tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25433307130044620312024-03-13T12:03:19.649-07:00Our New Andean LifeOne family's journey as they search for a new life in Ecuador.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-2959407298051444452014-03-29T16:18:00.001-07:002014-03-30T07:40:07.452-07:00Damn Goats!As many of you know we have been having serious issues with our goats. To the point where we are seriously considering selling them. First it started off with moving up here on this mountain above Cuenca and eventually not having enough pasture. So, we created more pasture with the hopes of moving them back and forth between pastures every two months or so. Well, the wire that was sold to Mark as aluminum was not and has started to rust, which has created shorts in the wire. Which means that the electric power running through the fence is weak and the goats have learned that. Every two or three times a day they go through or hop the fence to head to greener pastures. Our neighbor's pastures. They don't eat as much as his cows do and don't do any of the damage that they do, but they are our neighbors and we want to be good neighbors. So, they can't keep doing this.<br />
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The goats always come home after two hours or so, but the problem is that for some reason they have decided that it is fun to jump on and walk all over the roof. The first time I thought it was funny to see goats go trip trapping across the roof, but its not funny anymore. In Cuenca they cover the roofs or rooves (you can use both) with clay tiles. And they break when goats walk all over them. So, the goats have broken many many tiles on the roof. We are beside ourselves. This is a rental property. Which led to us fencing ANOTHER area for them in a more lush and dense area of the forest with the hopes that they will be so satisfied with the food available that they will not try to get out.<br />
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So, on to another fence. Thankfully, labor and fencing materials are cheap and we already had quite a bit of wire left. The fence was finished on Wednesday with four strands of electric wire. We moved the goats to the new area, and watched as they walked right through the fence. After many minutes of serious frustration we just gave up and they followed us back home. Talk about depressing. <br />
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Next idea...what about filling in the four strands of electric with barbed wire? We are just about to give in and get rid of the little bastards. <br />
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Today the fence was finished. AGAIN. So we took them back to the new area. AGAIN. This time they seemed a little calmer. The area was familiar to them. When we first got there Mark started to walk away and Beauty threw herself at the fence, I guess thinking she could go through like she used to. Well, she got quite a surprise this time. She yelled and jumped back with quite a shock. It was a joy to see. Sorry, but it was. As we worked on the fence tending to some certain spots they got down to business eating their butts off. We drove the car by honking a few times. We walked up and around the hill a couple of times out of sight, but they stayed put. So far we haven't had any goats knocking on the door this evening. I plan on going back to check on them in about 15 minutes. Ohhhhh, I soooo hope this works!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SpZULzv3zfI/UzdQvvMSmjI/AAAAAAAAC-g/Lv-PW9nj-fg/s1600/goats+new+house+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SpZULzv3zfI/UzdQvvMSmjI/AAAAAAAAC-g/Lv-PW9nj-fg/s1600/goats+new+house+034.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first time bringing the goats down. Compared to what <br />
they had in Ohio and their current pasture, this place is <br />
perfect. Goats are browsers. They will eat grass, but<br />
prefer weeds, leaves and bark.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What are you doing and where are you going? Don't even<br />
think about leaving us here because we will come after you!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5vfZFH9gbc/UzdQ2uUOQAI/AAAAAAAAC-w/ffq0FJPsUCA/s1600/goats+new+house+049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k5vfZFH9gbc/UzdQ2uUOQAI/AAAAAAAAC-w/ffq0FJPsUCA/s1600/goats+new+house+049.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J.J. (Joan Jett) throwing herself in with abandon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's J.J. again. Lower right-hand corner.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_hSwcH7GLw/UzdQ572Kj6I/AAAAAAAAC-8/BXs27ZPhjQs/s1600/goats+new+house+055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E_hSwcH7GLw/UzdQ572Kj6I/AAAAAAAAC-8/BXs27ZPhjQs/s1600/goats+new+house+055.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are very suspicious.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eXc1HvxVtxI/UzdQ8kemmyI/AAAAAAAAC_I/uQqVw3kmEOI/s1600/goats+new+house+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eXc1HvxVtxI/UzdQ8kemmyI/AAAAAAAAC_I/uQqVw3kmEOI/s1600/goats+new+house+057.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice and her wether, Sinjin, were the first to escape<br />
and take off home. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLtmWX50d9g/UzdRA6UnnnI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/ydCRb7E5DI0/s1600/goats+new+house+058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLtmWX50d9g/UzdRA6UnnnI/AAAAAAAAC_Q/ydCRb7E5DI0/s1600/goats+new+house+058.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and his sidekicks. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtmyYw34bzQ/UzdRBWIp4VI/AAAAAAAAC_U/iOHkQMqpznk/s1600/goats+new+house+060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XtmyYw34bzQ/UzdRBWIp4VI/AAAAAAAAC_U/iOHkQMqpznk/s1600/goats+new+house+060.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark is so frustrated he can't even look at them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Z3fSS8LW1I/UzdREJTTySI/AAAAAAAAC_g/EG1cJZFazqM/s1600/goats+new+house+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Z3fSS8LW1I/UzdREJTTySI/AAAAAAAAC_g/EG1cJZFazqM/s1600/goats+new+house+061.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second time around. Fixing spots in the fence.<br />
They are still suspicious, but a lot more relaxed this time.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beauty up in a tree. Goats love this stuff.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now Honey Badger is getting in some tree climbing.<br />
Lower right-hand corner, in case you can't see her.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TMgEjiofJX0/UzdROh3PAlI/AAAAAAAADAI/Mif9CaWau_o/s1600/goats+new+house+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TMgEjiofJX0/UzdROh3PAlI/AAAAAAAADAI/Mif9CaWau_o/s1600/goats+new+house+071.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fingers crossed this fence will hold. I really want to keep<br />
my goats!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-58524130792893797072014-02-23T12:03:00.002-08:002014-02-23T12:03:58.339-08:00Birthday Party at Planet AzulIt has been a very long time since my last post, but I'm going to work on that. My son is on my computer a lot so that's probably a good excuse, but I've also been lazy. <br />
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This past Friday we went to Planet Azul for another great birthday party. Planet Azul is fairly cheap for a party, especially compared to the U.S. The only complaint I have of this place is that the music is just awful. I mean, really awful. Here are some pictures of our day....<br />
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Now I know why I don't work on this stupid blog. It will only enlarge and caption a few pictures and then it quits. Urgh! My OCD will not allow only a few pictures to be big and the others small. It drives me crazy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qIowbqrku8s/UwpMTktiKaI/AAAAAAAAC7g/Cn32D4vyBbI/s1600/Anaya's+bday+2014+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qIowbqrku8s/UwpMTktiKaI/AAAAAAAAC7g/Cn32D4vyBbI/s1600/Anaya's+bday+2014+019.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandy and Felix acting silly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWtVR1HukcY/UwpMVn1iCvI/AAAAAAAAC7o/Q8ndqvgIGsE/s1600/Anaya's+bday+2014+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HWtVR1HukcY/UwpMVn1iCvI/AAAAAAAAC7o/Q8ndqvgIGsE/s1600/Anaya's+bday+2014+020.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gang.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TA04bFdeYmU/UwpMYM9oKgI/AAAAAAAAC7w/Mgep0u0b1C4/s1600/Anaya's+bday+2014+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TA04bFdeYmU/UwpMYM9oKgI/AAAAAAAAC7w/Mgep0u0b1C4/s1600/Anaya's+bday+2014+021.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gang acting silly.</td></tr>
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Birthday cupcakes. Yum!<br />
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The three amigas. <br />
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The three amigos.<br />
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Brother and sister.<br />
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Great friends.<br />
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We also moved into a new house on a mountain above the city. It has a gorgeous view of Cuenca and a view behind us of a beautiful valley. We have a small bit of land for our goats, but we need something bigger. The house is gorgeous, furnished and perfect for us right now. However, we are now at 10,000ft. and it is much colder up here than in Cuenca. We moved in the last week of October and winter was still hanging on. We froze our asses off. I am not looking forward to August, but at least now we know what we are getting into and can stock up on firewood and propane heaters. These are some random photos of a party we had at Christmas. My family came to town for two weeks so we had a Christmas Party/Open House. There are also some pictures of our goats. For some reason I can't find any photos of the inside of the house. They must be in my Facebook folders.<br />
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I'm sitting on a hill behind the house.<br />
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Brownie and Chamiza taking things in.<br />
Neither one of the dogs belong to us, but<br />
they hang out here. <br />
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Goaties.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-75693434695531357902013-06-19T19:15:00.002-07:002013-06-19T19:15:39.872-07:00Mosaic at the Otorongo StairsWhen I found out that a group of artists and volunteers were going to spruce up the Otorongo stairs I was all over it! Yesterday we headed over there in the afternoon and got to work. The artists were very helpful in showing the kids how to first spray the wall with water, butter the wall with cement and then find the perfect piece for the perfect spot. Here are the results of our efforts. We were only able to complete a small portion of the mosaic in 2 1/2 hours, but we are heading back on Monday to help again.<br />
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It is a great feeling to know that we will always be able to walk by this mosaic and point out the sections that we helped to create. The Franklin family is officially a piece of beautiful Cuenca.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e-mxWdrq5i0/UcJkCO1u9PI/AAAAAAAAC0w/I_4-bhIHyts/s1600/Mosaic+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e-mxWdrq5i0/UcJkCO1u9PI/AAAAAAAAC0w/I_4-bhIHyts/s400/Mosaic+083.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The portion already completed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Vo6VMecl1E/UcJkDgp7BKI/AAAAAAAAC04/aEViUPN72uA/s1600/Mosaic+084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Vo6VMecl1E/UcJkDgp7BKI/AAAAAAAAC04/aEViUPN72uA/s400/Mosaic+084.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids are getting a lesson.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9iNdLsr3eeY/UcJkG7H65YI/AAAAAAAAC1I/pd6TTwwjvKc/s1600/Mosaic+087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9iNdLsr3eeY/UcJkG7H65YI/AAAAAAAAC1I/pd6TTwwjvKc/s400/Mosaic+087.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before picture of the other side.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-spfZ-HU93bQ/UcJkIvembzI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/iMpFWlbOieA/s1600/Mosaic+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-spfZ-HU93bQ/UcJkIvembzI/AAAAAAAAC1Q/iMpFWlbOieA/s400/Mosaic+090.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking the perfect piece.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-So0XiJNGkew/UcJkLF69eTI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/w4P3YhXhfrs/s1600/Mosaic+091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-So0XiJNGkew/UcJkLF69eTI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/w4P3YhXhfrs/s400/Mosaic+091.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gi loved smashing the tiles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning how to butter the wall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-INcEZ0-JTEY/UcJkPqdsCmI/AAAAAAAAC1o/4XmUt69yLFc/s1600/Mosaic+093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-INcEZ0-JTEY/UcJkPqdsCmI/AAAAAAAAC1o/4XmUt69yLFc/s400/Mosaic+093.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tali buttering.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our family completed the two dark blue sections<br />
in front of Tali. It took us almost three hours.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s768A6iIlNc/UcJkVw0gqyI/AAAAAAAAC2I/NLbZbWyryG4/s1600/Mosaic+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s768A6iIlNc/UcJkVw0gqyI/AAAAAAAAC2I/NLbZbWyryG4/s400/Mosaic+100.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wiping off the excess cement and cleaning the tiles.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-13866318959871210742013-06-16T11:32:00.002-07:002013-06-16T11:32:46.637-07:00Father's DayWhat a gorgeous Father's Day in Cuenca! The weather couldn't be more beautiful. <br />
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We had a very nice breakfast at Windhorse and then Mark wanted to take a drive into the Cajas. We stopped at Laguna Toreador to take in the views. It was nice and warm when the sun was out, but quite chilly when it hid behind a cloud. <br />
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I had a nice chat with a woman from Quito who was waiting for her group to come back from their hike. I was so happy with myself to be able to converse with her entirely in Spanish. <br />
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And here is a video of Patrick enjoying himself wherever he goes. We thought he was going to get a splinter up his ass, but instead he burnt it. <br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wRKjONNAHo&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wRKjONNAHo&feature=youtu.be</a><br />
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I really hate my laugh. <br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-37737911196925971702013-06-13T10:38:00.002-07:002013-06-13T10:38:33.431-07:00GuayaquilOn Sunday we traveled to Guayaquil to submit our paperwork for the pensioner's visa. We got the pickiest administrator and she accepted our paperwork, so hopefully we will pass the rest of the process with flying colors. Yay! We will have to go back three more time to pick up the visa, apply for our cedula (country ID card) and pick up the cedula starting on the 26th of this month.<br />
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On the way through the mountains we came upon some clouds that were dancing in the valley. Mark didn't get a picture of the clouds, but he did get some good ones of Pat and Amanda.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFLUHHG5Aok/Ubn8AyNH96I/AAAAAAAACwY/cg6lb0DcDJ8/s1600/Guayaquil+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hFLUHHG5Aok/Ubn8AyNH96I/AAAAAAAACwY/cg6lb0DcDJ8/s400/Guayaquil+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty windy!</td></tr>
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We decided to stay in the Grand Hotel in Guayaquil since they had a nice swimming pool. We were not disappointed. The pool was beautiful and they had a gorgeous sun patio with really cute lounge chairs with big fluffy pillows. They also had a roof-top party area with a pool and foos table. It was a great place to relax in the evenings and enjoy the breeze and a few beers. The staff was also fantastic. Very helpful and super friendly. <br />
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Unfortunately on our first full day, Finn cut himself on a huge piece of glass in the pool. We think it was a broken juice glass. It was pretty deep, but he didn't need stitches. The hotel paid for the medic and the medication. We were hoping and thinking that they should have paid for one night's stay as well, but no go. Definitely different than in the states for sure. <br />
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That meant that I was left with two children and nothing to do. We made the best of it though. My favorite spot was the Iguana Park right behind the hotel. We walked by it the first night and didn't see any iguanas. The next morning we ran into two and were beginning to think that people were exaggerating when they said that there were at least a hundred in the park. Well, once the park official brought their food of green vegetation by the wheelbarrow full, all the iguanas started to emerge from the trees. It was pretty awesome and I could have stayed there all day watching them. <br />
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We also went down to the Malecon (boardwalk). It was pretty, but so hot and muggy that we didn't stay long. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Action shot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful setting.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful iguana mosaic statue above the pool.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the real thing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and babe?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I need to get me some lechuga!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'd better get outta my way, little missie. <br />
I'm on a mission to get to the smorgasbord.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strike a pose.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding frenzy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AppACq1h7a8/UboAqu98abI/AAAAAAAACy4/DXOafry5JVg/s1600/Guayaquil+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AppACq1h7a8/UboAqu98abI/AAAAAAAACy4/DXOafry5JVg/s400/Guayaquil+030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If the lechuga won't come to me, I will come to<br />
the lechuga! I love the little faces of the ones below.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malecon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finn taking a rest in the shade. It was hot! </td></tr>
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Here are some links to the iguanas in action. Can you tell that I couldn't get enough of them?<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is_5i9FI0Nk&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is_5i9FI0Nk&feature=youtu.be</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfBqQcuvb_g&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfBqQcuvb_g&feature=youtu.be</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QB5FaqlyPk&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QB5FaqlyPk&feature=youtu.be</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-86916002781128802372013-06-02T10:54:00.001-07:002013-06-02T10:54:56.070-07:00Unschooling - Part Four...If you can't beat em, join em!For a lot of parents video games and tv are a hard pill to swallow. Radical unschoolers believe in unlimited tv and computer time. That is a really RADICAL way of thinking for Mark and myself, especially since we are/were teachers. <br />
<br />
Finn and Tali have been obsessed with a National Geographic interactive kid's game called Animal Jam. They both have a membership, which allows them greater access to the game, but really is just a way to take more of our money. Mark and I have been bothered by how much time they spend on the game. Mark more than me. For the past 4-6 months we have limited it to one hour a day. That seemed to work well for Mark and I, but it really bugged Tali and Finn. <br />
<br />
For the past week I have given them unlimited access. Mark does not approve in any way, shape or form, but I have asked him to give me time to try this style of parenting and he is obliging. Since we have also done away with bedtimes this has meant that they have been staying up until 11:30 or 12:00 to play Animal Jam. I was surprised to find that they have not been crabby at all during the day. Finn has never needed much sleep so this has really helped him psychologically I think. Tali has always been good about putting herself to sleep when tired. <br />
<br />
During the day they play the game, but they are also playing with their stuffed animals, Legos and Littlest Pet Shop critters. I thought for sure that with unlimited access it would be an all day, all night thing. But it honestly hasn't been. Surprise, surprise. :)<br />
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Unschooling parents also recommend getting involved in the video games that your child is loving. So today I asked Tali to set up an account for me on Animal Jam. You should have seen their faces! They were so surprised that I wanted to do this. Well, I have to tell you that honestly, its pretty cute and fun. <br />
<br />
First you pick an animal. I picked a seal. Then you get to customize it and your "den". They start you out with a few items to decorate your den, but then you have to play the games to win more gems to buy more items. I played the Phantom's Treasure Hidden Reef game today. You have to find the different animals and plants hidden in the reef. It introduces the kids to their names and habitats. It also gives little informational cards for each animal or plant. I actually had fun and played for quite a long time. Another great way for me to bond with my kids.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.animaljam.com/">www.animaljam.com</a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-18557197895044354202013-05-31T16:06:00.000-07:002013-05-31T16:06:13.392-07:00Unschooling - Part Three...ChoresI can feel myself starting to have a paradigm shift towards unschooling as a lifestyle, not just a way of learning. I can understand the way unschoolers view food, sleep and tv/computer time. I get it. I can see myself doing it. I can see our family easily slipping into this way of life. (I still have to bring Mark to the other side though.) What I was having a hard time wrapping my head around was the chores aspect. Unschoolers have a radical way of thinking about and looking at chores. It goes completely against what I thought I believed. I've been furiously reading everything I can find on Sandra Dodd's site and trust me, there is a lot. But I couldn't bring myself to read the pages about chores. <br />
<br />
The way I see/saw it is that Finn and Tali are a part of this family and should therefore chip in and help. They have been responsible for quite a few chores every week...changing the bathroom garbage can daily, (We live in Cuenca, Ecuador and the pipes in this very old city are not up to handling trash, so toilet paper needs to be deposited in garbage cans next to the toilet.) taking the dog out on the weekends when the downstairs tenents are here, washing the dishes, and folding and putting away the laundry. For those chores they receive $3.00 a week. In the states it would be more, but the cost of living is much cheaper in Ecuador. In my mind I felt that this was a good deal. They learned responsibility, helped the family and were able to save their money if they chose to in order to purchase things that they wanted. Right now they are both saving up for an Ipod Touch. Tali has saved $58 and Finn, $32. <br />
<br />
I've also felt that pity party for myself. "Why should I have to do everything?!" I already do so much...grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, etc... If the kids don't help me I will start to get resentful and that is not something I want to feel. <br />
<br />
But radical unschoolers see it differently. It is really hard to understand in just a paragraph or two so I'm not going to explain it here. If you are interested in learning more about radical unschooling and chores, please read: <a href="http://sandradodd.com/chores/">http://sandradodd.com/chores/</a> <br />
<br />
Today I was reading along and finally came to a place in my heart that said to just go ahead and read the pages on chores. I was afraid of what I would read. But I did anyway. And what I found was not at all what I thought I was going to find. I think I really get it. I think I understand and I think it is something I can do from a happy place. <br />
<br />
I am not one to take in information and process it for a long time. I like to jump right in, so that's what I did today. I decided to put into practice what I have been reading about chores. Starting today. Here's what happened.<br />
<br />
Mark, Patrick and Amanda have been in Montanita learning how to scuba dive. They are coming home today. I gave Finn all week to clean up his playroom. The thing is filthy. I just couldn't take it anymore! He has been moaning and groaning about cleaning it and "okaying" me all week. Well, its Friday and it still hasn't been done. So, I decided to try radical unschooling. After taking a nap I told myself that I would go in and clean the room. I would not ask for help and I would do it with peace and love. Since my back has been hurting all week I told myself that I would only do what I wanted to do. I told myself that I didn't have to finish the whole thing today. <br />
<br />
The kids were on the computer when I went into the room with a garbage bag, broom and dustpan. I sat down and starting picking up Legos. Let me tell you, Finn has a boatload of Legos and they were scattered from one end of the room to the other sitting in little piles of dust. Finn saw me and immediately came to help saying, "Mom, I'll help. You shouldn't have to do this all by yourself." I told him that I didn't mind and if he wanted to keep playing Animal Jam he could. But he stayed with me and we cleaned up everything together. It took a long time and it wasn't easy for me because me back was really hurting, but we had a lot of fun listening to music, talking and laughing. I really enjoyed myself and so did Finn. Tali kept on playing Animal Jam. She didn't invite herself to help and I didn't ask her to, which was perfectly okay. <br />
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After finishing, the joy in Finn was enormous. I was in the kitchen putting stuff away and he ran in and threw his arms around me thanking me. I thanked him back. It was a lovely moment. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-51klypUAHko/UakqbJjjEHI/AAAAAAAACwI/3SDf7lz4hy4/s1600/playroom+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-51klypUAHko/UakqbJjjEHI/AAAAAAAACwI/3SDf7lz4hy4/s400/playroom+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finn hugging his playroom.</td></tr>
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Every radical unschooling thing I try makes me more and more a believer. I am so grateful to have the chance to be at home with my kids and to move our family to a more peaceful and loving place. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-26175618397650294842013-05-30T11:00:00.000-07:002013-05-30T11:00:55.535-07:00Corpus ChristiTonight begins the Feast of Corpus Christi. <br />
<br />
According to Wikipedia, the Feast of Corpus Christi is "is a <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Rite" title="Latin Rite">Latin Rite</a> liturgical <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemnity" title="Solemnity">solemnity</a> celebrating the tradition and belief in the body and blood of <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Christ" title="Jesus Christ">Jesus Christ</a> and his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_presence_of_Christ_in_the_Eucharist" title="Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist">Real Presence</a> in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharist" title="Eucharist">Eucharist</a>. It emphasizes the joy of the institution of the Eucharist, which was observed on <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Thursday" title="Holy Thursday">Holy Thursday</a> in the somber atmosphere of the nearness of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday" title="Good Friday">Good Friday</a>."<br />
<br />
I've also learned that, "Use of firecrackers has intangible traditional meaning and religious symbolism in Ecuadorian festivals and events." and <br />
"Religious events are announced with firecrackers. This is a custom that goes back hundreds of years. So you will hear firecrackers at 5am and then very loud music blasting off speakers on top of a truck, followed by 50 people carrying candles and singing and a big statue of the Mother of all people (Pachamama)."<br />
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And, Question: W<span class="userContent">hy are there so many candy/sweet tiendas surrounding the Cathedral during Corpus Christi? <br /> <br /> Answer: Many years ago when the Spaniards first came, the Indigenous people were not allowed to attend the catholic church services inside the church. The Indigenous were unhappy about the discrimination. So when it was a period of fasting for the religious Catholics, the Indigenous people would stand outside the church with sweets to tempt the Spaniards.</span><br />
<span class="userContent"></span><br />
<span class="userContent">I'm sorry, but I think that is sweet justice!</span><br />
<span class="userContent"></span><br />
<span class="userContent">For the next seven nights there will be fireworks and music. In December an old church caught fire from one of the globos. Because of this there has been a ban on globos and rockets. There was a back and forth with the fireworks, but it was finally decided today that the fireworks will go on. Yay! It would really harm the old traditions to not allow the fireworks. I'm not sure we will go up there at night because it gets so crowded, but we'll see.</span><br />
<span class="userContent"></span><br />
<span class="userContent">We walked up to El Centro with Fabi, the kid's Spanish teacher and our friend, to check out the initial festivities. <br /><br />(As an aside to address unschooling, I let the kids eat as much candy as they wanted. When we got home they both wanted something healthy and filling to eat.)</span><br />
<span class="userContent"></span> <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabi and the kids.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We just missed the parade.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vendors set up along the square.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do you choose?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The little balls in front are lime, carrot, beet, pineapple, etc...<br />
flavored sweets.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhoueVBI_P8/UaeRFu9moAI/AAAAAAAACvw/FKSxi9J7Ijc/s1600/Corpus+Christi+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LhoueVBI_P8/UaeRFu9moAI/AAAAAAAACvw/FKSxi9J7Ijc/s400/Corpus+Christi+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you think these would be tempting to the <br />
fasting Catholics?</td></tr>
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<span class="userContent"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-38833025324878051162013-05-29T16:58:00.000-07:002013-05-29T16:58:38.439-07:00Unschooling - Part Two...Monkey Platters!My latest obsession has become unschooling. Since my back went out on Monday I have had a ton of time to read to my heart's content about unschooling and I am having a blast. Its funny because I am exhibiting the very process of unschooling as I READ about unschooling. Meaning, I have found a topic that I am excited about and want to know more about and I can't stop reading and researching about. :) That's what happens to our kids. They latch onto something they are interested in and do everything in their power to find out more about it, with me as their support. That is when the learning happens!<br /><br />People who are looking for information about Ecuador may be disappointed in my posts this week because there won't be much to tell. We have reached our 11 month here. One more month and it will be a year. Incredible! Time has flown, and now we are into the nitty gritty of just living and learning. Or learning while living. I'm sure we will have a lot more to say about our adventures, so keep tuning in, but you may want to tune out on this one. Unless you are interested in unschooling in Ecuador, that is. :)<br />
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This week as you know from my last post I have become interested in the food paradigm that goes along with unschooling. Last week I took the kids shopping, gave them $15 each and waited to see what happened. Finn bought bananas, strawberries, yogurt, hershey bars, a bottle of Fanta, a small bag of chocolates and slinkies. Tali bought a cucumber, a loaf of bread, ham, hershey bars and a small bag of chocolate. Pretty balanced I would say. How proud they were going up to the counter and paying for their very own food!<br /><br />Unschooling also explores refraining on putting limits on when and what children eat. Unschooling parents believe that given the choice children are pretty smart and will choose what their bodies need. I have read excerpt after excerpt of parents finding this to be true. They also believe that many of the eating disorders and obesity in our society today is because of the rules, regulations and guilt trips associated with food. When children have access to as much candy (or any other food for that matter) as they want, whenever they want, it is found by unschooling parents that children balance themselves and eventually eat less candy than children who have limitations. The children end up feeling that since it is always there, there is no need to gorge themselves. I am interested in seeing where this takes us.<br /><br />One idea that has taken off in the unschooling world is the idea of "monkey platters". This is a plate or bowls containing "healthy" and "not-so-healthy" foods offered to children with love. Whatever is in the house. I decided to make my first monkey platter tonight. It included a big bowl of popcorn, ham slices, banana chunks, strawberries, cucumber slices, pumpkin seeds and cheese cubes. I called to the kids that I had made them a monkey platter. They came running and were so excited to see it. They asked me why I made it for them and I said because I love them. They thanked me over and over. It was pretty funny. We don't have a lot of junk food in the house since I haven't gone shopping since I decided to do this. Next time there will be more of that. <br />
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Here is a link to Sandra Dodd's website about food:<br /><br /><a href="http://sandradodd.com/food">http://sandradodd.com/food</a><br />
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Here is the page about Monkey Platters:<br />
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<a href="http://sandradodd.com/eating/monkeyplatter">http://sandradodd.com/eating/monkeyplatter</a><br />
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Here are my kids rejoicing and snacking on my first platter:<br />
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What I am most surprised about is how quickly my attitudes towards food for myself are changing. It is like a fresh breath of air is blowing through our house and sweeping out all of the worries and anxieties. That has got to be a good thing. :)<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-83562088638280554612013-05-23T12:30:00.000-07:002013-05-23T12:30:00.674-07:00Old post, but I thought I would put it out there anyway. It's Time to Party!I haven't posted in awhile because we were just living the ordinary life. Getting up to work out at The Zone Crossfit, going to Spanish class, teaching the kids, taking naps,cooking dinner and searching for the perfect farm. Same old, same old. <br />
<br />
But this past Saturday we were invited to a party at a Facebook friend's house. Suzanne and her husband, Terry, live in Ricaurte, a little bit outside the city. They have a beautiful home that was built for parties. We met a lot of people that we have been conversing with on Facebook for the first time. Everyone was in a festive mood and had a great time. Lots of food, lots of drink, lots of music and lots of laughter. We had a really nice time and hope to do it again soon. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-45974564739565249282013-05-23T12:29:00.000-07:002013-05-23T12:29:04.984-07:00UnschoolingI have been reading everything I can get my hands on about unschooling these past two weeks. I started reading about it before we moved to Ecuador and I was intrigued, but once getting here I still felt like they needed to know the basics. They were troopers and did what I asked, although for several weeks Finn gave me a horrible awful time. We kept threatening school and he finally had an attitude adjustment, but as I look back over those weeks I wonder if we did more harm than good.<br />
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Last week I decided to ask them what they wanted to learn. They made a list. Some of the things included were swimming, cooking, sewing (for both of them) and learning a musical instrument. They both said they wanted to continue Spanish lessons and that they enjoyed me teaching Math to them, so we decided to continue that. We dropped the Brain Pop, which they didn't like, but they continue to read books way above grade level on their own. <br />
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There is a new school here starting in the fall that follows the unschooling principles. Well, as much as a school can. I have only emailed back and forth with the director a few times as he is in the states right now guiding a hundred or so kids in Yosemite. I like what he says he is attempting to do, but it is expensive. I want to meet with him when he gets back and see what his school is offering. If it gives Finn and Tali a chance to be with other kids and to explore things that they love, then I'm in. <br />
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What led me to this excited search into unschooling this time was a book recommended by the director of this new school called, The Teenage Liberation Handbook. It is meant to be read by teenagers, but it really opened my eyes to a new way of looking at learning. As I read I keep thinking about my niece who is miserable in high school right now. I think that if she let herself become open to this idea of unschooling she would soar. <br />
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Today I have been reading a blog of a radical unschooling mother. She is one of the experts in radical unschooling and has been on many tv shows, including Oprah. Nightly News calls her the UnNanny. She has been to many family's homes helping them to transition into unschooling. I have been afraid of even looking into radical unschooling. It just seemed too radical! But, today I read a post about how she handles food in her home. One of the things she does is give her children $15 and she allows them to pick out whatever food they want at the grocery store. My immediate thought was, No Way! <br /><br />I started to think about how that would look and decided to experiment a little bit with Finn and Tali. I told them that I would do the same...give them some money at the grocery store and they can pick out what they want. They were so excited. In my head I saw grocery carts with heaps of candy and chips. <br />
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At lunch we started talking about what they were going to buy. Tali said she would probably pick bread, meat and cucumbers. Finn said he would love to get some peach yogurt. He was so excited to get that yogurt because Mark always buys blackberry. I didn't know he was really missing the peach. He also said he would buy strawberries, bananas and milk to make more smoothies. I was a bit surprised by their choices. I wonder what will happen when we actually get to the store. To be continued...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-52741110151406626062013-01-20T13:00:00.000-08:002013-01-20T15:16:23.610-08:00What's the difference?Wow, its been over a month, almost two months since I posted last. We went through the holidays and had a wonderful time. It was a bit weird being just the four of us, but nice too. Of course we missed family back home, but we did the best we could here and it worked out well. I had planned on posting all of our Christmas and New Year's pictures, but then I read a bunch of other people's posts and realized that my pictures looked just like theirs and then I had a hard time wanting to do it. I will say that we had a great spot to enjoy the Paseo del Ninos - in the balcony of the Mansion Alcazar. We stayed for 6 hours, almost the entire parade and it was a sight to see and hear. <br />
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On New Year's we spent the day relaxing while Finn and Tali played with the grandkids downstairs. We had purchased our effigy who we labeled CMSD (Cleveland Metropolitan School District) and waited patiently until nightfall to burn him and say goodbye to last year. I must admit it felt pretty cathartic. <br />
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January has seen our family get into more of a routine. I started taking Spanish classes at Nexxus language school three days a week for two hours starting at 8:15a.m. When I get home I usually get two to three hours of teaching in with the kids. I have started teaching them cursive, which they love. They work really hard to form the letters correctly. I was recently asked if I thought it was necessary to teach them cursive and I had to stop and give it some thought. I think yes. It is a dying art and I want my children to be able to read and write in cursive. We are also completing a lapbook about Ancient Rome and they are really into it especially the stories like Romulus and Remus, etc... On Monday afternoons they have art class from 3:00 - 5:00. <br />
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I started watching the Biggest Loser again and this season they have included three children as ambassadors for the fight against childhood obesity. That got me to thinking about my kids and their fitness. Neither one of them is unhealthy or overweight and I make sure they eat healthy food, but they aren't that active. They aren't very competitive and don't lean towards competitive sports. In fact, one time when they were playing for the Firelands soccer team in Oberlin the two of them stood in the middle of the field singing the lyrics to John Denver's song..."Country roads, take me home!" at the top of their lungs while dancing. They would rather play with legos and Littlest Pet Shop until the cows came home. So, I made them a deal...they could continue with their art class (which they love), but they also had to commit to going to the children's CrossFit class at least three times a week for a month and then we would see if they liked it. <br />
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The first day went great. They looked like they were having a blast. There are about 18 kids in the class, including all of their friends. But when we got home they both complained about how tired they were, and Finn later told me he didn't want to go back. I reminded him that he had to give it a month. Day Two: Loved it. That night they were begging me to go back and kept talking about how much they liked it. So, yeah.<br />
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Now to the title of my blog post and what it means. On Friday in Spanish class one of the questions asked of each of us was to discuss one of the differences between Ecuador and our country of birth. It so happens that right before class I had been commenting to Mark on a phenomenon that lightens my heart since moving to Ecuador. I was telling him about my "Morning Men". <br />
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I take Scout for a walk down by the Tomebamba River at least three times during the work week. I have gotten used to seeing the same people every morning. There are four separate men who always make it a point to say Buenos Dias to me with a big smile. Every morning. Even if they are jogging past me going the other way they will turn around and say Buenos Dias. They are not hitting on me and they are not dirty old men. They are just really nice men who make it a point of being courteous to me and I just eat it up. <br />
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The culture of niceties in Ecuador is so different from living in Ohio. In Ohio, I would walk down the bikepath near my house and say hello to every person I passed and I would be lucky to get one hello back. It would make me so angry. Is it so hard to say hi? I just never understood it. And the mothers who I would see at Finn and Tali's school could barely make the corners of their mouths turn up. Frankly, I found it disgusting that it was so hard to smile and say hello. It made me quite nuts sometimes. <br />
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Here are some of the differences that I love about Ecuador:<br />
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When you enter a store you are expected to greet everyone in the store before you begin conducting your business. It is considered very rude not to do so. I'm talking the smaller stores and tiendas. Of course, you would not be expected to do that at the larger Coral store, which is similar to a Walmart. It has taken me awhile to get accustomed to doing this, but I like it and I am working on it.<br />
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If you walk into a restaurant and pass by people eating you are expected to greet them and also to say, Buen Provecho (bon appetit). I love that! Yesterday we were eating ice cream and a family passed by us, greeted us with a Buenos Noches and said Buen Provecho. :)<br />
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When you enter a room full of people, say at a party, you are expected to greet every single person in the room. Same with leaving. You go around the room and say good bye to every single person. This greeting is expected to be a grasp of the hands and a brushing or kiss of right cheek to right cheek. On Friday nights at least once a month we go to a restaurant called San Sebas to watch our friend, Brian, play and sing. We usually get there a bit early to grab a table and order. As people come in that we know we always stand up even if we are eating, come around the table and greet them with a grasp of the hands and a right cheek to cheek kiss. Same thing when we leave. I love that!<br />
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Most Ecuadorians will not initiate a hello to me, but EVERY TIME I say Buenos Dias, Buenas Tardes or Buenas Noches to them I get a huge smile, direct eye contact and a repeated or similar greeting. I love that!<br />
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The warmth of the people here astounds me and makes my heart sing. There is a connection between people that I never felt in the states. Eye contact is made. Smiles are exchanged. You don't feel so alone in this world, and I love that!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-6677868717009617772012-12-10T10:20:00.000-08:002012-12-10T10:20:04.324-08:00Three new posts from my daughter, Tali.<a href="http://www.natali-in-ecuador.blogspot.com/">http://www.natali-in-ecuador.blogspot.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-22918592309986762782012-12-02T11:21:00.001-08:002012-12-03T09:43:44.190-08:00The Cajas - Finally!Yesterday we went hiking in the Cajas for the first time. We drove up there on Saturday, but there was snow on the ground, we weren't dressed properly, it was raining and I had forgotten my camera. So, we gathered up Chelsea, Anaya and Gi and headed up bright and early this morning. It was the perfect day for hiking. Cloud cover so that we didn't get too hot and a nice breeze. We were worried about being cold, so we were really prepared. Luckily we didn't need the clothes we brought and were actually hot and a bit sweaty. The Cajas have 176 water concentrations, one of the largest water concentrations in the world. Enjoy the pictures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uh oh, llamas on the road.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Crew</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The girls led us the whole time. They were talking<br />
and walking and just moseying on. The boys? Now<br />
they were another matter. Can you say whiners?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you find everybody? The girls are way ahead.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paper Trees or Quinoa Trees.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice spot to rest after a long hike.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-41313256246115199812012-12-02T10:13:00.000-08:002012-12-02T10:13:55.184-08:00Paute - Part 2This post covers our last two days visiting Paute - Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday I got the brilliant idea to take Scout with us. I knew we were going to be gone for awhile and since I had fed her at 6:30 and we didn't leave until 10:30 I thought she would be fine. Nope. She threw up three times in our brand-new-to-us car. Mark was not a happy camper. <br />
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Scout is 8 years old. Just this past summer she finally learned how fun it can be to be a dog in a car and hang your head out the window. For all of those long 8 years she would shiver and shake and puke in the car. Well, she still pukes in the car, but at least she doesn't shake anymore and now she seems to be having a little bit of fun. <br />
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Just outside of Paute they have a 167 meter swinging bridge. It is pretty rickety and gets a bit scary around the middle. Tali and I almost turned back, but we talked ourselves into going on and made it to the other side. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Random photo of the kids in Paute's cute and quiet square.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bridge.</td></tr>
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On Sunday there is a pretty big market in Paute. It is also a day for families to get together and have a picnic, etc... Just spend time together. They had a bouncy house in the park and the kids spent quite a bit of time on it. They also had these great, little 4-wheelers that you could rent. $1 for 5 minutes. Finn and Tali loved them. Tali kept begging to go back later, but it started to rain. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9gUiqm71Fg/ULlUIb02AWI/AAAAAAAACmY/b45Ft2RBDHE/s1600/Paute+and+La+Jarata+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9gUiqm71Fg/ULlUIb02AWI/AAAAAAAACmY/b45Ft2RBDHE/s400/Paute+and+La+Jarata+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It took her awhile to figure out how to push in the starter<br />
button with her little hand, but eventually she got the<br />
hang of it and loved it.</td></tr>
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After riding the 4-wheelers we headed to the market in search of sweat pants. Here are a couple shots of the market before it started to rain.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-20276555571434165062012-12-01T14:07:00.000-08:002012-12-01T14:07:40.903-08:00Many visits to Paute last week. Part 1.Now that we have our car we got a hankering to visit Paute. A lot! We drove out there on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, on Friday to have lunch and explore with some friends, again on Saturday to explore ourselves and finally again on Sunday because we wanted to see their market and Mark wanted to get some sweat pants. We had heard that they sell them on the second floor of the market. And they were right. We scored some sweat pants for Mark. <br />
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We also took a turn around Jadan. I didn't get any pictures, but if you go over the hill it turns very green and shady. It is really unusual foliage back there. All pine trees and cool shadiness. It reminded me of driving through some of the national forests in the U.S. The area really appealed to me, so we decided to call and see about a house that was for rent there. The house had really good bones, but it needed A LOT of work. The owners were so sweet and a very nice couple. They bent over backwards to make sure that we would be welcome there. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good fit. <br />
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But back to Paute. On Friday we had plans to meet a yahoo group friend who built his home just outside Paute. His place was just beautiful and I got a lot of inspiration from his bachelor pad home were we to build in the future. Here are some pictures of his home.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from his front porch.</td></tr>
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After leaving Vladimer's we met two more friends for lunch. We then invited them to drive around the countryside outside Paute. It was a gorgeous day and the Paute River valley is spectacular.<br />
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The kids were tired of being cooped up in the car so we let them play for awhile. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8botwZrofA/ULlOHNrcjBI/AAAAAAAAClI/y-GWABiEkE8/s1600/Paute+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a8botwZrofA/ULlOHNrcjBI/AAAAAAAAClI/y-GWABiEkE8/s400/Paute+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a pretty nice BMX bike course in the trees.</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-62134543914286717612012-11-30T15:20:00.000-08:002012-12-01T05:10:38.275-08:00Thanksgiving We chose to have a quiet family Thanksgiving this year just the 4 of us. Maybe next year we will do the whole big thing with friends, but this year we felt the need to circle the wagons. I made reservations at Restaurante Don Colon in the Coronel Hotel. Don Colon is an Ecuadorian who lived in Naples, Florida for several years and he was serving a traditional U.S. Thanksgiving meal. It was actually quite good except it could have been a bit warmer. We had turkey with stuffing and gravy, garlic bread, sweet potato, carrots and green beans, and cranberry sauce that we suspect was actually mora(blackberry). Dessert was apple pie that I didn't care for at all. While eating, both the local paper, El Tiempo, and the local news station came in and took pictures and interviewed the guests and Don Colon. It was pretty funny. After dinner we walked to San Blas and got MORE dessert. Ice cream! Mixx has the best gourmet ice cream in town. It is really good. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restaurante Don Colon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don Colon being interviewed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlavZawD7RE/ULDjt8RFY6I/AAAAAAAAChA/wywkXVuECQs/s1600/Thanksgiving+2012+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RlavZawD7RE/ULDjt8RFY6I/AAAAAAAAChA/wywkXVuECQs/s400/Thanksgiving+2012+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I try not to leave my camera at home for reasons like this. <br />
This woman was in this capsule trying to catch the pieces of <br />
paper that were flying around. I have no idea why.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-67810477656045952202012-11-21T08:01:00.000-08:002012-11-21T08:01:06.633-08:00Beautiful Days and Musings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The weather had been just beautiful lately. I haven't been caught in a torrential downpour in a week or so. lol We went for a walk on Sunday down by the Tomebamba. I'm glad I brought my umbrella. That sun is brutal.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colegio Benigno Malo. A gorgeous building, but it needs<br />
some work.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mountains are stunning on these clear<br />
days, but the pictures don't do them justice.</td></tr>
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We finally got our car! Yeah!!! It is in the shop right now getting all checked over and the suspension fixed. We should have it back today or tomorrow. On Friday we are going to Paute to see the farm of a yahoo group friend, Vladimir. It will be nice to go exploring again. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Nd7SodasRo/UKz2Xaz-NPI/AAAAAAAACeY/224CkWY4dy4/s1600/car+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Nd7SodasRo/UKz2Xaz-NPI/AAAAAAAACeY/224CkWY4dy4/s400/car+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2003 Mitsubishi Montero 4X4</td></tr>
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Since we have turned away from the creamery idea and have let our minds start to drift away from that frenzy I have become much more relaxed. I am exercising every day in the morning and taking cat naps when I need it to keep my chronic fatigue at bay. I can feel myself starting to slow down and enjoy where I am. To live in the moment. My jaw tenses up and hurts only once in awhile. (I suffered from horrible TMJ and bruxism due to job stress.) The weather is just gorgeous and that is a balm to the soul. My nails have never been this hard nor have grown this long. I have already had to cut them twice and they are due for another cutting. Must be all the Vitamin D. I am feeling more comfortable in the city and the language is coming easier as long as the person is speaking slow enough. I am not feeling like a complete stranger, but more as if I belong here. It is nice to finally feel at home.<br />
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Thanksgiving is tomorrow and I have plenty to be thankful for. Family and friends, all the time in the world to spend with my children, and the blessings of a new country. We are going to have dinner at Don Colon restaurant just the four of us. It will be nice to give thanks as a family, but we will also be thinking of our family back in the states and missing them. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-66101540060466146472012-11-18T09:49:00.000-08:002012-11-30T15:24:22.087-08:00Freedom is Comin Soon!In the last two weeks we have done a lot of soul searching and reprioritzing, if that's a word. We went with Marcelo to finally see that beautiful property in Tortorillas that we had seen from across the valley. We started out around 10:30. We went and looked at another property in Tarqui first. The guy was asking $30,000 for 6 hectares. It seems that when the price is too good to be true it is because the land is crap, and sure enough it went along the crown of a hill. I'm sure the views up there would be stunning, but cutting a road up there and pumping water to the site would be a huge and costly project. Another one bites the dust. :(<br />
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The Tortorillas property had the same problem. There is no servicable road. We had to stop the car about 1/2 a mile away and hoof it in. The views were spectacular and we were feeling pretty good about it. We met and talked with the nephew of the owner. Turns out that another uncle owns 2 hectares smack dab in the middle. That didn't bother me so much since there were other places to build a house and out buildings. Two or three actually. It is really hard to tell where property ends and begins in the mountains, so we really wanted to see a plat map. The little school down below in the valley was only a 10 min. walk away. <br />
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While dily dalying on the property it started to rain and then turned into a huge thunderstorm with thunder, lightening and a pouring rain. The kids and I had our raincoats, but Mark and Marcelo only had their shirts. The rain hit the trail and turned it into a red mudslide that was almost all uphill. It was quite an adventure for awhile. Mark and I had to each take a child and help them up the hills. When we finally got to the car we were sweating, completely drenched from head to toe and full of mud. It stopped raining when we reached the car. Go figure, but that is weather for you in Ecuador. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiYcRIIgGZU/UKkT4tvRTeI/AAAAAAAACYM/eoLx-56Ywj0/s1600/Marcello+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiYcRIIgGZU/UKkT4tvRTeI/AAAAAAAACYM/eoLx-56Ywj0/s400/Marcello+029.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoofing it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wMeDPSnEpCk/UKkUG66PreI/AAAAAAAACYc/VumVh3qu4Ac/s1600/Marcello+030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wMeDPSnEpCk/UKkUG66PreI/AAAAAAAACYc/VumVh3qu4Ac/s400/Marcello+030.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The property is on the other side of that large hill to the<br />
left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The school down below in that little <br />
cluster of buildings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SlKcfR0erb0/UKkUyKL6TRI/AAAAAAAACY4/PkduI3DSSng/s1600/Marcello+048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SlKcfR0erb0/UKkUyKL6TRI/AAAAAAAACY4/PkduI3DSSng/s400/Marcello+048.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The property includes that flat plateau surrounded<br />
by low trees to the right. We thought that might<br />
be a nice place to build a house. Here come the clouds.<br />
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That property is 6 hectares as well and is being offered for $55 we think. Couldn't get a firm price on it. So here's when the soul searching began. Mark really liked it and started thinking of ways we could divide it and split with others. The price is too high for us, but we do have some other people interested in possibly splitting land with us. But then there is also the cost of putting in the road and getting the machinery in there. It started to become very overwhelming for me. We would be investing ALL of our money in this venture and still not have enough to get the creamery fully up and running. I kept seeing problem after problem occuring, beginning with the road, and not having the money to get where we want to be. I've been there before and I didn't want to go back to that place. Mark had already recognized that in order for us to grow the business enough to meet the demands we would need to take on investors, and that scared the crap out of me as well. I don't know why I am so freaked out about it, but the idea of involving others in this before it has even taken shape does not feel good to me. There is the small fact that I have only made a few fresh cheeses and I really have no idea what I'm doing yet. I had always had the idea to get the goats and begin making small batches of cheese for our family and friends. THEN, if I enjoyed doing it and IF my cheese was good I would think about making more and selling small batches. Once this idea of a creamery hit us it was like a freight train that I couldn't catch. I loved the idea of it, but I didn't know if I really wanted to tie myself down to a business that would need all of my time and energy when I was just starting to get used to the idea of slowing down and enjoying life. So, I told Mark I didn't want to do it. <br />
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After a lot of round and round, discussion and more discussion we have decided to look for a amall piece of property(one or two hectares) with a small, nice house on it for cheap. Then we would like to save our money and travel. We also tossed around the idea of taking yearly sabbaticals in South America and Europe, but even though the kids want to travel that might be hard on them. Plus, we wouldn't have a car and I really don't want to live in the cities. So, we decided to buy in Ecuador and use it as our home base. In the meantime while we save our money we are going to explore Ecuador. In a couple of weeks we are going to take a week to go to Ingapirca, Latacunga and Ambato, then head to Banos to see the town and Tungurahua. After that we are going to head to Otavalo and San Pablo del Lago. We know a woman in Banos and she has invited us to see her property there. There is also another expat family from Germany and they have a lodge in San Pablo del Lago so we will stop by and say hi to them as well. We were going to go up last week and tried to rent a car, but the rental companies will only accept a credit card and all we have is a debit car. <br />
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So, instead of a vacation for my birthday we decided to go car shopping. We spent the day walking the Cuencan automile. We saw a lot of crap out there for a lot of money. We were looking specifically for family size SUVs like the larger Chevy Gran Vitara, Mitsubishi Monteros, etc... They don't call them SUVs though. They call that size automobile all Jeeps. We saw a lot of cars with 170,000, 180,000 and 200,000 kilometers for around $17,000 and they all smelled horribly inside. Finally we found a nice Mitsubishi Montero 4X4 with 70,000 kms on it at a price we could handle. We took it for a test drive and really liked it. The kids and I especially loved the sunroof. So, hopefully tomorrow we will be the proud owners of a shiny, red Mitsubishi Montero. My friend jokingly asked me if I was 16. I had to laugh because in the states when we got a new car it was like, okay we've got a new car. But, I am so excited to have some wheels so that we can go exploring I actually DO feel like I'm 16. LOL <br />
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I almost forgot to mention that after a nice hot, sweaty day looking for cars on my birthday we did actually go out for dinner the next night with friends and their children. I have never been to Tiestos and I was waiting for a special occasion to go. The food and service were amazing! Chelsea and Brian know Juan Carlos, the owner, so they asked him what he recommended. He asked everyone their likes and dislikes, counted how many adults and children and then made our plates to order. For the adults we had surf and turf, langostinos in a yummy sauce and lomo fino two different ways. The kids had a chicken dish in a tomato sauce. The tiestos came with potatoes, rice, quinoa, salad, and bread. Everything was delicious. For dessert the children got ice cream, but the adults shared three dishes. Some kind of praline and caramel cake, chocolate mousse with maracuya ice cream (my favorite) and rum flavored ice cream with nuts. It was the best meal I have had in Ecuador. I am already ready to go back. Whose birthday is coming up???<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-41100027379044651142012-11-08T07:21:00.001-08:002012-11-08T07:21:48.743-08:00Getting Farmer FitAs I write this the kids are making chocolate chip cookies with their Spanish teacher, Fabi. All in Spanish. :)<br />
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Our good friend, Aaron Williams, opened up a CrossFit Gym this week in Cuenca. According to his website, The Zone, (<a href="http://thezonecuenca.com/">http://thezonecuenca.com/</a>) Crossfit increases power, strength, cardiovascular and respiratory endurance, flexibility, stamina, coordination, agility, balance, and coordination. Sounds like all of the things I will need to work on our farm. <br />
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Just about everyone I have talked to has lost some kind of weight after only a few months in Ecuador. Even my 9 year old son has lost 5 lbs. But me? Nothing. Not one single pound. In fact, I have gained 3. So depressing. That was one of the things I was looking forward to when moving here. All I heard while we were still in the states was how the weight would just fall off. Yeah, right! I've even given up fresh fruit thinking the sugar was causing me to be at a standstill. That just about broke my heart. It was all I could think about before moving here...being able to buy and consume fresh, fresh, fresh fruit. But even that did not affect my weight loss, so smoothies are back on the menu. <br />
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My mom says it may be my age and hormone fluxuations. I am 45 soon to be 46 this month. I also think it may be due to a change in my lifestyle. Yes, I am walking a lot, but I was on my feet almost all day while teaching in Cleveland. Here I am reading a lot and loving it, but of course I am sitting down. Back in Ohio I had chores to do. Mucking stalls, feeding animals, hauling hay, hauling water buckets, moving animals, etc... Here there are no chores to do. Just a lot of walking to and fro. And once we buy a car even that will be reduced. So, I am really hoping this CrossFit stuff works. I'm not looking forward to getting up early and getting there by 6:00a.m., but I am also not happy about the way things have been going. Something must be done. CrossFit, here I come!<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-51661161563748521372012-11-07T14:17:00.000-08:002012-11-07T14:17:43.625-08:00Like a BearThat is how Mark has been lately. Like a bear. He is antsy and anxious and wants to have some freedom to get out of Dodge. So, today we went and looked at a new car. We have been bouncing around the idea of purchasing a car for about a month now. We began to feel some pressure once we started looking at properties. Riding in the back of squishy cars or in the bed of a pick-up is getting old. The question was whether we should just get a beater right now that would be Mark's car eventually after we purchased the family car later on or should we invest in the family car now, and if so should it be used or new? Cars are super expensive in Ecuador since they are imported. This is a big decision.<br />
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We started looking at used beater cars, in particular the Lada Niva. It is a Russian car and supposed to be built like a tank. They are all over the city, so clearly they are liked by Ecuadorians. We found one for $5,000. It had over 200,000 kilometers on it. Yikes! The guys popped the hood so Mark could inspect the engine, but then couldn't get it down. And it smelled like a smoker's car. Yuck. Anything in our beater price range is extremely old with thousands of km on it, and they are hard to find. It has been a pretty depressing search. <br />
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For our family car we want to get an extended cab pick-up for the farm. It has to be utilitarian, but also comfortable for long rides. F150's and the like are upwards of $40,000 plus they are big and hard to manuever in the city. We considered and are still considering a used pick-up, but today we headed out to the Mahindra dealership to look at their trucks. We looked at a 4 wheel drive turbo diesel. We took it for a test drive and I was impressed with its pick up and the back seat, which was very comfortable and could easily seat three or four smaller peeps. It climbed a very steep and muddy hill like a champ. So, we will compare with some used Chevys and then make a decision. It will be so nice to just get out of town when we want to and go and explore when the mood hits us. <br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-71096269253111717502012-10-04T12:40:00.000-07:002012-10-04T18:39:21.607-07:00New Friends and Totorillas Revisited*South of Zero blog roll readers - I was a blogging fiend two weeks ago trying to get all of my thoughts and pictures about our trip to Puerto Lopez down before I forgot. I blogged three posts in one day and through no one's fault two of the posts did not make the blog roll. Please check out posts "Whale Watching and Isla de la Plata" and "Last Day in Puerto Lopez". I got some nice shots of the whales and a cute video of the Blue-Footed Boobies. Hope you enjoy.<br />
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After recovering from the trip home from Puerto Lopez, things have fallen back into a routine. The kids and Mark are continuing Spanish classes and we are still continuing to look for a farm. I have written our vision and goal, as well as a 5 year plan. This week I'm going to start the business plan. I am using a Wisconsin pdf booklet on Starting a Dairy Goat Business, but so much of it doesn't apply here in Ecuador. I am muddling through with a lot of unknowns. <br />
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Here are some random pictures:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmdRiLu1duI/UG3cJh_E2WI/AAAAAAAACUo/sbO5TWZw4dA/s1600/3rd+Look+Tortorillas+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmdRiLu1duI/UG3cJh_E2WI/AAAAAAAACUo/sbO5TWZw4dA/s400/3rd+Look+Tortorillas+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parrots in a tree across the street from our house. I have<br />
been trying to get a picture of them forever. They<br />
were so green they blended in with the tree. I knew they<br />
were there because they are loud, but couldn't see them.<br />
I zoomed in my lens and this is the picture I got. Not bad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10GaRKyOqp0/UG3cbs3ugtI/AAAAAAAACUw/xuZZq-Ipzfk/s1600/3rd+Look+Tortorillas+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-10GaRKyOqp0/UG3cbs3ugtI/AAAAAAAACUw/xuZZq-Ipzfk/s400/3rd+Look+Tortorillas+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This square is on Padre Aguirre and Gran Columbia. We ate<br />
our Live Organico smoothie there. All the kids were out of<br />
school. Reminded me of Mary Poppins.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvest Moon (or whatever they call it in the Southern<br />
Hemisphere.)</td></tr>
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Back in June on our first day living in Cuenca we met a really nice family that lives in Salinas. They were checking out Cuenca as a new home and this week came back to try to find housing. We went out to dinner twice with them and had a great time. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finn and Tali with Morgan and Liam.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark (no comment) with Neil and Stacey.</td></tr>
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Our friend/realtor Aaron owns many, many hectares in Tortorillas, the area where we would love to have our farm. He was willing to sell us a portion of the property so we went out to take a look. On the way Aaron needed to drop two kittens off at his farm. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is where they are supposed to be, on Oscar's lap.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here they are making there way to Mark, who can't stand<br />
animals. (Exception: goats and donkeys)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here they stayed. Nice and comfy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This would be the goat pasture were we to buy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on Tortorillas valley.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love this picture of the kids. Armando, Aaron's guardia, said<br />
there hasn't been rain in the region for 3 months and yet<br />
it is still so green. The pasture is fed by the spring above.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorgeous bromeliads.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This hill is a lot steeper than it looks. They are about<br />
to roll down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oscar riding Finn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Jemma's horses. A beautiful guy - Hanovarian<br />
two year old. He is going to be stunning.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-80116063881280328592012-09-23T16:37:00.002-07:002012-09-23T16:37:34.469-07:00Non-stopMy family back home wonders what we do all day, and I know that it is a question that comes up with a lot of retired expats. What do you do all day?<br />
Well, this week was crazy! <br />
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We arrived home from Puerto Lopez on Friday night. Saturday was spent just hanging out, cleaning and trying to catch up. On Sunday we had friends come and stay for the night. Jack and Andrea brought us, our dog and all our luggage from Quito to Cuenca upon our arrival in Ecuador. They do that for a lot of couples now, but we were the guinea pigs. When they bring down other families they always stay at our place. So, we had Jack and Andrea staying for the night. We also invited Bruce and Linda and Richard and Isabel over for dinner and drinks. Andrea brought a new friend with her, Enola Gay. She is half poodle/half pekinese. So cute. Only 5 weeks old. <br />
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The next morning Jack and the guys had to go and move the client's luggage to his new home. The kids and I hung with Andrea and Enola. We had planned on doing something fun once they got back, but they decided to just head home instead. Its a 10 hour drive. :(</div>
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On Wednesday we were supposed to have Spanish class, but we had an opportunity to finally see the farm in Tortorillas that we wanted to see, so we took it. Fabi still came and taught Finn and Tali, but then she was nice enough to watch the kids while we went with Aaron and Brian, our friends and realtors, out to Tortorillas. The woman is selling 13 hectares (about 30 acres). There is about 4 acres pasture and the rest is forest (bosque). Thick forest. The hills roll so parts of the property are steep. You might recognize the area because this is where I go horseback riding. We found a place where we might put a house, but the logistics would have to be worked out. It is up on a plateau overlooking the valley. Gorgeous views. We would need to cut a road and we haven't gotten a clear answer as far as access and an easement. </div>
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On Thursday Fabi called in sick, so no Spanish class. We headed over to a paper store that I have wanted to go to. I was looking for a calendar, but no go. I don't know where to get a calendar. Mark wasn't feeling well, so he headed home and the kids and I went to the market. Usually we buy our produce at Coopera (the organic market), but I haven't been happy with all of their produce. Some of it is okay, but a lot of it seems old. I brought my backpack and we loaded it with 2 pineapples, a big bunch of bananas, 6 pears, 6 oranges, a pound of strawberries, 6 chirimoyas and 5 mandarin oranges...$14. Not bad. </div>
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We had made plans with Aaron to go out to his house in La Jarata on Friday. We wanted to see the kind of construction his crew is doing if we were to choose him to build our house. We also wanted to see La Jarata. We had heard it was gorgeous, but also that it is much colder than Cuenca. La Jarata is about 50 min. from Cuenca, but on a really good road. It is also much higher than Cuenca at about 10,000 ft. The views are extraordinary and we were really taken with the area. It was a bit chilly at first, but we warmed up as the sun came out. We definitely noticed a difference in the temperature and altitude though. Aaron owns about 250 acres and his house is in the process of being built. They already have the stable up, as well as his guardia's house. We walked a big chunk of the property and contemplated where we might build a house and dairy barn. It is much drier at this altitude and a worry here is access to water and food for the goats. We would probably have to irrigate a portion of it and grow some of our own feed. Aaron is planning on an adventure/tourist destination on his farm. Hiking, horseback riding, ziplining, paint ball course, biking, etc... I know the kids would have a blast living here, but there are so many other considerations. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron, Mark and Bruce in La Jarata.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron and Jemma's barn. Jemma has Hanovarian<br />
horses and runs High Horse Breeding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2ijvmH2Zvo/UF9x2zMzpCI/AAAAAAAACGA/SLHQDJR-J24/s1600/La+Jarata+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N2ijvmH2Zvo/UF9x2zMzpCI/AAAAAAAACGA/SLHQDJR-J24/s400/La+Jarata+017.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Their beautiful home under construction.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOEefihe588/UF9yF4Enu-I/AAAAAAAACGI/FVjjGX5kokk/s1600/La+Jarata+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BOEefihe588/UF9yF4Enu-I/AAAAAAAACGI/FVjjGX5kokk/s400/La+Jarata+027.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from their porch.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctM-3D7j6Gc/UF9yl_v3DII/AAAAAAAACGQ/KrFCv_TqELo/s1600/La+Jarata+043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ctM-3D7j6Gc/UF9yl_v3DII/AAAAAAAACGQ/KrFCv_TqELo/s400/La+Jarata+043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A possible building site for us.<br />
</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MwJ-OKlqo44/UF9yzqW3hZI/AAAAAAAACGY/LQFQywrZr9U/s1600/La+Jarata+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MwJ-OKlqo44/UF9yzqW3hZI/AAAAAAAACGY/LQFQywrZr9U/s400/La+Jarata+059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron built a milking parlor for his cows. What a <br />
view while you are milking!<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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After we got home from La Jarata we hung out for awhile and then went to a going away party for the Manuel family. Tyler, Marvel and Greg have been here for 6 weeks visiting Chelsea and Brian. Now they are heading home to Tennessee. We went to San Sebas for dinner. There were around 22 of us, so we took up the whole second floor. We had a great time with lots of laughter. I really needed that.</div>
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Yesterday we were supposed to go hiking on the Inca Trail with some friends, but I was feeling poopy so Mark went alone. Now I am kicking myself because I forgot it was the Vernal Equinox and the hike also included a shaman ceremony with food, music and dancing. The hike was in Cumbe and Mark got some stunning pictures. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3bAJDQx6l4/UF918LKap1I/AAAAAAAACHw/6M0hW4t5Ab4/s1600/Cumbe+and+Solstice+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z3bAJDQx6l4/UF918LKap1I/AAAAAAAACHw/6M0hW4t5Ab4/s400/Cumbe+and+Solstice+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVboqfwKygc/UF92JwSkmBI/AAAAAAAACH4/T1iml6HCNC0/s1600/Cumbe+and+Solstice+005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVboqfwKygc/UF92JwSkmBI/AAAAAAAACH4/T1iml6HCNC0/s400/Cumbe+and+Solstice+005.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PrqEHQEjZUg/UF92vcI1IuI/AAAAAAAACIA/NsHbrh67fdI/s1600/Cumbe+and+Solstice+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PrqEHQEjZUg/UF92vcI1IuI/AAAAAAAACIA/NsHbrh67fdI/s400/Cumbe+and+Solstice+016.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient writing.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0tj0pfEa30w/UF927c1qyJI/AAAAAAAACII/u0nVpzkHRaw/s1600/Cumbe+and+Solstice+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0tj0pfEa30w/UF927c1qyJI/AAAAAAAACII/u0nVpzkHRaw/s400/Cumbe+and+Solstice+020.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More writing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSnFYmx0lhk/UF93PcPjUCI/AAAAAAAACIQ/_mYPTs572CQ/s1600/Cumbe+and+Solstice+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PSnFYmx0lhk/UF93PcPjUCI/AAAAAAAACIQ/_mYPTs572CQ/s400/Cumbe+and+Solstice+028.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actual Incan Trail</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWQ6BYpciEw/UF93cuv9aAI/AAAAAAAACIY/2oHGN3DiYvk/s1600/Cumbe+and+Solstice+034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWQ6BYpciEw/UF93cuv9aAI/AAAAAAAACIY/2oHGN3DiYvk/s400/Cumbe+and+Solstice+034.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shaman ceremony.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KBP-geHl6G0/UF94BieF0VI/AAAAAAAACIo/qiJ0NOayMys/s1600/Cumbe+and+Solstice+061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KBP-geHl6G0/UF94BieF0VI/AAAAAAAACIo/qiJ0NOayMys/s400/Cumbe+and+Solstice+061.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Someone being blessed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ydi5zCGf3b0/UF94jl8njrI/AAAAAAAACI4/wbqUDWD9k-A/s1600/Cumbe+and+Solstice+083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ydi5zCGf3b0/UF94jl8njrI/AAAAAAAACI4/wbqUDWD9k-A/s400/Cumbe+and+Solstice+083.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Music and dancing.<br />
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While Mark was hiking and getting blessed I started to feel better and in the afternoon made some coconut milk and energy bars. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T1YyYxOg3pI/UF955M1nbBI/AAAAAAAACJA/Wsv06klUEDA/s1600/Coconut+Milk+and+Power+Bars+306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T1YyYxOg3pI/UF955M1nbBI/AAAAAAAACJA/Wsv06klUEDA/s400/Coconut+Milk+and+Power+Bars+306.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apple Pie Caveman Bars. Yum!<br />
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Today we went back out to Tortorillas with the contractor, Daniel. He was able to look at the site and tell us that yes, it is possible to build a house on the little plateau. Access is still an issue though. We really need to get a definitive answer on that. We figured out where we can build a dairy barn and milking parlor, and where the reservoir would go. Getting electricity to the property will be a hefty cost. We will also have to put in a road. After seeing the property again I felt really good about this area. As we were leaving we ran into the guardia for the notary's hacienda on the hill. (This is the hacienda where I go horseback riding.) He told Daniel that he thought there was another piece of property for sale in the valley as well. Daniel is going to call us when he gets more information. So, that might be another option as well.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWQ6gk5CtH0/UF-K5tc_4PI/AAAAAAAACMY/qVddOOJs8gQ/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWQ6gk5CtH0/UF-K5tc_4PI/AAAAAAAACMY/qVddOOJs8gQ/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+001.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't NOT take a picture of the donkeys.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WAX0BYf06I/UF-LGQy0AOI/AAAAAAAACMg/lR7HyvI7dZI/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1WAX0BYf06I/UF-LGQy0AOI/AAAAAAAACMg/lR7HyvI7dZI/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+002.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The property starts up the hill aways at the white fence <br />
to the left.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-33-evq7enGs/UF-LUB72tuI/AAAAAAAACMo/xup3BJ598uQ/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-33-evq7enGs/UF-LUB72tuI/AAAAAAAACMo/xup3BJ598uQ/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+033.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Property starts at the second white fence and goes up the hill.<br />
Way in the back it goes left to another pasture. <br />
Starting at the pasture here the rest of the property<br />
follows the roll of the hills to the right. Mostly forest.<br />
Good goat food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ik8VNi8TLC8/UF-OgNE5ihI/AAAAAAAACOE/v5QPe6UsDf8/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ik8VNi8TLC8/UF-OgNE5ihI/AAAAAAAACOE/v5QPe6UsDf8/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is quite narrow, but could be widened on the right and<br />
all the way into the forest. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fW9WU-YICE/UF-OsqqZu-I/AAAAAAAACOM/T7isYL9s01A/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_fW9WU-YICE/UF-OsqqZu-I/AAAAAAAACOM/T7isYL9s01A/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+010.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice touch...these stairs built into the hill leading<br />
up to where we would consider building our house.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7UADrOVFOQ/UF-O5DtSUNI/AAAAAAAACOU/CwvyKLqudGc/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7UADrOVFOQ/UF-O5DtSUNI/AAAAAAAACOU/CwvyKLqudGc/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyDonYP_ISI/UF-P5wL9siI/AAAAAAAACOc/pK72Qa3q7Og/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VyDonYP_ISI/UF-P5wL9siI/AAAAAAAACOc/pK72Qa3q7Og/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+012.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am standing on the plateau where the house would be <br />
built looking northwest through the valley.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgRn_PydRDY/UF-QGykeFGI/AAAAAAAACOk/JZQWAmQpFpY/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FgRn_PydRDY/UF-QGykeFGI/AAAAAAAACOk/JZQWAmQpFpY/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+013.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking ahead from the plateau.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fq0dXXzqXmY/UF-QULMATCI/AAAAAAAACOs/AIndHkhb5eY/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fq0dXXzqXmY/UF-QULMATCI/AAAAAAAACOs/AIndHkhb5eY/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+014.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down the valley from the plateau.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sYqy2LhXdkE/UF-UOBeYwGI/AAAAAAAACQI/SJyYjZTIvq4/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sYqy2LhXdkE/UF-UOBeYwGI/AAAAAAAACQI/SJyYjZTIvq4/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+022.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am standing halfway up the hill. The pasture goes<br />
allllll the way back.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aoZZ2JgN6Ag/UF-UjHkumEI/AAAAAAAACQQ/fFGgMSh-x_Q/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aoZZ2JgN6Ag/UF-UjHkumEI/AAAAAAAACQQ/fFGgMSh-x_Q/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+026.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another picture of the narrow pasture in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JWSPHO5nKJw/UF-U4hTfo_I/AAAAAAAACQY/L51CyYYGmZE/s1600/Tortorillas+second+look+029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JWSPHO5nKJw/UF-U4hTfo_I/AAAAAAAACQY/L51CyYYGmZE/s400/Tortorillas+second+look+029.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the road, this is the plateau where the house <br />
would go.<br />
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If you walk down the road aways and follow the forest</div>
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you will see another pasture that is part of the property. </div>
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The horses watching Finn and Tali run down the road like<br />
a couple of crazy people.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-54470699449166468092012-09-22T17:02:00.002-07:002012-09-22T17:02:35.409-07:00Last Day in Puerto Lopez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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Our last day started out sunny and stayed that way. Finn and I went for our last morning walk. Then we spent the day at the beach with lunch in town. Finn and Tali built a ginormous castle with wall that was still standing even after lunch even though the tide had come in a bit. They were very anxious about it while we were eating lunch. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b45uwHpe-fA/UF4jkXvyBoI/AAAAAAAAB74/jyAbcsFmLSE/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b45uwHpe-fA/UF4jkXvyBoI/AAAAAAAAB74/jyAbcsFmLSE/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+155.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This beautiful bush was outside our cabina. It had lovely,<br />
long caterpillar-like fronds.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FHPZni1xd30/UF4kVqGoLhI/AAAAAAAAB8I/VMpfQ95JYRM/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FHPZni1xd30/UF4kVqGoLhI/AAAAAAAAB8I/VMpfQ95JYRM/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+162.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More gorgeous pictures of Hosteria Mandala.</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N7k7lX0k4aU/UF4ktzvHBJI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/BnxXB2GEA40/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N7k7lX0k4aU/UF4ktzvHBJI/AAAAAAAAB8Q/BnxXB2GEA40/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+163.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3nBaIy7ew8/UF45nOAq8bI/AAAAAAAAB9w/fOyay_Xd-1g/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+165.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O3nBaIy7ew8/UF45nOAq8bI/AAAAAAAAB9w/fOyay_Xd-1g/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+165.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was very taken with the cute port town of Puerto Lopez.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ate at this restaurant, Dona Elsie, the night before. <br />
The food was delicious and the place was hopping.<br />
I had fish in coconut sauce and Mark had fried shrimp. <br />
The owners are from the Esmeraldas and they<br />
were very attentive. We went back for lunch the next day and <br />
the service and food were terrible. I guess you need to go there<br />
when the owners are around to watch everybody. We<br />
were bummed.</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1746041612"></span><span id="goog_1746041613"></span><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2543330713004462031.post-43712535000267611672012-09-22T13:41:00.000-07:002012-09-22T17:03:29.325-07:00Whale Watching and Isla de la Plata<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
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On Wednesday we went whale watching and to Isla de la Plata (poor man's Galapagos). I was very excited to see the whales, but Finn was very apprehensive. He gets car sick pretty bad, and he was not looking forward to getting on the boat. I gave him Dramamine an hour before we left, but it didn't work. He started to get green the minute we left land. Right before the whales showed up he lost his breakfast. Poor guy. He sat at the back of the boat with Mark and the spray just doused both of them, but I'm sure it helped to have the cold water hitting him. Then the Dramamine kicked in and he kind of fell asleep on the end of the boat. Just in time to miss all of the whales. He didn't see one. :(</div>
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I have to admit that I get a little excited when I am around wildlife. Just a little bit. Well, a lot. I could watch wild animals all day long. The captain said that 5 people could go up top and when they asked me I didn't hesitate. Climbed up the ladder and made my shaky way to the front. We had a bird's eye view of the action, and boy did the whales put on a great show! They breached about 5 times, and there were fin waves and slaps. It was awesome! I have been whale watching many times, but it is always the bestest thing ever. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to board the boat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are both pretty excited.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FGamGRv-7Y/UFo8Cs4cuGI/AAAAAAAABt8/O1nTUdvzQxo/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8FGamGRv-7Y/UFo8Cs4cuGI/AAAAAAAABt8/O1nTUdvzQxo/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+072.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finn...not so much.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first sighting. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey guys! I'm waving to you!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqizqYN6V-I/UFpAcipDC7I/AAAAAAAABuc/_JrT8PYkK1Y/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqizqYN6V-I/UFpAcipDC7I/AAAAAAAABuc/_JrT8PYkK1Y/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+077.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-rQOMHvdgQ/UFpDAXW_j4I/AAAAAAAABu8/WxPV3rY0BhA/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-rQOMHvdgQ/UFpDAXW_j4I/AAAAAAAABu8/WxPV3rY0BhA/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+089.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This guy breached right behind our boat. Too<br />
bad I was holding the camera up so high.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I3ADN-jSsPU/UFpDd7d_lhI/AAAAAAAABvE/jWfxPlepGEk/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I3ADN-jSsPU/UFpDd7d_lhI/AAAAAAAABvE/jWfxPlepGEk/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+090.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disembarking at Isla de la Plata.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OdR0VdFr3p8/UFpEEnHGDXI/AAAAAAAABvM/tsHAqsow1Ag/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OdR0VdFr3p8/UFpEEnHGDXI/AAAAAAAABvM/tsHAqsow1Ag/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+094.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Visitor's Center (with bathrooms)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LcYZrho83OA/UFpEyMaOHwI/AAAAAAAABvU/dFebk5hj2h0/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LcYZrho83OA/UFpEyMaOHwI/AAAAAAAABvU/dFebk5hj2h0/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+096.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We decided to only do the hour and a half hike. Finn <br />
felt fine as soon as we got off.<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qInJx6vfWEs/UFpFNWxaG8I/AAAAAAAABvc/bQNMr6Uhiv8/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qInJx6vfWEs/UFpFNWxaG8I/AAAAAAAABvc/bQNMr6Uhiv8/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+097.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">200 steps up.<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9HxzKydmCJE/UFpGqgQ5J3I/AAAAAAAABvk/3Jf_8siKS48/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9HxzKydmCJE/UFpGqgQ5J3I/AAAAAAAABvk/3Jf_8siKS48/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+103.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first Blue-Footed Boobie.<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uIYZgB99-wQ/UFpHnhWuDUI/AAAAAAAABv0/9hlT4ORBHF4/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uIYZgB99-wQ/UFpHnhWuDUI/AAAAAAAABv0/9hlT4ORBHF4/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+107.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They are so damn cute.<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tsBJSnO8Uuc/UF3IxiNvBGI/AAAAAAAAB2o/yjY1AnjvLQs/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tsBJSnO8Uuc/UF3IxiNvBGI/AAAAAAAAB2o/yjY1AnjvLQs/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+105.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They nest on the path so you have to pass them<br />
in a line.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p2AU0bJY7OM/UF3I__-e6XI/AAAAAAAAB2w/DYAzLl5_Tkw/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p2AU0bJY7OM/UF3I__-e6XI/AAAAAAAAB2w/DYAzLl5_Tkw/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9qme5xQtfc/UF3JOqEjgYI/AAAAAAAAB24/nBEWzg-HMRQ/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z9qme5xQtfc/UF3JOqEjgYI/AAAAAAAAB24/nBEWzg-HMRQ/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+113.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back on where we had just been. Another group <br />
is climbing behind us.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KiOCfrbUl3w/UF3Jb3egmPI/AAAAAAAAB3A/8596OwzgQpM/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KiOCfrbUl3w/UF3Jb3egmPI/AAAAAAAAB3A/8596OwzgQpM/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+117.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-c3KOGvttc/UF3KVfL3v6I/AAAAAAAAB3I/__ShWrcJKAU/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U-c3KOGvttc/UF3KVfL3v6I/AAAAAAAAB3I/__ShWrcJKAU/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+119.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5GXssVxrri4/UF3Kj0jOV8I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/GY90jfwG_Z4/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5GXssVxrri4/UF3Kj0jOV8I/AAAAAAAAB3Q/GY90jfwG_Z4/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+122.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXcuk0YuTsY/UF3KyVyn-ZI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/MdxzO-kJHkg/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXcuk0YuTsY/UF3KyVyn-ZI/AAAAAAAAB3Y/MdxzO-kJHkg/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+129.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down on our boat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cknvZA3C0qQ/UF3LCtB7K7I/AAAAAAAAB3g/YQtg7_RAsHI/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cknvZA3C0qQ/UF3LCtB7K7I/AAAAAAAAB3g/YQtg7_RAsHI/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+130.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boobie with Frigates in the background.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRZd9FJ_Lxw/UF3LfVm5s_I/AAAAAAAAB3o/gfyC60G4N20/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eRZd9FJ_Lxw/UF3LfVm5s_I/AAAAAAAAB3o/gfyC60G4N20/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+133.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frigate birds - gorgeous.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pK0Z79IbH7Y/UF3LumydIjI/AAAAAAAAB3w/ddSQRnoRd9g/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pK0Z79IbH7Y/UF3LumydIjI/AAAAAAAAB3w/ddSQRnoRd9g/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+135.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loving my new camera. Now I can get these great<br />
close-up pictures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPGEAkGnM8g/UF3L8BoS4qI/AAAAAAAAB34/cdXDLkcebYA/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+136.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wPGEAkGnM8g/UF3L8BoS4qI/AAAAAAAAB34/cdXDLkcebYA/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+136.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9t-BRyGulrE/UF3MK6vl_KI/AAAAAAAAB4A/mcX6f9J4oiY/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9t-BRyGulrE/UF3MK6vl_KI/AAAAAAAAB4A/mcX6f9J4oiY/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+138.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8grI5koXi8M/UF3MX4UysSI/AAAAAAAAB4I/KEt4Y8NPmnA/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8grI5koXi8M/UF3MX4UysSI/AAAAAAAAB4I/KEt4Y8NPmnA/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+140.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tali watching the snorkelers. Too cold for me and they didn't<br />
see much so I was glad I didn't go.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VXG1m1ADvPI/UF3MrVzmM8I/AAAAAAAAB4Q/zqhWdJn4tCQ/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VXG1m1ADvPI/UF3MrVzmM8I/AAAAAAAAB4Q/zqhWdJn4tCQ/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+142.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puerto Lopez transportation - a tuk tuk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MLxu1z2PAJY/UF3M5WntZCI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/yaYjb5cQAXM/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MLxu1z2PAJY/UF3M5WntZCI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/yaYjb5cQAXM/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+143.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parrots in the tree outside our cabin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nYvGLNEC-KM/UF3NUhlJBiI/AAAAAAAAB4o/lJ22VJYj6A0/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nYvGLNEC-KM/UF3NUhlJBiI/AAAAAAAAB4o/lJ22VJYj6A0/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+145.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67tiEcroioA/UF3NjWC5hNI/AAAAAAAAB4w/l_b03Tmvx-o/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67tiEcroioA/UF3NjWC5hNI/AAAAAAAAB4w/l_b03Tmvx-o/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+146.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After whale watching and a warm shower<br />
we headed into town for dinner. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyyZByy4Mvs/UF3T0D74A7I/AAAAAAAAB6E/VrE38lXg3VA/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XyyZByy4Mvs/UF3T0D74A7I/AAAAAAAAB6E/VrE38lXg3VA/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+147.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bat Mobile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKi1Au7Lbow/UF3UKkh2PRI/AAAAAAAAB6M/y7rRVm2cv1Q/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKi1Au7Lbow/UF3UKkh2PRI/AAAAAAAAB6M/y7rRVm2cv1Q/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+148.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A whale carcass at Mandala.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n-9flITjV6A/UF3UfeLx-pI/AAAAAAAAB6U/oQj6blgO2qA/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+149.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n-9flITjV6A/UF3UfeLx-pI/AAAAAAAAB6U/oQj6blgO2qA/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+149.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2cn_unthgDg/UF3U1u0g27I/AAAAAAAAB6c/2KAx9ZNyz-o/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2cn_unthgDg/UF3U1u0g27I/AAAAAAAAB6c/2KAx9ZNyz-o/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+150.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEh-Sal3w6s/UF3VONRTXuI/AAAAAAAAB6k/mrGiIMO_XeQ/s1600/Puerto+Lopez+2012+151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qEh-Sal3w6s/UF3VONRTXuI/AAAAAAAAB6k/mrGiIMO_XeQ/s400/Puerto+Lopez+2012+151.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Blue-Footed Boobie movie:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dEc9v7BLlTQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=dEc9v7BLlTQ</a></div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I still can't figure out how to embed the actual video, so you will have to click on the link.</div>
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