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Published: November 8th 2005
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At the football
Makes the boro crowd look big! ¡Hola! Everyone
Hope everyone is still well. Hoping the party for the little man was good and that he got lots of new toys. HAPPY BDAY Ollie!
Since my last update i´ve spent the majority of my time in Quito which sounds pretty dull. Though during this time I´ve left the crazy womans house and moved into gringolandia where all the money i´ve spent on spanish lessons hasnt gone to waste with the brits and auzzies in the hostal. Though with another swiss guy at the school, Miguel, we´ve been attempting to talk to the locals more. We get a few funny looks from the barmaids but ended up one night being dragged down to the locals club which opens after everything shuts. It was a bit weird and i think we´ll leave it at that. I´m also hoping to get some photos off miguel of some of the nights out in Quito.
On the weekend of moving out i got to see some football. It was great to watch for even none football fans as there are always a ridiculous number of goals in Ecuadorian football. Alan Hansen would have a fair few things to say about
Tue night
Usual warm up in the mongolian bbq for $1 cocktails
l to R Cath, Me, Keith, Liz, De, Miguel and Charlie the defending. Though the organisation of the games is typical ecuadorian. No one has a clue when the games start and who should be playing.
The week after was a bit of a party week with many of the old students coming back to Quito for one reason or another. We had a big night on tue and then the next day was a big national holiday with what they call day of the dead! (and i fitted in well after the previous night). The locals celebrate by going to the graves of loved ones and eating food round the grave and having a bit of a party. In fact the week was just full of holidays tue - thur was really quite in Quito and i think the only people working were the teachers at the school.
Another weekend came so i decided to escape Quito again. A short bus trip away is a market town called Otavalo in the andean highlands. Every saturday the town gets taken over by the market. I decided to jump off the bus early and see the animal market. At the market I saw the biggest pigs in the world. Sorry
The Pigs
Betting began shortly after if the pics offend anyone, they probably shopuld be censored. There were 2 of these pig cow hybrid things, which then decided to do the typical male thing and have a bit of a scrap. Bit surreal seeing these pigs fight while flinging the two tiny ecuadorian men all over the market.
After the animals came the fruit and crafts market. It was good to try some of the different fruit and sample the different foods of the market, but for the craft market, once you´ve seen one poncho you´ve seen them all.
The rest of the day was spent trekking round Otavalo with a swiss guy i met in the animal market. It was great fun and a real surprise as i didnt realise there where the lagunas around Otavalo. Once back fed on the local cuisine of soup, meat and rice (as every where in ecuador) we were ready for the nightlife of Otavalo!
This soley consists of the cockfighting ring or pit. It was the strangest thing to watch. Before the events got underway, all the local men were just out side the ring at the weigh in with their prize birds, while the
The Pigs
The chinese owner saw a years supply of spare ribs rest of the family is waiting to support the family pet. From what i could gather it was two teams and the winner of each fight took the money and there was a big pot to collect for the winning team at the end. (I´ll put the pics at the end so if anyone wants to ignore them they can) A little disturbing to watch but like a car crash you cant help but look at these chickens attempting kung foo.
Anyway it was back to Quito on the sunday with a slight problem with the bus breaking down once in the mountains and then kicking everyone out as soon as the bus was in the outskirts of Quito. But got back alright and recieved the good news of the Utd v Chelsea game. Thanks everyone for the updates on the football. I´m really enjoying the emails and comments, keep them coming.
I am now the only student at the school. Well i thought i was until a dutch girl has turned up for the week. So not quite flying solo.
The other bigs news i got this weekend was that all the plans for volunteering next
The Market
Lovely melons week had gone through. So im off to the jungle, its near the town Puyo and will be teaching kids and conservation work i think. So the emails might be less frequent.
Hope your all well,
Speak to you soon
Dave
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SUE & PHIL DAVE & LINDA
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CLUBING FOR OLDIES 228 YEARS BETWEEN US
Hola Dave we are still travelling and now at Dave and Lindas via Grandads. Ollie has had a fantastic few days of celebrations and despite being under the weather has put on a good show for everyone. You were missed but toasted on your travels. Uncle Dave had a birthday yesterday and is now trying to make us all feel old. Dad and I go home tomorrow. Love from all here your Email was brill. Mum and Dad xx