I have now left the coast and am back up in Banos, looking out the window at majestic Tungurahua volcano as I type this blog entry. I am usually in bed by 8:00 or 9:00 pm at the latest, sleeping thru long and peaceful nights (with only occasional startled awakenings thinking about something I forgot to do at Mandala!) No more doggie howling sessions (with Lalo taking the lead and the others joining in, BonBon’s high-pitched, pre-adolescent yip audible above the rest). No more late nights, wishing I were already in bed while waiting for the kitchen staff to finish cleaning [View Full Entry]

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Greetings from Hosteria Mandala where I am again filling in while the owners do some travelling! Upon my return to Ecuador from the US, I took a taxi to Maggie’s house where my truck was stored during my visit to the US. Alas, it wouldn’t start but I had backed in so I was able to push it out. Once I did so, I saw a huge puddle of oil on the floor of the garage. OH NO! We should have put a diaper under Morci!! A kind passing taxi driver helped me try to push start my truck, but to [View Full Entry]

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Arriving in LA, Claire was at the airport to meet me. It was nice to spend a couple of days with her and Sam in their lovely beachfront apt. I enjoyed catching up with my nephew a bit, and taking long walks along the beach with Claire. She drove me down to Dad’s place, about an hour south. It’s always an interesting experience to spend a week in Dad's Leisure World Senior Community and get a glimpse of his daily routine. I camped out on a futon on his living room floor, went walking with him and his sweet doggie Benny, [View Full Entry]

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My last morning in Quito I awakened to the rosy glow of Cotopaxo Volcano, breathtaking as seen from Leonore's home in Bellavista neighborhood. I was able to store my truck in Maggie's garage, so we got Morci tucked away before I headed for the airport. In the boarding lounge, I had noticed two very refined, well-dressed Ecuadorian women (Quitenas) and they ended up being my seatmates. In the moments prior to take-off they donned face masks, rubbed sanitizing gel on their hands and then put on rubber gloves. I overheard them ask the flight attendant why no one else was [View Full Entry]

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I'm here in Quito, getting ready to fly out to Panama and then California....but before I leave Ecuador I want to share my adventures of the past month. Since leaving Mandala, I've done a variety of things with different groups of friends... The day after I finished my hotel management stint, I invited my adopted family for a picnic on the beach. We hiked to a small, secluded beach that I'd always wanted to visit. To celebrate Beatriz's birthday which happened to fall on Father's Day this year, I prepared a big picnic lunch and everyone helped carry the goodies on [View Full Entry]

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Well, I've completed my 4 month stint managing Hosteria Mandala. It's been a real adventure, and an experience I plan to repeat. I can hardly believe it myself! I've learned a lot, about managing employees, about dealing with tourists, about balancing the books - but most of all I've learned a lot about myself. I will miss having my room cleaned for me every day and having my laundry done (washed, dried, ironed & folded!). All of the employess were so kind and helpful to me. The gals who cleaned my room would set up Chaco's little stuffed tiger toy next [View Full Entry]

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Greetings from Hosteria Mandala in Puerto Lopez on the southern coast of Manabi, Ecuador. I have been working here as hotel manager while the owners are on vacation. There is never a dull moment in this job, and in this blog entry I'll try to give you an idea of what my day to day life has been like the past two months (and will be like for the next two months). Having said that, every day is different and from one moment to the next anything can happen...this business throws you curve balls, and I LIKE THAT!! I have included [View Full Entry]

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Here it is, a full month after my birthdayand I´m just now getting around to posting this blog entry! (I was born February 15, 1960 - you do the math if you want to know how old I am!) The fun began a week before my birthday as I took a trip up to Manta (2 hours north) for a visit with the chiropractor (ah!) and a beauty treatment (manicure/pedicure, waxing, facial) I need all the help I can get! On the 13th of Feb I headed south 1 hour to Montañita where I met my friends Jody, Bobby, Karl & [View Full Entry]

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Thanks for your patience, loyal blog readers. I know it's been almost 8 weeks since I last published a blog entry, but I've been on the move and spending time with LOTS of visitors! Much as I tried to get this up and published before I started my new job, I was unable to do so. Here I am, my 2nd day back at work at Hosteria Mandala and I'm using my afternoon break to get this blog written and zinging its way thru cyberspace. The best news is that Mandala has installed WiFi since I was last here in October...a [View Full Entry]

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First of all, let me wish a HAPPY, HEALTHY New Year to all of my blog readers! Here´s hoping that 2009 treats you oh so fine!! I am very grateful to my new friend, Maggie, who loaned me her apartment in Quito while she was travelling in Peru. I stayed for 10 days in a luxury furnished flat, complete with bathtub (ah!), washer & dryer, internet access, TV, and all the comforts of home along with a lovely terrace view of Quito´s northern new town area. Morci (my pick-up) especially appreciated the private garage with electric door! From Maggie´s place it [View Full Entry]

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