Bath time

We spent the day getting clean at some hot springs. Although it was more like warm springs...



This one was almost scaldingly hot, but also a bit scummy. We did not go in this one...


Beautiful setting though.

Pathetic poinsettias

These are the only poinsettias I have seen for sale in South America. Downgrade to S2 poor I think.


($10 Columbian pesos = $5 CAD)

Location:Popayan, Columbia

Wo-mannequin

Seriously? And this is the rule on what female mannequin proportions, not the exception.


Also seen Ecuador.

Location:Popayan, Ecuador

Columbia

We made it!


The usual border shenanigans of one guard working, one doing nothing, and 2 watching the second do nothing. 20 minutes on the Ecuador side, walk across the bridge to Columbia (where oddly a man was selling crucifixes to people in their cars) and then an hour plus where the Ecuadorians had taught the columbians their favourite way to work. And then an "8" hour bus ride to Popayan that left at 3pm and arrived at 1am. An now we are here! Delicious free coffee at the hostel and pretty whitewashed colonial city.



And horse drawn carts next to busses and cars.

Location:Columbia, (Popayan)

Letter P

Purple (local leather) purse, purple deep dish blackberry pie (a la mode) pink strawberry juice...


Delicious end to a great day. (Myrie's new purse is red)

Location:Otavalo, Ecuador

Taking time to smell the roses

Through a contact from my old job, we got set up to take a tourof a rose farm-- one of the biggest in Ecuador.

We were shown around by Rafael and Daniella- two incredibly kind and wonderful people who didn't mind our lack of buying power.



Growing (Red roses, waiting for valentines day)


New varieties- Myrie approves


Grading


Sizing


Packing


Cooling


Promoting.

Roses-- so pretty. It was a nice break from 10 hours on busses (which is how we spent the 2 days prior).

Location:Cayambe, Ecuador

Sober Sundays

On Sundays, you can't buy alcohol in Ecuador at the regular supermarket (our favorite is Super Tia, where I saw this poster)



(but if you go to a bar, they will serve you... In coffee mugs)

Location:Atacames, Ecador

Polar bear (on vacation) dip

Myrie has a tradition of jumping into the (freezing cold) ocean on boxing day.



Much easier this year. I had official photographer duties to document the event.


So I just put my feet in.


Adios Canoa! On our way north today, working our way to Columbia for new years.

Location:Canoa, Ecuador

Feliz Navidad

Up early this morning, we listened to the 6 Chriatmas songs on my ipod, examined our loot from our stockings and then had breakfast on the beach.


Followed by a walk on the sand-- the tide was super low.


And then to open more! Despite this town having no store aside from corner shops, Myrie impressed me.


Nice wine, awesome llama earrings, delicious snacks... And maple candies that Joanne sent along with me.

We had another long walk on the beach, found some shells with spikes


And then relaxed on the beach for a while.

A good day, but I might have to celebrate again in February, so I can eat stuffing and listen to some more carols with my family nearby.

Location:Canoa, Ecuador

Merry Christmas Eve

We trimmed the tree and laid out our stockings with care...


Not quite Christmas at home, but still feeling full of love and goodness.

Location:Canoa, Ecuador

Poor man's Galapagos is rich in boobies

As we are not rich enough to go to real Galapagos, we went to the poor mans version. The day starts with a walk through the fish market.


Followed by 1.5 hours on a boat to Isla de la Plata (aka poor man's Galapagos)



(The bird droppings on the cliffs look like plata/silver... Sort of?)


December seems to be constriction month for Ecuador. Doesn't bother the blue footed boobies.


So many!! And it is baby time for them so we saw lots of young. Triplet boobies. Very rare!


Promo moment for La Primavera Farms. We were so very happy to have the hats as it was scorchingly hot.


Baby albatross waiting for mom and dad to come back from Peru with the eats.


Nazca Boobie posing for me.



More boobies.


Snorkeling was not nearly as good as this photo makes it seem. But it was nice to cool off.

So while we didn't get to live it up REAL Galapagos style, there were more than enough blue footed boobies to make us feel rich.

Location:Isla de la Plata, Ecuador

Awesome:

Banana tree growing in the garden of the hostel.


Juice box ice cappuccino with a bow tie next to the ocean.


Sometimes you suit up, sometimes...


Papa\Santa Smurf paper mâché.


And hopefully red AND blue footed boobies tomorrow!

Location:Puerto Lopez, Ecuador

If it makes you feel better

I still have a cold.





Passion fruit daiquiris help cure colds, right?

Location:Montanita, Ecuador

Today is brought to you by the letter "B"

Bed: Up at 630

Bus: first one at 8am, another at 915, and one more at 3pm

Bananas:Ecuador produces something like 30% of the worlds bananas


Beach:


Arrived at 6pm, this is the view from the hammock outside our room.

Breathe: hopefully after a day or two of this, through my nose again.

Location:Montinita, Ecuador

Joyride

Myrie and Joy ride the bus. Joy says "cotapaxi parque" about 4 times. 35 minutes in we have passed it. Jerk of a bus guy has forgotten. Demand money back, get half, cross sketchy highway to catch bus in right direction.

Myrie and Joy ride another bus, get off at right spot! Cross sketchy highway again.

Myrie and Joy ride in the back of a pickup full of Ecuadorians in rain, wind, on crazy bumpy roads.


Myrie and Joy hike 400m up to a refuge. Meet very friendly Aussie who wants to hike the summit. We do not. Ecuadorian family disappears.... Seek other strangers to get ride down mountain.




Myrie and Joy ride with hilarious strangers! Listen to the top 198 hits of the 90s in nice jeep type ride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfnkxAlXkFE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Joy defines "joy ride" to super flamboyant couple.



Sunshine!


Cotapaxi! Hurray for sunshine!



Myrie and Joy finish ride with hilarious strangers. One who takes a million photos. Another whose karaoke song of choice is "unbreak my heart" by Toni Braxton.

Myrie and Joy cross sketchy highway, finally a bus picks them up. Ecuadors friendliest chattiest bus guy. Also 2 adorable little boys.

Myrie and Joy ride through fields of broccoli and next to greenhouses of roses.

Join our joyride?

Weather win!

Finally, weather on our side!



A beautiful green crater lake!


After we hiked to the bottom, and we were about half way up and the clouds rolled in...


And we still smiled because we saw it sans clouds. Up at 630 am and so worth it!

Location:Quilotoa Lagoon, Ecuador

Safe?

We have been in Quito for 2 days and have seen 2 arrests on the street.

One that happened across from the cafe where we were-- the cafe owner actually went outside and locked us in, standing in front. After the 3 guys in handcuffs were taken away he opened the door and told us about a backpack and a camera being stolen from inside the cafe a while back.

The other arrest was in old town--- not sure what happened but some running by civilians, police, lots of shouting and then another guy in handcuffs.

Last night, after Ecuador lost a university championship soccer game to Chile, we saw a large street flight take place half a block from our hostel. Broken bottles and more police.

Stayed in and now in a new city to visit.

Location:Quito, Ecuador

Gold!

We wandered around the old town of Quito today, after saying goodbye to Nathan who went back to canada after 10 days of excellent ecuador adventures.

In the old town is a church with SO MUCH GOLD.


Every wall archway and ceiling was covered with gold leaf.



(and photos were not allowed)

Location:Quito, Ecuador