Photos and Otavalo

Old Town Quito

A cab's view of colorful Quito

Here we are, Dr. Scotts, in front of the playroom at the hospital with our "rompecabezas" (puzzles!)

Plaza San Francisco, one of many in Quito's Old Town

The longest cable car in Mindo that gave us a bird's eye view

New friends at Baca Ortiz Children's Hospital

Oswaldo Guayasamin's Capilla del Hombre

Our last adventure was to Otavalo, a town 2 hours north of Quito that is famous for it´s outdoor market, featuring crafts of the indigenous people of Ecuador. We took off Friday after work and arrived in Otavalo in the afternoon, checked into our cute hostal 

and explored the city and market, gearing up for Saturday morning! Our new friend Tanya, from Germany, who we have been living in Quito with for the past week, joined us later for dinner. While enjoying that dinner, we were treated to the sounds of a band, a local family we think, who entered the restaurant, set up, and played indigenous tunes, ballads and a few familiar tunes..... all with the instruments of the region- flutes, miniature guitars, ocarinas and small pan pipes. They were mesmerizing, and we all decided it was a serendipitous event, a great night.

In the morning we strolled the market for hours, bargaining (or attempting same), eyeing a bit warily the huge food markets and stalls, impressed by the man who could in four slices create a bowl of coconut milk and ever amazed by the weavers, jewelers and embroiderers who surrounded us. 


We then, rather sadly, began the transportation marathon that had us on a combo of modes for the next 24 hours- bus, cab, bus, plane, Metro, Budget truck (?)....... all finally leading us home to DC and waiting friends and family- one (Mike) who even came to DC to help us move Sarah home to OH!!


In all, it was a trip of a lifetime, an opportunity for this mom to enjoy some incredible time with one wonderful daughter, one very savvy traveler, one very special person. Thanks, Scoot- love, M


We need to thank Elise Heil (author of the guest post), one of Sarah's fabulous DC roommates for all of her help with this blog. Elise has not only helped us to get the blog up and running, but to also monetize the blog, which means that you will see new advertisements popping up on the sides of the blog. The money, if any, generated through these ads will go to Elise's foundation, which she began in college, for the education of young women in Ghana. Please visit her blog, http://tugbeawo.blogspot.com/. We love you Elise!


News from Bolivia in a few weeks!