All Over the World: November 2015

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Rafting the Powerful Pastaza

Getting ready

The powerful Pastaza River cuts wide the canyon in which lies Banos del Agua Santa, Ecuador. We could not resist its temptation, and headed out to raft the mighty Pastaza (Kechua for "turbulent river"). It was a huge adrenaline rush, and lots of fun, with new friends, the marvellous Marshalka family from Massachusetts. Wheeeeeee!

Taking the raft to the river

Shelly and Guide Giovanni

Selfie Soaked

Shelly, Guide Giovani and the amazing Marshalkas

Pre-launch training

Celebrating halfway

Class 4 Rapids---Really!

We got soaked!

What fun!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Butterfly Farming

While in Ecuador's Bird Capital, Mindo, we stopped by the Mariposarium to be amazed by butterflies. Amazed we were! Fortunately, our friends Steve and Jane were visiting . . . Jane has become an Albuquerque butterfly farmer over the last several years, so could give us an expert's insight into these delicate, amazing creatures. We got to see the entire life cycle, from eggs to caterpillars, to chrysalis to the birth of new butterflies, to making eggs . . . an awesome experience! We agree with Jane that even the idea of butterflies holds lessons for us . . . we can be crawling on the ground one day, then be wrapped cocoon-like in some very close quarters, and emerge flying soon. Here's to happy flights as we enter the holiday season!

Happy butterfly farmer!

Blue Morpho likes Steve

Steve gets lit upon

Transparent winged things making more of same

Emerging from the Chrysalis

Drying wings before first flight

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Ecuador's Cowboy Culture

Proud daddy, apprehensive daughter

We were delighted to be invited to attend the Fourth Annual Cabalgata (Parade) of the Montubian people in the rural village of Samborondon last weekend. We went with my former law partner Steve Vogel and his wife Jane, who were visiting from New Mexico. A huge gathering of over 5,000 horses and cattlemen from the entire southern Ecuador region, showing off their horses and their ranching prowess. Montubians are an officially recognized ethnic group of mixed race indigenous persons in Ecuador's coastal region; they take pride in their rural lifestyle and country culture. They were very welcoming to us outsiders, offering to let us sit on their horses and pose for silly pictures! We even got to ride in one of the vehicles that doubled as a parade float----it was a blast!