Christmas Postcards from Cuenca

FELIZ NAVIDAD, everyone!  Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Happy New Year!!!!

Travels

Sorry to have been out of touch for so long.  We've both been very busy, me with sewing projects and Gil with his webinar which they are expanding to India.   We did have time for a little bit of travel though.

Gil's son, David, came for a visit.  We met him in Quito and spent a couple of days sightseeing there.  Then we headed for the jungle for a few days to give the mosquitoes a banquet. 

Here are a few shots of our adventure.

David playing tourist on the slopes of Pichincha volcano in Quito.

Yeah, that's right.  Quito is surrounded by four, count them, four active volcanoes.  Millions of people living in a high danger zone.

The boys on Pichincha, with a view of Quito behind. 

Walking on the equator

One of Quito's snow-capped volcanoes

Our jungle boat to the Liana Lodge where we stayed

My favorite place in the jungle

View from the river.  See the thatched roof of a local home?

The main room at the lodge

More importantly, the bar at the lodge

The nightly campfire at the lodge

Our wonderful guide, Roberto

Hiking through the mud.  Fortunately, the lodge provided us with wellies.

A congo ant, whose bite is extremely painful for days.  Don't touch anything unless you get a good look first for safety!!

Jungle explorer standing in front of giant tree roots

Monkeys at the Amazoonica animal rescue center

An ocelot at Amazoonica

Jungle jewelry made from seeds and nuts.  Yes, I bought it.  Ignore sweat soaked hair and shirt.  It was hot an muggy!

Learning to be a hunter with a blow gun

Another intrepid hunter

Home of the Vargas family where we were graciously invited in

Mrs. Vargas showing us how chicha (beer made from, in this case, yuca) is made

Cacao pod with seeds from which chocolate is made.  Ecuador has the best chocolate in the world.

View from the bar at the lodge

Our guide Roberto playing Tarzan

A caiman (alligator) in the wild.  Don't fall in the water!!

Roberto building a raft that he and David paddled down the river.  Gil & I opted for intertubes.  Great fun!!!

A peaceful jungle view. 

We had a very nice vacation. Well, except for the heat, humidity and mosquitoes. But all in all, it was worth it for a visit, though I wouldn't want to live there.