Blogs from Tambillo, Centre, Ecuador, South America

The next weekend started a little sadly and involved the savage murder of newborn baby rabbits. It wasn´t very pleasant clearing up but it did provide the hawk and eagle with a meal.... I now understand exactly what Elton John was singing about in the Lion King. On to better things, we spent the weekend in Otavalo, a huge tourist market 2 hours outside of Quito selling the most typical South American gifts. Ponchos, hats, trousers, jumpers, paintings and of course, SpongeBob puppets?! We enjoyed a great meal and listened to a traditional South American band at a Peña (a kind of pub). They didn´t take too well to our "La Bamba" request though. The following week at the sanctuary one of resident Green Macaws apparently "flew away." He continously shouted out ´corre, corre´ (run, run) ... read more

Ok, maybe not tigers but certainly lions and bears and sometimes much nearer than anticipated. On Monday 11th I was picked up at 9.30am from Quito by taxi and we headed off in the direction of Tambillo, a small town about an hour away from Quito. The journey was beautiful, lots of green mountains, blue sky, a whole view of Quito and greatly appreciated flat roads. After 45 mins the taxi driver suddenly took a sharp right up a cobbly, steep road where we continued to climb for another 20 mins. As we drove through farm land we soon entered a small lane and the taxi driver pointed and said ´Santa Martha aqui.´ Santa Martha is a shelter set up for animals that were kept illegally as pets, animals that zoos have no room for, or ... read more

I´ve been TERRIBLE about writing, but here are the highlights (and lowlights?) of the first 4 weeks at Sta. Martha. I have one week left here with the animals :( 22 September - Took the bus to the Quito airport and got my luggage! Got to Sta. Martha around noon. An hour bus ride from Quito will run you $0.50 here. But the 15 minute taxi ride (in the back of a white pickup) up the hill to Sta. Martha always costs $3.00. Toured the rescue center. I´m pretty much in love with our coati, who used to be a pet, but her owner got mad at her and burned her eye with a cigarette. She´s blind now and really loves to climb around on you while you clean up her messes. We also have a ... read more