The Amazon rainforest!

Hello!

So yesterday we got back from our exciting trip to the Tiputini Biodiversity Station in the Amazon rainforest. It really felt like an adventure, and I had an astounding time.

The way there was quite a journey. We started out our day at 6:45, taking a bus to the airport. We had a short planeride after a delay. Then, we took a pretty long boatride, then a "ranchara," a bus of sorts with open sides. After that it was another boat, until finally, we arrived.

We got there around dinner, but had time for a swim in the river before. I still can't get over that I went swimming on January 5th. We spent the two days hiking, canopy walking, and eating really good food. My friends and I would get up early, 5;30, to go down to the river, listen, and watch the sky. I know this sounds sort of cheesy, but I really felt at peace. We experienced the rainforest through all of our senses- hearing the howler monkeys, seeing the crazy wildlife, feeling the heat/humidity, tasting ants that taste like lemon because of the symbiotic relationship they have with this acidic tree, and smelling the plants/animals.

Highlights from our hikes:
The view from the bird watch tower, the view from the canopy top, chasing monkeys with our insaney amazing guide seeing spider and woolly monkeys playing, various birds, huge ants, poisoness trees, frogs, turtles, a strangling vine that grows from the top down, flowers, mud, humongous fig trees, huge roots that stick out of the ground, army ants, medicinal plants, crazy fungi

Also, it was great to hang out at night under the stars. We had some great talks.

I was sad to leave and make the long journey back. Our flight back was super-delayed, so we hung out in this pool where I lost my nosering, yet again. Overall, it was an astounding experience and I am so glad I went. I hope that someday I can go back.

I have pictures but can't post them now. Thursday I go to Riobamaba, Saturday to Cotopaxi, and Sunday to the Galapagos Islands!

pictures

Some pictures of Otovalo: Okay, my uploading got messed up. The lagoon is an active caldera. The market is crazy.

Another weekend adventure

Some pictures from Quito,
It was sort of a foggy day...
Awesome tour guide: "do you want a picture of this?" yes, I do.

This is the equator, I am on both sides
That was as many pictures as blogger would let me post.


So Friday was my midterm (bleh,) but Saturday we all got up early and took a bus to Otovalo. First we hit up this sweet volcanoe. It was cool to see it from far away. I took a few pictures, and will post them soon (I haven't uploaded them yet/don't have room.) Then, we went to the market, where I bartered like crazy. It is fun to do, they tell you a price, then you look wary, and tell them half of that price. Usually, they won't give it to you. You have to be adament, maybe move up a little, and then walk away. Usually they call you back. I had so much fun and probably spent waaay too much money. Afterwards we took a boat tour of this lagoon in a caldera. You could see the bubbles come up since the volcano is still active.

I am having a good time, but I have to go write a paper now.

Ciao!

New Dog and Stubborn Horse

So this weekend was pretty exciting. A group of 7 started out on Saturday morning finding a bus to Mindo in the Cloud Forest. After one fruitless bus station, we found a $2.50 bus to our destination. We had split up to take separate taxis, and after a while, my taxi group feared that the other group had given up on the journey. Fortunately, they entered our bus PLUS PUPPY. Yes, the cutest cocker spaniel with fleas that you have seen, a gift for Julie H’s friend in Ecuador. It seemed a bit in sorry shape, but after some food and rest it was lively, raring to go, and peeing all over the place.

After arrival in Mindo, we found a nice hotel for a spectacular 5$/night/person. There were stray dogs everywhere, and about half of them were pregnant. One followed us to the hotel, so the owner brought him in and asked if he was ours too. We thought about it.

We ate a linner at a small Mexican restaurant. After this, we went to this interesting “frog concert,” (me sporting the grigaesque huge raincoat) where we saw a multitude of hummingbirds (167 species in Ecuador compared to 5 in the US or something like that) various noisy frogs, glow in the dark microbacteria, a huge cucaracha, and various crazy plants. Exhausted, we turned in early after spending some time hanging out in the hammocks in the backyard of our hotel and eating Ecuadorian ice cream.

We woke up early the next morning, got our return bus tickets, ate breakfast, and arranged a horseback riding tour. Somehow I ended up the huge horse which I don’t think likes humans too much. He was feeling pretty slow and lagging behind. I finally got him to catch up to the others, but the tour guide immediately got the boy walking behind us to turn him around so he is in the back, because apparently that’s what he’s used to. After a while I was about a mile behind, but I enjoyed the view.

The bus ride home was a little crowded, but made it back to Hotel Walther, safe and sound. I should go beings as I have a mid-term coming up on Friday, but Saturday is a trip to Otovalo, which should be fantastic. Unfortunately, I don't think I brought my camera connector chord so I can't post pictures until i find another one or someone with a similar camera. I will post as soon as I do!

Buenos Noches

Well, I'm here

hello,

So I wrote a pretty sizable entry the other day, but unfortunately it got deleted. I arrived pretty late on Saturday, and checked into the Hotel Walther, which is pretty nice minus the lack of hot water most times.

Quito is astounding. Being on a mountain is so different then flat Jersey or southern WI. I think I'm finally used to the altitude. I have been running pretty steadily, which I might do in a few. We took a tour of the city of Quito on Sunday. There was a pretty sweet statue of the Virgin of Quito. We saw a caldera, as well as the center of the world, plus a sweet goat.

Quito is pretty great at night. Everything is super-cheap.

Well, I'm going to go for that run now, and probably play some soccer.

Buenos tardes,
Julie

Thanks Mom

Ahh! I leave tomorrow.

I made this post mainly to quote my mother.

"I know you'll be fine. You're so brave. That, or dumb, or naive or something."

Great.