Diario las Américas., 1958-03-11
Know thy
Neighbof
Bv ANTONIO RUIZ

ECUADOR - Several ocean re-
sorts, all accessible from Guaya-
quill, offer some of the finest flsn-
ing and bathing in South Amerl-
ca. Especially attractive to tourists
is Playas, sixty miles from 'Guaya-
gull, on a good paved road. At the
spacious moren Hotel Humboldt,
one can relax in comfort on broad
sun decks overlooking the Gulf OF
Guayaquil, or take advantage OF
the hotels unsurpassed sport faci-
lities. Another nearby resort ire
quented by Guayaquilenos is Po-
sorja, southeast of Playas, opposite
the island of Puma.
Salinas, located on Santa Elena
Peninsula, IS miles from Guaya-
quill, is the largest of Ecuador's re-
sorts, long noted for its fine bea-
ches and wonderful fishing, and
bathed by the calm blue-green wat
ers of Santa Elena Bay. On the
southern side, the rocky promon-
tory is dashed by rough breakers.
The visitor enjoys walking through
the picturesque fishermen'S Sec
ton to La Puntilla, at the end OF
the peninsula, where there are a
lighthouse and extensive salt de-
posits, from which the port of Sail
mas takes its name. Fishing for
swordfish and others is exciting
sport during the season, April to
December; tourists may charter
special cruisers for fishing trips.
Many visitors indulge in the
more leisurely and infringing pastl-
me of hunging treasurs in the form
of ancient Spanish pesos and dou-
blons, which are still washed-up
on the beach from sunken Spanish
galleons by the easter Tides dur
ing the spring The nearby port
of Libertad is an important re-
filming and shipping center for pc
troleum products from the Ancon
OilfieldS on the peninsula. For hot
sulphur baths, visitors can stop at
the small spa Of San Vicente, on
the Guayaquil road, about half an
hour drive from Salinas.
To the north, in Manabi Pro-
vince, is the busy port OF Mania,
which exports large shipments OF
cacao, tagua, coffee, and the coun-
try's fines "toquilla" hata. AL
though not primarily a resort, Man,
ta's excellent beaches and big,
game fishing attract many Ecuad-
oreans from the provinces. Tour
lists travelling on a ship which calls
on that port, may be there long
enought to make an interesting tour
by car to the nearby towns of Mon
tecristi and JipiJapa, original home
of the world.famous Panama" hats
and to the Provincial capital, Puer
to Viejo, founded by the Spaniards
on the coast, but moved inland in
1928 to escape the depradation'
of pirates.
From this remote area OF the
Ecuadorean tropics come the choic'
est of Panama" hats retailed in
the smartest New York shops for
hundred dollars or more. Vast
plantations of "toquilla" palm, in
digenous to the humid coasta
lowlands, can be seen, as wei
as the processing of its fibers into
straw for weaving. Unless the visit
or makes a pre-dawn excursion Of
the area, he is not likely to see thu
weavers at work on the best hats
for these are woven in the damp
atmosphere of the early morning
or after shutdown, but not under
water as it is believed.
Entire families engage in thi
home industry. A hat may taxi
one person anywhere from on,
week to three months to make, tn,
three hundred dollars variety tax
ing the longest. Most of the export
ed products receive their fina
blocking in New York, to conform
to the dictates of designers, VIII,
will have previously indicated. t,
their agents in Ecuador the requil
ed size and shape of crown an
brim. The test Of a superior ha
is the absence Of small knots, fin
texture, and whether or not it cal
be rolled up and passed througl
a regular ring.
Spanish Version Page 8