) for dinner.I had never eaten a whole one before so Luz showed me how.They were good but I couldn't eat the black head part.I got my exercise cracking and trying to get the meat out of the legs!
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