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I wish I lived in CUENCA....
Just got back from Cuenca… We left on Sunday the 26th. Our flight was scheduled for nine am, and of course I woke up at an ungodly hour (6 am) worried about making the plane. We got there in plenty of...
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Black water, Squirrel Monkeys, and the occasional Caiman
I have often thought that exploring the Amazon was too exotic to even contemplate. Watching it on National Geographic, the rainforest seemed distant, full of strange animals, and maybe a little scary....
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Hanging out...
No interesting new places to report on. This weekend has been a relaxing one, walking around Quito, grading midterms, trying out Bolivian empanadas. This has been a run-of-the-mill weekend, so that's...
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Greg's Birthday in Baños
Banos is known for its cuy, or guinea pig:This weekend we decided to go to Baños for Greg’s birthday. We thought it would be enjoyable to get out of Quito and enjoy some fresh mountain air. Baños is...
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Rising Waters in Tena
Some of the best whitewater rafting in the world can be found in Ecuador. I haven’t been since I was in college and Greg has never been, so I figured it would be a great adventure for our mini vacation...
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On Crime
Crime is one of the more frequent topics of conversation here among our gringo friends. Everyone has a story, personal or second hand. I will share a few, because perhaps the five people that read my...
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Quito, a dentist's wonderland
I went to my dentist again today for the fourth time in a month. She should have been alive during the Inquisition. Her lack of empathy to my grunts and moans of pain surely would have been an asset as...
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Baking at Altitude
The weather has completely changed here in Quito starting this week. After months (and months!) of dreary, cold rain, the city feels reborn. All of our friends had commented on how depressed and dismal...
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Referendum in Ecuador
There has been build up all week long for the referendum vote here on Saturday. All Ecuadorians are required to vote, so many people have had to travel this weekend to vote where they are registered. A...
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Climbing the Basilica Towers
The weather has turned much more pleasant in Quito than it has been in months (and months!). I proposed to a couple of friends that we go to the Basilica del Voto Nacional to enjoy the Old Town of...
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40th Anniversary Party
We had a 40th anniversary party for two of our friends last night. Forty Years! Amazing. As one half of a newly-wed couple, that number is daunting. I know Greg's and my first year together has had...
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Ultimas Noticias Race
I managed my first race at 9000 feet above sea level this past weekend! It was such a good time. I decided to be ambitious and NOT train and attempt to finish a 15 km race through the hilly streets of...
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Plans, plans, plans...
If there's one word that characterizes me the best, it would probably be planner. Which is why I love traveling, because I can plan all kinds of things - budgets, entertainment, hotels, hikes,...
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Cotopaxi - Symbol of Ecuador
Perhaps Ecuador’s most famous tourist site (aside from the Galapagos, of course) is Cotopaxi volcano. It is not far from Quito and on a clear day it is visible as we head south from our school on the...
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Traveling Peru - Part 1 Cusco and Machu Picchu
I'm going to keep these postings brief, because I haven't been very good at updating, and there is soooo much to talk about that I'll end up boring myself and my readers, too! We left Quito on June 28...
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Traveling Peru - Part 2 Puno, Arequipa, and the Colca Canyon
A photo op at the highest point en route to Lake TiticacaThe high Andes mountainsInca ruins at RaqchiThe relief Greg and I felt returning to Cusco was overwhelming. We couldn't wait to get a HOT shower...
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Back to School!
So, we have returned to teaching amid much brouhaha here in my school. Ecuador's Ministry of Education changed the school days, and our school complied with the new schedule and classes. For us...
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Finca Pomorrosa
I spent two weeks on the coast in Ecuador at an organic farm called Finca Pomorrosa. I initially found the farm on the internet, and the program sounded interesting, so I decided to go for it. I guess...
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Traffic Jams
Coming home from school today on our bus we had our first traffic accident! First of all, I think it is amazing that we haven't had an accident before. People swerve in and out of lanes without even...
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