Monday, October 31, 2011

Food, Friends, and Free Time


We didn't expect to stay in Cotacachi this long and, wow, has it really almost been a month since we updated the blog? I guess time flies when you hunker down in one spot and try to figure out what your daily life should/could/does look like in your new corner of earth.  Hopefully the pictures below will help paint an image for you of our past month in Ecuador.








SETTLING IN TO DAILY LIFE

Can't beat the almuerzos (daily lunch specials)

Skyping is always a treat to stay connected
A typical breakfast -
bread from the Panederia and fruit


Yum, sugar empanadas

the house next to our apt
Not at ALL representative
of the typical almuerzo
HUGE advocados, 50c each
- see dime on each plate for reference
those are MY pants, Papa!
view from our apt roof

setting up friend with Animal Jam account






The women in this town just do not stop working.  Even if they are in a parade they are crocheting away.



MAKING FRIENDS

Kaia's buddy Aliani, below. Her mother is an amazing Kichwa woman who runs a pizzaria in town.    Grandma takes care of this whole field, and one beyond, by herself. 



We always look forward to seeing our friends in the weekly English class we host with another expat, Cindy, in an after school program:  Cartooning, face painting, duck duck goose, fortune tellers, string games and of course the hokey pokey -  in case that's really all it is about.  

With instruments and dog en route to a local after school program.

  












And of course regular visits to playgrounds in town are always at the top of Kaia and Niko's lists (and Quilo's too).  Spontaneous pick up games are a great way to get over the language jitters for young and old. Nothing like a stick and a ball to gather a crowd of kids.






The boys found more interesting things outside the playground...









 A FEW EXCURSIONS


With beautiful scenery and the heart of Andean crafts, there is no lack of things to do.   We visited a family of weavers in a town called Iluman, walk weekly to an organic farm (run by a woman from Japan who grew up in California who married a Kichwa man) to pick up great veggies, and spent a day at the volcanic lake Cuicocha.


Niko gets a chance at the loom
Picking out gifts for friends and cousins





Packed up and ready to go with Christmas
goodies thanks to Rosa and Alfonzo.

The weekly walk to the organic farm
 is always filled with things to explore
Kaia and her Japanese-Kichwa buddy
We're slowly learning what "local"
prices are at Sunday market!

Cotacachi Sunday market


 Lake Cuicocha boat trip, hike, and market.  The volcano erupted 3000 years ago and the glacier formed the lake.  This was followed by a later eruption that created the islands in the middle.  Still bubbles toxic gas.
















OUR FIRST (OF HOPEFULLY MANY) VISITORS!


Daughter D worried about Dad's stomach


Peguche Falls

















AND, FINALLY, NEVER EVER TIRING OF THE VIEW OF IMBABURA HAS TO OFFER

Our house is just to the right of the basilica (that's the tiny tower on the bottom of the photo)