atacames/esmeraldas, coast of ecuador

I went to the beach this past weekend for 5 days. It was beautiful. Caribbean looking waters, and very very hot. I think it has something to do with being in the middle of the world? Not sure. I thought Florida was hot and moved away to Portland to escape the oppressive humidity, but Florida's got nothing on the coast of Ecuador. So hot I could barely sleep.

I stayed with more family here. They have a house in Esmeraldas, that's more like a series of houses, a veritable compound, pretty cool. As well as a finca, a farm, but since it's in the jungle it's a finca. La finca. (pics below, also the fruit is from there). The yellow fruit below is cacao. It's pretty awesome. The seeds are covered in a white gummy substance that is super sweet and yummy. After enjoying the white part or carnaza, you peel away what's left of it and have the dark brown pods by which to make chocolate (the seeds are featured in my hand), after processing it in the sun and toasting them, etc.