Travel Blog Posts
August 29th 2008
Left for Quito on lunes y arrived after the shortest flight of my entire life. I sat next to a group of friendly old women. The accent in Quito in definitely way different than the costeños, it almost sounds like a different language. However, the sound as though they are singing and it´s fairly easy to understand as long as they are talking directly to me. Anyway, I got to the airport an hour earlier than everyone and had my friends from Guayaquil texting me the whole time asking if I was okay and ¿xq stas siempre solita? Fito, Veronica and I took a taxi to his madrina´s house and it is really big and nice for a one floor apartment. However, it is very far from Hotel Quito where they were staying. Which leads me ... read more
August 7th 2008
I am feeling nostalgic. Hence, my sentences will start with "I". My last couple days were spent on the other side of the spectrum with the people who couldn't afford trivial spending. We went to a skate park near Mall del Sol and I fell on my ass trying to go down a ramp. I was given a skate magazine with pictures of people I actually knew. I walked a lot because taxis were too expensive. I sat in parks with a cup of Pilsener because it is cheaper than going to Malecon. I arrived home at 5:30 AM after an extremely sad and lonely flight that started at the airport 1:00 the day before. Sitting there for 2 hours before my flight all I could do was look out at my city and promise I ... read more
Hey ma, I was having a bad day so I jumped off a bridge and now I feel a lot better
Published: August 2nd 2008South America » Ecuador » Centre » BañosAugust 2nd 2008
Baños finally!!! (after a 5 hour bus ride, not 3.5) Quiero vivir en Baños. si es mejor de mi Guayaquil no puedo decir, pero I LOVE IT. Thepeople, the places to stay, the things to do, the prices. LOVE IT. Oh and it´s really tiny and in my first 2 hours here I had already seen people from the last time, like Edison the Bartender of the Leprachaun. Veronica and I ate at some cute little place and then went to Vulcan Peña, danced, danced, danced, and came home. I love that people here can salsa and merengue and whatnot. In fact, in Baños more people know how than in Guayaquil. That´s actually dancing. (side note, I regret not having kept a journal outside of this, like one that´all train of thought and gets down to ... read more
July 28th 2008
I learned lots of new words today from a guy who calls himself Angel X. He is actually the most gentlemanlike ecutoriano I have met yet. locura, facha,...ya ya ya. Saw this place called Paradise that overlooks the entire city and has an even better view than Las Peñas. When it is rainy there is a waterfall and lots of fruit trees, but not now. Still a beautiful view. Bought my ticket to Quito for tomorrow. Not sure where I am staying yet but I hope Fito got in touch wit his godmother and that works out so I can stay there and save some money. All I know is Teleferico on Tuesday and Baños on Thursday and Friday night (I think). Depending on what Veronica and Fito want to to and how I am feeling ... read more
July 24th 2008
Well, I am not actually in Montañita, but it´s an appropriate title anyway. We were planning on leaving today after class but when our plans just weren´t seeming to work out, we decided not to. That is everyone except Lizzy, who should probably just move there. I still don´t want her to go because it´s super dangerous to drive on that road, especially at night, she´ll be alone, and the entire country will be there this weekend. Ahhh! I´m such a mom. Further, I backed out when I found out the bus we were originally planning to take to Baños ended up crashing and 4 people died, 22 injured. Never going to ride a bus in the dark and I am already scared about riding them during the day. The mountains don´t have good roads and ... read more
Parque Seminario as an Ecuadorian Hippie
Published: July 22nd 2008South America » Ecuador » West » GuayaquilJuly 22nd 2008
Rastas limpias. I did my hair. Dayne, Veronica and I went to Parque Seminario (Iguana Park) today during break to see the iguanas that hang out there all day. There are tons and I petted a big one. I saw my first Ecuadorian squirrel too! It has a black head and striped tail and no fear, as people were feeding him nuts and he just chilled to eat them. Some old man talked to us and thought we were ecuatorianas! QUITO & BAÑOS!!! Veronica and I have a plan for the rest of my time here. All the details are still being worked out, but we are going to Quito on August 1 and staying in a room that we have for free in Hotel Quito. We want to go to Baños and into the Oriente ... read more
July 21st 2008
Sorry NJ, I am moving to Baños. There is so much to say about this past weekend! I have to be sort of brief because I need to go to lunch and then do a ton of homework and projects, but it was definitely my favorite place in all of Ecuador. I was told Guayaquil is the armpit of the country and after this I will agree, even though I love my city. Baños is very tourist oriented, not just to gringos, but also people from the rest of Ecuador. The city is beautiful and peaceful but bustling with interesting people. Since I have every intention of going back there next week I can comment more on the perception later. My weekend: Left directly from school on Friday. Bus from Terminal Terrestre to Ambato at 11:45 ... read more
July 16th 2008
Today, typical of my character, I am frustrated. Part of it is culture shock, part is my company, part is my indefinite plans, and then just a little bit of everything else thrown in. So, some things that I had found interesting and may miss later, but for now they are just irritating: * Toilet paper- because the toilets don´t flush well it is typical to have toilet paper outside of the bathrooms rather than inside the stall and then you throw it in a trash bin. However, when I first got here I kept forgetting this and was just lucky I had those little sanitary wipes mommy gave me. At the school they just NEVER put toilet paper in the bathrooms. Either that or people go and steal it all, which I may end up ... read more
July 14th 2008
No me recuerdo que pasó en miércoles o jeuves pero este fin de semana fuimos a Cuenca. On the way there we stopped at Ingapirca, Incan ruins of the Cañari people. The ride up the mountains was beautiful but extremely painful, scary, and sickening because the roads are dirt and rock and curvy. When we finally got there it was drizzling and freeeeezing. The Incan locals were very friendly and we bought these llama hair sweaters for $10 each. It´s pretty cool looking. Hippity Dippity. I also bought something for sister (not saying what on here!). Now I have gifts for Mom, Dad, sister, a couple friends and boyfriend. The ruins were small but have a lot of history. Apparently there are more all over the place but they don´t have the money to excavate. They ... read more
July 7th 2008
I learned that in Hindu my name means Yes No. How coincidental. Also, Geena means to live. I have been called cynical by my classmates, but they assure me it´s not a bad thing. Today though, I am miserable and cynical and angrily apathetic. That´s not an oxymoron. I DESPISE MY GRAMMAR CLASS. It´s like teachings toddler comma use. I don´t know enough Spanish to be taught how to use all the grammar correctly, in Spanish let alone. Uggh. I don´t need these credits and I want to just drop the morning class so I can spend time in the city like I was hoping I would be able to during this trip. I´m not enjoying it the way I thought I would. Just the school part sucks. There is so much to do here, so ... read more
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