Cinco de Mayo - a Mexican holiday in Ecuador
Cinco de Mayo isn't celebrated in Ecuador. Why? Because it's a Mexican
holiday and one that many in the US have adopted as a reason to party.
In our case it became a reason to meet up with friends, both old and
new.
Jack Abercrombie,
a well known tour guide-driver from Quito (the capital of Ecuador) was
visiting the area for a few days and called for a gathering of friends
at Fabiano's (our favorite pizza spot). He anticipated maybe 20-25
people. We ended the afternoon at over 40!
We saw old friends and made several new ones. We caught up on folks were
doing, talked motorcycles, listened to stories about health care here
in Cuenca, chatted about the adventure of moving here and a lot more.
Here are some photos I took...great afternoon and delicious food (I had the lasagna and Stu had a meat lovers pizza)...: http://www.retiredincuenca.com/2014/05/cinco-de-mayo-mexican-holiday-in-ecuador.html
Terra Nova de Corazón: My first workshops!:
I've been expressing to people that one of the primary goals of Terra Nova is to create a sacred space for people to host/attend workshops (for growth,
healing, living skills, etc.), or simply take a retreat from the daily
grind of Industrial Civilization. Our first events, May 16-18, are shown
here - Guy McPherson giving his presentation on the Global Climate
Crisis, followed by a 2-day workshop on processing and moving through
grief. Pauline will be there as a co-facilitator and to document!
We
plan to host a potluck on Friday evening, 5-7pm, before his
presentation. If you're in the Manglaralto area, please stop by and
introduce yourself. If you're coming from out of town, we have a great
deal at Hosteria Arandú ($20-25/night per person, including breakfast), or you can camp/hammock on our land.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact me directly.
What Do Ecuadorians Think About Americans in Ecuador?
Do You Care About What Ecuadorians Think About You? (part 2)
Lets start with a couple of short stories today…
An Ugly Touchdown in Guayaquil
I was pretty tired when our plane landed at Guayaquil International…
Another long flight from the states. It was almost mid-night as the
plane taxied towards the gate and finally came to a stop.
Now count to 5.
That is how long it took for some guy sitting behind me to yell, “hey, turn the lights on.”
The lights were turned on and everyone started to get out of their seats to disembark. The same guy yells again, “Thanks for the lights…. Guess this is the first time you ever flew an airplane.”
I looked over at Chad and whispered, “Mad White Guy”.
Yes, we were not even out of the plane before some whack-job decided to open his mouth....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/americans-in-ecuador/#.U06dvxUtmXY.facebook
Tourism in Ecuador Heating Up-
NEW YORK, March 25, 2014 - Featuring the highest active volcanoes in
the world, the greatest concentration of species by area, white sand
beaches and the breathtaking Galapagos Islands are just a few reasons
why Ecuador received recognition as the “Green Destination of the World
for 2013,” by the World Travel Awards. According to the World Travel
Awards, Ecuador is also considered the number one destination to visit in Latin America and the seventh must-visit place in the world in 2014.
“We’re excited and welcome visitors to Ecuador to explore our country’s
rich landscape,” announced experts from The Ministry of Tourism of
Ecuador.
From environmental and biological diversity,
entertainment and adventure, Ecuador offers something for every
traveler.
Considered a year-round destination, tourists can explore the
Andes Mountains, relax under the dense canopies of the Amazon, sight-see
along the beaches of the Pacific Coast or observe the Natural Heritage
of Humanity site of the Galapagos Islands. http://www.hospitality-industry.com/index.php/news/comments/tourism_in_ecuador_heating_up/#.U0uDmIRH5xI.twitter
If It Were Easy, Everyone Would Do It!
We are finally moving to Ecuador.
These last 4 months have been the craziest time, and this final 30 days has been completely out of control.
Tomorrow we finally leave for the airport. We have booked a nice room
near LAX to rest up before the all day relocation to Cuenca on
Wednesday.
Nervous stomach, chest pains, mini rages, sleep deprivation, mind
racing, E.D., and strange hair growth in weird places are all ongoing
issues. Did I mention the boil and toe nail fungus? Funny what your body
does when it is under stress.
I don’t do drugs anymore, so valium has been out of the question….
and I don’t drink either. Lucky for me I still have a dirty mind.
My stress management tools usually work pretty well.
But these last 30 days have really been a challenge. I expect I will
have some wisdom to share soon, once the inside of my head slows down
just a bit and lets me think clearly again....read more: http://www.ecuadorgeorge.com/moving-to-ecuador-3/#.UzmR0szJ1aM.facebook
Gringo Tree: March 25, 2014
Landslide cuts major Quito highway to coast-
Heavy rains in the northern sierra have triggered landslides that have closed the main highway between Quito and coast. As of this morning, hundreds of vehicles are stranded as efforts to clear the Quito - Santo Domingo highway continue
According to Fabian Uzcátegui, Secretary of Infrastructure, another in three-day series of landslides covered part of the highway Tuesday night, dumping 5,000 more cubic meters onto the roadway.
Uzcátegui said that the landslides have caused a number of injuries, including eight in a bus struck by falling rocks on Monday.
Uzcátegui said that heavy equipment is on the scene and says the roadway is expected to be cleared by afternoon. “The problem is that the ground is saturated and the rain continues to fall,” he said. “It is very likely we will have more slides. All we can do is to keep working and hope for the best.”
A major concern for road crews are loose rocks that continue to drop onto the highway. “We have to consider the safety of our workers,” Uzcátegui said.
Late march to early May is a period of particularly heavy rainfall in the sierra, and a period of frequent landslides.: http://www.cuencahighlife.com/post/2014/03/25/Two-expat-couples-detained-in-the-US-for-tax-violations3b-Foreigners-help-push-symphony-attendence-numbers.aspx
