Guayaquil: Pacific Pearl
The city of Guayaquil was the place where several cultures developed, among the main ones we can name the Huancavilcas, Chonos, and Punaes.
The colony was one of the main ports from which goods arrived from Europe to the royal audience, also from this place textiles were sent from the Andes which was one of the strongest industries of the time, in the city took place the meetings of two great characters such as Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martín, at this meeting was decided the future of the city first and then the whole of South America.
We can also highlight that on October 9, 1820, José Joaquín de Olmedo and other illustrious people of the city declared their independence.
Nowadays known as the Pacific Pearl, Guayaquil is one of the most important cities in Ecuador with wide tourist development, with emblematic places such as Malecón 2000, Parque Seminario or Parque de las Iguanas, Cerro Santa Ana, Malecón del Salado, Municipal Museum of popular music Julio Jaramillo, Parque Samanes.
One of the city’s flagship neighborhoods is undoubtedly the Centenario, which was the first residential neighborhood at the beginning of the 20th century.
Gastronomy
One of the top dishes is undoubtedly the encebollado which should be tasted with chifles and bread and accompanied by orange juice or lemonade, which is the infallible remedy for a good hangover.
The sausage broth is undoubtedly part of the guayaquileña diet because thanks to its aphrodisiac powers can help you have all the sons you can get.
And if you find yourself in the nights of Guayaquil, without a doubt you should taste good rice with stew, pork chops, meat, or roast chicken to recover so you can continue with the nightlife that the city offers you.
Do not forget to eat a good crab accompanied by its cooked ripe, and your good cold beer, a perfect combination for those hot days.
New Year’s Eve Monigotes.
At the end of the year, it is very usual to find monigotes of colossal sizes in Capitán Nájera Street and its surroundings, in this route we will find figures of different fashionable characters which are exhibited from December 27 to January 12, in total 16 monigots are exhibited in this sector which is forbidden to burn and after the date they are dismantled.
On the other hand, to acquire these monigots you must go to 6 de Marzo Street, here from December 16 to 31 you can find different sizes of monigots with your favorite characters, more than 800 artisans are dedicated to this activity, and they begin to make this activity from March.
The Lagarteros of Guayaquil
Urban musicians who are dedicated to providing serenades of pasillos and boleros to any lover who wants to surprise his partner, or his mother, ask for marriage, or conquer the mother-in-law.
Any occasion is perfect to ask for the help of these troubadours who are located in the streets Gómez Rendón and Esmeraldas or also in Sucre and Lorenzo Garaycoa, known as the “lagartera”.
Julio Jaramillo frequented these corners where the greatest exponents of the time gathered, and just like them at midnight they would go out with their guitars to serenade the balconies of their loved ones.
Why are they called “lagarteros”?
The oral tradition tells us that in these places the musicians met to practice their songs, whether duos or trios, one day appeared in the area a jocoso (comedian) who expressed “A igualitos a los lagartos varados en las playas esperados a la presa están” “A Lagarteros” since that day they kept the nickname.
Undoubtedly, the lagartero is part of the Guayaquil soul that with its music has enamored entire generations.
Guayaquil keeps immense treasures among its streets and houses because each one has a story to tell.
The love for their city is so great that each of its citizens carries a pure passion for their town and does not hide their emotions when celebrating their Julian festivities, in which the Foundation of Santiago de Guayaquil is celebrated. The Octubrinas were to celebrate in style their independence, so if you are in the city on these dates, do not forget to participate in each of the events.