Blogs from Ibarra, North, Ecuador, South America - page 2

The first morning in Ecuador was cold. The temperatures had hovered around 40 degrees the night before and the morning was cool. This was a nice break from the 103 temps we had left behind in Kansas City the previous day. Dwayne and I met up with the rest of the group at breakfast. After the introductions and greetings, the first thing I was told was to try the orange juice. There was a glass of a slightly off color orange substance sitting at my place. I picked it up and took a drink and it didn't taste anything like orange juice. However, since I didn't yet know the sense of humor of the group I drank it and said it was good. Jeff, who I had just met said, "Really!?!?" Apparently this was a drink ... read more

Imbabura - Ibarra... read more

He conocido muchas personas amistoso en Ecuador, y quiero rendir homenaje a ellos con este blog. Juan Guerrero, mi profesor de Espanol en Otavalo: Juan es un profesor con mucha paciencia, y reconoce con facilidad las necesidades de sus estudiantes. El reconoció que había problemas, y su enseñanza ajustada a darme más práctica. Juan también tiene un gran sentido del humor y me gusta pasar tiempo con él. La familia Davalos: Cuando me puse en contacto con el Club de Planeadores Ecuador, Remy Dávalos me llamó a mí se inició con el club. Remy y su familia me adoptó y se aseguró que estaba bien cuidado, que me recogió de mi hotel todos los fines de semana, y me llevó al aeropuerto para volar. La esposa de Remy, Mónica, preparó muchas comidas por nosotros al aeropuerto. ... read more

As on my first hike to the Lagunas de Piñan I had not found a good way down, and as Anibal had suggested a good return trip ending in some hot termas I went again to Iruguincho. Anibal had said the trip could be done in 2 days on horseback. As Anibal was not around, I found a local horse guide. It took some time to locate him and to get going, but finally we had gone to the pasture, he captured and prepared the horses and off we went. We did not go that far, though.... We climbed some steep path, persuaded the horses with some difficulty to ross a river, went underneath lots of bushes and up a steep trail again. Well, and then I was just thinking 'hey, the horse is toppling over ... read more

Ok, I thought for a while whether I should post this or not. I know now all of you will think I am even more crazy than you already thought I am. But first read and then think about it and then maybe you don't find it that crazy any more. I had been wanting to do that trek for a few months now and already in April had met the prospective guide, a national park ranger, who had been recommended by Patricio. However, in April he said the páramo was still too wet and suggested I call him again in June. We subsequently spoke a number of times, but the weather was always bad, or he did not have time. Since I was running out of time now, though, I finally decided to go by ... read more