Okay, so here are some pictures finally! Taken with the lovely Hannah Goldberg´s Camera (since my lovely camera decided to crap out yesterday right before we went diving with sharks. yeah, i dont want to talk about it, im not a happy camper!) but anyways, this morning we had a free day so Megan, Hannah, Ginny, Tim, and I went to la lobaría--a place to see black marine iguanas, sea lions, and sea turtles. It was amazing. In these first three pictures there are tons black iguanas in the background. the last one is just a cute picture from machallia that i found on the camera and wanted to post.
Julia y Ecuador
Monday, July 12, 2010
Okay, so here are some pictures finally! Taken with the lovely Hannah Goldberg´s Camera (since my lovely camera decided to crap out yesterday right before we went diving with sharks. yeah, i dont want to talk about it, im not a happy camper!) but anyways, this morning we had a free day so Megan, Hannah, Ginny, Tim, and I went to la lobaría--a place to see black marine iguanas, sea lions, and sea turtles. It was amazing. In these first three pictures there are tons black iguanas in the background. the last one is just a cute picture from machallia that i found on the camera and wanted to post.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Feels Like Home.... almost.
So today we drove on a real blacktop paved road! It had painted lines and everything!! It made me a little homesick.
The driving here is the funniest thing. Our bus driver, Juanito, is amazing. Our bus (Tricia and I named it Azul) has gone through the most ridiculous places thanks to the skills of Juanito. It has trekked to the jungle, through giant puddles, over rickety bridges, and through the tiny cobblestone streets of Baños, Montañita, Quito, and the five million other places we've been. As as testimonial to how amazing Juanito is, here is his best moment thus far: We were late for an activity and the bus was trying to navigate a narrow road. There was this little car parked directly in the way. After an attempt to get around it (foiled by the edge of a roof we were close to hitting). Juanito got out, opened the door of the car, hot wired it, and moved it out of our way. Needless to say, we made it on time--and Juanito became the God of all motor vehicles.
So not we are in Quito! We know the streets, the restaurants, and the good internet cafes (hence this post). It almost feels like home! Well, except for the fact that we are back to cold showers with tubs that don't drain.
Yesterday we were at Cotopaxi and we actually got to climb the glacier as high as our guide would let us go. The view was incredible. It was freezing cold and it started to storm so we had to turn around go back to the lodge, but it was okay because we were all dying--the trek to the lodge was about an hour, straight uphill, at 4800m--and that was just to the lodge. But anyways it was amazing.
Today, we went mountain biking and rock climbing. It was a lot of fun, and a nice rest from the extreme sports we have been doing (puenting, glacier hiking, ect.). So anyways, everyone is going to dinner and they are waiting for me to finish up here sooooo ¡!ciao!¡
The driving here is the funniest thing. Our bus driver, Juanito, is amazing. Our bus (Tricia and I named it Azul) has gone through the most ridiculous places thanks to the skills of Juanito. It has trekked to the jungle, through giant puddles, over rickety bridges, and through the tiny cobblestone streets of Baños, Montañita, Quito, and the five million other places we've been. As as testimonial to how amazing Juanito is, here is his best moment thus far: We were late for an activity and the bus was trying to navigate a narrow road. There was this little car parked directly in the way. After an attempt to get around it (foiled by the edge of a roof we were close to hitting). Juanito got out, opened the door of the car, hot wired it, and moved it out of our way. Needless to say, we made it on time--and Juanito became the God of all motor vehicles.
So not we are in Quito! We know the streets, the restaurants, and the good internet cafes (hence this post). It almost feels like home! Well, except for the fact that we are back to cold showers with tubs that don't drain.
Yesterday we were at Cotopaxi and we actually got to climb the glacier as high as our guide would let us go. The view was incredible. It was freezing cold and it started to storm so we had to turn around go back to the lodge, but it was okay because we were all dying--the trek to the lodge was about an hour, straight uphill, at 4800m--and that was just to the lodge. But anyways it was amazing.
Today, we went mountain biking and rock climbing. It was a lot of fun, and a nice rest from the extreme sports we have been doing (puenting, glacier hiking, ect.). So anyways, everyone is going to dinner and they are waiting for me to finish up here sooooo ¡!ciao!¡
Saturday, July 3, 2010
JUMP JUMP JUMP JUMP!
So I don´t even know where to begin. I don´t even know where I left off.
We left Montañita and came to Baños where we had the most amazing shower. We voted the Hostel the best shower in Ecuador. We spent the night in El Marques Posada, and then left early in the morning for our tour of the jungle. On the way there, we mountain biked over 30 kilometers (about 11 miles) along the Avenue of the Waterfalls. Not only was the view incredible, but we would pass random waterfalls that just flowed through the road! There were no baracades or fences--just natural flowing water alongside of a ¨highway.¨
After the bike ride, we went white water rafting down the Río Blanco(I think?). The boys were all in a team and of course, they flipped their raft twice completely, and each one of them fell out an additional 5 times. They took it like champs though. It was insane white water rafting there because on one side you had insane mountain elevations, and on the other there were these amazing planes where my guide told me the Incas were known to have lived (I´m pretty sure thats what he said--it was in spanish).
If that weren´t enough to tire us out, our guide said we had some extra time. He told us that we could go to a monkey reservation. We were all ready to pass out at that point but who says NO to a monkey reservation in Ecuador? The reservation was nothing like we expected. We walked into this fenced in area (it was pretty big) and adorable tree monkeys started climbing all over us. No joke, we literally held them like babies in our arms. They would swing above us and then land on our heads, and climb from person to person. It was probably one of the coolest things I have ever seen. This cute little anteater was chillen there too so we got to pet an anteater! Who does that?¿!¡
After that we were completely ready for bed. In our wooden huts. In the middle of the jungle. There was very little running water there and only electricity in the kitchen so everything was by candlelight or flashlight. The bathrooms were also outhouses. Cleaner than I excpected though (but I mean I didnt have high expectations)! So then we woke up and we went for a 5 hour jungle hike (Meg Greg and I chose the long/hard hike). We literally treked through the jungle going uphill, downhill, over trees adn plants and under them, once in awhile stopping for lessons on the medicinal and edible plants that we passed. There were tons of different guides and I´m 100% confident we had the coolest. For one thing, he takes this leaf and it has two little sacs that he tells us taste like lemons when we suck the juice out. We all try it and he makes sure we tasted the lemon (offering more if we didnt). Then, he opens up one of the little sacs. I swear like 20 ants crawled out of it. HE MADE US EAT ANTS!
We were all glad he tricked us. The other groups all had to lick ants off their own hands. I liked not knowing. After that we did a ton of other things-- including taking something for a stuffynose that hurt realy bad but cleared all of our sinuses! At the end of the hike was this huge hidden waterfall that we had to swim through an alcove to get to. We jumped of a tree towards it and dove through it. Then we took another hour hike home where we scafed down the ecuadorian tacos they made us!
So then we went to this artisan shop (where I dropped 20 bucks on presents-- which is like buying 98 waterbottles here because everything is so cheap). Then we canoed to the next jungle huts we would be in.
I´m going to skip a lot and just go to the cool part here. WE JUMPED OFF A BRIDGE!
We went puenting off of a 100ft drop. Greg went first. We all screamed for him (he screamed too haha). Meg greg and I went backwards. Probably the weirdest feeling ever. We all felt funny because usually you are talking someone down from jumping off a bridge, whereas we were screaming for everyone to go. pushing yourself away from solid ground into nothing, and plummeting down towards trees and a rapidly flowing river is the weirdest thing I have ever done. I almost wouldnt believe it if I hadnt gotten it on tape. It was insane.
Apparently jumping off a bridge isnt cool enough for one day, so we had to go waterfall repelling too! BEAUTIFUL and an amazing feeling. We went for about 4 hours yesterday and I could do it for 8 more today. I cant even describe how cool it was to lower yourself through a waterfall with water pounding against you. We went over 4 waterfalls repelling, ziplined down one and slid down 3 more.
Today we are resting at a spa day with isv. An additional 25 dollars for a 60min stone massage with all the extras.... I love Ecuador.
We left Montañita and came to Baños where we had the most amazing shower. We voted the Hostel the best shower in Ecuador. We spent the night in El Marques Posada, and then left early in the morning for our tour of the jungle. On the way there, we mountain biked over 30 kilometers (about 11 miles) along the Avenue of the Waterfalls. Not only was the view incredible, but we would pass random waterfalls that just flowed through the road! There were no baracades or fences--just natural flowing water alongside of a ¨highway.¨
After the bike ride, we went white water rafting down the Río Blanco(I think?). The boys were all in a team and of course, they flipped their raft twice completely, and each one of them fell out an additional 5 times. They took it like champs though. It was insane white water rafting there because on one side you had insane mountain elevations, and on the other there were these amazing planes where my guide told me the Incas were known to have lived (I´m pretty sure thats what he said--it was in spanish).
If that weren´t enough to tire us out, our guide said we had some extra time. He told us that we could go to a monkey reservation. We were all ready to pass out at that point but who says NO to a monkey reservation in Ecuador? The reservation was nothing like we expected. We walked into this fenced in area (it was pretty big) and adorable tree monkeys started climbing all over us. No joke, we literally held them like babies in our arms. They would swing above us and then land on our heads, and climb from person to person. It was probably one of the coolest things I have ever seen. This cute little anteater was chillen there too so we got to pet an anteater! Who does that?¿!¡
After that we were completely ready for bed. In our wooden huts. In the middle of the jungle. There was very little running water there and only electricity in the kitchen so everything was by candlelight or flashlight. The bathrooms were also outhouses. Cleaner than I excpected though (but I mean I didnt have high expectations)! So then we woke up and we went for a 5 hour jungle hike (Meg Greg and I chose the long/hard hike). We literally treked through the jungle going uphill, downhill, over trees adn plants and under them, once in awhile stopping for lessons on the medicinal and edible plants that we passed. There were tons of different guides and I´m 100% confident we had the coolest. For one thing, he takes this leaf and it has two little sacs that he tells us taste like lemons when we suck the juice out. We all try it and he makes sure we tasted the lemon (offering more if we didnt). Then, he opens up one of the little sacs. I swear like 20 ants crawled out of it. HE MADE US EAT ANTS!
We were all glad he tricked us. The other groups all had to lick ants off their own hands. I liked not knowing. After that we did a ton of other things-- including taking something for a stuffynose that hurt realy bad but cleared all of our sinuses! At the end of the hike was this huge hidden waterfall that we had to swim through an alcove to get to. We jumped of a tree towards it and dove through it. Then we took another hour hike home where we scafed down the ecuadorian tacos they made us!
So then we went to this artisan shop (where I dropped 20 bucks on presents-- which is like buying 98 waterbottles here because everything is so cheap). Then we canoed to the next jungle huts we would be in.
I´m going to skip a lot and just go to the cool part here. WE JUMPED OFF A BRIDGE!
We went puenting off of a 100ft drop. Greg went first. We all screamed for him (he screamed too haha). Meg greg and I went backwards. Probably the weirdest feeling ever. We all felt funny because usually you are talking someone down from jumping off a bridge, whereas we were screaming for everyone to go. pushing yourself away from solid ground into nothing, and plummeting down towards trees and a rapidly flowing river is the weirdest thing I have ever done. I almost wouldnt believe it if I hadnt gotten it on tape. It was insane.
Apparently jumping off a bridge isnt cool enough for one day, so we had to go waterfall repelling too! BEAUTIFUL and an amazing feeling. We went for about 4 hours yesterday and I could do it for 8 more today. I cant even describe how cool it was to lower yourself through a waterfall with water pounding against you. We went over 4 waterfalls repelling, ziplined down one and slid down 3 more.
Today we are resting at a spa day with isv. An additional 25 dollars for a 60min stone massage with all the extras.... I love Ecuador.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Best Bruises Ever
So Megan and Greg are sleeping and everyone who was awake just left for morning surfing lessons. I'm regretting the coffee now.
Yesterday we went whale watching and snorkling. Megan and I got to go on the top of the boat, and we took some pretty cool pictures. (Well, as many as we could seeing as how megan was getting soaked with water and my camera died.) It was different than the whale monotoring because we were farther away, but the whales were soooooo active! I have no idea why, but they were jumping everywhere!
After that we went snorkling. The water was kind of choppy and slightly cold, but it was fun anyways. We saw some really cool fish and some blue starfish--who knew?
Meg and I had a nice two hour nap when we got home (and accidently locked our roommates out because we had the key--oops). Then, we dropped laundry off to be done and walked around town. We all settled on this nice sushi/anything restaurant, and it was delish! The most interesting people worked there and we had a good time getting to know them.
Today we are going for our second surfing lessons around noon! So Excited! We all still have our massive bruises, (I found two more yesterday. ouch!) but its way too fun to pass up!
Yesterday we went whale watching and snorkling. Megan and I got to go on the top of the boat, and we took some pretty cool pictures. (Well, as many as we could seeing as how megan was getting soaked with water and my camera died.) It was different than the whale monotoring because we were farther away, but the whales were soooooo active! I have no idea why, but they were jumping everywhere!
After that we went snorkling. The water was kind of choppy and slightly cold, but it was fun anyways. We saw some really cool fish and some blue starfish--who knew?
Meg and I had a nice two hour nap when we got home (and accidently locked our roommates out because we had the key--oops). Then, we dropped laundry off to be done and walked around town. We all settled on this nice sushi/anything restaurant, and it was delish! The most interesting people worked there and we had a good time getting to know them.
Today we are going for our second surfing lessons around noon! So Excited! We all still have our massive bruises, (I found two more yesterday. ouch!) but its way too fun to pass up!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
¡Surfs up!
I´m getting a lot better with this spanish keyboard!¡!¡ :) I guess it probably has to do with the fact that these keys are actually intact and the symbols make sense instead of little fading stickers trying to change the function of the keys. but anyways...
So we are now on our adventure tour! After two weeks of work with cilantro filled food and cold drips, supposedly called showers, we have earned our nice stay at a hotel. It's extremely pretty here! We are right on the beach, and from our room we can see the surfers showing off their moves!
Yesterday, four hours after we arrived, we had surfing lessons! They were a lot of fun and meg, greg, and I were all able to get up on our boards. The waves were rough and today we all compared bruises and aches (I have a lovely black and blue blob on my side, thanks surfboard!). Still, we decided to rent boards for the day, and we went on our own! (Well, not really. The surfboard maker/instructor/owner/artist/chef?! actually watched us from the beach to make sure we didnt kill ourselves--so sweet!)
We hung out in the town as well. Yesterday, we went to this cute discotech for some salsa! They had a random pool there too? Idk. But everyone ended up getting thrown into the pool at some point during the night! We went back to the discotech this morning and had breakfast (yeah it's a restaurant too?) after that we went impulse shopping! I got a pearl bracelet for 5 dollars! Real pearls too, I checked! We also found this adorable boutique where this woman handmade all the clothes, purses, shoes, ect. Megan and Lisa both talked with the artist and put in orders for these fun unique bags to be made. For handmade designs, the prices were really good too!
Tomorrow we are going whale watching and snorkeling in Puerto Lopez (one of our hangout spots when we were in Machallia) so we are going to have an early night tonight! Ciao!
So we are now on our adventure tour! After two weeks of work with cilantro filled food and cold drips, supposedly called showers, we have earned our nice stay at a hotel. It's extremely pretty here! We are right on the beach, and from our room we can see the surfers showing off their moves!
Yesterday, four hours after we arrived, we had surfing lessons! They were a lot of fun and meg, greg, and I were all able to get up on our boards. The waves were rough and today we all compared bruises and aches (I have a lovely black and blue blob on my side, thanks surfboard!). Still, we decided to rent boards for the day, and we went on our own! (Well, not really. The surfboard maker/instructor/owner/artist/chef?! actually watched us from the beach to make sure we didnt kill ourselves--so sweet!)
We hung out in the town as well. Yesterday, we went to this cute discotech for some salsa! They had a random pool there too? Idk. But everyone ended up getting thrown into the pool at some point during the night! We went back to the discotech this morning and had breakfast (yeah it's a restaurant too?) after that we went impulse shopping! I got a pearl bracelet for 5 dollars! Real pearls too, I checked! We also found this adorable boutique where this woman handmade all the clothes, purses, shoes, ect. Megan and Lisa both talked with the artist and put in orders for these fun unique bags to be made. For handmade designs, the prices were really good too!
Tomorrow we are going whale watching and snorkeling in Puerto Lopez (one of our hangout spots when we were in Machallia) so we are going to have an early night tonight! Ciao!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Hammock Man
Hammocking is a way of life here, and i am converting to it. Megan already bought a hammock and i am so in the market for one.
We have this guy that lives on ours at casamama's house. he is there all day and then sleeps somewhere else at night. we have no idea who he is. sometimes they feed the hammock man, and sometimes we see him on other hammocks (meaning he must be a hammock hopper). one morning he came in while we were having breakfast, put a dead seahorse on the top of the fridge, and then walked out of the house. he is the anigma of our household. we plan to get a picture of him in his natural habitat... on our hammock.
We have this guy that lives on ours at casamama's house. he is there all day and then sleeps somewhere else at night. we have no idea who he is. sometimes they feed the hammock man, and sometimes we see him on other hammocks (meaning he must be a hammock hopper). one morning he came in while we were having breakfast, put a dead seahorse on the top of the fridge, and then walked out of the house. he is the anigma of our household. we plan to get a picture of him in his natural habitat... on our hammock.
Ecuadorian treatment for Maldeojo (Greg is sick)
Okay so its way hard to get over here to update the blog. but ill try to put in the interesting things that have happened.
Last week greg was really sick after he played soccer. We all thought he was tired then he started really being sick. Meg and i went over to the house to see him and as we came in, the family in gregs house wanted to know what was goign on. they saw how sick he was and they left his room. we thought they were giving us privacy.... yeah, no. five seconds later gregs family comes back and our house family is with them and talk to daniel (we are all outside of gregs room) megan and i are dying laughing because literally everything we do they come over and watch like its some big production. Daniel, who can barely keep a straight face himself without meg and i craking up, sends us into the bedroom while he tries to get them away. Good try daniel. five seconds later we hear daniel telling them ´'absolutely not' he wont let them do 'that' and that 'its not going to happen.'
(these people dont ever take no as an answer)
so then the door opened and an old man came in and ordered greg to take off his shirt. meg and i were literally rolling on the floor at this point as was daniel. the old man then proceeds to give greg a rub down with an egg. a whole egg. not hard boiled or anything. i swear to god i almost died laughing and i really really wish i had a camera because it was sooooo funny. after greg got the rub down he was sent to bed and everyone left. you would think thats the end. but no, they come back with the whole egg cracked in a glass. at this point daniel is freaking out and starts telling them that he is completely serious and he will not be allowing greg to drink that. they all laugh and say no no no its not a drink, we wanted to show you the evil spirits!
reasoning for the egg: greg's illness was maldeojo (the evil eye). he got this from everyone laughing at him on the soccer field earlier that day when he and daniel had played (which they really had been laughing at him hahahahha). the egg was rubbed on his body to draw out the evil spirits that were making greg sick. when they cracked the egg in the glass they explained that the white part (which was weirdly floating) was the evil spirits in greg.
megan and i cried we were laughing so hard. even daniel couldnt stop laughing. they werent offended by this thank god, instead they were glad that it entertained us.
greg threw up one more time and started feelig better. HE IS COMPLETELY HEALED NOW :)
moral: grigos (tourists) should not play soccer because they will get evil looks making them sick hahahah
Last week greg was really sick after he played soccer. We all thought he was tired then he started really being sick. Meg and i went over to the house to see him and as we came in, the family in gregs house wanted to know what was goign on. they saw how sick he was and they left his room. we thought they were giving us privacy.... yeah, no. five seconds later gregs family comes back and our house family is with them and talk to daniel (we are all outside of gregs room) megan and i are dying laughing because literally everything we do they come over and watch like its some big production. Daniel, who can barely keep a straight face himself without meg and i craking up, sends us into the bedroom while he tries to get them away. Good try daniel. five seconds later we hear daniel telling them ´'absolutely not' he wont let them do 'that' and that 'its not going to happen.'
(these people dont ever take no as an answer)
so then the door opened and an old man came in and ordered greg to take off his shirt. meg and i were literally rolling on the floor at this point as was daniel. the old man then proceeds to give greg a rub down with an egg. a whole egg. not hard boiled or anything. i swear to god i almost died laughing and i really really wish i had a camera because it was sooooo funny. after greg got the rub down he was sent to bed and everyone left. you would think thats the end. but no, they come back with the whole egg cracked in a glass. at this point daniel is freaking out and starts telling them that he is completely serious and he will not be allowing greg to drink that. they all laugh and say no no no its not a drink, we wanted to show you the evil spirits!
reasoning for the egg: greg's illness was maldeojo (the evil eye). he got this from everyone laughing at him on the soccer field earlier that day when he and daniel had played (which they really had been laughing at him hahahahha). the egg was rubbed on his body to draw out the evil spirits that were making greg sick. when they cracked the egg in the glass they explained that the white part (which was weirdly floating) was the evil spirits in greg.
megan and i cried we were laughing so hard. even daniel couldnt stop laughing. they werent offended by this thank god, instead they were glad that it entertained us.
greg threw up one more time and started feelig better. HE IS COMPLETELY HEALED NOW :)
moral: grigos (tourists) should not play soccer because they will get evil looks making them sick hahahah
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