Jan 2, 2010 - Santa Cruz

Good morning Everyone! This morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight to the Galapagos. We are met in the arrival hall and transferred by boat and bus to the Peregrine Endeavour in Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island. ... The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, whilst the island is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. ... If you didn't take your lunch on the flight you can eat in one of the many excellent restaurants in town.Good morning Everyone! This morning we are transferred to the airport for our flight to the Galapagos. We are met in the arrival hall and transferred by boat and bus to the Peregrine Endeavour in Puerto Ayora, on Santa Cruz Island. ... The small town of Puerto Ayora is the economic centre of the archipelago, whilst the island is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. ... If you didn't take your lunch on the flight you can eat in one of the many excellent restaurants in town....

Oct 27, 2009 - Montanita

Montanita.Montanita....

Oct 25, 2009 - Culture Shock Again

Flying out of Medellin was quite the process. Upon arrival in Quito we lucked out with one extremely helpful cab driver who drove us around to five or so hostels at no extra charge until we found a suitable one with vacancy. ... We have been continuously warned about how dangerous this city is and so wanted somewhere that was secure and centrally located.Flying out of Medellin was quite the process. Upon arrival in Quito we lucked out with one extremely helpful cab driver who drove us around to five or so hostels at no extra charge until we found a suitable one with vacancy. ... We have been continuously warned about how dangerous this city is and so wanted somewhere that was secure and centrally located....

Oct 17, 2009 - Otavalo/Colonial Quito by Night

After a big beach weekend, I was ready for a more low key weekend around Quito. I hadn't been to Otavalo, a small town nestled in the mountains which revolves completely around their incredible market. ... I went with my friends Annie, Gina, Scarlett and Chris for a quick day trip.After a big beach weekend, I was ready for a more low key weekend around Quito. I hadn't been to Otavalo, a small town nestled in the mountains which revolves completely around their incredible market. ... I went with my friends Annie, Gina, Scarlett and Chris for a quick day trip....

Oct 14, 2009 - Playing at the Playa

"Playa" is Spanish for beach! Last weekend it was a national holiday so I didn’t have class on Friday! I went with my host family to their friend’s condo right on the beach. My host mom and her friend were going to buy some fresh seafood for lunch so they gave me a ride to a Atacames, a town down the beach where a lot of my friends were staying for the weekend. ... On Sunday morning my host mom helped me get a taxi to go to Atacames to visit with my friends for the morning. ... Afterwards we had lunch and headed back to Quito late on Sunday."Playa" is Spanish for beach! Last weekend it was a national holiday so I didn’t have class on Friday! I went with my host family to their friend’s condo right on the beach. My host mom and her friend were going to buy some fresh seafood for lunch so they gave me a ride to a Atacames, a town down the beach where a lot of my friends were staying for the weekend. ... On Sunday morning my host mom helped me get a taxi to go to Atacames to visit with my friends for the morning. ... Afterwards we had lunch and headed back to Quito late on Sunday....

Oct 7, 2009 - Daily Life in Quito

I am going to be very honest. I’ve been living in Quito for over a month and I think it is time to let you know about my daily life here in Ecuador and some little (and not so little) cultural observations I have made. ... I was discussing it’s reputation with my older host sister a couple of nights ago who just graduated from medical school at La Católica, the other good private school in Quito. ... My host family is very privileged by Ecuadorian standards.I am going to be very honest. I’ve been living in Quito for over a month and I think it is time to let you know about my daily life here in Ecuador and some little (and not so little) cultural observations I have made. ... I was discussing it’s reputation with my older host sister a couple of nights ago who just graduated from medical school at La Católica, the other good private school in Quito. ... My host family is very privileged by Ecuadorian standards....

Oct 2, 2009 - Amazing Amazon/21st B-Day

This past weekend I went to Tiputini Biodiversity Station with a big group of international students and our wonderful advisor, Maricarmen. ... From there we took a “bus” (more like a trolley aka really uncomfortable seats), to the Tiputini river (a tributary of the Amazon). ... The Ecuadorian government wouldn’t let us take pictures during this leg of the journey, which I thought was pretty interesting.This past weekend I went to Tiputini Biodiversity Station with a big group of international students and our wonderful advisor, Maricarmen. ... From there we took a “bus” (more like a trolley aka really uncomfortable seats), to the Tiputini river (a tributary of the Amazon). ... The Ecuadorian government wouldn’t let us take pictures during this leg of the journey, which I thought was pretty interesting....

Oct 1, 2009 - A Toast To Pachamama

Hey Everyone, I haven´t written in a while because before it was the last weekend in Cuenca and then we went to Peru. ... We have been in hostels since we left Cuenca so it has been kind of hard to get to a computer. ... Yesterday was the most epic day I have every had.Hey Everyone, I haven´t written in a while because before it was the last weekend in Cuenca and then we went to Peru. ... We have been in hostels since we left Cuenca so it has been kind of hard to get to a computer. ... Yesterday was the most epic day I have every had....

Sep 21, 2009 - One month in...

Ooops! I realized I haven’t made a post in a really long time! I guess I have a lot to catch up on with everybody! In some ways, I think it is really good I haven’t posted in a long time… it means I have been BUSY! I have been settling into the rhythm of life in Quito. ... However Universidad San Francisco de Quito attracts the elites of Ecuador because it is the most expensive, most highly thought of university in Ecuador. ... The night of the party I my host mom drove us out to Tumbaco, a suburb pretty far from Quito where they had rented this big house/farm for the party. ... Sunday night I went to a family friend’s house in Quito. ...

Sep 16, 2009 - Last Few Days In Cuenca :(

Hola! It is raining here in Cuenca for the first time since we have been here. ... Overall, I am going to miss Cuenca a lot. ... It is a nice size city.Hola! It is raining here in Cuenca for the first time since we have been here. ... Overall, I am going to miss Cuenca a lot. ... It is a nice size city....

Sep 16, 2009 - Back to Quito again - and a trip to the "Middle of the World"!

We are back in Quito for the last time now and this time we braved the buses again and made the short trip up to the equator which is known as Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world). ... There is a monument which marks the equator but now with GPS they have found that it is about 200 metres out! There is a second small, unofficial museum which marks the "actual" equator line, so we also visited this as well.We are back in Quito for the last time now and this time we braved the buses again and made the short trip up to the equator which is known as Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world). ... There is a monument which marks the equator but now with GPS they have found that it is about 200 metres out! There is a second small, unofficial museum which marks the "actual" equator line, so we also visited this as well....

Sep 15, 2009 - Otavalo

Otavalo is reknowned for its enormous market they have on Sundays. ... Otavaleños, the people of Otavalo, have a very distinctive manner of dress. ... The area around Otavalo is surrounded by mountains, volcanoes and lakes. ...