Remembering Ecuador

Muchas gracias to the travel club at Huntingdon Area Middle School for inviting me to share about my travels! I love reminiscing about past trips and sharing all of the great things I saw and learned while south of the border. I hope you all learn something new!

I'm home!!!

Well, I am finally home...and glad to be here! Please check out my photos, as well as those of my classmates on our webshots community page:

http://community.webshots.com/user/otavalo08

I will be adding photos throughout the week. Thank you for following me to the Equator. I hope you have enjoyed experiencing Ecuador with me...the mountains, the cities, the islands, the animals, the plants, and everything. It was incredible, and I hope to return in the near future. Ñuka Ecuadorta kuyany!

One more day

Earlier this afternoon, Michelle and I made it safely back to Quito from the Galapagos Islands. Although they were amazing, I am glad to finally be making my way back home. Tomorrow is day number 40. I have had a lot of fun, learned a lot about TESL and the country of Ecuador. I have had so many different and exciting experiences that I can't even count. I have felt safe and comfortable everywhere I've gone. It has truly been a blessing to have had this opportunity.

I will upload the rest of my pictures as soon as I get the chance (and as soon as I get my underwater camera developed). Warning: they might make you want to go to the islands, too. If so, I have a travel agency to suggest. Just let me know.

The next time I post, it will be from the good old U.S. of A. :D See you soon!!!

Isabela Island

Well, the broadband is not sufficient for uploading pictures. Hopefully the wireless will be working in Quito on Saturday when we get back. Another amazing day here in the South Pacific. We went snorkeling with a penguin today, saw some flamingos, more giant tortoises and sea lions, great beaches and views.
Wait, it seems that one photo uploaded in about 5 minutes. It was the ferry ride from Baltra (airport island) to Santa Cruz. A sea lion greeted us with a wave. They are so cute!

¡¡¡Las Islas Galápagos!!!

Wow! Incredible!! Unimaginable!!! These past 3 days have been some of the most amazing in my life. If you ever get the chance, come to the Galapagos! I can't believe the wildlife I've seen, the landforms and features, the ocean! I am trying to upload some pix right now to show you....but the best were taken today, and they are on an underwater camera. You'll have to wait until I get them developed, but we went swimming with sea lions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was smiling and laughing so hard that water was getting into my snorkeling gear, but that was ok. It was totally worth the trip just to have that experience. Also today, we rode horseback up a volcano, saw some pretty amazing volcanic formations, got soaking wet from being in the clouds, saw blue footed boobies, penguins, iguanas, a sting ray, fish, other birds, a wild cat, and much more. More cool stuff tomorrow. Home on Monday! See you all soon!

Around Otavalo

Otavalo from above, Lago San Pablo (me and with classmates), the market, Michelle and host mom.

2 weeks from today!

Yum!!!

1. Scorpion in one of our classrooms. That's reassuring!
2. Old indigenous horn.
3. Before...well before being eaten. It was purchased at the animal market that morning....live.
4. During...yum!
5. After. It was greasy, but not bad. Now I can say I have eaten guinea pig...cuy (kwee) in Spanish-Kichwa.