Quito, Ecuador

Kristin, Salome, Gabrielito, and Ivan

After a long-haul from Santiago, the comforts of the Peñaherrera home was a wonderful welcome. After an 8-fruit smoothie, Ramiro's home-roasted coffee (amazing!), and some oatmeal, we were ready to explore the city. We scheduled some Spanish classes for the following weeks and then headed into the Old Town (we are living in the newer, more metropolitan part of town).

The Fambly!

We decided to scale the massive Basilica, which afforded a pretty incredible view of Quito. Kristin had no problem climbing the steep stairs and sketchy ladders, but Ivan was veritably peeing his pants and swooning with vertigo. It was a bonding experience. The views of the city were phenomenal and the building was very impressive inside and out. We also went into the cathedral, which was massive, and had lots of technicolor stained glass, gold leafing, and lots of candles to set the holy mood.

Plaza Grande

La Basilica

A couple hundred stairs to work those thighs!

We then walked into Plaza Grande and Plaza San Francisco. Ivan couldn't believe how much it had changed in the short 4 years that he'd last been in the city. We basically just cruised around and appreciated the architecture, and also the whole-wheat empanadas. Ecuador is refreshingly healthy and has so many food options!! (not that a juicy rib-eye is a bad thing... just not everyday...). The equatorial air and the good food has made a remarkable recovery for Kristin's knee!!

Empanada Boy

Speaking of amazing food, a favorite outing for us is to go to the bustling local mercado that displays goods from all over the diverse country. The pictures should be able to paint a fairly accurate picture of the variety and abundance of their produce. The 8-fruit smoothie has many different combinations!!

Just a little bit to choose from...

Bartering

aji

We also have been taking 4 hours of Spanish classes 5 days a week. We are both really improving our conversation and understanding of the language. Also fortunate, Ecuadorians are fairly easy to understand (basically, the opposite of the rapid-fire slang-laden Chileans!!).

Another great outing was to the cacao finca towards the coast. We went with Ramiro's partner Fernando, who was relatively soft-spoken, but wonderful to chat with (which was good since we spent over 9 hours in the truck together that day). The finca is only an hour from the coast, which is where all our subsidized bananas come from. There were banana trees as far as the eye could see. Fascinating to see how one of America's favorite staple fruits was grown (as an aside, a fresh tree-ripened banana is in a totally different league than the yellow logs we've become accustomed to up north. A fresh banana is an amazing thing). It was obviously incredibly hot and humid, but the bugs weren't too hungry -- even the blaring sun seemed to much for them. The finca is around 22 hectares and borders an impressive river at the lower end. We walked the perimeter of the property with Fernando, Edgar (the foreman), and a GPS. The Garmin GPS was pretty nifty, and after our walk we could see the perimeter of the property, and measure its area. Lots of banana and cacao trees, as well as some corn and rice that had been left behind by the previous owners. The cacao trees looked very familiar -- kinda like a tropical avocado, but with a giant oblong star-shaped fruit that is filled with one of our favorite seeds -- chocolate!!!. We were very grateful for the opportunity to see the production of bananas, cacao, and some other tropical crops. On the drive home, we bought 15 pounds of fresh tropical fruit for $5.00 -- pineapples, mangos, coconuts, papaya, etc... A very productive, delicious, and beautiful part of the world.

Since chemicals are so expensive, farmers use these perforated blue plastic bags to protect their yellow gold.

Banana and cacao trees

Very dense vegetation

Rice at bottom, and corn on hillside

The cacao fruit

Lets eat one!!

Banana delivery

Another outing was to Cotocachi, where Kristin and Salome where on a mission to buy some of the town's renowned handmade leather goods. The leather products were remarkable, and of top quality. Kristin looks pretty sexy in her new black boots!!

Grabriel, Ramiro, and great great Grandpa

Kristin's new kicks

Salome gave us a taste of her business (pun totally intended), which is the botique-style honey business. The Ecuadorian Honey Company has many unique honey flavors from all over Ecuador, and displays them in a beautiful box too. The honey tasting was sensational - our senses were put to the test by the very exotic and unique honey's. There were radish, avocado, eucalyptus, tropical flowers, wildflower, and many many more. Salome works with many different bee keepers and puts their collective efforts into a beautiful box that she designed herself. Maybe we'll bring some home -- if we don't eat it all first!!

Salome's beautiful honey assortment (only some of the flavors)

Gourmet tasting

Every Sunday is exercise/bike day in Quito. The main street, Las Amazonas, crosses from one end of the long city to the other, and is used exclusively by walkers, joggers, and bikers. It was a great way to see the city and not have to worry about the crazed taxi drivers that rattle and belch at unreasonable speeds.

Safety first!!

As part of our fantastic immersion in the Peñaherrera household, we have been introduced to some great cuisines. We have had many traditional dishes and soups, as well as some favorites from the neighborhood. We have already indulged at the Indian restaurant 4 times. yummm! We have also been baking and cooking a lot, and it is so great to have a fully stocked kitchen to create in. Ramiro and Salome are also very grateful recipients of our creations. Pretty awesome!!

Hungry hippos!!

Harvesting coffee (don't worry, its Fair Trade with Gabriel's help)

After 3 weeks at school and around Quito, we decided to hop on a plane and spend a week in Cuenca for a little 'spring break!' Pura Vida