On our recent trip to Playas to visit with our good friends Glenda and Bob, we came across an interesting sight. What we first thought were rafts were actually sailboats.
We never saw them afloat but did find a painting showing them sailing along the beach.
Pretty ladies waiting their turn to dance on the water.
Actually licensed with the ministry which is rare for beach businesses.
We had quite a few questions but no one seemed to be minding the store. Are they actually for rent or personally owned ? And the typical gringo inquires… Rental cost? Solo or with someone who would actually know what they’re doing? Lessons included ? PFDs available ?
On our next visit to Playas we’ll definitely look for them again…. who knows, one of these beauties may be on our dance card.
Life is good in Ecuador !
Love the art piece.
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Thanks Steve…we also loved this gem..would have loved to give the artist credit, but it wasn’t signed..
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen balsa wood that looked like actual logs of wood before. Lately the only balsa I see is sandwhiched between plates of carbon fiber to make up the body of small lightweight helicopters. Kind of at the opposite end of the technology spectrum.
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John – When I do a report on the museum in Bahia you will see a very large seagoing trade vessel made from balsa wood used by ancient cultures here in Ecuador to trade up and down the coast of Central and South America! Good luck on the final stages of your degree! Love you, Dad and Mary
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Thanks for the well wishes. The hard chairs in the library where I hide to write do take their toll, so I will be happy to wrap this up. 🙂
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Hola, Mary Dear!
Those Balsa Sailboats are amazing! I’d like to know more about the colorful sails…fabric-wise?? Thanks to you and John’s invitation to accompany y’all on your trip to the Bahia Museum during our “Mary’s Birthday Celebration Lunch”, I saw the Balsa trade vessel mentioned in John’ s reply to John Jr. above. I did not connect it to the sailboat photos. WOW! You already know my passion for loving to know something every day that I didn’t know the day before…You and John are a valuable and valid source! In a Gratitude Attitude with Love, J.
P.S. What does a Balsa Tree look like? In the event you haven’t already planted one in your “MacDonalds Eden Garden”, I’m off to Google one!
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We love you as well! John and Mary
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The sailboats are so amazing and all of the colors too. You are certainly exploring and it is so nice to hear from you all of the time.
God Bless you and Mary!
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Thanks JoAnn..we’re having a blast ! God Bless
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Great post!!! i love the sails! thank you so much for sharing.!
z
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thanks Lisa..from we could tell they were all lovingly painted by hand….feel free to share
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🙂 thank you!!!! z
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I love those sailboats. I hope you can rent one someday and send some pictures of you sailing on them. Love you!
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Thanks Jess…that would be fun.. love you too..hugs to all
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[…] newsletters into blog format. Their latest post prompted me to point you in their direction: Balsa Boats of Playas (Ecuador) The Balsa Boats of Playas (Ecuador) – photo by John […]
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surprise surprise surprise. i suspect you’ll have a few more views of this great post soon!
z
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Oh yeah.. a mailbox full..lol 🙂
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http://playamart.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/this-that-october/ this might help to include the link!!!
z
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Those sails are works of art in themselves – hope you can find out more about these beautiful craft when you next visit.
Lisa sent me over – i’ll have to come back again for a more in-depth hunt around 🙂
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Thanks for your note. We find so many works of craft and art everywhere we look here in Ecuador, sometimes in the least likely spots. We signed up to follow your blog this morning and look forward to sharing experiences! John and Mary
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Me too!
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Z sent me 🙂
These are such fun to look at. I can image sailing away in a tie-dyed balsa boat. Anything tie-dyed is right up my alley. Great pix and post.
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We agree! When we saw the colorful boats we knew we had to do a separate post displaying their unique beauty. I am not sure I would dare try to navigate one on the ocean though! John and Mary
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knock, knock…..pssst….Z sent me 🙂
So glad we were introduced to your blog! Can’t wait to dig in and look around. I love the photos on this post.
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Welcome! We are having fun and loving life here in Ecuador! John and Mary
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hey angeline! i just stopped by john and marys blog and got a great chuckle from your comment! thank you so much for saying ‘ hi’ to my friends!
z
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Lisa – Thanks for sending viewers our way! I posted the scenes of the worker rigging the makeshift wiring today. Hope to see you soon – John and Mary
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Beautiful and exciting colors of the Balsa Boasts. A very creative work. Reminds me of teh bancas in the Philippines.
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Thank you…reminded me of ladies in their colorful summer dresses..stopped by your blog, very interesting and thoughtful stories..God Bless
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