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