Guayaquil’s Rio Guayas

Guayaquil was steamy after being in the Andes, but a walk beside Rio Guayas gave the illusion of coolness. The entire waterfront was open to the public with water pools, lush vegetation and even a poor toucan locked in a cage.

Toucan, Malecon, Guayaquil

Another surprise, was a neem tree along the walkway. What’s so great about that you ask? I know, maybe not much, but it’s a well-known tree in India. It’s the tree Indians once broke a twig off to brush their teeth before the big conglomerates drowned them in plastic toothbrushes.

Neem tree, Malecon, Guayaquil

And another eye opener in the middle of Catholic Guayaquil, was a Muslim clock tower with its beautiful geometric design around the entrance.

Detail of the Islamic clock tower, Guayaquil