After a fairly long journey---here we are in Jesus´ home land of Ecuador. We spent one night in Buenos Aires, as our connecting plane didn´t leave until the next morning. It had been pre-arranged that we would be put up in a hotel by the airline---but on arrival, we went to the LAN desk, and they didn´t seem to have any record of our reservation---fortunately after a bit of "discussion" it was sorted out!!! "Welcome to Sth America" said Jesus!!!Buenos Aires---well, just another big city!!--and expensive. We wanted to go to "La Boca"---a popular street, with colourful buildings, cafes and tango dancers to entertain. It was a short bus trip there---but we didn´t have any small change--and we needed it for the bus. I asked a few people if they could change the note i had ($5!!!)---and noone could (or would!!!). So---we walked!!!
A nice 45 min walk through 
a nice seedy part of Buenos Aires. But ---we made it!!! Worthwhile? Yes & no!!! A pretty part of town, with coulorfully painted and decorated buildings---but set up to take advantage of tourists!!! After a stroll around--and several people trying to lure us in to their cafe---we decided a drink and a relax would be nice. Me ---a cappucinno, Jesus---a beer (what esle!!!). With tango dancing to entertain, it was nice to relax after our long walk. Until--the bill came!!!. Apart from the fact that the cappucinno alone cost about $7 (rip off number 1!!!)---on top of the goods---they charged $2 just to sit down, Plus 10%"tip"---on top of the dancers coming around and pretty much demanding that you put in something for the entertainment!!! So---about $20 for the experience. "Welcome to Sth America" again, said Jesus!!!
a nice seedy part of Buenos Aires. But ---we made it!!! Worthwhile? Yes & no!!! A pretty part of town, with coulorfully painted and decorated buildings---but set up to take advantage of tourists!!! After a stroll around--and several people trying to lure us in to their cafe---we decided a drink and a relax would be nice. Me ---a cappucinno, Jesus---a beer (what esle!!!). With tango dancing to entertain, it was nice to relax after our long walk. Until--the bill came!!!. Apart from the fact that the cappucinno alone cost about $7 (rip off number 1!!!)---on top of the goods---they charged $2 just to sit down, Plus 10%"tip"---on top of the dancers coming around and pretty much demanding that you put in something for the entertainment!!! So---about $20 for the experience. "Welcome to Sth America" again, said Jesus!!! The next day we continued our trip to arrive in Ecuador. We arrived late at night, so spent the night in Quito. Jesus´parents live about 3 hrs further north, so we made the trip there the next morning. His family knew he was coming---but in true Jesus style---not exactly when. Even i was excited for Jesus as we approached the house!!! He never says much---but i knew he was excited. As we walked down the path to the house, backpacks and suitcases full of presents in tow, (see photo at the start---donkeys and all!!!) he called out his mums name. One of his nephews came running and screamed with excitement, running back inside to tell everyone. His mum gave him a BIG hug and had tears of joy in her eyes---even i was nearly crying!!!
His family were all gathering together ---as the next day (Valentines Day)---there was going to be a big party to celebrate his parents 50th wedding anniversary. With Jesus arriving and his brother Marco here visiting from Germany---all the kids (+ 21 grandkids!!) would all be together for the first time in ages. His mum was bursting with happiness---as you can imagine!!!
The menu for the next day w
as to be a traditional Ecuadorian feast---chicken soup (yes, with home grown chickens), mote---a dish prepared with corn (yum!!), potatoes (home grown!!), salad, aji (chilli sauce) and pig---also home grown!!!. So, that afternoon was the killing and preparation of the pig---great for a vegetarian hey!!!I didn´t see the actual pig being killed---but saw it being prepared---first burnt with a torch to remove the hair and dirt from its skin--thencleaned---and yes, hung up and cut up!!! I didn´t help with the cutting part---but took photos!!!
After that---time for the brothers to celebrate with a beer--or 2 or 3---!!! Me---i went ot bed!!!
His family were all gathering together ---as the next day (Valentines Day)---there was going to be a big party to celebrate his parents 50th wedding anniversary. With Jesus arriving and his brother Marco here visiting from Germany---all the kids (+ 21 grandkids!!) would all be together for the first time in ages. His mum was bursting with happiness---as you can imagine!!!The menu for the next day w
as to be a traditional Ecuadorian feast---chicken soup (yes, with home grown chickens), mote---a dish prepared with corn (yum!!), potatoes (home grown!!), salad, aji (chilli sauce) and pig---also home grown!!!. So, that afternoon was the killing and preparation of the pig---great for a vegetarian hey!!!I didn´t see the actual pig being killed---but saw it being prepared---first burnt with a torch to remove the hair and dirt from its skin--thencleaned---and yes, hung up and cut up!!! I didn´t help with the cutting part---but took photos!!!
After that---time for the brothers to celebrate with a beer--or 2 or 3---!!! Me---i went ot bed!!!
The next morning we took Jesus´mum to the town nearby to buy a new outfit for the wedding. Lots of food preparation, lots of kids putting on their pretty dresses, and in the afternoon we all walked in to the town , where there was a ceremony in the church. Jesus´parents re-made their wedding vows after 50 years!!!
Next---the party!!!. Well---after a yummy meal, short speaches by all 10 kids and a few performances by the grandkids---let the party begin. In true latin American style---we danced and danced and danced and drank ( a drink prepared with alcohol and fruit juice, and left to ferment a bit more!!), and danced and drank and danced and danced---. I went to bed at about 2 or 3am--Jesus--well, not until after breakfast the next morning!!! I have to add that i didn´t drink too much!! Jesus---well thats another story!!
Next---the party!!!. Well---after a yummy meal, short speaches by all 10 kids and a few performances by the grandkids---let the party begin. In true latin American style---we danced and danced and danced and drank ( a drink prepared with alcohol and fruit juice, and left to ferment a bit more!!), and danced and drank and danced and danced---. I went to bed at about 2 or 3am--Jesus--well, not until after breakfast the next morning!!! I have to add that i didn´t drink too much!! Jesus---well thats another story!!
Well---more than a week has passed since the party. We are still here at Jesus´family home---he is enjoying spending time here with his parents and family, and I am enjoying getting to know them better.
Let me describe a bit more where they live. It is a large, fairly basic farm-like house I guess you could say. It is complete with a house for the pigs and the guinea-pigs (re
member--they eat them here!!)--with chickens walking around the garden---nice fresh eggs for everyone!!! There is even "chicken trees"---where the chickens climb to sleep at night--very funny!!! It is situated on top of a hill overlooking the land they have below---with all sorts of and yummy things growing--corn, potatoes, avocadoes, cauliflower,cabbage, pumpkin, beans, herbs, blackberries, lemons---all they need to eat!!! It also overlooks the small town below and the larger town in the distance, plus the volcano Imbabura (inactive in case you were worried!!!)
just to the right and other mountains surrounding. A beautiful garden
member--they eat them here!!)--with chickens walking around the garden---nice fresh eggs for everyone!!! There is even "chicken trees"---where the chickens climb to sleep at night--very funny!!! It is situated on top of a hill overlooking the land they have below---with all sorts of and yummy things growing--corn, potatoes, avocadoes, cauliflower,cabbage, pumpkin, beans, herbs, blackberries, lemons---all they need to eat!!! It also overlooks the small town below and the larger town in the distance, plus the volcano Imbabura (inactive in case you were worried!!!)just to the right and other mountains surrounding. A beautiful garden
full of flowers and trees (including gum trees so i don´t feel too homesick!!!), the garden decorated with sculptures in concrete and wood, masks and paintings made by Jesus and his
brothers Carlos and Marco---colouful hummingbirds that come to eat the nectar from the
flowers, fireflies flashing in the dark of the night--yes, its a pretty relaxing place to be!!!
Relaxing---well almost--hee hee!!! What have we been doing? I helped Jesus build a house for the pet dog (he now has a house complete with terrace, also overlooking the view below!!), 
helped lug up 2 big bags of avocadoes that we picked from the trees below, helped him cut some branches form the trees and lugged them up to the house to use as fire-wood. Digging dirt t
o clear an area of the land below. A couple of days i helped one of his nieces paint and re-arrange her bedroom. Oh yes---and washing the clothes!!! You think that washing clothes involves putting them in the machine with
helped lug up 2 big bags of avocadoes that we picked from the trees below, helped him cut some branches form the trees and lugged them up to the house to use as fire-wood. Digging dirt t
o clear an area of the land below. A couple of days i helped one of his nieces paint and re-arrange her bedroom. Oh yes---and washing the clothes!!! You think that washing clothes involves putting them in the machine with powder, and later in the dryer. "That´s not washing clothes" Jesus has always said!!! Here, you put them in a tub with water and powder to soak---and then piece by piece wash them by hand!!!
So---a holiday hey!!? I reckon Jesus bought me here to put me to work--hee hee. But---it´s good exercise!!!
Meanwhile Jesus has been working even harder. Fixing things around the place for his mum, digging steps in the path down to the land below to make the climb up/down easier. Cutting wood and lugging it up to the house for firewood (see photo as proof!!) Today he spent the whole day with his brother putting up a cable at the bottom of the property. The end of their land drops down to a canyon---where there is a place to swim filled ith water that flows direct from the mountains. They have installed a cable to do a flying fox from one corner to the other---but it took all day---as here it is done by hand---no machines to install or tighten the cable. To check how it worked---first they sent a sack of dirt across---then the guinea pig--one of his nieces. Pretty brave i reckon---you wouldn´t get me doing that!!
The other day we went an "animal market". Right near the house is a place whe
re every wednesday and friday the country folk bring their pigs and cows and sheep (and 1 LLama!!!) to sell. Those wanting to buy come, check out the best of the animals, and off they go!!! It was a great place for photos!! In true Latin American style----Jesus´mum was telling us that some
people arrive really early, buy some animals--and then re-sell them to make a profit!!! Life is funny here!!!
This past weekend was Carnivale here---3 days of partying--and water bombs!!! The tradition here--apart from parades with kids dancing dressed in colourful traditional costumes---is to throw water bombs and spraying a shaving-cream-like foam (called Karaoke) at anyone passing by. One day we went to a small town about 45 mins from here---a town where the population is mainly negros...to see how they "Carnivaled"!!! The main attraction here---apart from great music and dancing and food---was fighting with water and karaoke!!! It was right near the river front--so people were not only throwing water bombs---but buckets of water!!! I got saoked within 10 minutes of arriving I think!! So---what else to do---but join in--so I bought some karaoke to spray at anyone who passed me by!!! Somehow Jesus and his mum managed to escape getting soaked--me twice!!!!
So---a holiday hey!!? I reckon Jesus bought me here to put me to work--hee hee. But---it´s good exercise!!!
Meanwhile Jesus has been working even harder. Fixing things around the place for his mum, digging steps in the path down to the land below to make the climb up/down easier. Cutting wood and lugging it up to the house for firewood (see photo as proof!!) Today he spent the whole day with his brother putting up a cable at the bottom of the property. The end of their land drops down to a canyon---where there is a place to swim filled ith water that flows direct from the mountains. They have installed a cable to do a flying fox from one corner to the other---but it took all day---as here it is done by hand---no machines to install or tighten the cable. To check how it worked---first they sent a sack of dirt across---then the guinea pig--one of his nieces. Pretty brave i reckon---you wouldn´t get me doing that!!
The other day we went an "animal market". Right near the house is a place whe
re every wednesday and friday the country folk bring their pigs and cows and sheep (and 1 LLama!!!) to sell. Those wanting to buy come, check out the best of the animals, and off they go!!! It was a great place for photos!! In true Latin American style----Jesus´mum was telling us that somepeople arrive really early, buy some animals--and then re-sell them to make a profit!!! Life is funny here!!!
This past weekend was Carnivale here---3 days of partying--and water bombs!!! The tradition here--apart from parades with kids dancing dressed in colourful traditional costumes---is to throw water bombs and spraying a shaving-cream-like foam (called Karaoke) at anyone passing by. One day we went to a small town about 45 mins from here---a town where the population is mainly negros...to see how they "Carnivaled"!!! The main attraction here---apart from great music and dancing and food---was fighting with water and karaoke!!! It was right near the river front--so people were not only throwing water bombs---but buckets of water!!! I got saoked within 10 minutes of arriving I think!! So---what else to do---but join in--so I bought some karaoke to spray at anyone who passed me by!!! Somehow Jesus and his mum managed to escape getting soaked--me twice!!!!
At this point--I must add a little piece of trivia. The Chinese have even found their way here to Ecuador with their $2 shops--except--here they are called .50c shops!!!
As for me---I have been enjoying helping his mum peel the fresh corn and beans to prepare the meals. Even the beans are amazing colours---green, pink, cerise, black, white, speckled---great for colourful photos---and yummy to eat!!! A couple of times we have also made tortillas---a bread-like dough flattened to pikelet-like size, and cooked on a large pan over an open fire---and
eaten with guacamole---mmmm!!! I got up early today to have a tortilla-making lesson!!! Then--I learned how to make a traditional Ecuadorian soup--made with dumpling-like balls made with green bananas--yes, for those in the know--the bananas used to make pataconas!!!
So yes-- I have been enjoying a touch of the country life here. We will stay here now until next weekend when Jesus´ brother Marco returns to Germany. Then--it´s time to turn into tourists!!!
Until then---hope you enjoy my travel-tales and photos so far.
Until next time---lots of love to you all
xxoo LLamas Bailando (Karen and Jesus :o) )
As for me---I have been enjoying helping his mum peel the fresh corn and beans to prepare the meals. Even the beans are amazing colours---green, pink, cerise, black, white, speckled---great for colourful photos---and yummy to eat!!! A couple of times we have also made tortillas---a bread-like dough flattened to pikelet-like size, and cooked on a large pan over an open fire---and
eaten with guacamole---mmmm!!! I got up early today to have a tortilla-making lesson!!! Then--I learned how to make a traditional Ecuadorian soup--made with dumpling-like balls made with green bananas--yes, for those in the know--the bananas used to make pataconas!!!So yes-- I have been enjoying a touch of the country life here. We will stay here now until next weekend when Jesus´ brother Marco returns to Germany. Then--it´s time to turn into tourists!!!
Until then---hope you enjoy my travel-tales and photos so far.
Until next time---lots of love to you all
xxoo LLamas Bailando (Karen and Jesus :o) )
PS: Me on the flying fox!!! Yes---I screamed!!!
