Sunday we woke up and went to our tour guide's office to check out our snorkeling equipment for our trip to Floreana Island tomorrow. It was closed. So I called Wendy and we gave her our flipper size so they could bring them on the trip tomorrow. After that, we headed to Tortuga Bay; a white sand beach thought to be one of the most beautiful beaches on the islands. It was about a 40 minute walk from our house. BEAUTIFUL! We had a blast! The water was a bit chilly, but with the sun out we didn't care.
After the beach, we went to the grocery store to buy stuff for dinner. It was closed. So we went out to dinner at a restaurant with delicious food! The only drawback is they wouldn't sell us drinks because it was a Sunday. But my three cheese pasta and shrimp salad was AMAZING! After dinner we got ice cream and walked around the city near the bayfront. Eventually we made it back home and watched Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. After, we went to bed since we needed to be up and ready by 7:30am. Really looking forward to our day trip tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Off to the Galapagos!
Saturday morning we left for the airport around 7:15 am. We had to go thru a special screening procedure for the galapagos, where they looked through our bags for seeds, plants, etc. That could destroy an ecosystem. Our flight was Quito to Guayaquil and then Guayaquil to Baltra Island. We flew AeroGal, and the experience was great! When we landed on the island we had to have our luggage searched again and then we paid our $100 fee to enter the islands. We met our guide who took care of all the transportation arrangements to get to Puerto Ayora (a bus to the ferry to a taxi that drives 40 minutes to Puerto Ayora). Once in Puerto Ayora, we met Paola, who showed us around the house. IT IS BEAUTIFUL! Around 3:30pm we headed to Darwin's Station. Here we learned a bit about invasive species and we got to see a galapagos tortoise farm. It was really interesting. After that we decided to have dinner. We ate some delicious seafood at a bar/restaurant on the main street. My spicy garlic shrimp was to die for. After dinner we got ice cream... I tried nutella and coconut flavors. SO GOOD! After that we headed to the grocery store to buy stuff for cocktails and breakfast the following day.
That night we watched Moulin Rouge and then went to bed early. A good first day.
That night we watched Moulin Rouge and then went to bed early. A good first day.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Quito
We left for Quito around four thirty, and what is normally a three to three and a half hour drive took us about four, four and a half hours. We didn't know exactly where we were once we hit the city limits of Quito. We stopped a half dozen times for directions and eventually met up with Celso, who showed us the way.
Once we got to our hostal and checked in, we went out to get some food. Celso told him to meet up at a bar around eleven. By the time we finished dinner andstarted heading to meet Celso, it was eleven. When we arrived, Celso was not there. We waited outside for twenty minutes or so then decided to go in and take a look. He ended up strolling in around midnight, we had a drink, danced a little and then Scott and I headed back to the hostal. On our way, we stopped to get a hotdog doble (two hotdogs in one bun). It was nowhere as good as I remembered it the last time. But anyways, we made it back to the hostal, watched some TV and hit the sack around one thirty. I was up again at three to say goodbye to James, Scott, and Ben who had early flights. As our Bienestar adventure is coming to an end, I realized how much I am going to miss the Illinois crew. Everyone was a blast and we always seemed to find something to be laughing about. We'll definitely need a reunion soon!
Jen, Rachel and I head to the Galapagos tomorrow. We will have a blast!
Once we got to our hostal and checked in, we went out to get some food. Celso told him to meet up at a bar around eleven. By the time we finished dinner andstarted heading to meet Celso, it was eleven. When we arrived, Celso was not there. We waited outside for twenty minutes or so then decided to go in and take a look. He ended up strolling in around midnight, we had a drink, danced a little and then Scott and I headed back to the hostal. On our way, we stopped to get a hotdog doble (two hotdogs in one bun). It was nowhere as good as I remembered it the last time. But anyways, we made it back to the hostal, watched some TV and hit the sack around one thirty. I was up again at three to say goodbye to James, Scott, and Ben who had early flights. As our Bienestar adventure is coming to an end, I realized how much I am going to miss the Illinois crew. Everyone was a blast and we always seemed to find something to be laughing about. We'll definitely need a reunion soon!
Jen, Rachel and I head to the Galapagos tomorrow. We will have a blast!
Our Last Week in Banos
Since Monday was the fourth of July, we had a barbecue potluck at our Spanish school with our instructors: Chely and Liz. We listened to salsa music, lit off some sketchy fireworks and drank Ecuadorian beer.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I went to Rio Negro and worked in a rural clinic. The doctor was awesome! She only spoke Spanish, but here ability to explain things and teach us physical exam techniques was fantastic. On Tuesday, Jen and I rented a dune buggy and drove the "Route of Waterfalls." As we were leaving town our buggy died. We pulled into a gas station, called the rental company and they brought us a new one. IT WAS SO SLOW! Wednesday was a really busy day for patients in Rio Negro, nothing really too exciting except for a woman with 3+ tonsils! CRAZY! Thursday was our last day in the clinics so we had a dinner at a local restaurants for all the doctors and some of the nurses we worked with. We also found out that as a group, Bienestar raised $14500 to buy equipment for the hospital. The dinner was a lot of fun and afterwards we went to GringoCoco, a stand that sells 25 cent shots of sugarcane liquor. From there we went out to the bars to dance and have a good time.
Friday morning we rented buggies and motorcycles again. Afterwards we had our last almuerzos or lunch in Banos, did some shopping, and packed up. We left for Quito around four thirty.
On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I went to Rio Negro and worked in a rural clinic. The doctor was awesome! She only spoke Spanish, but here ability to explain things and teach us physical exam techniques was fantastic. On Tuesday, Jen and I rented a dune buggy and drove the "Route of Waterfalls." As we were leaving town our buggy died. We pulled into a gas station, called the rental company and they brought us a new one. IT WAS SO SLOW! Wednesday was a really busy day for patients in Rio Negro, nothing really too exciting except for a woman with 3+ tonsils! CRAZY! Thursday was our last day in the clinics so we had a dinner at a local restaurants for all the doctors and some of the nurses we worked with. We also found out that as a group, Bienestar raised $14500 to buy equipment for the hospital. The dinner was a lot of fun and afterwards we went to GringoCoco, a stand that sells 25 cent shots of sugarcane liquor. From there we went out to the bars to dance and have a good time.
Friday morning we rented buggies and motorcycles again. Afterwards we had our last almuerzos or lunch in Banos, did some shopping, and packed up. We left for Quito around four thirty.
Monday, July 4, 2011
The Last Weekend in Banos - Part 2
This morning I felt a little under the weather, as they say here: Tuve una chuchaqui. I was feeling better after breakfast/lunch, which worked out perfectly since we didn't have to be ready for rafting until one. For rafting we had to drive about thirty minutes from Banos. It started to rain as we got our wetsuits, helmets and lifejackets on, but by the time we were practicing it had stopped. I was in the smaller boat with Jen, Jenny, Ben, and Jill. Our guide's name was Marcelius. He was hysterical! Our team name: The Capybaras! After completing a set of rapids, we would throw our paddle tips in the air, hit them together, yell "Capybaras!" and slap them on the water. Since it had rained more than our guide expected, the rapids were 3+ to 4, and we had to walk around one area of the river that was too rough. Our boat almos flipped three times according to the other guide, but I never felt it. Hahaha. Anyway, we had a great time and afterward they fed us dinner. I can't wait to try whitewater rafting in the Adirondacks. After rafting we were all wet and cold so we came back to the hostal and showered then watched Finding Nemo in Spanish. After, we were a little hungry so we went to Doner Kabob, a fast food joint that sells a killer chicken sandwich for $1.50. After dinner, I came home and fell asleep... It was only 9:40pm. It was another epic day and I was glad my shoulder cooperated. Tomorrow we are having a BBQ for the fourth of July.
The Last Weekend in Banos - Part 1
Friday night, Jen and I met Ruchi and Jenny out at the Leprauchaun, a bar that has dancing, a fire pit and good music. We stayed out until one. It was a great time!
Saturday morning we met downstairs in our hostal at 9:45am to go canyoning. For those who don't know what canyoning is, it pretty much is when you scale down waterfalls attached to a harness. It was AWESOME! We had to wear wetsuits, canvas shoes, a jacket and a helmet with our harness. We scaled down 4 waterfalls: one was 8 meters, one was twelve and the other two were around 20-30 meters. We got pretty wet, but it was worth it! The last waterfall we got to slide down on our butts. It was cold, but we loved it! I was a little worried about my shoulder, but it seemed to be fine during the activity. It was sore after but I really didn't want to miss out. After canyoning we decided to try Cuy, or roasted guinea pig. It tasted gamey and there were more bones than meat, but we needed to try it while we were here. I have definitely eaten worse things.
For dinner we returned to Quilombo for their famous meat platter. With four courses you could split it two or three ways. DELICIOUS! After dinner we went back to the hostal to get ready for a night of dancing and being out at the bars. We stayed out until two thirty or so dancing and having fun. Our walk home was in the rain, but we didn't notice it too much. Tomorrow we go whitewater rafting!
Saturday morning we met downstairs in our hostal at 9:45am to go canyoning. For those who don't know what canyoning is, it pretty much is when you scale down waterfalls attached to a harness. It was AWESOME! We had to wear wetsuits, canvas shoes, a jacket and a helmet with our harness. We scaled down 4 waterfalls: one was 8 meters, one was twelve and the other two were around 20-30 meters. We got pretty wet, but it was worth it! The last waterfall we got to slide down on our butts. It was cold, but we loved it! I was a little worried about my shoulder, but it seemed to be fine during the activity. It was sore after but I really didn't want to miss out. After canyoning we decided to try Cuy, or roasted guinea pig. It tasted gamey and there were more bones than meat, but we needed to try it while we were here. I have definitely eaten worse things.
For dinner we returned to Quilombo for their famous meat platter. With four courses you could split it two or three ways. DELICIOUS! After dinner we went back to the hostal to get ready for a night of dancing and being out at the bars. We stayed out until two thirty or so dancing and having fun. Our walk home was in the rain, but we didn't notice it too much. Tomorrow we go whitewater rafting!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Rio Verde
This past week Ruchi and I did our afternoon hospital shift at a rural clinic. It was a lot different than being in Banos. The rural clinic focused more on primary care than the hospital. There is only one doctor and one nurse working at a time. We saw a lot of abdominal pain and diarrhea in children. We also got to see a child get sutures in her head after falling. It wasn't always as busy as the hospital either, but Dr. Paul was really nice and we learned a lot from him. Next week we go to Rio Negro to another rural clinic. This weekend is our last weekend in Banos so we have a lot planned! Can't wait!
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