December 30, 2024

GUAYAQUIL, PUERTO LOPEZ & AQUA BLANCA, ECUADOR

Christmas Morning, I left the Ship, with 5 others, for the first time for an overnight excursion. Have to admit, I didn't like having to pack, I have gotten used to life on the Ship, where it does all the moving for us! We got picked up by our excursion coordinator at the Port of Guayaquil, Ecuador around 10 a.m. We then had a 3-hour drive through central Ecuador to get over to the coast and Puerto Lopez. Our rental - the YIN YANG FLOWER HOUSE was located a 1/2 block from the beach. As we drove through Guayaquil, we saw tons of these papier mâché figurines. They are effigies they use to decorate over the holidays and then burn on New Years Eve to say goodbye to all the things that went wrong, for them in 2024. They vary in price from $10 to $100 and take vendors several days to custom make and paint. After the burn they jump over three times to send the spirits away. Alot are political and silly, regardless colorful!! 

After we dropped our stuff at the house, and had some fruit and bread, we headed to AQUA BLANCA, about 20 minutes away. It's a commune community. There are archeological remains in a small museum, a mineral pool, mud massages available and some snack shops. I totally embraced the mud massage! It felt amazing and left my skin sooo soft. Others (Scott & Kelly) had apple & lavender oil massages and Debbie, just got the mud applied without the massage. A truly unique fun way to spend Christmas Day! I went in mineral pool after mud had dried to wash it off. They also had showers and changing rooms. Then we had a home made feast back at house by 2 local ladies - fresh fried fish, seafood rice, plantains, pork in a peanut sauce, salad and amazing avocados! We all enjoyed some drinks and chatting, getting to know each other better. Scott and I took a walk to beach too - was a gorgeous night!


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PORT DEARAU, FIJI - Naidiri Village

By Patricia Patrick • December 4, 2025
Today we went to see the coastal Naidiri Village that has recently won the Top Prize in global restoration, for their ocean reef project. The reef restoration was borne out of necessity to solve their dwindling food/ main protein source for the village, of fish. It was started by 2 of the villages rugby players and today is run by the local teenagers (mostly boys) in the village. It was great seeing how empowered and proud they were of their amazing efforts.

LAUTOKA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
The port agent offered several trips to areas around Lautoka . We chose the trip to Serenity Island Resort which included van and boat transfers and lunch. It was a really nice day enjoying the sun, reef, pool, turtles and amenities!

RIVER TUBING DOWN THE NAVUA, SUVA, FIJI

By Patricia Patrick • December 1, 2025
I organized a group tour for a fun day experience. We had a great day despite the rain that decided to join in. We started with a 45 minute van ride out through the city, into the countryside. Then we got in long boats and went up river to a waterfall, some swam or cheered on the guides to cliff dive. Then back in the boats to visit Sabata Village where 50 family members live as a community existing totally off the land, along the river. Next was a quick boat ride to our BBQ lunch spot. After lunch we got to tube down the river, through light rapids, for just about an hour. We ganged our tubes together with the guide - we had a chain of 14 in my group and the guides totally blew us away singing hymns for a good chunk of the journey. It was truly moving in that place with the rain drizzling and all of us linked together. Loved it!