Just in case anyone is sending emails to my hotmail account...I haven't been getting them so don't be disappointed if I haven't responded. I know for a fact that a few have been sent to me but I'm not sure why I haven't gotten them. They're out there stuck in cyber space.
Have a great weekend!!!!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
No go on the La Nariz del Diablo train
It feel like I haven´t updated in weeks.
Last Friday 7/24: Spent 3 hours, or close to it, trying to update blog with pictures and a video. Needless to say, technology was not at its best. It was a beautiful day in Quito, however, to be spending outside at the Juan Valdez coffee shop trying to write and update on the happenings here. Didn´t do anything after class but get ready for the weekend.
Saturday 7/25: I was actually proud of myself for traveling solo to Riobamba. I did my homework though, by doing a trial run in going to the new bus terminal earlier in the week with Claire and Carrie. This helped tremendously. So, to start the morning...I got to the Trole at 6:50am but only to be one of 5 others and one guy was EXTREMELY intoxicated. Ended up waiting for the next bus and that was a good decision...I actually got to SIT DOWN for a change. I can count on one hand how many times that has happened. Smooth ride to the new terminal. Now, to get my ticket. Lady at the window was talking muy rapido and I could hardly understand her. Knowing it was only a 3.5 hr ride, and at $1 per hour, that a $5 bill would cover me and it didn´t matter what she was saying. I say to her ¨¿Posible tengo un asiento en el frente, por favor?¨ Si, si. And I got a front seat. (always safer up front by the driver) Ok, now to FIND my bus. She continued to ramble on in spanish and I caught ¨vente nueve¨, which is 29. Ok, what the heck was that all about? Bus 29? It leaves in 29 minutes? So I grab my ticket and attempt to find my bus. If you could have seen me....turning around in circles, one of only a few gringos...once again, and people staring. Low and behold, I find the numbers and locate my bus but it is pulling away. ¨Riobamba, Riobamba!¨I yell. Daing...now what? Well, you just wait for the next bus.
Smooth ride with a 16 year old girl next to me. Had a lovely chat in Spanish....ok, the usual questions that I´m now getting pretty good at. Took a taxi to meet Sarah. Only $1 in Riobamba, no need to ask for Taxi Metro and no one rips you off. Nice!! We hook up with Kathleen and Katie. Had ice cream...the best Tiramisu! Went and met Sarah´s host family and waited for Tyler, Gracie, and Will to come in from Tena. In the mean time, we find out that there were no more tickets for the La Nariz del Diablo train. Chuta!!! This was going to be the highlight of the weekend. Oh well....we found adventure elsewhere.
Saturday all we did was eat...from ice cream to burritos to pizza. Blahhhh.... Walked around and stopped at the market. Found a juice bar that made jugo from the glacial ice from Mt. Chimborazo. See pictures. The juice was very delicious. Oh, in these markets are smoked pigs...everywhere. You see them on the streets. Ick! They sell tongue, cow hooves, every bit of the animal is for sale. Disgusting!
We told him we´d buy the little niña for $1. He was ready to sell.
Check out the high-tech sewing machines! 
Oink, oink!
Glacial ice
Will, Tyler, Kathleen, Katie, Gracie
Last Friday 7/24: Spent 3 hours, or close to it, trying to update blog with pictures and a video. Needless to say, technology was not at its best. It was a beautiful day in Quito, however, to be spending outside at the Juan Valdez coffee shop trying to write and update on the happenings here. Didn´t do anything after class but get ready for the weekend.
Saturday 7/25: I was actually proud of myself for traveling solo to Riobamba. I did my homework though, by doing a trial run in going to the new bus terminal earlier in the week with Claire and Carrie. This helped tremendously. So, to start the morning...I got to the Trole at 6:50am but only to be one of 5 others and one guy was EXTREMELY intoxicated. Ended up waiting for the next bus and that was a good decision...I actually got to SIT DOWN for a change. I can count on one hand how many times that has happened. Smooth ride to the new terminal. Now, to get my ticket. Lady at the window was talking muy rapido and I could hardly understand her. Knowing it was only a 3.5 hr ride, and at $1 per hour, that a $5 bill would cover me and it didn´t matter what she was saying. I say to her ¨¿Posible tengo un asiento en el frente, por favor?¨ Si, si. And I got a front seat. (always safer up front by the driver) Ok, now to FIND my bus. She continued to ramble on in spanish and I caught ¨vente nueve¨, which is 29. Ok, what the heck was that all about? Bus 29? It leaves in 29 minutes? So I grab my ticket and attempt to find my bus. If you could have seen me....turning around in circles, one of only a few gringos...once again, and people staring. Low and behold, I find the numbers and locate my bus but it is pulling away. ¨Riobamba, Riobamba!¨I yell. Daing...now what? Well, you just wait for the next bus.
Smooth ride with a 16 year old girl next to me. Had a lovely chat in Spanish....ok, the usual questions that I´m now getting pretty good at. Took a taxi to meet Sarah. Only $1 in Riobamba, no need to ask for Taxi Metro and no one rips you off. Nice!! We hook up with Kathleen and Katie. Had ice cream...the best Tiramisu! Went and met Sarah´s host family and waited for Tyler, Gracie, and Will to come in from Tena. In the mean time, we find out that there were no more tickets for the La Nariz del Diablo train. Chuta!!! This was going to be the highlight of the weekend. Oh well....we found adventure elsewhere.
Saturday all we did was eat...from ice cream to burritos to pizza. Blahhhh.... Walked around and stopped at the market. Found a juice bar that made jugo from the glacial ice from Mt. Chimborazo. See pictures. The juice was very delicious. Oh, in these markets are smoked pigs...everywhere. You see them on the streets. Ick! They sell tongue, cow hooves, every bit of the animal is for sale. Disgusting!
We told him we´d buy the little niña for $1. He was ready to sell. Check out the high-tech sewing machines! 
Oink, oink! 
Glacial ice
Will, Tyler, Kathleen, Katie, GracieSunday morning we took a bus to Mt Chimborazo. This was about an hour from Riobamba. It was a perfect day and hardly a cloud in the sky.
Sits at 6310 m 
Trivia fact...Chimborazo is 1.5 miles higher than Mt. Everest! Or, if you will, 1.5 miles closer to the moon, stars, and outer space. Yup, it is true. Because of the bulge in the Earth at the equator, if you are standing at the top of Chimbarazo, you are higher than if standing at the top of Everest. Another spectacular feature here in little Ecuador.
Alpacas 
Crazy gringos 
It was terribly windy and cold
There are no bad decisions in Ecuador, only good ones and better ones!!! Ok, so maybe there are things we shouldn't have done but did anyways...well this may be one of them, but I wouldn't change anything for a second! I love the group of gringos that I am with. They are great and tons of fun and are almost as crazy as I am!!
So, after pictures of the mountain and a potty break, we were like...ok, what do we do now? How are we going to get back to Riobamba? No buses were coming by so we did the next best thing...we hitchiked. After a few cars/trucks went by, this pickup stopped and said they would take four people. The 4 were going to go (not me, of course) but then they waved the rest of us over and yup, 9 of us packed into the back of this small pick-up. We were literally on top of (or underneath) each other. It was like a scene from Pretty Women when she had her 46 inches of legs wrapped around him in the bathtub. I thought we'd only go as far as...?? Well, I really didn't know. We ended up riding for almost an hour. My legs were alseep, going over bumps (OUCH!), laughing and singing all the way. We get to the city and at a stoplight (that turned green) they decided to climb out. Don't forget, my legs were asleep and I was going nowhere fast. I'm like...help! I can't move! Tyler, being the kind soul that he is, lifted me out and brought me to safety. Moments later, I was up and running. It was the best ride!!
too bad you can't hear our singing
View from Kathleen's house
Stephanie, Gracie and Timotea (Timothy)
We sat and talked at Kathleen's for about 2 hours. A very deep and meaningful conversation. It's not like I'm with the typical college student. Gracie found out at the internet cafe today that her dad wants to take her to Antarctica for Christmas. This girl will have been to all 7 continents by the sweet ripe age of 20. Wow!
dinner...hamburguesas in the street, soda for $.20
An uneventful ride home Sunday morning. Was able to get my bus ticket (with no problem!), sat next to an indigenous woman and then a stinky indigenous man. Zoikes!
Got back to Quito about noon. Hussled to Spanish class, then back home for lunch. Fell over exhausted and took a siesta after a late lunch.
Random happenings from the weekend:
* Claire went to Tena, got her backpack sliced but nothing lost. She was hoping her dirty socks would have been taken. Stayed at Shangrila...said it was awesome. $90, everything included
* Carrie and her mom went to Papallachta. Got in a car accident on the way. No one hurt but they both needed the relaxation and massage at the spa. I can't wait to go back!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Passing the time...
As I type this, I´m watching young girls about the age of 8-10, standing out in the middle of a VERY busy street, waving a squeege to wash windows. What kids won´t do for a quarter, or even a dime.
This week has flown by. I can´t believe it´s Thursday already and this day, too, is almost over.
-- took another salsa dance lesson
-- had a one-on-one Spanish class, which was great! Possibly three days next week.
-- worked out at the gym and also ran for the first time in Parque Carolina, which is one of the biggest parks in Quito. I couldn´t believe how big this park is and how many people were out enjoying the day. The city is basically like a ghost town on the weekends as everyone (or it seems like it anyways) congregates in the parks... soccer, volleyball, horses, paddle boats, outdoor aeorobics with hundreds of people jammin´ to the music, more soccer, a botanical garden with orchids and roses as the feature, runners, bikers, skateboarders, BMX bike course, etc. This is a great place to just hang out and enjoy the outdoors. I ran and walked for 2 hours. Note to self....don´t forget your quarter for the bathrooms!! Funny...whenever I ask my students what they´ve done on the weekend, many of them answer ¨walk/run in the park, play soccer in the park, play basketball in the park¨. Now I get it. Ecuadorians really are all about the family.
-- am traveling to Riobamba this weekend to see Sarah, Katie, and Kathleen. The Tena folks are also going. Carrie, Claire and I took the trek to the NEW bus terminal to familiarize ourselves. The old one just closed down. It was absolutely disgusting and god knows how it worked but it was convenient. This new one....Sheeeesh!! Took the Trole for an hour, hopped another one and finally got to the terminal after 1.25hrs. It felt like we had driven to another country!! And the best part about it is that if you´re lucky you get to STAND the entire time. Lovely!! It´s no wonder my knees hurt like they do. Oh, and part of the ride was so EXTREMELY packed that it was actually hard to breathe, especially when its hot and armpits are in your face as people are holding on for dear life. The place is really nice but to make matters worse, I found out I couldn´t get my ticket today because you can only get it in a day in advance. Super! This new terminal was built to alleviate all these buses coming into an already congested area of the city. However, it adds an extra hour to our travel time.
-- when I feel that there´s nothing really new to write about, it makes me think that I´ve really settled into life here. Nothing really surprises me anymore.....
* I can find my way around this city! Those who were here last summer might find that hard to believe as I am usually directionally challenged. If nothing else, it is comforting to know where I am going. I don´t turn around and do 360´s anymore and wonder where the hell I am. Taxi´s... no problem. Eco-via, trole, metro buses.... no problem.
I might have a problem DRIVING when I get home though. I miss my car!
* the man sleeping (?) flat on his back, one foot out in the street, on a very busy corner
* being the only gringa on the bus
* taxis that try to rip you off
* stores that sell random items from dolls to wash machines to back packs
* every other ¨garage door¨is a restaurant or hole-in-the-wall
* every OTHER ¨garage door¨is an internet cafe
* women who walk on these awful sidewalks in 3-4 inch HEELS!! How do they do it?
-- every day as I walk up and down Colon St, I feel like I am home....there is a Kohler Co store right next to the Milwaukee Power Tools store. Yup, toilets, tubs, etc. Who knew??
-- Every day we walk for what seems like miles and miles and we are really tired of, but are getting used to all the pollution. The best description of this city.....LIVING IN QUITO IS LIKE SUCKING ON A TAILPIPE
-- my students continue to make me laugh every day. We have so much fun (I just hope they´re learning something). I only have 11 more days with them. YIKES!! That means that the summer is winding down quickly. The only complaint I have with my students is that they do not know the meaning of CLASS STARTS AT 6PM OR 7AM. Many of them are tardy. In fact many of them don´t even own a watch. We call it being on "Ecuadorian time". They just come in whenever they please. Very frustrating. Otherwise they are lovely.
Off to class. Chao!
Much love to all!
This week has flown by. I can´t believe it´s Thursday already and this day, too, is almost over.
-- took another salsa dance lesson
-- had a one-on-one Spanish class, which was great! Possibly three days next week.
-- worked out at the gym and also ran for the first time in Parque Carolina, which is one of the biggest parks in Quito. I couldn´t believe how big this park is and how many people were out enjoying the day. The city is basically like a ghost town on the weekends as everyone (or it seems like it anyways) congregates in the parks... soccer, volleyball, horses, paddle boats, outdoor aeorobics with hundreds of people jammin´ to the music, more soccer, a botanical garden with orchids and roses as the feature, runners, bikers, skateboarders, BMX bike course, etc. This is a great place to just hang out and enjoy the outdoors. I ran and walked for 2 hours. Note to self....don´t forget your quarter for the bathrooms!! Funny...whenever I ask my students what they´ve done on the weekend, many of them answer ¨walk/run in the park, play soccer in the park, play basketball in the park¨. Now I get it. Ecuadorians really are all about the family.
-- am traveling to Riobamba this weekend to see Sarah, Katie, and Kathleen. The Tena folks are also going. Carrie, Claire and I took the trek to the NEW bus terminal to familiarize ourselves. The old one just closed down. It was absolutely disgusting and god knows how it worked but it was convenient. This new one....Sheeeesh!! Took the Trole for an hour, hopped another one and finally got to the terminal after 1.25hrs. It felt like we had driven to another country!! And the best part about it is that if you´re lucky you get to STAND the entire time. Lovely!! It´s no wonder my knees hurt like they do. Oh, and part of the ride was so EXTREMELY packed that it was actually hard to breathe, especially when its hot and armpits are in your face as people are holding on for dear life. The place is really nice but to make matters worse, I found out I couldn´t get my ticket today because you can only get it in a day in advance. Super! This new terminal was built to alleviate all these buses coming into an already congested area of the city. However, it adds an extra hour to our travel time.
-- when I feel that there´s nothing really new to write about, it makes me think that I´ve really settled into life here. Nothing really surprises me anymore.....
* I can find my way around this city! Those who were here last summer might find that hard to believe as I am usually directionally challenged. If nothing else, it is comforting to know where I am going. I don´t turn around and do 360´s anymore and wonder where the hell I am. Taxi´s... no problem. Eco-via, trole, metro buses.... no problem.
I might have a problem DRIVING when I get home though. I miss my car!
* the man sleeping (?) flat on his back, one foot out in the street, on a very busy corner
* being the only gringa on the bus
* taxis that try to rip you off
* stores that sell random items from dolls to wash machines to back packs
* every other ¨garage door¨is a restaurant or hole-in-the-wall
* every OTHER ¨garage door¨is an internet cafe
* women who walk on these awful sidewalks in 3-4 inch HEELS!! How do they do it?
-- every day as I walk up and down Colon St, I feel like I am home....there is a Kohler Co store right next to the Milwaukee Power Tools store. Yup, toilets, tubs, etc. Who knew??
-- Every day we walk for what seems like miles and miles and we are really tired of, but are getting used to all the pollution. The best description of this city.....LIVING IN QUITO IS LIKE SUCKING ON A TAILPIPE
-- my students continue to make me laugh every day. We have so much fun (I just hope they´re learning something). I only have 11 more days with them. YIKES!! That means that the summer is winding down quickly. The only complaint I have with my students is that they do not know the meaning of CLASS STARTS AT 6PM OR 7AM. Many of them are tardy. In fact many of them don´t even own a watch. We call it being on "Ecuadorian time". They just come in whenever they please. Very frustrating. Otherwise they are lovely.
Off to class. Chao!
Much love to all!
Monday, July 20, 2009
Mindo...7/16-7/19
Everyone arrived back in Quito by Thursday. We hopped a bus and headed to Mindo around 1pm. Took about 3 hrs to get there. A little bit about Mindo...its located northwest of Quito and it is a paradise of biodiversity. The area is one of the planet’s richest areas with respect to the concentration of bird species, including hummingbirds (recognized as the bird of Quito), as well as numerous butterflies (40 kinds), insects, amphibians, and mammals. Orchids are also prominant in this area. Mindo is situated between the high temperate area and the tropical rainforest. It rains a lot! It is a small town with about 2500 people. This wonderful and peaceful place is nestled between mountain chains and surrounded by 19'000 hectares of forests.
Looks like a Lady Slipper to me!
Ready, set... 
the butterfly 
Superman
Safety, at last!
Hello, can you see us?
Went to a Frog Concert in the evening. We walked what felt like miles to get to this place. A little "rainforest" within Mindo. It is located at Mindo Lago Hosteria. What a little slice of rainforest heaven. And without fail, the frogs were out in full force entertaining the 50 or so folks with their variations of croaking. Then took a night walk around the place to see cockroaches (at least 4 inches), big spiders, numerous frogs, etc.
Ecuador, banana capital of the world!
Frog concert at Mindo Lago
Stopped at little market for jewelry, etc. Had to also get back in time for batidos (smoothies) at the Swing Bar by the hotel. Delicious~
Went back for more wood-fired pizza at El Nomada, which was fantastic. Jer, I think I got my fill of pizza now. We were joined by Sarah's new Ecua-friends she met in the pool, Jimmy and Daniel.
Looks like a Lady Slipper to me! Stayed at El Gallo de la Pena Hotel. Ok but it felt more hostel-like than a hotel.
Mid-service Thursday afternoon until 7pm. Had wood-fired pizza for dinner. Every other restaurante was a pizza joint. Not sure what was up with that.
Friday all day conference. Beautiful day but didn't get to enjoy it much. Dinner at El Cafe with the group. Saturday, conference til 11:30am. Sarah, Mohammadau and I stayed an extra day/night so we could see mariposas (butterflies), zip-line, and horseback ride. Road in the back of a pick-up truck on way to see butterflies. They were so cool! We dipped our fingers in smooshed bananas to attrack them.
Took in the thrill of zip-lining (canopy) in the afternoon. Oh my gawd!! No worries in Ecuador...just go! At least we had helmets on! 13 different lines that zig-zagged over the canopy of trees. Unbelievable!! And all for the low price of $10!!! We spent over 2 hours walking and CLIMBING from one line to the next. We were with a group of students from Stanford who were fun. The guides were awesome. Never will forget the "Superman" (look mom, no hands!) and "Mariposa" (upside down butterfly). See video for the real thing. I had to do each one twice for twice the thrill!! You know me!
Ready, set... 
the butterfly 
Superman See for yourself!
Safety, at last! Never did get horseback riding. The people said "the horses are being washed!" Whatever! This was the closest we got to them.
Hello, can you see us?Went to a Frog Concert in the evening. We walked what felt like miles to get to this place. A little "rainforest" within Mindo. It is located at Mindo Lago Hosteria. What a little slice of rainforest heaven. And without fail, the frogs were out in full force entertaining the 50 or so folks with their variations of croaking. Then took a night walk around the place to see cockroaches (at least 4 inches), big spiders, numerous frogs, etc.
Ecuador, banana capital of the world!
Frog concert at Mindo LagoStopped at little market for jewelry, etc. Had to also get back in time for batidos (smoothies) at the Swing Bar by the hotel. Delicious~
Went back for more wood-fired pizza at El Nomada, which was fantastic. Jer, I think I got my fill of pizza now. We were joined by Sarah's new Ecua-friends she met in the pool, Jimmy and Daniel.
Photos from Pappallacta
Photo taken from my room window as sun was rising
Spa pool
Public pools
Look closely, a hummingbird 
Town of Papallacta, pipes that provide water to all of Quito
Pools around hotel 
"bed" pool at the spa 
Ahh..hot water massage, spa pools 
A walk in the mountains
My room & swimming at night
View from pool where condor flew over
Mt. Antisana... so white it hurt your eyes
Cool landscape
Mt. Cotopaxi, I have a thing for her!
See all the cows? Farming on side of a mountainA view images from my ride to Pappallacta. My driver was kind enough to stop along the way a few times for those Kodak moments. The day was so clear that he couldn't even believe it.
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