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Published: April 25th 2011
Hacienda Pacalqui
Stood on the Panamerican Highway next to the sign for Hacienda PicalquiWhat a fanatstic 2 months spent at the Hacienda Picalqui...can't believe it has gone so quickly. I left the farm 2 weeks ago but have been so busy since, I haven't managed to update the blog so I am now doing it from just over the border in Peru where I arrived early on Easter Sunday.
I left the farm with many happy memories and many new friends and in particular Fred, the French American volunteer coordinator, and the Ayala family; Edwin, Maggie, their cute little daughters Michaela and Pachita, their Minnesota volunteer Justin, four dogs (though the unfortunate puppy Cannabis was stolen) 5 cats, a pig, countless chickens and the endless stram of colleagues and visitors that seemed to arrive. Needless to say Edwin likes a busy house! I spent many happy days at Edwin's farm (a neighbouring farm to our own volunteer Hacienda) helping out in his greenhouse which he started building building in early January and is already starting to bear fruit...looking forward to seeing the pictures in 3 months time! Maggie's cooking was also a treat and I never went hungry, be it after a tough Wednesday morning at the Colegio Nacional de Tabacundo and my
Cayambe Volcano
The spectacular Volcan Cayambe, Ecuador´s third highest mountain, just a stone´s throw from the farm. English classes of 45+ students, or before an afternoon's graft on the farm.
Every bit as memorable as the days on Edwin's farm, were the evenings! Many a night myself, Edwin and Fred would sit around the table with a bottle (or two!) of Norteño and set the world to rights. Edwin is such a knowledgable guy but it is the way he parts with his knowledge that is special...he really commands an audience...and this was the main reason that many a night would finish up in the wee, small hours! Edwin's birthday night and the night his two Colombian friends arrived unannounced were particularly memorable!
And to the volunteer farm itself...I spent many an enjoyable afternoon with Fred in the "Huerta" preparing the seed beds, planting crops, chatting about all manner of subjects, and harvesting and selling the produce in the local villages. Good times! There was also a steady stream of volunteers, mainly from Germany and the U.S. and the Ecuadorian families on the farm were good fun - particularly the kids - you could not walk anywhere on the farm without kids hanging off every available limb or looking to be spun around or thrown
up in the air...and I mustn´t forget the birthday message they so diligently prepared for Robin and Martin...gracias chicos!
Great times and many great memories from my time on the Hacienda!
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Marianne
non-member comment
awesome
Hey Gordy, Sounds absolutely fantastic so far! Very much looking forward to hearing about the next part of your travels. Maybe see you in Caracas at some point?! Take care xxxx