Alright...So, Ecuador.
Well we found out from Lindsay that there were a few roadblocks about a week early, and they were over in less than a day. No big deal. Mostly rumor. So we crossed the border with no problems, and then took a bus directly to Otavalo. It´s a little mountain town famous for it´s huge Saturday market where the indigenous people from the surrounding mountians bring thier colorful wares. The market is over 1000 years old. They carry everything in huge sacks literally tied onto their backs- usually with loads three times their size. They start setting up at 4am. It´s amazing to see a completely empty square the night before, and then by morning it has transformed into an overflow of color and people. It was also the biggest concentration of white people we´ve seen since landing in San Jose. We stayed at a wonderful little bed and breakfast 4km outside of town. Muy Tranquilo. But very cold!
Ecuador is interesting because the weather is so different everywhere you go. I think it´s the altidude, the huge volcanoes and mountain ranges, along with the close proximity of the sun, that make it confusing. I got really sunburned at the market, even though it was a really cold, cloudy day.
So, our trip to the Equator... As some of you know, the equator is about an hour bus ride north of Quito. There is an enormous neo-classical monument indicating the center of the earth. It´s surrounded by a pretend colonial town that is really just gift shops. It really was like a theme park. You had to pay two dollars to get in the park, and then another 3 dollars to go into the monument (which we did not do based on principle), and the museum and planetaruim all had entrance fees. So we were feeling a bit deflated...and bored really.
So we left the park and wandered over to the Museo Intiñan...directly next door. Turns out that they got the equator wrong, and it´s really about 200 meters north of the monument in the Museo Intiñan! It´s a quirky little place, but we got a tour, and they do a bunch of experiments with you...like water going opposite directions down a drain, balancing and egg on the head of a nail, and weird strength anomolies. Did you know that you´re super weak on the equator? seriously...something about the "forces"... Anyway, the quirky little local place was so much more interesting and fun than the huge imperialistic monument. We thought it was ironic.
Now we´re just hanging out in Riobamba. We´ll keep you updated! Love you all.
2 comments:
Dear Scott and Annie,
Thanks for the call to dad on his b day. All is well here. Mark showed up last night from California, what a surprize, I am always the last to know these things. It has been a yr since I have seen him. Good times had by all today playing bean bags with , Camm, Bec, Jeff, Mark and Dad. Cornbeef and cabbage dinner, Gramma Cullen cookies from cookie day . The Equator sounds wild, I hope to go there some day. My new job is good, lots of class time, not too much hands on with patients. Sounds like Ecuador is wonderful, be safe, wear sun block and keep warm. Love Mom H
Did you sell our Christmas lights at the market? If so, I assume the check is in the mail. :-) Ecuador sounds interesting. Keep having fun. Safe travels. Oh, and I wanted to tell you that "Cara Vieja" is actually opening up to Robert (the worker at our camp). He broke down when he was talking to him the other day and told him he wanted to quit doing drugs, change his life, etc. Until I've seen the changes for myself, I'll continue carrying my stick at night. I'll keep you posted on further developments...
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