American Teacher in Ecuador

Arriving in Quito My second time in Quito started out a little rough, as did the first time when I puked all night.  This time, I arrived at the Quitumbe bus station from Banos.  I'd forgotten to check to see what the taxi fare to the Mariscal Sucre area of Quito should have been ($12) so when all these people ran up to me at the airport, yelling out, "where are you going?"  When I told them Mariscal they said $12! $12!  I said no, I want a taxi with a taximeter.  (This is what Lonely Planet insists you do.) So I went outside to the taxi area and waited for an open taxi.  A family nearby asked if I needed a taxi and I said yes.  They flagged one down for me and let me have it.  They were being helpful, the guy calmly asked where I was going, and I told him.  I asked if he was using a taximeter and he said "of course, it's the law" like I was some kind of criminal.  I felt absolutely safe and secure. A half hour into the ride, when t...

Banos is a haven for adrenaline junkies.  Canyoning, or rappelling down waterfalls, is offered at each of the 150 adventure shops jammed in 4 square blocks.  Most every shop rents mountain bikes.  Whitewater rafting is huge, as is zip lining and renting dune buggy-type cars.  So I went with Geotours on Lonely Planet's recommendation and on their high score for safety. Some guy picked me up and drove me in a little truck to near where the waterfall road was.  When you enter the place, there are trout ponds where you can pay to fish for a trout. Here's what a few tourists found in the trout pond: Much better looking than the 1/8 inch thick trout I had one day in town.  So anyway, we walked up to the little office and got hooked into our harnesses.  Then we walked up to the first zipline.  I didn't get anyone to take a shot of me going down Superman style where you go head-first like you're flying.  Scaaaary. Here I'm c...

When I arrived in Banos, I couldn't believe what a beautiful place it was.  Mountains all around, a waterfall visible from any point in town.  It was the first place in Ecuador that just felt right from the beginning. When I checked into my hotel the Posada J which I recommend, the lady behind the counter mentioned that they had a waterfall tour the next morning on a bus, to 7 waterfalls.  The trip was to take 4 hours.   I thought what a great way to explore this town and its surroundings!  So I signed up.  (Plus, the price was right.) The next morning a double decker bus pulled up to my hotel and honked.  I hadn't known it was a double decker -- I was impressed!  We of course drove by the waterfall right outside of my room, the Virgin Waterfall that is visible from anywhere in town. Absolutely gorgeous.  Then we went to a little town nearby called San Martin?  There was a huge gorge there, which our bus drove over on a tiny, ...

Ecuadorians truly know how to celebrate New Years Eve.  Rich with customs and traditions, New Years is a playful goodbye to the old to allow for the new. It's a cross between Halloween and Santacon.  People dress up as all kinds of different things, and  they wear lots of masks and wigs. After I met a group of nice guys, I just had to try on a couple of their wigs. I do NOT look good as a blonde. Then are the mannequins -- the before pictures.  They are supposed to represent things you want to change -- they can be specific people you know, customers, or just weirdos.  The townspeople take a lot of care in creating these very elaborate "people". At midnight, everyone drags their "people" into the middle of the street, douses them with gasoline and lights them on fire.  If you jump over them, that means good luck (I think). This is actually me jumping over the fire. Then ther...