Saturday, 26 December 2009
Wednesday 23rd December
On the 23rd we had the schools Christmas party. All the kids were dressed up as nativity characters or in traditional Ecuadorian costume. Mary, Joseph, an angel and the three kings sat on the back of a decorated truck, and all the other kids and parents walked at its side as we drove round the streets near the school. After that we had a mass and then the children sang and did a traditional dance they had learn´t. Next some of the parents did a dance, something that would never happen in Engand! All the parents had bought along dishes of food so had a big buffet meal after.
Thursday, 24 December 2009
Thank you
A big thank you to my mum and dad, grandparents and Pat for their donations to the orfanage. Went out yesterday with one of the workers and bought lots of stuff which will be really useful, alot of which the nuns who run the place refuse to buy as not considered essential (including baby wipes), so alot of stuff was old or just using unhygenic methods. If anyone else wants donate it will be great, let me know!
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Galapagos Part 4
In the afternoon we went to the Charles Darwin reseach centre, where they have hundreds of baby tortoises looking after them before they are old enough when they release them back into the wild.
They also have Lonely George, who is the last of his species of tortoises as scientists took the last of the tortoises off his island but left him as he was too young. anyway now hes an old man and there is a $10000 reward if anyone can find him a partener who was maybe taken to a zoo in another country or something. He does have 2 girlfriends living with him and they are hoping he will breed with them as although not exactly the same they are the closests in genetics. Theres another tortoise called Diego as he was living in a zoo in San Diego, but when they started trying to repopulate his island and there were hardly any left, they found him and bought him back to help to the breeding program.
On Saturday caught a taxi-boat round the headland to another little beach which we had all to our selves!
In the afternoon we had our bay tour. We got on a boat with about 12 Americas and 2 guys from Puerto Rico. We went to a rocky islet where there were sea lions on the rocks, where we were given snorkles. Was so lovely could see really colourful fish, and a couple of times the sea lions swam right amoungst us and was in a foot of it. Its amazing how graceful they are underwater.
Then we went for a walk and could see a white fin shark in a pool of water. Then went for what the guide told the American was a "strenous hike" but i think thats just as they were a bit old, anyway we managed to do it in flip flops and really wasnt that long, and at the end was a lovely pool of water that you could swim in.
Sunday we went to a beach called the Galapatero on the other side of the island. There was a lake behind the beach which had a flamingo in. Lots of Pelicans kept diving into the sea around me to catch fish.
In the afternoon we went to the Charles Darwin reseach centre, where they have hundreds of baby tortoises looking after them before they are old enough when they release them back into the wild.
They also have Lonely George, who is the last of his species of tortoises as scientists took the last of the tortoises off his island but left him as he was too young. anyway now hes an old man and there is a $10000 reward if anyone can find him a partener who was maybe taken to a zoo in another country or something. He does have 2 girlfriends living with him and they are hoping he will breed with them as although not exactly the same they are the closests in genetics. Theres another tortoise called Diego as he was living in a zoo in San Diego, but when they started trying to repopulate his island and there were hardly any left, they found him and bought him back to help to the breeding program.
On Saturday caught a taxi-boat round the headland to another little beach which we had all to our selves!
In the afternoon we had our bay tour. We got on a boat with about 12 Americas and 2 guys from Puerto Rico. We went to a rocky islet where there were sea lions on the rocks, where we were given snorkles. Was so lovely could see really colourful fish, and a couple of times the sea lions swam right amoungst us and was in a foot of it. Its amazing how graceful they are underwater.
Then we went for a walk and could see a white fin shark in a pool of water. Then went for what the guide told the American was a "strenous hike" but i think thats just as they were a bit old, anyway we managed to do it in flip flops and really wasnt that long, and at the end was a lovely pool of water that you could swim in.
Sunday we went to a beach called the Galapatero on the other side of the island. There was a lake behind the beach which had a flamingo in. Lots of Pelicans kept diving into the sea around me to catch fish.
Thursday, 17 December 2009
Galapagos part 3
We walked round to a smaller bay where we went snorkling, and there were lots of fish the colour of sand so had to stay really still so you could see them, then swam to a rocky bit where the fish were all colourful and pretty. Got out and went for a walk where we saw a turtle in the water, although we could only see its shadow under the water. Swam again with snorkles and there was a shoal of fish that was so tame you could swim right amoungst them, about 200 fish.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Galapagos part 2
After the lava tunnels, we went to Los Gemelos (the twins) which are two large craters created by compressed volcanic gases in chambers exploding. When you shouted you could hear it echoing all round.
Since 1990s when they changed the law no one can move to the Galapagos, unless they are working on a science project or something, or marry someone who already lives there. The people who live there though (20,000) are mainly from different parts of Ecuador. In the 70s (i think) there was big fires in Loja (another part of Ecuador) so the goverment gave some land in the Galapagos to the people of Loja, so there is one village just of people from Loja.
After Los Gemelos, although the tour had officially finished our guide took us to a school performace, as we were really near there and his girlfriend was the dance teacher for the performance. He told us it was one of the posh schools on the island, and pointed out the mayor and ex governor of the Galapagos in the audience. The performance was of Dr Seuss The Lorax, read partly in English partly in Spanish, and was very cute. After we got yogurt and chocolate bread, all made on the island and then went back for dinner in Puerto Ayora.
Friday started with a tour of Tortuga Bay. With a 30 minuit walk in the heat to start, it was amazing when we arrived at the white sand beach with turquoise sand and marine iguanas lying on the sand. It was incredible to see them as they are so different to anything ive ever seen in the wild, and lying on this perfect beach! Icouldnt believe how empty the beach was eitehr considering its meant to be peak season, there were only one family there.
Since 1990s when they changed the law no one can move to the Galapagos, unless they are working on a science project or something, or marry someone who already lives there. The people who live there though (20,000) are mainly from different parts of Ecuador. In the 70s (i think) there was big fires in Loja (another part of Ecuador) so the goverment gave some land in the Galapagos to the people of Loja, so there is one village just of people from Loja.
After Los Gemelos, although the tour had officially finished our guide took us to a school performace, as we were really near there and his girlfriend was the dance teacher for the performance. He told us it was one of the posh schools on the island, and pointed out the mayor and ex governor of the Galapagos in the audience. The performance was of Dr Seuss The Lorax, read partly in English partly in Spanish, and was very cute. After we got yogurt and chocolate bread, all made on the island and then went back for dinner in Puerto Ayora.
Friday started with a tour of Tortuga Bay. With a 30 minuit walk in the heat to start, it was amazing when we arrived at the white sand beach with turquoise sand and marine iguanas lying on the sand. It was incredible to see them as they are so different to anything ive ever seen in the wild, and lying on this perfect beach! Icouldnt believe how empty the beach was eitehr considering its meant to be peak season, there were only one family there.
Monday, 14 December 2009
Galapagos
Arrived on Baltra Island thursday morning, after a 2 hour flight from Guayaquil. Was so hot were instantly hit by the heat. Baltra island is the small island above Santa Cruz where we stayed, it used to be a US military base but now just has the airport. It is really dry and arid and there isn´t much there apart from cactuses. We were met at the airport by a cheerful guide called Ceci who took the three of us in the bus to catch the ferry across the canal to Santa Cruz. We then drove straight through the centre of the island, literally as the road is a strait line as far as the horizon, going through the highlands then back down the other side to the coastal town of Puerto Ayora. On arrival we had to pay to enter the national park of galapagos, which unfortunately for foreigners is $100 ( only $6 for Ecuadorians) and our volunteer cards didnt get us the discount like it does in mainland national parks. I was suprised that there were only a few people on our flight who were foreigners, the majority were Ecuadorians. Driving the half an hour to the other side of the island is incredible, in such a short space the dessert like landscape ( about 34 C) changes to lush ferns (about 23 C). In the low lands the trees are odd white things with no leaves called Palo Santo, and looks quite uninhabitable. We arrove in Puerto Ayora (population 10,000- the largest town on Galapagos) went to our hotel and went to lunch at El Chocolate where we ate every day as part of our package. The food was amazing, really fresh fish. After lunch we met our guide Eduado and set off into the highlands with Ceci driving. For a cheap tour it was really good having our own guide and driver! First we went to an underground lava tunnel. They were created when the island was still volcanic, and the outer layer of lava cools quicker and the middle is still liquid and the lava flows through the middle, creating a tunnel. Inside the tunnel is damp, but the stalagtites are still small apparently because the tunnels are still- geologically speaking- young. Our guide said he used to go in them when he was little before lights were put in as he knew the owner, it must be amazing to grow up somewhere so cool. The tunnels were discovered when farmers kept losing their cows, as they would fall in and not be able to get out. Out the other end we saw 2 little owls nesting who live in the tunnel normally. Driving through the highlands you see loads of giant tortoises just in peoples farms and fields- although i think 97 % of the Galapagos is National Park there are people living there and farms. Unfortunaltly the people who came to Galapagos first from Spain ate the giant tortoises and used them for fuel so the population went from 900, 000 to just 3000, although that number has risen again to 9000. They are doing lots to protect them now and the Charles Darwin Research centre collects the eggs and makes sure more of them survive to adulthood. We went to one "farm" where tourists pay a couple of dollars and can walk around amoungst the tortoises, although not allowed to touch them. From the road we saw some ferral goats who are introduced to the island not native, and are really bad news for the tortoises as eat the same food as them. On one other island they have exterminated all the goats and the tortoise population is doing really well, and doesnt need help with the breeding anymore. Another problem is cats, as they eat the eggs of birds and tortoises, and apparently if theres a cat in the road they are meant to run it over! Poor cats!
Sunday, 8 November 2009
Sunday 8th November
On friday we went to Baños which is a small town with natural hot volcanic springs. There isnt much there other than a pretty church and lots of hostels/hotels with pools you can use. The one we went to looked like a swimming pool, exept was a bit cloudy (white not brown), and was SO hot! One part we couldn´t even go in strait away as was so hot, and the main part felt more like a jacuzzi. It was really nice as I dont particularly like cold swimming pools!
Yesterday I went to Cajas, a National Park. It is very high up- the altitude ranges between 3150 and 4450 metres above sea level. Everyone in Cuenca says how cold it is there, and its name comes from the Quechua for word for cold, but when we got there wasnt actually that cold and was still much hotter than England, probs bout 18 c but here everyone thinks thats the coldest weather ever!
Today me and the other English girls went to a waterfall. It was so beautiful and is 70 meters high. Although I really wanted to swim in the water (like we had seen some photos of people doing) it was ice cold, and there was a sign saying not to so we didnt. Instead we climbed on the rocks round the back of the waterfall and managed to climb forwards and stand under the waterfall that way!
There is a bit of a dry spell at the moment and we´ve had lots of hot weather and no rain for a couple of weeks. This is really lovely exept that our electricity is hydro powered, so on thursday we had a power cut and yesterday a water cut. Although the electricity only cut out for a few hours it felt like forever, sitting in the house with nothing to do!
On friday we went to Baños which is a small town with natural hot volcanic springs. There isnt much there other than a pretty church and lots of hostels/hotels with pools you can use. The one we went to looked like a swimming pool, exept was a bit cloudy (white not brown), and was SO hot! One part we couldn´t even go in strait away as was so hot, and the main part felt more like a jacuzzi. It was really nice as I dont particularly like cold swimming pools!
Yesterday I went to Cajas, a National Park. It is very high up- the altitude ranges between 3150 and 4450 metres above sea level. Everyone in Cuenca says how cold it is there, and its name comes from the Quechua for word for cold, but when we got there wasnt actually that cold and was still much hotter than England, probs bout 18 c but here everyone thinks thats the coldest weather ever!
Today me and the other English girls went to a waterfall. It was so beautiful and is 70 meters high. Although I really wanted to swim in the water (like we had seen some photos of people doing) it was ice cold, and there was a sign saying not to so we didnt. Instead we climbed on the rocks round the back of the waterfall and managed to climb forwards and stand under the waterfall that way!
There is a bit of a dry spell at the moment and we´ve had lots of hot weather and no rain for a couple of weeks. This is really lovely exept that our electricity is hydro powered, so on thursday we had a power cut and yesterday a water cut. Although the electricity only cut out for a few hours it felt like forever, sitting in the house with nothing to do!
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
Wednesday 4th November
This weekend was a nice long 4 day weekend, as monday was day of the dead, and yesterday was Cuenca Independance. On sunday I went to a cow show where Paco was showing his cows. He did very well and in nearly all the rounds his cows came first second and third, but I´m not really sure why as they all looked the same to me anyway!
On monday I went to a concert of Mariachis which is the Mexican singers in sombreros. It was in the old plaza de toros and was a really nice night. There was a singer who I think is the Ecuadorian equivalent of Katherine Jenkins, wearing a ball gown and singing in Spanish. There were some fireworks which would go off randomly through the concert and explode over the round open roof which was really pretty, even though did make everyone jump when there was a big bang all the time!
For the day of the dead there was a big thing in the cemetary, and lots of people go there on the 2nd of novemeber to celebrate.
In the school we have started actually teaching English, although not that much, but it is still better than just doing nothing like before! On friday there was a fiesta for the kids with a clown and lots of party food, which was so funny as had all the kids up and dancing.
Its been really hot this week, on most days reaching 25 to 30 degrees c but everyone here still wears jumpers and jeans and scarves, its crazy!
P.S. Happy Birthday Mum x
This weekend was a nice long 4 day weekend, as monday was day of the dead, and yesterday was Cuenca Independance. On sunday I went to a cow show where Paco was showing his cows. He did very well and in nearly all the rounds his cows came first second and third, but I´m not really sure why as they all looked the same to me anyway!
On monday I went to a concert of Mariachis which is the Mexican singers in sombreros. It was in the old plaza de toros and was a really nice night. There was a singer who I think is the Ecuadorian equivalent of Katherine Jenkins, wearing a ball gown and singing in Spanish. There were some fireworks which would go off randomly through the concert and explode over the round open roof which was really pretty, even though did make everyone jump when there was a big bang all the time!
For the day of the dead there was a big thing in the cemetary, and lots of people go there on the 2nd of novemeber to celebrate.
In the school we have started actually teaching English, although not that much, but it is still better than just doing nothing like before! On friday there was a fiesta for the kids with a clown and lots of party food, which was so funny as had all the kids up and dancing.
Its been really hot this week, on most days reaching 25 to 30 degrees c but everyone here still wears jumpers and jeans and scarves, its crazy!
P.S. Happy Birthday Mum x
Monday, 12 October 2009
Monday 12th October
This weekend we went to a beach town in Ecuador called Montañita. It has one long lovely beach and lots of hostals and bars. It is very hippyish with alot of dreadlocked people selling hand made jewellery on the side of the streets. It is also famous for its surfing, but unfortunately the waves were too small when we went so didnt get the chance. Aswell as jewellery stalls there are lots of stalls selling fresh fruit juice and cocktails, and the local dish cerviche which is a cold fish soup and not for everyone!
The wildlife there is also amazing and there were constantly a group of pelicans flying overhead. Other seacreatures are jellyfish, though only small ones still stung two of the girls, we saw a starfish, and also a beached sea horse which we sqeamishly put back in the sea as was still alive!
The journey there was long and not that nice as on buses, but was still fairly interesting as we passed from the mountainous area to the cloudy mountains where we were literally in the clouds and it was humid and rainforesty, to the lowlands where there were bananas being grown everywhere and had a very latino feel (much hotter than Cuenca), through Guayaquil the biggest city in the country, to the deserty part and finally to the pretty coastal fishing towns.
During the days it was fairly cloudy and most of the girls got sunburnt. We took turns to go swimming and sit with the stuff on the beach, the sea was so warm it was lovely, and whilst on the beach the shops come to you with people trying to sell you jewellery and henna tatoos, and coconuts with a hole in the top and a straw to drink the milk!
In the evenings we went to a small bar/ club where there was lots of salsa and meringue dancing which was really fun.
Sunday morning was really hot and sunny which is typical and unfair as we had to leave at ten! But I definately want to go back when its high season!
This weekend we went to a beach town in Ecuador called Montañita. It has one long lovely beach and lots of hostals and bars. It is very hippyish with alot of dreadlocked people selling hand made jewellery on the side of the streets. It is also famous for its surfing, but unfortunately the waves were too small when we went so didnt get the chance. Aswell as jewellery stalls there are lots of stalls selling fresh fruit juice and cocktails, and the local dish cerviche which is a cold fish soup and not for everyone!
The wildlife there is also amazing and there were constantly a group of pelicans flying overhead. Other seacreatures are jellyfish, though only small ones still stung two of the girls, we saw a starfish, and also a beached sea horse which we sqeamishly put back in the sea as was still alive!
The journey there was long and not that nice as on buses, but was still fairly interesting as we passed from the mountainous area to the cloudy mountains where we were literally in the clouds and it was humid and rainforesty, to the lowlands where there were bananas being grown everywhere and had a very latino feel (much hotter than Cuenca), through Guayaquil the biggest city in the country, to the deserty part and finally to the pretty coastal fishing towns.
During the days it was fairly cloudy and most of the girls got sunburnt. We took turns to go swimming and sit with the stuff on the beach, the sea was so warm it was lovely, and whilst on the beach the shops come to you with people trying to sell you jewellery and henna tatoos, and coconuts with a hole in the top and a straw to drink the milk!
In the evenings we went to a small bar/ club where there was lots of salsa and meringue dancing which was really fun.
Sunday morning was really hot and sunny which is typical and unfair as we had to leave at ten! But I definately want to go back when its high season!
Monday, 28 September 2009
Monday 28th September
Had a really good weekend, on Friday it was Isabellas birthday so had a party at the house which was really nice and got to practise my dancing loads! On saturday went to the grandmas house for lunch and whilst everyone was talking about a big concert and i said i didnt have a ticket she bought me one! The concert was of Jean Lois Guerra who is very famous in South America. It latino music and the stadium in Cuenca was packed with 26000 people. The atmosphere was amazing and everyone was dancing with each other the whole time.
On sunday i went to the farm my family has. It is a huge building in the country side and is really georgeous! They have 90 dairy cows and also 2 horses so after lunch i went horse riding. It was really fun altough also very scary as havnt riden in ages and was on very steep ground, anyway was really good fun so hopefully ill get to go again soon!
Had a really good weekend, on Friday it was Isabellas birthday so had a party at the house which was really nice and got to practise my dancing loads! On saturday went to the grandmas house for lunch and whilst everyone was talking about a big concert and i said i didnt have a ticket she bought me one! The concert was of Jean Lois Guerra who is very famous in South America. It latino music and the stadium in Cuenca was packed with 26000 people. The atmosphere was amazing and everyone was dancing with each other the whole time.
On sunday i went to the farm my family has. It is a huge building in the country side and is really georgeous! They have 90 dairy cows and also 2 horses so after lunch i went horse riding. It was really fun altough also very scary as havnt riden in ages and was on very steep ground, anyway was really good fun so hopefully ill get to go again soon!
Monday, 21 September 2009
Monday 21st September
Have been at the school for a week now! Each day we do a little palava with the calender with everyone reading out what day it is and the weather etc and today I did it (well pointed at the words and spoke really slowly while the children repeated after me!) After lining the kids up in height order and spending about an hour doing the calendar, we line the kids up again to go to the loo and again to wash their hands. They then all have a snack which is normally soup (i eat this when it looks nice which is about half the time) and go out to play in the park downstairs. They then come back upstairs for some "work" which is normally cutting and sticking and then are lined up in height order to go home! There are two classes both reception year and then i think they move to a proper school round the corner. Downstairs is the nursery. When we arrive (and the teacher and nun are lining up children) me and Izzy (the other English volunteer at the school) have to stand by the door and make sure no one escapes as there is always one who crys when their mums leave (for most its their first week of school). After work i always buy these little lolly things which are only 25 cents and are really nice. This means i have change for the bus.
In the afternoons im at the orphanage which im finding a bit harder although was much better today. most of the other volunteers are from America and with a mormon organisation!
Monday tuesday and wednesday nights ive started salsa lessons, with possibly the veinest man alive! He mainly prances about looking in the mirror doing dance moves which are actualy quite embarrasing.. but hes happy so never mind!
This weekend we all went to a small town called Gualaceo, where the host family of one girls have two houses. One is fairly basic but ok and one is just a small room with no running water.. we decided to camp outside the small one in tents! I dont normally like tents but with 7 of us it was really fun. We had dinner and lunch in a market place, which during the day was a bit dull but had a really nice atmosphere in the evening with lots of ladys sitting behind pots and pans selling food, and randomly a guy juggling! The others ate guinea pig but it made me feel a bit sick so i just ate 3 differnt potatoe dishes which were all very nice! Also had a drink which is hot milk with cinnamon and i think pepper corns in which was very cosy!
On Sunday we headed off into the mountains to go fishing. It had rained the night before and we had to climb a hill to get to the lake. I went ahead thinking it would be nice to get to the top and laugh at the others still struggling up, but after getting half way up and incredibly muddy they decided we should come back another time, so my shoes were completely full of mud for nothing while some of the others hadnt even started to climb- joke was on me really!
We went instead to another lake nearby. I wasnt a natural fisher unlike some of the others and when i caught one squealed and refused to touch it! The whole thing only cost one dollar and included the people there cooking the fish for us and serving it with rice and salad, we all felt very in touch with nature and was the nicest fish I´ve had! Getting there was also very fun as we had a taxi with a trailor bit on the back which we all sat in, it was so good its worth the bruises on my back from being bashed about so much! The road was very bumpy!
In the afternoons im at the orphanage which im finding a bit harder although was much better today. most of the other volunteers are from America and with a mormon organisation!
Monday tuesday and wednesday nights ive started salsa lessons, with possibly the veinest man alive! He mainly prances about looking in the mirror doing dance moves which are actualy quite embarrasing.. but hes happy so never mind!
This weekend we all went to a small town called Gualaceo, where the host family of one girls have two houses. One is fairly basic but ok and one is just a small room with no running water.. we decided to camp outside the small one in tents! I dont normally like tents but with 7 of us it was really fun. We had dinner and lunch in a market place, which during the day was a bit dull but had a really nice atmosphere in the evening with lots of ladys sitting behind pots and pans selling food, and randomly a guy juggling! The others ate guinea pig but it made me feel a bit sick so i just ate 3 differnt potatoe dishes which were all very nice! Also had a drink which is hot milk with cinnamon and i think pepper corns in which was very cosy!
On Sunday we headed off into the mountains to go fishing. It had rained the night before and we had to climb a hill to get to the lake. I went ahead thinking it would be nice to get to the top and laugh at the others still struggling up, but after getting half way up and incredibly muddy they decided we should come back another time, so my shoes were completely full of mud for nothing while some of the others hadnt even started to climb- joke was on me really!
We went instead to another lake nearby. I wasnt a natural fisher unlike some of the others and when i caught one squealed and refused to touch it! The whole thing only cost one dollar and included the people there cooking the fish for us and serving it with rice and salad, we all felt very in touch with nature and was the nicest fish I´ve had! Getting there was also very fun as we had a taxi with a trailor bit on the back which we all sat in, it was so good its worth the bruises on my back from being bashed about so much! The road was very bumpy!
Saturday, 12 September 2009
Saturday 12th September
Have tested the hour long bus journey to the school, and it really does take an hour! I start at 8 on monday so Im not looking forward to leaving the house at 7 am! Last night went to la turi which is a the highest point where you can look out over all of Cuenca, its alot bigger than i thought it would be! Last night there was a crash on the road outside our house and it knocked the gate down! but i dont think anyone was hurt.
Today i went to lunch with the familys grandma as well as all the aunties, uncles and cousins. It was hard to understand people when all talking in a group so still felt a bit awkward, but after was able to talk seperatly with people and could understand.
Have tested the hour long bus journey to the school, and it really does take an hour! I start at 8 on monday so Im not looking forward to leaving the house at 7 am! Last night went to la turi which is a the highest point where you can look out over all of Cuenca, its alot bigger than i thought it would be! Last night there was a crash on the road outside our house and it knocked the gate down! but i dont think anyone was hurt.
Today i went to lunch with the familys grandma as well as all the aunties, uncles and cousins. It was hard to understand people when all talking in a group so still felt a bit awkward, but after was able to talk seperatly with people and could understand.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Thursday 10th September
Wandered around Cuenca and went for lunch at tutto frutto the restaurant and ice cream parlour. Went into the cathedral which was very elaborate, but we didnt stay long as wasnt really a tourist attraction as were many people preying. ive put some of my photos up on the wall now which is nice. Tried to buy a phone but found it quite tiring trying to work out the details of the networks in spanish so gave up and will try with Isabela. Since i have been here i dont think i have seen a single buggy- everyone carries their babys around even toddlers.
Wandered around Cuenca and went for lunch at tutto frutto the restaurant and ice cream parlour. Went into the cathedral which was very elaborate, but we didnt stay long as wasnt really a tourist attraction as were many people preying. ive put some of my photos up on the wall now which is nice. Tried to buy a phone but found it quite tiring trying to work out the details of the networks in spanish so gave up and will try with Isabela. Since i have been here i dont think i have seen a single buggy- everyone carries their babys around even toddlers.
Wednesday, 9 September 2009
wednesday 9th september
Today i went to the school and orphange where i will start next week. The school was really nice and colourful and the nun running it seemed really fun too! Only problem is that it isan hours bus journey away from my house.. but as a taxi only costs $2 i may end up doing that.
This afternoon i saw a hummingbird outside the window.. which i was very excited about but aparently they are all over the place.
This evening went to the mall and had ice cream with Marcia (my Ecuadorian "mum" ) and Isabella my "sister" . It feels a bit like America in some ways and they have copied some of the culture there. Dad you will be glad to know Isobella also watches The OC. the ice cream here comes on lolly pop sticks.
This afternoon i saw a hummingbird outside the window.. which i was very excited about but aparently they are all over the place.
This evening went to the mall and had ice cream with Marcia (my Ecuadorian "mum" ) and Isabella my "sister" . It feels a bit like America in some ways and they have copied some of the culture there. Dad you will be glad to know Isobella also watches The OC. the ice cream here comes on lolly pop sticks.
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
After yunguilla we went to this place where you can look out over teh crater of a volcano. it is only one of two volcanoes in the world where people have settled in the crater. when it last erupted thousands of years ago it collapsed in on itself and now has fields in.
We then went back to quito and climbed a cathedral which was very scary as had to use ladders.
Tuesday 8th September
Had to get up really early today to get the bus to Cuenca at 5am! the coach was much nicer than English ones and managed to sleep alot of the way, which is good as the journey is 10 hours. The drive was through small slow mountain roads and was interesting looking out the window at people in traditional clothes in the fields. Stopped for a snack of chrisps made of bananas. Arrived in Cuenca at 4ish and met my Ecuadorian mum and sister. The house is lovely. They have 3 dogs one who is very young and cute.
We then went back to quito and climbed a cathedral which was very scary as had to use ladders.
Tuesday 8th September
Had to get up really early today to get the bus to Cuenca at 5am! the coach was much nicer than English ones and managed to sleep alot of the way, which is good as the journey is 10 hours. The drive was through small slow mountain roads and was interesting looking out the window at people in traditional clothes in the fields. Stopped for a snack of chrisps made of bananas. Arrived in Cuenca at 4ish and met my Ecuadorian mum and sister. The house is lovely. They have 3 dogs one who is very young and cute.
Monday, 7 September 2009
Monday 7th september
Today went to the british embassy for a safety talk, although they didnt know who we were until a few conversations in spanish, as the latitude consulate didnt turn up.
Everyone seems to be working on Ecuadorian time which is at least an hour late, so shannon would seem early here! Well on time anyway.
After the embassy we were picked up and taken to "Mitad del Mundo" which is on the equator, and there was a tour round traditional equadorian homes made of mud and stuff. There was a dead snake that was 7 metres long that live in the jungle, that in venezuela they grow up to 15 metres. theres also a fish that lives in the amazon and when men wee in the water it swims up and is not very nice! so dont go to the loo in the river!!
They also demonstrated water goin down a drain on each side of the equator and then on the equator when it just goes strait down.
We then went to yunguilla which is a cloud forest that 2 of the volunteers are staying at. after being not very environmentally friendly and chopping down trees and stuff they were persuaded to be an eco place. they planted new trees but as they take 40 years or so to make money they decided to become a tourist place. this was 20 years ago and now they have enoguhh money to make cheese and jam as a sideline business. the jam is nice but cheese is not.
Today went to the british embassy for a safety talk, although they didnt know who we were until a few conversations in spanish, as the latitude consulate didnt turn up.
Everyone seems to be working on Ecuadorian time which is at least an hour late, so shannon would seem early here! Well on time anyway.
After the embassy we were picked up and taken to "Mitad del Mundo" which is on the equator, and there was a tour round traditional equadorian homes made of mud and stuff. There was a dead snake that was 7 metres long that live in the jungle, that in venezuela they grow up to 15 metres. theres also a fish that lives in the amazon and when men wee in the water it swims up and is not very nice! so dont go to the loo in the river!!
They also demonstrated water goin down a drain on each side of the equator and then on the equator when it just goes strait down.
We then went to yunguilla which is a cloud forest that 2 of the volunteers are staying at. after being not very environmentally friendly and chopping down trees and stuff they were persuaded to be an eco place. they planted new trees but as they take 40 years or so to make money they decided to become a tourist place. this was 20 years ago and now they have enoguhh money to make cheese and jam as a sideline business. the jam is nice but cheese is not.
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