Yunguilla

Hola Amigos!
Estoy en Yunguilla. I love the country side and the small town. Working in the sun all day is great for me. I have been able to shed the stress of the city this past week. I can breathe deeply for the first time in Ecuador. I am loving speaking spanish and it comes more naturally and flows better every day. I have so much inside of me. I can´t write much more because I spent all of my money on the phone, but I wanted to write an entry saying ´hola, I am alive and well, doing much better´

right now i am actually in san antonio, el mitad del mundo. we came for pizza with a friend-worker from the farm, pedro.

Yunguilla is great and i am enjoying participating in the community.

Al and I are living in a casa with 3 other WWOOFers right now and we are having a good time. We are well and send our love!

I will write more as I am able.

LOVES!

phase 2

going to farm in a little bit. i don´t know when we will have internet access next. we will be there for two weeks. working 7-3 mon-fri. the bathroom will be done in about a week i hear, so until then we get to use nature. i am not sure about the set up. i am excited and apprehensive. i am glad for the second phase of our journey though.

check out facebook photos on my account and al´s account.

fotos y hoy

so damn blogger takes a looong time to load pictures, so i am going to use facebook. my facebook user name thing is Michal JD so you can find me and look at pictures there. i will try to put some up here though. sorry about that.

Today Al and I went to an art museum. It was pretty cool.
We climbed the towers of the Basillica Cathedral. It was amazing. and really high!

I have been told the first week is the hardest, I hope that is the case. I feel like I am where I am not supposed to be. I guess that is the case. I know it is good to venture out, but it surely isn´t easy. Especially the way Al and I are going about it. But we are gonna gain a lot. I am glad I am here, I just have to force myself to remember that. I really miss my Boone folk. Of course I miss my family, but I am used to not seeing them as often. I miss my Megan. I miss my Megan. sigh.

I am not much for writing more right now. I am kinda solemn.

Al and I, fierce

This is me testing a photo upload. Also giving you a picture of me and Al. This was Pride, the weekend before we left

everyday surely is an adventure.
we started this morning laying in hammocks reading. Al studied Spanish while I read about quantum particle and 2012. haha. I love it. The sun was wonderful. From the rooftop terrace we saw a market below so went down to investigate. It was indegenous people selling their goods. I am amazed by the beauty of the crafts here.

On the way back to the hostel, we were accosted by a man trying to sell us candy. He kept blocking me and would not let me pass. Then he grabbed my arm and was being forceful. I brushed him off and walked away unharmed. We have also been followed a little bit by creepy men. We are having some tough encounters but so far no real damage has come of them.

We are engaging more in being careful about what we do, where we go, and really what we consume. We are definitely learning every day.
I can also tell my Spanish is becoming more comfortable and coming more naturally everyday. thank goddess. ha

We have spent a lot of time walking and exploring the city. I have seen a lot of socialist, communist, and anarchist graffiti. Also a good deal of feminist graffiti, mujeres de la frontera. its awesome and refreshing.

Today we had lebanese food for lunch. I had falafel. haha. it tasted ecuadorian.

We got new roommates this morning. They are two girls from San Francisco who are also going to WWOOF. They are really nice. Then this evening we met another housemate who is also WWOOFing. It turs out she is working on the farm where we are going on Monday. She has raved about it. She will be there for another week. She is staying with a family whereas Al and I are going to stay in the farmhouse. I really can´t wait until we get to the farm. I think it will be a better phase of our journey. I need that connection with the earth. not the pollution burning my eyes. I need to encounter mountain dirt, not be accosted by aggressive and creepy men.
The farm is on a big hill-mountain and we will be on the farmhouse right below it. the house where the family lives is a 30 to 45 minute walk. We will eat breakfast on our own I suppose., then work on the farm. Eat lunch on the farm. and I think we will eat dinner with the family. I am glad we will be walking so much in the beautiful countryside.
We have walked a whole lot in the city. Our hostel is up a really steep street. Solano. Oh, there is a street here called Jorge Washington. haha. It is really interesting to see the cultural influences, especially from the States.


So I was going to post pictures but I can´t because there is no USB connection on this computer. Only floppy disk and CD hahh. I will try on another tomorrow I reckon


LOVES TO YOU!!!

awakening

we are definitely not in boone baby.
Yesterday was our first full day in Ecuador, and in Quito. What a day. We are staying at a cute hostel with an awesome roof terrace. We are staying in a room with four beds. there is a communal bath and kitchen. We are enjoying the stay, though of course a private room may be better.

So we want to explore the city right?! Well we saw the Simon Bolivar memorial and a beautiful cathedral. We walked around the Old City. and got robbed. great. on the first day. Al´s bag was snatched, but luckily some police saw what was happening. They captured an accomplice but not the man with her bag. After three hours and a lot of emotions, Al´s bag was returned to us. She got everything back except some cash, her memory cards for her camera, a sheet we printed out with ´gay Quito´information, and Jaden´s contact information. I understand the first two, but the second two are kinda strange. So, sorry about that Jaden. Obviously it was a harsh awakening to the fact that we are in a huge city and we are not city savvy. We are learning more every day though. I am so amazed that we got Al´s bag back. It was because the police held the accomplice captive until the other man finally agreed to meet an officer somewhere unknown to us and return Al´s belongings. This was on the condition that we didn´t press charges, fine by us. The police here seem to be more effective because they negotiate.

Today we went to the TeleferiQo. It is like a sky tram thing that goes way up the mountainside behind Quito. We got to see an aerial view of Quito and the surrounding mountains. It was incredible. Quito is so huge. It goes on for miles. The elevation up there was really high and we had to move slowly. It was also pretty cold. I fear we may have neglected to pack warm enough clothing. We will be able to get some here though if need be.

We have had some amazing food. We had ensalada de fruta y crema (fruit and crema salad) for breakfast. And some amazing vegetarian dishes for lunch in La Mariscal Sucre. We also tried a house specialty drink last night that was not so successful. We felt bad to leave it mostly full when we left, but at least we tried. It was a warm beverage that tasted like it was pretty much only eggs. ugh. We couldn´t manage it. but the juice is amazing

We had planned on leaving this morning for the farm, but they are finishing some restoration on the farmhouse so we are going to go to the farm on Monday. I wish it was sooner, but we will have a good time here.

I just prefer the country to the city. My eyes have been bothering me, especially in the evenings. I think it is due to the pollution. Also probably the sun at this elevation.

Oh, funny thing. At the restaurant where we had breakfast this morning I went to use the bathroom. I was waiting for the woman to exit the stall and as she did she looked at me and told me where the men´s restroom was. I just kinda looked at her and said ok, and proceeded to enter the stall anyway. She kinda whispered ´´oh´´ to herself and went on. I found it funny. Al noticed that I have been getting a lot of strange looks because of my pants, because I wear men´s jeans. There are a lot of tight pants here for women. On top of the mountain today we saw a woman in stilletos! it was ridiculous. There were also some really hungry dogs up there and we wonder how they got up there. hmm. poor things.

I am going to try to post some pictures later today or tomorrow. hopefully that will work. my camera is not very good quality, but luckily Al´s is. though now she has a smaller SD card since she had to buy a new one to replace the really nice ones she had.


loves!

Arrived in Ecuador!

We are here! We are checked into our hotel for the night and it has internet access. Wow, already the adventure. Thank you so much to Jaden and Megan for bringing us to Asheville. We ended up staying at some sketch hotel where the door didn´t lock. We set up a booby trap, pretty entertaining. The bus ride was really long, interesting but rather uneventful. We left about 9 am on Tuesday and arrived in Miami about 7 am on Wednesday. Then we took a taxi to the airport where we waited around until our flight left at 5 pm. When we got on the airplane we had to wear face masks the whole time which was freaky. but the plane was really nice and we got a small glass of wine for free, so that was sweet. we arrived in Quito about 8¨30 local time. I thought Quito was the same time as Boone, but it is not. It is an hour ahead. The airport was overwhelming. We had to go through customs-stuff and condense our bags. We were bombarded with people trying to take us in their taxi. We weren´t really sure what was going on, but we got help to make hotel reservations at a place that is relatively cheap but not too sketchy, and get a taxi ride to it. probably overpaid a bit but that is ok, especially on the first night.
we are going to get another hotel first thing in the morning for tomorrow night. then Friday morning we will head to the first farm.

i have had a lot of time to think. and have a lot to think about.

travel information

Hey y'all. I figure I'd start with the basic travel information and our projected plans. We are actually leaving! Wow.

TO ECUADOR

BUS

T 6/16 9 am Leave Asheville NC ses0215

3:30 pm Leave Charleston SC ses0119

6:20 pm Leave Savannah GA gli0513

W 6/17 6:45 am Arrive Miami FL

PLANE

W 6/17 17:10 Leave Miami, FL flight XL517, Economy Q

20:20 Arrive Quito, Ecuador

FROM ECUADOR

PLANE

M 8/10 8:20 Leave Quito, flight XL516

13:25 Arrive Miami

BUS

M 8/10 9:20 pm Leave Miami gli0534

T 8/11 6:30 am Leave Jacksonville FL gli1096

6:15 pm Leave Columbia SC ses0116

9:30 pm Arrive Asheville NC

FARMS

6/19-7/8

Los Manantiales, Organic Blooming

nearby community: Yunguilla, population:300, 3km away

closest telephone is in Calacali, 8 km

closest internet café is in San Antonio, 13km (“mitad del mundo” –“center of the world”)

located between 2 natural reserves, the “Reserva Geobotanica del Puluhua” and “Reserva Maquipucuna” on the western slopes of Western Andean Mountains on the Equator. 384 hectare farm

35 km northwest of Quito, about 2000-3100 meters about sea level, in cloud forest region

7/11-8/1

Tungurahua Tea Room

10 minute walk from Baños

20 minute walk to town, longer coming back (also bus and taxi), with internet cafes and international phone calls

WEEKEND ITENERARY

On weekends between 6/19 and 7/11 we will be traveling around the Northern Highlands region of Ecuador and around Quito. We have not set dates for any of the following locations, and these travel destinations may change in accordance with local festivals, weather, or the advice of locals. However, this list should give you a taste of the places we may explore.

La Mitad del Mundo (“The Middle of the World”): This is the place where Charles-Marie de La Condamine made the measurements in 1736 showing that this was indeed the ecuatorial line. Here are museums, a planetarium, tours, the Rumicucho archaeological site (built around 500 BC by the Quitu-Cara culture for ceremonies during the equinoxes), exhibits of astronomical geography, and water and energy demonstrations. It is 22km north of Quito near the village of San Antonio.

Reserva Geobotanica Pululahua: About 4km northwest of La Mitad del Mundo, this is a volcanic crater of the extinct Pululahua. With a variety of microclimates, the vegetation on the volcanic slopes is rampant and diverse. We will hike though the crater’s trails to see the variety of flowers and bird species (we’ll take pictures!) and stay in the nearby colorful village of Calacalí.

Sangolquí: This is Quito’s closest indigenous market, and is about 20km southeast of Quito’s old town. The nearby Hostería La Carriona is a 200-yr-old colonial hacienda with a cobbled courtyard and flower-filled gardens.

Cayambe and Oyacachi: The snow-dusted peaks of Cayambe are about 64km north of Quito along the Panamericana. Cayambe is considered Ecuador’s flower capital, and offers homemade cheese and archaeological sites dating as far back as 1300BC. Shops in the surrounding rolling farmland offer hot confectionary treats, colorful courtyards, and indulgent community-run hot springs, especially in the nearby town of Oyacachi.

Between 7/11 and 8/1 our weekends will be spent in the Central Highlands of Ecuador.

Baños to Puyo: We will take mountain bikes throu the Andean cloud forest, past more than 15 stunning waterfalls and into the tropical lowlands on “La Ruta de las Cascadas”, or the “Highway of the Waterfalls.” The entire bike ride is 61km, mostly downhill, with stops in small villages at the edge of the Amazon. Most people make it about 18km to Rio Negro (there are busses available to transport us back to Baños at any village) but we are hoping to make it to the mellow jungle town of Puyo.

Quilotoa Loop: This is the loop that connects most of the traditional highland villages and markets of the Andes. Most of the inhabitants of the villages are indigenous. We will hike and bus between the dirt roads of Pujili, Tigua, Zumbahua, Laguna Quilotoa, Chugchilan, Sigchos, Isinlivi, and Saquisili, and hopefully pick up some Quechua on the way.

The end of our journey will be a week (8/1 to 8/10) of travel between the Central Highlands, taking the train down the hair-raising descent of La Nariz del Diablo, or the Devil’s Nose, from the eclectic town of Riobamba to Sibambe. While close to the Southern Highlands, we will visit Ingapirca, Ecuador’s best Inca ruins and home to some of the Inca’s finest mortarless stonework. From Ingapirca, we will travel north to Quito to explore museums, galleries, and Quito’s Old Town. Lastly, we will travel to Otavalo, home of the colorful and world-famous crafts market, picking up all of our woven gifts for family and friends (that’s you!) before heading back to the airport in Quito.

We will miss you all, take plenty of photos, write and call as often as possible, and bring back stories of our adventures in South America.

Lots of love,

Al and Michal

I am full of excitement and anticipation. of course I am also nervous. I hurt my foot dancing at High Country Pride this weekend, so that sucks, but nothing is holding me back from this amazing adventure.

And don't worry, Al and I got each other's backs for sure. We are gonna take care of each other and support one another in this amazing chapter in our lives. I am so glad to have Al in my life.

Ecuador, here we come!!!

Michal