Blogs from Ecuador, South America - page 621

Today we got up really early and got into dinghies to take a tour of the mangroves. While we were there a whole group of blue-footed boobies were getting their meal. We watched as they all flew around and then simultaneously dive-bombed the water to grab something to eat. They continuously did this. We all just sat watching in amazement. As they plunged into the water it looked as if the hundreds of them all suddenly dropped dead. Luckily I was able to get a video of this. Around the mangroves we also saw stingrays, sea turtles, sharks and lots of birds. After the mangroves we went back to our boat and went to Baltra where we got on a plane to go back to Quito.... read more

Yes, that´s right...it´s the middle of the week, Wednesday, which means today is humpday! I´m so worn out too...oh well, let´s start with yesterday: YESTERDAY (6-20) ***Ecuador vs. Germany*** Germany wins 3-0...a tough game, tough loss. Even though during the game, while I was watching, it seemed that for the most part, during the game, we had great posession of the ball, and made good choices. At least our offense made good choices. I think Ecuador has a very strong midfield and good attackers, but the problem lies on their defense. They have an amazing keeper, for the majoritiy of the time, that´s not the problem. And their defense has supurb acceracy...it´s just they can´t really read the game well and don´t know what to do half the time. Talent is great, but what good is ... read more

Decided being the daredevils we are to go white water rafting down the river in Baños. Set off around 9.15 with a group of 6 others. After about 20K we arrived at the start point to find a large contingent of the army practicing jumping off bridges. Got changed in open air huts (seperate boy and girl ones thank god!) and got set to go with our Brazilian guides David and Marcio who spoke hardly any English (eek!). With some basic instructions understood among us (i.e. forward means paddle forward, back, paddle back, forward twice means paddle fast) we got going. All went well, we hit a couple of rapids, we all squealed as we got drenched. Got to another rapid and Mike and I and another girl disappeared off the side! Fun you might think ... read more

This morning we got onto boats that would take us to the other boats which we would be living on for four days. The boat ride was about 2 and a half hours and many people got sick. The boats were the Yolita and the Seaman. I got onto the Seaman which was the nicer of the two. The Yolita apparently smelled of diesel and permanently tilted to one side. Each boat had a crew of about eight. Our professor Tony from U of T was on my boat and our professor from GAIAS, Diego was on the Yolita. The two boats were supposed to stay together the whole trip but on the second or third day the Yolita went in a different direction and so we didn’t have any lectures during the boat trip.... read more

After spending a wonderful two days in Mindo jumping off 30ft waterfalls and racing down the rapids on a tube under the hot Ecuadorian sun, it´s back to the reality of Quito. Yes, I am sitting in my adopted brother's (Alejandro) room with one of the winners of the Ecuadorian equivalent of Popstars (Television singing contest where the winners form a pop group), watching a TV programme about a man having breast implants to make him look like Pamela Anderson. More mas tarde, T... read more