Roommates!

I have some great roommates!


Galo and Marta Cecilia on her birthday.


Marta's Birthday Dinner.


Jessica, indicating her continent of origin.

Its beginning to look a lot like...

Its beginning to look a lot like... Voting Day!


"Museum of Corruption" Notice the Noboa dummy.


"Note: The members of the Assembly have to be of the people/village, not the same corrupt politicians as before. Long live patriotism!"



"Free Thought in Large Plaza"

The vote is obligatory here in Ecuador... can you imagine if that were the case in the States?!? Let's see what happens on September 30th.

Art in Guayaquil

I got to see some great artists' work while on the coast, including Guayasamin.

To sum up Guayaquil:

Much like any other city in the world, Guayaquil is a city of extremes.



Notice the children fishing in the brown Río Guayas, while a pirate-flag flying tourist boat sails by. You can see the reflection of the skyscrapers in the glass.

Guayaquil

I had the opportunity to attend a conference on Conflict Resolution for Educators earlier this week in Guayaquil. Here are some highlights of my free-time:



Tribute to Ecuadorian poet Medardo Angel Silva.



Guayaquil's Pride and Joy: Malecón 2000. A stellar example of urban renewal.



Las Penas Neighborhood, next to River Guayas.



Despite the Malecón's success, Las Penas is more like "Disney Does Urban Revitalization". Notice the untouched cinderblock in the background.


It was nice to visit a warmer, coastal city. People seemed more laid-back and Caribbean, but I feel that I am a Serrana at heart.