Quito--June 7

Before going to the Galapagos, we spent  a day  on the mainland. The morning started with a fabulous breakfast at the Hacienda. The coffee was divine. They grow their own stevia plants and fresh stevia leaf is so much more flavorful than stevia powder. 

Normal breakfast is bacon and eggs, but they made us oatmeal and hot grains with cranberries and nuts. It was divine. But, the guanabana juice was amazing. I thought I would love drinking it all week. I was wrong. As tasty as it was, Ecuadorans seem to drink juice with every meal and I got awfully tired of fruit juice. More on that later in the week.  I took a look at flowers, took a picture of the pet Llama, and said good-bye to Faris before we climbed into the bus.

 

First stop was the "Center of the World." Come to find out there is more than one of these in Quito, but more on that later. This sundial was built thousands of years before the Incas, and now it is only a few meters off the Pan-American Highway.  We learned about equinoxes and solstices and the Incan calendar and how the pre-Incans could identify the equator by the sun patterns. And, they were very accurate. There are pre-Incan sites throughout South America that line up and all intersect at the Equator. It was very cool. Also learned that the globe is turned on it's side and we should look at it differently based on the way the universe turns. . .very interesting. And, of course, we took the obligatory picture standing on opposite poles of the world.

Opposite sides of the world...
but still so close

I wasn't trying to imitate Alpaca face
....but, apparently I look Alpaca

 Next, to the largest lake in Ecuador with incredible views. We saw some funny Alpaca and some poor little boys dressed in traditional costume that looked miserable. We took a picture and gave them some money. Tasted an amazing snack. . . Tostado y Chochos . . .basically corn nuts and Lupine beans. I'm told Chochos are coming to the U.S. as the newest superfood. I hope so. I ate this a few more times on the trip.

During travels I learned that Ecuador's second largest export (oil is first) is roses, and I believe it. There are lots of different regions and lots to see. Volcanos, beaches, highlands, Amazon basin. Wish I had more time. Maybe another trip. Also learned there are hundreds of species of hummingbirds and orchids in Ecuador. I didn't know that Ecuador was famous for all of these things. I have so much to learn about the rest of the world. 

Then to Otavalo market. It was a Sunday, so it was endless stalls of crafts and other assorted items. We wandered a bit. You would be surprised what you can find . . .medicinal grubs, anyone? I refrained.

 I was glad I didn't see a local delicacy . . .guinea pig on a stick. Saw some roasting on the side of the road and almost lost my breakfast. The stray cow was cool, though.

 And we had a demonstration of local musician making . . .and playing . . .indigenous instruments.

Just 330 meters . . .felt like a marathon

 
Then we took a hike around a lake that was formed when a volcanic crater sunk. It was breathtaking . . .literally and figuratively. When you are used to living in the lowlands, walking up steep steps at 10,000 feet is exhausting. My heart was beating out of my chest and I thought I might die. I was relieved to know I wasn't the only one gasping for air. There were cool sites from the pre-Incan era that are partially preserved. I think this stuff is super cool.

Lunar Calendar

Offering

Solar Calendar

Bath Ritual

Lady Slippers . . .these flowers have
a little pocket in them

Then, a three-course "lunch" at a Hacienda Pinsaqui before a drive back to La Jimenita. Apparently, three-course meals are very common, but waaaaayyyyy too much food for me. No matter how good it is.  And, lunch is around 5 PM. We drove back to La Jimenita and arrived around 9 PM exhausted. The family was so kind and gracious, they insisted we eat. So, a lovely quinoa soup it was and then bed with dreams of tomorrow in my head. 

Super cool floor . . .made out of logs!!!!

Who Am I--Quizzes

I have been known to waste time on the Internet. . . a lot. It's what I do at night when I can't sleep. And, I've been sucked in by all these "who are you" quizzes. So . . .here is the answers to this burning question that must be answered at 3 AM (instead of the useful sleep I should be getting). But, I have to admit, I think they are pretty accurate. However, I bet they say about the same thing about everyone else. How can some quiz tell my personality by 5-10 simple questions about my favorite color, food, vacation spot, etc.?

80-s New Age Band--Talking Heads: You're clever and quirky, and a bit out of step with the world around you. You tend to be rather cerebral and introverted, but that doesn't keep yo ufrom letting your guard down and having a good time now and then. I'll take it. I like Talking Heads . . .Psycho Killer Qu'est-ce que'c'est

Berry

Calling

Classic Novel

Disney Villian

Dominant Personality Trait

Element

Middle Earth Character--Ent:  You are very chill. The absolute chillest. (I am not chill) You're contemplative, level-headed, and you'd rather not keep up with the fast pace of the modern world. You value your alone time, and it's not that you're antisocial per se, it's just that you prefer the company of trees (or dogs) over people. 

Eye color I should have--HUH??? I don't even know what this means. I thought my eye color came from genetics.

My Gift

What people Hate about me 

Dog Breed--Great Dane:  You're so humble (not really) that you don't notice how much you stand out in a crowded room. You are extremely smart but are still approachable due to your warm demeanor (but another quiz called me "cold"). You'd probably make a great pediatrician (maybe if I liked children) or duchess of Cambridge (HUH???)

My Happy Word

High School Stereotype: Yes, I was a Geek and they let me know it

Big Bang Theory Character: I accept the compliment

What my eyes say about me: HUH??? One question was eye color, the rest was irrelevant. OK . . .whatever.

X-Men Character

Girls Weekend Ashland Oregon Memorial Day 2014

Sometimes I need a little direction 

I have really needed a break from routine. I needed a weekend getaway. I needed to spend time with a really amazing girlfriend. So, after talking about a girl's weekend for a  year and a half, Sarah (Publicist Extraordinaire) and I finally made plans for Memorial Day Weekend. Sarah lives in the San Francisco Bay area, so on Friday, I flew in to San Francisco and hopped in her car. We stopped for decadent breakfast before hitting the road. 

Mount Shasta

What a beautiful drive to Ashland, OR.  On the way, we stopped for lunch at the base of Mount Shasta.

Mount Shasta City must be the hippie capital. We wandered into an aromatherapy shop for dogs and ate lunch at the local grocery store.  It's like the most organic and natural section of Whole Foods on steroids. Nothing in the store wasn't natural and organic. They have a little cafe with amazing food options. I had a beet and hummus wrap. YUM!!!

We checked into our hotel and settled in before heading downtown for dinner. What a super-cute college town. It's quiet and quaint and filled with intellectual retirees. We wandered and looked at the shops. So many cute places and not a single chain ...except Starbucks. We had dinner at an italian restaurant that was probably the only place in town that did not have a huge vegetarian menu. The Shakespeare Festival is apparently famous, but I admit I hadn't heard of it before and the season was just starting. We saw Comedy of Errors, but set in Harlem in the 1920s, with characters from New Orleans. Imagine Auld English, spoken at a rapid fire pace, in a Cajun accent. It was really fun!!

Saturday, we started with vegan brunch at Brothers. Another amazing restaurant in town. Then we wandered around the shops and farmer's market. I picked up some amazing infused salts. The tastings were divine. I'm a big fan of the rosemary garlic on tomatoes.  I picked up a few things for The Musician, like honey sticks. Apparently, honey has different flavors when the bees pollinate different plants. Interesting.

This is Boo . . .He is a Klee Kai 

I picked this up for Robert.

 

The used bookstore was super cool. I love the proprietor. She retired to a town where "she didn't have to wear a bra or shave her legs." She was bored with her previous retirement in Hawaii. She opened the book store and "works 2 days a week and shops the remaining 5." She collects items from estate sales, etc. and is very proud of her high quality. She has the most interesting book collections, but also other items. She had some very old Lladros that I couldn't not buy at the price. I asked if she knew what she had, and she did, but she says she loves beautiful and rare things and wants to be able to share them. I came home with 3 new pieces for my collection and an antique necklace. She gave me (for free!) a Baby Jesus Lladro Christmas Ornament because I was the only person she had met who knew what it was. 

Then we hiked Grizzly Peak. It was a hilly 5-mile hike with beautiful flowers and awe inspiring views. Words won't describe it. So, I'll let pictures do it for me.

Surprise . . .I stopped to take a picture of a flower

Distant view of Mt. Shasta

Cool, when this tree fell,
it pulled up boulders in it's roots

Sparkly nails... I never do this!!

We did some girly stuff, like paint each other's nails and then off to dinner again before going to see a movie downtown.

Sunday morning, we checked out and ate at a famous breakfast place, Morning Glory, and it was also incredibly tasty.  We continued our window shopping and went to see The Tempest. With minimal props, it was very powerful presentation of the corruption of power and how love can overcome evil. Then back to the car for a long drive home. We stopped for dinner in Weed (yes, that is a town in California) and then made it to bed at Sarah's house.

Mount Shasta from Week

Ducks that came to visit Sarah

Monday was time to say good-bye. After a relaxing breakfast and conversation with Anna (Sarah's precocious daughter), we took a leisurely walk around Coyote Point before going to the airport to say good-bye. 

Coyote Point

California Poppies

Sarah and Anna and Silvio at Coyote Point

The weekend went too fast, but I did feel rejuvenated and relaxed. It was incredible to spend quality time with such an amazing forward-thinking strong woman like Sarah. Can't wait until the next time. 

I did not eat here, but I remember when I used to . . .