A sixth month journey with a goal to discover this wonderful country and myself as well !
At this point in my life, it is time to do some soul searching to see if an international lifestyle and career is really the right thing for me (or whether I should just return to Canada and continue to take yearly vacations).
My goals here are to learn Spanish fluently, get over my fear of large insects and spiders, live in a land where I will always be seen as a foreigner but make friends anyways, learn more about the latin american culture (via living in the Capital Quito and travelling to Ecuador and other South American countries), and lastly look for an opportunity to land a job for this or next year.
Finally, I hope to live my childhood dream of venturing out into the Amazon Rainforest and seeing an active volcano. But for now I think I'll take it easy - Ecuadorian style - and take in the beautiful view of the mountains surrounding Quito.
TOP THINGS TO DO/SEE IN ECUADOR
Visit the Otavalo indigenous market - and don't miss the early morning animal market!
Walking through the Old Colonial Towns of Quito and Cuenca
Excellent Whale Watching from Puerto Lopez
Relax in volcano-heated thermal baths in Banos or Papallacta
Visit colourful indigenous marketplaces such as Otavalo to shop for vibrant textiles, tasty foods, and unique crafts.
Enjoy discovering regional and local street festivals, which take place throughout the year
Climb Ecuador’s highest or most interesting volcanos (Cotopaxi, Quilatoa, Pinchincha, Cotocachi)
Visit the friendly wildlife and lunar landscapes of the Galapagos Islands through a four or eight day Cruise (and don't forget to Scuba Dive)
Take your picture on the equator line (Latitude 0) in Cayambe
Trek through the Cloud Forests to do some birdwatching and see the famous Cock on the Rock in Mindo
Canoe across the Amazon River and visit a local community to learn about their traditional lifestyle, fish for piranhas and caymans, watch a traditional shamanic ceremony, swing off vines and observe the wildlife (howler monkeys, anacondas, pink dolphins).
Try to surf in Ecuador’s intense waves.
Visit preserved Pre-Incan and Incan Ruins (Ingapirca, Cochasqui)
Bike through the Avenue of Waterfalls in Banos
BEST MEMORIES FROM ECUADOR
The great mountain views in Quito
Waking up to car alarms and barking guard dogs... every morning!!! (depending on which area you stay)
Seeing Guard Dogs on all the rooftops
Trying Cuy (Fried Guinea Pig) for the first time
Staying at Quito del Sol hotel museum -- ornate hotel
Not falling off the top of the train down the Devil's Nose
Learning new and complicated pretzel salsa moves
Night buses... argh!
Bellyflopping whales
Scuba diving in the Galapagos
Our crazy landlady in Quito!
Volunteering for some great companies and organizations
Trying Jungle Chocolate made in Ecuador
The Cayambe Street Festival with lots of indigenous costumes and dances
Mindo butterflies tasting me
The colonial buildings of Cuenca
FAVOURITE FOODS / DRINKS IN ECUADOR
Yucca Chips! (Really Crunchy)
Churros (Long star shaped donuts with various sweet filling)
Llapingachos (mashed potato balls with melted cheese inside)
Mate Coca (tea from infused coca leaves)... good for altitude sickness
Chicha de morocho (alcoholic beverage made from fermented white corn)
Hot Milk Chocolate with melting Cheese pieces in it (really weird, but tasty)
Oregano Tea
Manitoba Peanuts (covered in caramel and sesame seeds!!)
Jungle Chocolate From the Amazon (from the Yachana lodge -- now available in Western U.S.!)
Coconut and peanut sweets from the Coast
Strawberries with honey and whipped cream
REALLY WEIRD FOOD / DRINKS (SOME EVEN I COULDN'T GATHER THE COURAGE TO TRY!)
Cuy (Deep Fried or BBQ'd Guinea Pig) - Tried it but there wasn't much meat on it.
Caldo de patas (soup of beef leg with white corn)
15cm tall eggs (have not tried them yet, but we will, that will make one really big omelette)
Beer flavoured banana chips
PHOTOS GALLERIES
Quito May 10, 2003
Quito/Mital Del Mundo/Otavalo Market May 23, 2003
Galapagos Islands June 20, 2003
Banos July 1, 2003
Cayambe, Cotopaxi & Mindo July 21, 2003
Lake Quilatoa & Guagua Pichincha August 3, 2003
Driving, Busing and Walking in Ecuador August 12, 2003
Train Ride to Cuenca, Tena Jungle Tour & Whale Watching August 22, 2003
