Caution: Danger of Impact.
Other people riding the teleférico.
4,050 meters above sea level.
Steve and I atop Pichincha.
Jess ponders hiking up the volcano.
Tuesday, August 28
Tele-FUN-ico!
Last Saturday, SteveO, Jess (a nice Aussie lass) and I took a trip on the teleférico to the top of Mt. Pichincha.
Caution: Danger of Impact.
Other people riding the teleférico.
4,050 meters above sea level.
Steve and I atop Pichincha.
Jess ponders hiking up the volcano.
Caution: Danger of Impact.
Other people riding the teleférico.
4,050 meters above sea level.
Steve and I atop Pichincha.
Jess ponders hiking up the volcano.
Sweet Bread
Apparently 'sweet bread' in the states signifies cow brains. Here, pan dulce is fantastic. Here is an example of a turtle-shaped, sugar-coated cheese bread:
It was delicious. Right down to its little turtle-feet.
It was delicious. Right down to its little turtle-feet.
Sunday, August 12
Baños
Friday, 10 de Agosto, Ecuador celebrated 198 years of independence from España. Most people had Friday off, so everyone and their brother went to Baños, a 4 hour bus ride from Quito.
Think: Jersey shore but 4,000 feet above sea level nestled between an active volcano and a river. Instead of swimming in the ocean, people bathe in thermal pools heated by the volcano or hike down to the waterfalls. Rather than chugging down the Budweisers, tourists have a nice trago de jugo de caña.
We hiked up to the Virgin of Baños... a hike + 614 steps!
Carlos, me, Stephen, Renee, Kathy. Oh, and the Virgin.
Notice the Emergency Volcano Evacuation Route in the background.
View from behind the Virgin.
We rode the Chiva Bus because it was too muddy to bike or hike to check out the waterfalls.
At the bottom of the waterfall. We should be in a Tesalia (bottled water) ad.
Think: Jersey shore but 4,000 feet above sea level nestled between an active volcano and a river. Instead of swimming in the ocean, people bathe in thermal pools heated by the volcano or hike down to the waterfalls. Rather than chugging down the Budweisers, tourists have a nice trago de jugo de caña.
We hiked up to the Virgin of Baños... a hike + 614 steps!
Carlos, me, Stephen, Renee, Kathy. Oh, and the Virgin.
Notice the Emergency Volcano Evacuation Route in the background.
View from behind the Virgin.
We rode the Chiva Bus because it was too muddy to bike or hike to check out the waterfalls.
At the bottom of the waterfall. We should be in a Tesalia (bottled water) ad.
Mitad del Mundo
I took the bus to the Equator today and visited both tourist attractions.
One is accurate, the other is not.
The French primarily funded the Equator expedition several hundred years ago; however, they mis-calculated by about a quarter of a mile. (This was before GPS, of course.)
Me, lying across the (fake) Equator. (Technically my whole body is in the Southern Hemisphere.)
I'm in the Southern Hemisphere, and Steve is in the Northern Hemisphere. (This is actually pretty telling of our relationship.)
Proof that this is the real Equator: as the water is drained from the sink, there is no clockwise or counter-clockwise swirly. Pretty cool, eh? (PS- it's true: the toilets flush the other way here. I was going to post a picture, but decided you, the reader, would take my word for it.)
One is accurate, the other is not.
The French primarily funded the Equator expedition several hundred years ago; however, they mis-calculated by about a quarter of a mile. (This was before GPS, of course.)
Me, lying across the (fake) Equator. (Technically my whole body is in the Southern Hemisphere.)
I'm in the Southern Hemisphere, and Steve is in the Northern Hemisphere. (This is actually pretty telling of our relationship.)
Proof that this is the real Equator: as the water is drained from the sink, there is no clockwise or counter-clockwise swirly. Pretty cool, eh? (PS- it's true: the toilets flush the other way here. I was going to post a picture, but decided you, the reader, would take my word for it.)
Little Bun
On Sunday, I took the bus up to the hill in the middle of the city for the panoramic view. It is cutely called the “little bun” or panecillo.
Here the virgin of Quito is perched over looking the city, where kiosks sell everything from handbags to lunches to hot chocolate.
During the windy days of summer, families come up here to fly kites dressed in winter coats and hats.
The man of gas
I realize how I take utilities for granted in the States. For example, the default setting is not to have a choice between cold or hot potable water any hour of the day. For most people here, the water is not safe to drink fresh from the tap. You either have to boil it or purchase water. (Not very sustainable, eh?)
In order to have hot water (to wash dishes, take a shower, etc) you must consult “el hombre del gas” (the gas man). El hombre del gas drives around every morning, starting at 6:00 AM, tooting his horn. Beep-BEEP-BEEP: The man of gas is here! You wave him down, and you trade in the old tank to get a new full gas tank.
Before taking a (warm) shower, you must light the pilot light on the Califon (hot water heater). Just remember to turn off the pilot light after your shower, or you’ll have to wave down the man of gas again tomorrow.
The plus side is that I now take shorter, less frequent showers.
In order to have hot water (to wash dishes, take a shower, etc) you must consult “el hombre del gas” (the gas man). El hombre del gas drives around every morning, starting at 6:00 AM, tooting his horn. Beep-BEEP-BEEP: The man of gas is here! You wave him down, and you trade in the old tank to get a new full gas tank.
Before taking a (warm) shower, you must light the pilot light on the Califon (hot water heater). Just remember to turn off the pilot light after your shower, or you’ll have to wave down the man of gas again tomorrow.
The plus side is that I now take shorter, less frequent showers.
Sunday, August 5
Why did I bother to bring an alarm clock?
This lady and her rooster buddy do a good job of waking me up.
Mindo!
In order to take a break from the pollution, Steve and I visited a small town in the "half-rain-forest" called Mindo. Here are some highlights!
"Tarabita" or as some would say, "jaula" (cage). Yes, we rode this across a river valley!
Not thrilled about the Tarabita.
At least there was a pretty waterfall.
Mindo is at a lower altitude than Quito, so it was a bit warmer and there were lots of tropical plants... (a botanist I'm not- but they looked pretty!).
Medio-Bosque! (Half rain-forest!)
Horses frolicking in the Guayaba tree fields.
Feasting butterfly.
"Tarabita" or as some would say, "jaula" (cage). Yes, we rode this across a river valley!
Not thrilled about the Tarabita.
At least there was a pretty waterfall.
Mindo is at a lower altitude than Quito, so it was a bit warmer and there were lots of tropical plants... (a botanist I'm not- but they looked pretty!).
Medio-Bosque! (Half rain-forest!)
Horses frolicking in the Guayaba tree fields.
Feasting butterfly.
Hills, mountains, volcanoes- Oh my!
Quito is surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, making for dramatic vistas in every direction!
Notice Cotopaxi, the snow-capped volcano in the distance.
Our street.
Notice Cotopaxi, the snow-capped volcano in the distance.
Our street.
Colonial Quito
Quito is one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites. Recently I had the opportunity to learn about the old city sector. Here are some highlights!
Spaniards are credited for importing architecture popular in Madrid.
This church is celebrated because an Indigenous artist completed the carvings.
Spaniards are credited for importing architecture popular in Madrid.
This church is celebrated because an Indigenous artist completed the carvings.
Settled in Quito!
Sorry this posting is a bit tardy, but I can blame it on the hora Ecuatoriana now, can't I?
Saludos de Quito! Stephen and I arrived on July 25th (after 26 hours of traveling on 3 trains and 2 planes). We spent the first week in a German-owned B&B in a northern Quito residential neighborhood, exploring Quiteño neighborhoods to find a place to live. After seeing many apartments, we finally were offered a room on top of our Spanish school. We share the kitchen with the school, and have the whole building to ourselves on the weekend. Good deal!
View from the balcony.
Our street, overlooking downtown Quito.
The school is a non-profit organization that helps to fund a home for handicapped children that the school director's family runs. There are usually no more than 5 Spanish students at a time, which allows the teachers and students to really get to know each other. The teachers and staff are really down-to-earth, kind & dedicated people. I feel really lucky to be here!
The adjustment to life in Quito is going... alright. The first few days I felt like a heifer, huffing and puffing while navigating Quito's hilly roads and thin air. Sometimes the pollution (think LA smog but at 10,000 feet!) makes my sinuses hurt. Experiencing culture shock really exacerbates my moods: I've had extreme highs and lows. Luckily I've experienced this before first-hand and learned about it at SIT so I feel better prepared to deal with it.
The pollution, congestion and city chaos has made the adjustment really difficult for Steve. Luckily we now have a place to live and he is going to start Spanish tomorrow so he won't have to leave our (relatively) tranquil neighborhood that often.
Saludos de Quito! Stephen and I arrived on July 25th (after 26 hours of traveling on 3 trains and 2 planes). We spent the first week in a German-owned B&B in a northern Quito residential neighborhood, exploring Quiteño neighborhoods to find a place to live. After seeing many apartments, we finally were offered a room on top of our Spanish school. We share the kitchen with the school, and have the whole building to ourselves on the weekend. Good deal!
View from the balcony.
Our street, overlooking downtown Quito.
The school is a non-profit organization that helps to fund a home for handicapped children that the school director's family runs. There are usually no more than 5 Spanish students at a time, which allows the teachers and students to really get to know each other. The teachers and staff are really down-to-earth, kind & dedicated people. I feel really lucky to be here!
The adjustment to life in Quito is going... alright. The first few days I felt like a heifer, huffing and puffing while navigating Quito's hilly roads and thin air. Sometimes the pollution (think LA smog but at 10,000 feet!) makes my sinuses hurt. Experiencing culture shock really exacerbates my moods: I've had extreme highs and lows. Luckily I've experienced this before first-hand and learned about it at SIT so I feel better prepared to deal with it.
The pollution, congestion and city chaos has made the adjustment really difficult for Steve. Luckily we now have a place to live and he is going to start Spanish tomorrow so he won't have to leave our (relatively) tranquil neighborhood that often.
Friday, August 3
PEI, the reason for the trip to Canada
Last but not least, a month late, I bring you: photos from Prince Edward Island!
Lupins lounging in the wind.
Perfect little house on the water.
Lupins lounging in the wind.
Perfect little house on the water.
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