Photos!

Here are some photos at last! I’ll try to add even more photos soon!

The Saturday market in Otavalo (the city near Ilumán)

This is Esthela and Alejandro, an indigenous couple who live in Ilumán. They make beautiful jewelry to sell at the market in Otavalo. I might bring some home with me to sell in Canada.

Esthela with her daughters Yarina and Angie

My previous host sister in Iluman, Nicole, and her aunt Gladys and cousin Maria Belen. This was taken after Nicole´s confirmation in the Catholic church.

A view of the altar at the front of Ilumán’s church

My former host family in Ilumán

A statue of  Otavalo indigenas in, appropriately enough, the city of Otavalo

Alejandro and others dancing San Juan (an indigenous style of dance) during Inti Raymi, a festival in honour of the sun god.

A view from Esthela´s roof.

My current host family in Quito eating a traditional Peruvian meal (courtesy of Maria Elena´s Peruvian sister-in-law).  From the left: Cecilia, Maria Elena with Bruno, Tadeo, me, and Maria Elena´s sister-in-law

A view of Cayambe from Maria Elena´s house

The house, and nearby view, of my former supervisor, and sister of Maria Elena, Cecilia. Cecilia lives near the town of Puerto Lopez, on Ecuador´s coast.

One of the many animals that live at Alanaluz, the eco-resort where Cecilia lives and works.

The beach just behind Alandaluz

Alandaluz, as seen from the beach

Kairu, Cecilia´s son, in the ´tree house´ at Alandaluz

During my whale-watching tour!

On the way back from my whale-watching tour

Eating ´viudo´, Alandaluz´s specialty.  Seafood in a delicious peanut sauce served in a pice of bamboo. Shortly after this photo was taken, Rafael Correa, the president of Ecuador, arrived at the restaurant and sat down at the table directly behind mine!

Cecilia, Kairu, and a friend of Cecilia´s

Moroni, Esthela and Alejandro´s youngest child.

Castillos (wooden structures rigged with oodles of fireworks) going off during Ilumán’s Festival de la Virgen del Carmen

Alejandro and Esthela dancing up a storm during the fiesta

Alejandro and Esthela’s family

Esthela’s family’s puppy. I think they ended up naming him something like Snowy.

The Basilica del Voto Nacional in Quito

A view of El Panecillo (the Little Bread Loaf) which is topped by the Virgen del Quito,  from partway up the Basilica’s bell tower

A number of days ago, I climbed to the top of the Basilica’s belfry and also its tower. This is the top of the tower, as seen from a flight of stairs below it. The gargoyles protruding from the roof are condors, Ecuador`s national bird.

This is me pointing at Kiti Killa, an important site for the pre Incan civilization Kitu or Quitu. This is where the equator actually passes through, rather than in the nearby tourist-ridden Mitad del Mundo complex, as explained by my guide Fernando.

And this is a view of Pululahua, one of the largest inhabited volcanic craters in South America. Possibly in the world. It’s about 30 minutes from Quito.

The big mound behind me is actually a formation in the middle of Pullulahua, not part of its edge. The crater is actually 4 km in diameter!

Me with my friends  Astacianna and Paige, who both live on my street! Out of all of Quito, they live just steps away from me! And Paige is from Toronto. I met her and Astacianna at the market in Otavalo when I was helping Esthela and Alejandro sell their jewelry. Paige had a Canadian flag on her backpack so I started talking to her, not suspecting we were neighbours in Quito!

From an indigenous dance performance in Old Quito

In La Ronda, a street in Old Quito that has been renovated and now is a nightlife hotspot. I love the atmosphere of La Ronda!

Me practicing my salsa moves before heading out to a salsa club (which I couldn’t actually find… but the next week I went with my friend Katty and actually made it there. I even danced with somebody! I was afraid I´d be too shy, but I overcame my shyness and salsaed my heart out. It was really fun!

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