Closer to Home

Nearly one month of this blog has been dedicated to a whirlwind tour of Guayaquil. After all that wandering, one starts searching for signs that point closer to home. They are...

The Mall del Sur. Not to be confused with the Mall del Sol, which is on the opposite side of the city. It's pretty important that you double check your taxi driver understands which one you mean.
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This restaurant is parked on the corner opposite the mall. I say "parked" because, if you look closer, you will see that it is actually a truck. Once more proving that the best food is usually served in the least likely of places.
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Another stop near the house. I walk past the gas station nearly every day and hear The Yogurt calling my name. And usually, I answer The Yogurt. Which is unfortunate for my wallet.

Yogurt is a "thing" here. There are different yogurt chains, but they all offer the standard fare: a few flavor options, plus pan de yucca - yucca bread. The tartness of the yogurt, combined with the warm, chewy bread, makes for a good snack that costs one and a half times as much as a standard lunch.
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*Note: If you get squeamish from looking at things like raw meat, you might want to skip this one. I ain't no vegetarian. You have been duly warned.

Mercado Caraguay. Within walking distance of where I live, this market is renowned throughout the city and is open 24 hours a day.

It backs right up to the river, where fishermen empty their nets, then send their catch straight to the countertops for sale. Fresh shrimp costs roughly $4 per pound here.

Here's the part where you may or may not get squeamish. Personally, I get uncomfortable at the thought of buying meat that's been hanging around for who knows how long.

The trick is to know the vendor, know when they arrive, and when they put their meat out. My host uncle owns a restaurant, and he goes to Caraguay around 10pm every night to buy his seafood, because that's one of the two times during the day that the fishermen come in with their big catches.

The best part of Caraguay, in my humble opinion, is the display of fruits and vegetables. A kaleidoscope of geometric shapes. Pyramids of color. It's a neverending, always varying pattern. The second and third best parts of Caraguay are the fresh fruit batidos - smoothies - and the lunch stalls serving fresh seafood. The worst part of Caraguay is the smell of...but wait, we're here to focus on the positives. Moving on.
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The Wilson Dance Show. One sunny day during the rainy season, I was walking down the street and suddenly got the feeling that someone was watching me. I looked around: nobody. I looked up: Wilson.

One day, he inexplicably appeared on the rooftop, and he's been there ever since. I like to think Wilson keeps an eye on the neighborhood.

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Funny how most of these favorite places of mine involve food.

Super Pizzas. Eat here about once a week.

The go-to almuerzo place. Two soup options, three main dish options, and two juices to choose from. All for $1.75

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You know you're nearly home when you see this tree. Since day one in Guayaquil, it has been the lighthouse to my ship, the magnetic north to my clueless inner compass needle.

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Finally, we arrive:

Peter gives his signature thumbs up, signaling that all is well on the home front.

That's all for now, folks. Gracias and buenas noches.