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Friday, May 15, 2015

Roses and Shopping! 5/15/15

Our Final Day trip involved a long bus ride (with lots of windy roads up the mountain), a tour of the beautiful Rosadex garden/home and shopping at the famous Otavola Market!
 
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day
 
 
Roses taller than me!

 
 
 



 



 After the tour we had lunch in the family home, est. 1919

 
 
 
 
 

 
Beautiful out building

 

Lastly, shopping at the indigenous Otavalo market









 
 
 

Monday, May 11, 2015

My home away from home

It goes without saying the hospitality in Ecuador is tremendous. My “host Madre” Consuelo is incredibly sweet & has provided a warm and welcoming environment.

Here are a few pictures of the view from her casa.  

 

 Consuelo's Casa
 






 
The Scenery is Beautiful!

 

Ecuadorian Cooking Class

 
 
 
We spent 4 hours in the University kitchen with the chef preparing this delicious meal.
 The best part was we got to eat it once we were done!
 
 
 Bunuelos

 Ceviche & Patacones

 Sopa


 Main  course

 Delicioso Postre

Middle of the World 5/11/15

We visited the Middle of the World, literally!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ecuador and Latitude 0 0' 0"

 
Cool artwork

 
Beautiful scenery


 
The centrifugal force (unable to balance) & losing muscle resistance on the equator
 
 

 

 
 
 


Friday, May 8, 2015

Mindo and Rain Forest 5/8/15

 
We visited the small town of Mindo and explored El Quetzal Mindo Chocolate Hosteria
We received a tour of the grounds and learned about the bean to bar process.
Coincidentally, the owners opened up a 2nd location in Dexter, Michigan in 2009.
 
 Picture of Mindo

 
Fermentation, Drying, Roasting the cocoa beans

 
 Yummy!
 
 
 
We  then visited the Sachatamia Lodge, 120 acres of cloud forest


 Many beautiful flowers

 
Probably one of the most serene places I have ever been


Rain Forest = Breathe taking views

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Pichincha Volcano & Quito Historic Center


Hola! I have had a very busy two days!  In addition to studying Spanish language & culture, yesterday I rode the Quito Teleferico almost 15,000 feet up the mountain to view the Pichincha Volcano and today I toured the Quito historic center. Hopefully the pictures I am posting will give the reader a small glimpse of the magnificence one can find in this beautiful country.







On the way up

 View from the top
Church on top of the mountain

Great day to be a BRONCO!

On the way back down

Pictures from the Quito Historic Tour
 Basilica

 Picaflor

 Palacio de gobierno

 Torre de Compania

 Portal de San Francisco


 
 
 
 
 Parque de Inde Pendencia
 

 
Last picture of the day~ be sure to see the snow covered volcano in the background!