Conch Ceviche & TLC-Related Protests in Quito

I am back from Ecuador! This definitely was a sweet and sour trip. Because of the many political protests in the province of Pichincha, where the City of Quito rests, it was impossible to accomplish a few visits planned somewhere else. From my point of view, the protests are a result of the public misinformation. The government officials who are negotiating the TLC (Tratado de Libre Comercio Andino EEUU) a Free Trade Agreement between Colombia-Ecuador-Peru-United States, are not doing a good job informing their people what this agreement is all about. That is the main complaint I have heard everywhere, and also it is being reported every day in the TV local News.

The government struggles by the constant and growing indigenous protests, and explains that all the information, documents and progress are offered in their website. They invite everyone to read about it. Then, I stop for a moment and meditate about the fact that probably 99% of the thousands of the indigenous people protesting do not have a computer, nor have access to the Internet. Or, maybe the problem is that they do not know how to read. Ha! Ironic, right?

Obviously, there is the possibility of the indigenous groups being financed by political groups that won't benefit from the trade agreement in question. The truth is that political instability is once again the everyday meal of the country. So wrong from every point of view.

Now that you've got the news on local politics, how about preparing a delicious and super easy ceviche de concha, or conch ceviche? One characteristic of the Ecuadorian ceviche is that it is very juicy, almost like a cold soup, it is eaten with a spoon! I have also prepared this recipe using fresh oysters and it is definitely a keeper :)