Tour de Ecuador

Buenos Días

Ecuador is amazing and freezing!! I've only been warm twice since I've been here, well three times if you count my first warm shower (well first shower at all actually since I've been here) I had last night. The photos unfortunately loaded backwards so the first photos are the most recent and the last are the oldest. Yesterday we hiked into the jungle and were surrounded by beauty. After several hours of hiking and sending a few back to the car to recover we reached the near top of a mountain where we could hear the incredible sounds and breathe in the fresh air. Along the path (well the path made for us by machetes) we discovered many insects, fruits and flowers- all spectacular. Whats a little hike in the jungle without a whole lot of mud right? We bought rain boots to hike in which helped tremendously however I still ended up soaked and covered in mud with boots full of water, all in a days work in Ecuador I suppose.






















The first show the guys played (in Otaval0) was nothing to write home about, they started playing around 11pm where six or seven people stood to hear them. They played a short set and chalked it up to practice. The next day however was incredible. We stopped in Ibarra at a outdoor festival of sorts where people were packed in to hear music and bands were taking turn on stage. What was originally supposed to be just two songs turned in to about five after the crowd chanted for more. Many dreadlocks with Bob Marley attire danced and smiled. Afterward they were swarmed with eager hands and ears, everyone wanted a CD, a picture or just to rub elbows with the guys (it was a proud moment). We were then rushed off back to Otavalo where they played a second show at Jala Jala (the club) and had a great turn out. People danced, smiled and enjoyed the music. The posters around town were of great motivation I believe, how fun to see your face plastered around Ecuador!







We have been staying in some really fun places, the last place we were at had about ten acres for us to all romp around in. Again the sounds are so awesome, you have no idea what you are hearing but are in awe to listen. We were surrounded by avocado trees, pomegranates, oranges, bananas and even poinsettias. Amongst the beauty we found this fun spider hanging from the rafters









The food has been hmmm well different. I do believe I may come back lighter then when I went to India. Corn is a main staple in the North which I'm not typically a fan of but they prepare it in the most peculiar ways and I'm actually enjoying it. Below is an appetizer we were served on our first day and I'm not sure how they did it but the corn has the consistency of a potato. With it is a slice of queso fresca (cheese) which was also delicious. Almost everything we have been served has meat floating in it (lots of soups here) or diced inside and unfortunately their manager here typically orders food for us ahead of time so you get what you get. The good news however is it's usually served in 3-4 courses so I usually find something I like even if it is just the dessert.






This is a little sample of a street performance we witnessed, these are natives to the area and the music was incredible. Unfortunately were didn't stay long to watch but you'll get the idea.



All in all it's been a lot of fun, no one has killed each other yet and even though we have only been here three days I swear it's been a week (not sure if that's good or bad). We are off to Quito today on a bus (that should be fun) where they perform with two other bands in a benefit concert of sorts. I'll try and post again in a few days, the internet availability is few and far between due to our lack to stay in one place for too long and the crazy rush we are always in to get somewhere even though when we arrive we typically are waiting for hours (not sure if that's a cultural thing or what but I'm not a fan).

Ciao (and yes they do say that here, strange but true).