I just thought I would share this strange store sign with you... "Exclusive Pork Coffee"... sounds tasty no?? ...as the marketer in me shudders.
Pre-University School... not necessary for all, but usually for those taking specialized professions (ie. medicine). I just love this sign as well as it has a really forbiding looking owl as a logo... again, why make it harder for people to enjoy learning?
This Quito apmt complex is one of the most interesting modern building I have seen in Ecuador.
Grafiti reading is an interesting sport... as there is lots of it in Quito. Mostly political.
Many of Quito's buildings are unfinished... and are definitely left looking as they are in mid-construction phase for years.
We couldn't resist! Ricardo and Ivy have to hug this big cookie brand mascot (by the way pets are called mascots in spanish... very confusing!).
Well, we are at the equator, but that doesn't keep Quito from having an indoor ICE skating rink. Ivy and I had a great time teaching our Mexican friend to skate.
Ivy on the phone... a frequent sight! hehe!
My roomates Miguel, Ricardo and Ivy, were regularly jamming on the cords in our apmt... creating a very pleasant and tranquil atmosphere. (that is, when we weren't practicing complicated salsa dance moves.)
Our short 2-day jungle trip from Tena into secondary level forest started with a one hour canoe ride in the rain. What would a trip in the rainforest be without that of course?
Next to our commercially-made motorized canoe was a true homemade canoe (made out of one entire tree!!).
During the canoe trip through the very green rainforest, I was reminded of Canada when we passed a very red tree.
We also discovered these low bushes that hung out over the river (Napo River) which we surnamed river moss.
Our Jungle Lodge... fancy and polished accomodations. It was definitely more a relaxing break, than a rugged trek. (Apart from the day I had food poisoning from a hamburger which had mayonnaise).
Enjoying meals in this open air space. Yes, we were in the jungle but let me tell you, there were no big bugs, no mosquitoes, no wildlife, one almost dormant tarantula far overhead, and one big scary spider the size of my hand in the washroom in the middle of the night.
Jack, the lodge dog, has the biggest ears I have ever seen on a dog!
Libio, or Senor Tahua as we call him, who was our guide made us tahua necklace (Tahua is basically jungle ivory. It does not come from an animal, rather it is a rockhard small seed that when carved looks like ivory. Definitely more ecofriendly than real ivory!)
Ricardo, who had brought out his henna kit, decided to paint some body art on us! Here we are displaying our newly made impressions!
Sr. Tahua gives us a tour of the medicine plants. This leaf is used to make skirts for ceremonies.
This plant once broken up can be used as an organic soap for cleaning clothes or a refreshing bath.
This parasite tree grows from the top down and then plants itself onto other trees and kills them.
