Blogs from Mindo, North, Ecuador, South America

so the other morning, a week or so ago, i woke up and wanted to brush my teeth but there was no pure water anywhere to be found.......so i used beer =) hahaha it was delicious, brilliant vicki we made it to mindo yesterday and this is a tropical cloud forest birdwatcher paradise. yesterday we walked into a little garden where there were hummingbird feeders and sat down for a few minutes....no lie, there were at least 50 hummingbirds all different colors shapes and sizes....it was amazing! we´re going to head back to Quito tomorrow and then into the Amazon on the 30th. check out the new pictures we put up yesterday. have a great day!... read more

A bullet-point summary of things I did, received, and watched in Mindo this weekend. --I stayed in a cabaña for $15 a night that included breakfast, a free (kind of working) dryer, two pools, a water slide, and warm blankets. (See photo) --I walked across a bridge in said cabaña complex that I was 99% sure would break and throw me into the creek below. One of the planks was loose and the supporting boards were at various stages of sliding out. (See photo) --I jumped into a pool with friends late at night, only to find out the next morning that it was an alarming, greenish-yellow color. We arrived at our cabins after dark and had yet to see the site in daylight. --I lost a ring. It didn't have huge sentimental value (I bought ... read more

Flew back to Quito for the weekend and stayed in the newer Mariscal Sucre area for a different view of Quito. Great location right on Plaza Foch in Nu-House Boutique Hotel. Was so nice to spoil ourselves with HOT showers, TV and someone to do the laundry ! On Saturday night the plaza was loud and wild until about 4am when the street was lined with taxis taking everyone home. We were surrounded by bars, dance clubs, shops and restaurants. Great environment. The streets were packed, not with tourists but with locals. Everyone dressed to the nines, out on the town. We got up early on Sunday morning to walk to the park. The police close down quite a few streets in Quito on Sundays so that families can bike through town. There were lots of ... read more

We have been in the West Andean town of Mindo since we arrived back in Quito. It is a small town in the mountains surrounded by lush rainforest and we have been treking constantly since our arrival! It has also been raining almost continously since we got here and I am soaking wet right now! We are camping near town in a guava orchard. The birding here has been spectacular with lots of Toucans, Hummingbirds and Tanagers. The folks here are quite friendly, although a little to friendly to Jen.... read more

I had a terrible nights sleep. It has done nothing but rain since I got here. The bird watch trip didn’t happen due to the rain. Last night I was kept awake by the rain on the tin roof, the dirty musty feel of the room and the sheets and the noise of someone walking downstairs. At one stage I thought if I could jump a donkey to get out of this place and back to Quito I would do that. It is so horrible here. Every time I do fall asleep I have nightmares and end up awake again. So I decide to listen to my Spanish tutorials. Spanish Vocabulary one. The tutorial starts of “how do we say horrible in Spanish, That’s right horreeeblee, now Now how do you say “I want to get ... read more

After a good night’s sleep (my first real one since leaving OZ), although tempted to sit comfortable in the hostel I forced myself to get out of my comfort zone and I packed my small backpack (leaving my larger one at the hostel in Quito) and headed off to the bus station at the local park . Boarding a bus to travel across town to the north, to disembark and buy another bus ticket getting on the bus to Mindo, the area of the forest called the forest in the clouds, renowned for rafting, tubing, treetop walked and the largest biodiversity of birdlife anywhere on the planet. Following the route advised by a web site I was very proud of myself navigating with impoverished Spanish and with the help of a few people who could see ... read more

Somebody has to do it. Take the kids abroad. So I gathered up 10 mothers & girls and took them on an “adventure of sorts” to Ecuador. Birdwatching with Adios Adventure Travel. I promised it wouldn’t hurt. They were reluctant. After all, I did attempt to summit Cotopaxi Volcano, over 19,000 ft, at 53 years old. We’ll save that story for another time. I felt a little like Juliette Gordon Low, (the founder of the Girl Scouts.) “Follow me, girls,” I decreed, when I approached Hilary Clinton’s detachment of suited agents & asked if they could arrange a meeting for us during her visit to the Presidential Palace in Quito & on whose red carpets we were scuffing our dirty shoes as we toured the palace. “Follow me, girls” I yelled at 4 am as we ... read more