Uncle time in the US

So the last two weeks I've been back in the US, hanging out with my family,  and getting to know my brand new niece. After 3+ months of adventures, it was time to relax, sleep in the same bed consistently,  eat healthy food,  understand the language and laugh with family and old friends. So far, it's been great.

I'm in Portland, OR, one of my favorite cities in the world. From the outdoors to the coffee to the food, this place has it all. With since glimpses of warm weather,  it looks to be the start of a good summer. Which means, once again, I've crossed the equator going from summer to summer. Just a few rainy days in Portland first, and then all sunshine!

Here are a couple pictures of me and Luciana, my niece, now 3 weeks old. There's defintely something special about holding a brand new baby in your arms. Quite nice to put the backpack down and replace it with a baby.

Ecuadorian markets

You think you have control of the situation in the markets. It's a bargaining culture here and as long as you come out of the deal thinking you won, that's all that matters. Alpaca sweaters and blankets,  wooden carvings, metalwork, and so much more.  The colors are amazing and the local designs make you think of a different culture. I do alright avoiding the sales, and yet I've come away with a couple large bags of coffee. They found my weakness. Can't pass up something you can taste and smell.

The equator

It's fitting for Ecuador to have its name with the equator running through the country. I learned on my walking tour that the name Quito means the place in the middle. Now how did they figure that out way before everyone else?  Simple pole in the ground will tell you the time, and if you watch it all year, you notice trends such as when the shadow gets longer or shorter. They chose Quito to be their captial, almost exactly on the Equator, the spot where you are closest to the sun. Well done people,  well done.

This morning I visited the Mitad del Mundo, the exact spot science tells us is the equator. Such a fun feeling to walk from one hemisphere to the other. Pretty darn cool. That feeling was the highlight, but there is a small village of artisan shops, museums and history. Nice to learn more about science and the culture here.

You do way less at the ecuator  (approx .5% less).  Water does not flush the opposite way in each hemisphere, rather it depends on the force and direction when it enters into the bowl. You can balance an egg supposedly at the ecuator, but I couldn't find any chickens,  so that'll have to wait for the next visit. 

Beach in the last days

As this trip to South America has been mostly in the summertime,  and I've spent the last months at high altitude in the mountains, it was time to head to the beach for some fun in the sun. Can't pass up some surfing, relaxing vibes and yoga next to the Pacific.

I started in Montañita, a busy touristy town full of action. The beach was packed by the center, and less crowded the farther north you went. A wee bit of paradise with super soft sand and ready waves to ride. The nightlife was a main draw as well, with it feeling a bit like a beach party in the early evening, and then attempting to salsa in the salsatecas.

After a day of crowds, it was time to head north to the quiet beach town of Ayampe. Drastically different and perfect. I'd met 2 German friends from my Machu Pichu hike in Montañita and we found an awesome place to camp. Great views of the ocean, filled with jungle sounds and  tropical trees. Pretty damn nice.

I relaxed a couple days, and had some great day trips. The first was to Los Frailes beach, known as Ecuadors most stunning beach. They have kept it pristine as part of a national park and search your bags when you enter, keeping trash out. Super clean on the beach with a feeling of untouched nature, apart from all the people there enjoying it as they should. Perfect hot day for swimming in the ocean,  rinsing away the sweat and soaking up some good vibes with mother nature. Solid day out. A second day trip was to the Isla de la Plata, which was so awesome, it'll get a post of its own soon enough.

Executive!

So I'm at the bus station and had to choose between two bus companies going to Quito. Although one company said it was 'ejecutivo servicio', I went with the other company because it left first. And then the bus shows up and it's 'super ejecutivo'.  Winning!   (And this post is in sarcasm because rarely are the buses that much nicer in South America, and it's all just words and marketing.   Some of the nicest have been the cheap regular buses, and the fanciest sounding are normally lacking,  sometimes without working seats or air, and with toilets that drop directly on to the ground.)

Post script :  the toilet was locked for the journey, the AC was cranked on freezing all night and it was pretty bumpy. So yeah,  it was just a regular bus journey on this trip.