Everyday first thing after waking up, I slip on my running shoes or favorite rubber boots and greet the day with a run or hike, accompanied by my two loyal buddies and surrounded by the glorious mountains of the Andes. And everyday (at least in the morning) I thank my lucky stars that I get to live in and be a part of this beautiful place. But after living here for a little over a year, I find the fresh eyes which first greeted this country have started to grow cateracts (figuratively speaking), brought on by the routine of daily life and work. Which is one of the reasons why visitors are so wonderful: not only do I get to visit new places, but they help me shed my lenses and re-appreciate the little quirks of daily life in Ecuador.
The last visitors were no exception. During their first few days in Ecuador we explored Old Town, the beautiful historic center of Quito. I took them on my usual rounds; the Basilica, a few of the museums, Parque Elejido, but during the way we experienced so much more than what I had planned. On the way to the Basilica, Rose and Karl took me on a side trip to visit the bottle frog (a great idea for a recycling project):
and unique columns of the La Compania Church:
Rose and Karl also pointed out that, if one were inclined, one could replace a broken high heel spike, tan leather, or print out a book using the printing press we discovered housed in a hole-in-the-wall store.
Upon arriving in Nono, the often depressing afternoon fog was transformed into a beautiful photo opportunity:
and the friendly gentleman who owned the hostal down the street turned out to host a wealth of fascinating Nono history worthy of any adventure tale (and made fast friends with Rose and Karl):
Rose also shared her talent as a physical therapist, much to the enjoyment of my neighbors.
Rose and my's 6:30am jogs introduced us to a world we never would have seen otherwise: the early morning fish market. Though the market lasted until noon, the activity peaked in the morning, and we were able to wander among rows of marlins,
trucks piled with sharks,
mounds of octopus,
and the vendors who feed the crowd. (The sheer numbers of fish dragged onto this little stretch of beach-this is a daily event- made me wonder how long our oceans will be able to feed us...)
We concluded our journey enjoying the amazing sights of humpback whales (albeit far-off) and boobies (blue-footed, red-footed, and nazca...and quite close).
They returned to the states, and I to my little town, able to see with clear eyes once again.
