I hadn't even thought about writing a blog for this trip, but I realized that I have a terrible memory and this is the best way for me to remember all those details that make an adventure amazing. And, it's also the easiest way for me to fill in all the lovely folks at home who have supported me in all of my crazy endeavors over the years. Since I'm late starting this blog, I figured I'd lump the first few days together, since it's been a lot of settling back in and trying to make arrangements. Each day starts with a brief recap (mostly to jog my memory) and is followed by stories.
Last time I traveled to Ecuador with Jason and Dr. Stuckart during the H1-N1 scare, so we wore masks the entire plane ride. Even though I I was flying alone, let's just say the trip is much more enjoyable with only 1 layover and no surgical masks. I could've done without the extra 2 hours we sat on the plane, waiting for a storm to pass so we could take off. But it gave the man behind me time to launch into his life story (my favorite part about traveling on planes!) and tell the girls seated next to him that he's a professor at a SUNY school and he visits Quito 1-3 times per year to work at an orphanage he helps manage.
Cue me putting on my outgoing personality to strike up a conversation with Prof. Steve! The conversation between two people who share a passion (the wonderful people of Ecuador) is amazing! Turns out, he finds my research topic fascinating and wants to help: "I think I have some contacts for you. We should meet up tomorrow in Quito." And as I pulled out my notebook to exchange contact info, boy was I proud of myself for staying an extra day in Quito and not planning to leave for Otavalo immediately! Sometimes, not having a plan when you travel is actually your best option.
We finally arrived at the airport around 12:20am. I found a taxi driver named Jose, and despite my sleep deprived brain and rusty Spanish, we (attempted to) conversed for the 30 minute ride into Quito. By the time I checked into the hotel, It was around 1:30am local time (2:30am for peeps back home), and I'm pretty sure I could've slept standing up if necessary.
Wednesday: walked around Quito, activated cell phone, met up with Steve and Mauricio, made arrangements for Thursday
I may have missed breakfast, but trust me, it was worth sleeping in!! I figured out the wifi, which was a little victory in itself, no end finally mustered up the energy/courage to ventured out of the hotel. Thankfully, I was staying very near to the hotel we stayed in last time, so I had a good idea of where to go. I headed toward the main drag, found a phone place, and activated my Ecuadorean cell phone. This might not seem like a big deal, but trust me, I was proud of myself. Then I wen for a long walk, found una panaderia (a bakery), bought some lunch, and went back to the hotel to make plans. Mauricio had helped me book the hotel, and we made plans to meet up later that night. Blady was looking for a place for me to stay in Peguche. Andrea arranged for me to travel to San Antonio (much closer to Otavalo than Quito) and stay with her aunt. I was genuinely overwhelmed by the generosity and patience of my friends. SUSI was definitely more than a job, and I'm so glad to have made such good friends that I'm able to see two years later!
Later that night, I met up with Mauricio and Steve. We went to la Ronda (a section of Quito) to eat empanadas, and then continued to walk around the city and visit some impressive churches. It was so much fun to catch up with Mauricio, especially after he had been so helpful. It was great to talk to Strve when we weren't in close quarters, especially because he thinks he is supportive of my project and trying to help me. So even though I spent a lot of the day hanging out in the hotel, it was a good day.
Thursday: checked out of hotel in Quito, ran errands with Andrea's Aunt Fanny and cousin Marcelo, traveled to San Antonio, and attended a small festival de San Antonio (complete with fireworks that would have any US fire marshal in a tizzy) with Andrea, her mom Lupita, and Aunt Fanny. (Sorry mom. Jason was the dramatic blogger last time, but I'm flying solo, so I have to include some of the flair this time.)
I checked out of the hotel, and Andrea's Aunt Fanny and cousin Marcelo picked me up. Fanny has a daughter who is studying in Germany. She will be there a total of 3 years to complete her masters, so Fanny and Marcelo plan to visit her. I went with them to the German embassy to try to get visas. When that didn't go as planned, we grabbed some lunch and headed to the travel agency to straighten everything out (and watch the opening ceremony of the World Cup). We ran a few more errands, and then I rode the bus with Fanny to her house in San Antonio. All of the highways have been redone since I was here in 2009. They used to be comparable to that wonderful stretch from Salamanca to Jamestown, except with sharper turns and fewer lanes; now, they're nice than most of our roads. I was amazed by how much nicer the ride was, and how much faster it was, even with the extra stops.
When we arrived in San Antonio, we had un cafecito, fed the dogs, and checked the score of the first game. Andrea and her mom, Lupita, came over to say hi. It was wonderful to see Andrea!! If I were allowed to have favorites from SUSI, she would be at the top of the list!!
It just so happened that I arrived the night before the saint's day of San Antonio. Naturally, they were having a celebration. They said there would be fireworks, so I was in! We waited around for quite a long time, but it gave me time to catch up with Andrea. We finally found out that the celebration was starting late because a priest was taking advantage of the large crowd and trying to raise money for his church. Welcome to Ecuador! They have these things called castillos, meaning castles, (see below; the first is from Google, the second is the one I saw) that I can only describe as looking like towers made out of bamboo (but they aren't). On every level, there is a different design made out of fireworks. Someone walks around holding a string connected to the castillo to make it turn. There are 2 other men responsible for lighting each set of fireworks. Sounds safe, right? Oh yeah, and when it spins, it periodically shoots fireworks out...with the crowd standing right there... Thankfully, I don't think anyone got hurt...just a bit scared! After all that excitement, we called it a night.
When we arrived in San Antonio, we had un cafecito, fed the dogs, and checked the score of the first game. Andrea and her mom, Lupita, came over to say hi. It was wonderful to see Andrea!! If I were allowed to have favorites from SUSI, she would be at the top of the list!!
It just so happened that I arrived the night before the saint's day of San Antonio. Naturally, they were having a celebration. They said there would be fireworks, so I was in! We waited around for quite a long time, but it gave me time to catch up with Andrea. We finally found out that the celebration was starting late because a priest was taking advantage of the large crowd and trying to raise money for his church. Welcome to Ecuador! They have these things called castillos, meaning castles, (see below; the first is from Google, the second is the one I saw) that I can only describe as looking like towers made out of bamboo (but they aren't). On every level, there is a different design made out of fireworks. Someone walks around holding a string connected to the castillo to make it turn. There are 2 other men responsible for lighting each set of fireworks. Sounds safe, right? Oh yeah, and when it spins, it periodically shoots fireworks out...with the crowd standing right there... Thankfully, I don't think anyone got hurt...just a bit scared! After all that excitement, we called it a night.
Friday: left around 7am to walk 5km (3.1 miles) with Aunt Fanny and her friend, napped, and went to Otavalo and Ibarra with Andrea.
Let me tell you, when I agreed to go on "a little walk in the park," I had no idea what I was getting myself into! The expression to signify ease certainly did not apply! We picked up Fanny's friend and drove to this huge, beautiful park with interweaving walking and biking trails that run mostly in a line, rather than looping back. We started walking, and Fanny joked that we were going to walk to the mountain on the horizon. I laughed. I thought she was joking. I'm not really sure she was... The first half of the walk was lovely, looking around at the great views of the mountains, towns, and the huge "park" itself. On The return trip, however, I was quite certain I was going to die. Ok, not really. But because of the altitude, it was very difficult for me to sustain their pace for such a distance, and I craved the end of our "little walk."
After the walk, I took a nap, and then went to Otavalo with Andrea. I mostly wanted to learn how to take the bus there and figure out where I was going in town. Thankfully, I had some mini victories: I got my bearings and found the Plaza de Ponchos (market), the hotel I stayed in before, and my 2009 host family's house, and even visited with my host dad and sister for a bit. It's grandpa's favorite ride at Disney and it's completely true: it's a small world after all! On our way back to San Antonio, Pepe (my former host dad) asked Andrea about her family, and we realized that he knows her entire family, but she had never met him before!! When I asked Aunt Fanny, she said of course she knew him; they are friends. What are the odds?! As they say here, the world is a handkerchief (because they are so small)!
That evening, I went to Ibarra with Andrea and met Andrea's boyfriend Diego and friends Dani, Patty, and Patty's daughter Sofia. You all know I'm not a huge fan of kids, but good Lord, the kids here are absolutely precious! We had un cafecito, and then drove around the city a lot. We even saw a little San Juan/Inti Raymi celebration, so we stopped. Sofia wanted to dance, so I was volunteered to join in.
Saturday: visited Blady in Otavalo, went to museum and to see el lechero tree, watched a movie in Ibarra with Andrea.
I went to Otavalo by myself for the first time (woo hoo). Saturday is market day, but I was shocked to see how much the market has grown and see the number of tourists (I counted 10 huge buses). I spent about 45 minutes just walking around, mapping out the size of the market! I tried to meet up with Mariuxi, a professor from Pitt, but we had unknowingly traded places, and she was in Ibarra for the day. I was finally able to meet up with Blady, though! He was just as excited and sweet as ever! He reminds me of a puppy... I met his mom, sister, cousin, and aunt. We grabbed some lunch (he told me I should try traditional Ecuadorian food, and then bought me a meal with a hot dog, hamburger, and fries. hmmm), and then went to a museum that used to be an obraje. An indigenous man helps run the museum, and he gave us an amazing tour! After we left the museum, we visited the famous lechero tree, and then met up with Andrea in Ibarra to watch The Edge of Tomorrow (in Spanish).
Sunday: hung out with Aunt Fanny, watched the Ecuador game, skyped with family.
Pretty self explanatory. We can't talk about the Ecuador game, though...
Pretty self explanatory. We can't talk about the Ecuador game, though...
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