Chone, Ecuador

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                                                                          Chone

Chone, Ecuador is located in the North costal region of the South American country of Ecuador. It is about 7 hours by bus from the capital city of Quito.

It is located in the province of Manabi and is known for its yearly floods that fill the streets, causing damage to homes and busineses as while bringing health problems such as excess mosquitos, trash and lots of mud, which, when the waters subside leaves the city streets full of dust.

Chone can be distinguished by its homes made of sugar cane that sit several feet above the ground as well as its brick homes and corrugated tin roofs. Many of the residents earn a living by tending to farms and by working as teachers. Poverty is very commonplace as Chone has earned a reputation as a dangerous city with a high rate of juvenile delinquency and violence.

On a positive note, the people of Chone are generally friendly and the city has a reputation of having very beautiful women and delicious food. A popular fish is called Chame (Chah-mee) which has lots of bones but is very, very tasty. It is fried and served with rice, platano (plantain) and a small salad.

For years the city has talked about receiving money to prevent the flooding which is brought about when the Chone River (El Rio Chone) floods during the rainy season (January-April). The state government allots money as well as other outside agency yet each year the river floods.

The streets, sadly, are full of potholes, yet the many taxi drivers expertly maneuver around them. Many neighborhoods only have dirt roads. Several years ago the City Hall was burned during street protests and as of now, it is still unfixed.

There are many neighborhoods in Chone. Some are located along the river and other are like small islands. An example of the latter is La Treinta de Marzo (The 30th of March) which sits almost right outside the city. It has a reputation of being extremely violent. Very few outsiders enter this neighborhood. However, the author has never experienced any problems with anyone in this neighborhood. The residents affectionately refer to it as "La Treinta".

Another neighborhood is Aurora, which too is a poor neighborhood, although there are many levels of poverty. Aurora sits right along the river and many of the residents can be seen going for a dip in the cool waters. There is also a damn that runs across the river.

The closest beaches are about two hours away in different directions. They include Crucita, San Vicente and San Clemente. The City of Manta has a popular beach and is home to an American military base in charge of helping battle the drug trade.

For entertainment the residents of Chone will attend parties, go to the beach and visit their families. Family is a major part of Latino culture.

( I've haven't includes references because this is first-hand knowledge since I lived in Ecuador for about three years beginning in the late 90's)