Ecuador - Days 5 and 6

Day 5 (Thursday 11-22-2007) – Thanksgiving in Ecuador. Quick calls to Chase and the consultate (which was closed) to make sure I wasn’t carrying two other cards (if we did we World really be in a World of hurt because that is what Brian & Chris were carrying.) We had a great breakfast at the hostal (after Brian & Chris ran and showered). We tested BPB & CMB’s ATM which thankfully worked so we could “shop” the market. Christina is quite a negotiator. 8 pairs of pants, a table cloth, a painting, 2 hammocks, etc.
















Later we headed back to the bus. The prices were amazing and the products were beautiful.

We returned to Quito & Brian ran again. Deb, Chris & Brian spent time trying to figure out a passport replacement plan. Got a hola of a marine at the US Consulate that said the Consulate was closed for the 4 day Thanksgiving holiday. Nothing would be available until Monday. Talked to Continental who arranged an alternative departure date for Deb (of Tuesday.) Quickly returned to the Hostal for a quick shower (although we were already soaked due to a huge rain storm). We changad clothes and headed for a Thanksgiving dinner at Maria’s house in Cumbayá.



Maria is the Resident Director for U of I. Most of the U of I kids and several other people
(including 2 gals who had atended U of San Francisco in prior years) pitched in for a magnificant, large & diverse dinner!


Maria is a most interesting person. Her husband is a bank vice president in Quito. Maria has establish a foundation and just built a pre-school for children in an indiginous community and has a lot to say about the Ecuadorian poliical situation. We enjoyed meeting Christina’s friends. Quite a group of characters! Took a taxi back to the hostal and spent quite a bit of time chatting with Cesar Cisnerous, the owner of the hostal. Both her and his daughter, Sandra (the GM) were very helpful and supportive. Went to bed after deciding to attempt to complete the passport replacement process (maze) and take a later start to Mindo as a family.

Day 6 (Friday November 23, 2007)
Called the US Embassy as a lark, got through and found that there is an emergency passport service. BWB and BPB went to the US Embassy and started running consulate traps & DWB & CMB traed to find passport photos. One thing we have learned about the Ecuadorian culture is that “I don’t know” is not an aceptable answer, so people make things up. After running between police stations, the US eEmbassy & funally finding passprt photos, we finally pulled things together and all to the appropriate police station. One the report was in progress, BWB and BPB ent to get a Cervece tee-shirt and lunch. CMB & DWBB completed the passport process with the police report, got lunch, underwear and a new raincoat. We met at the hotel at 2:50, packed for Mindo, & left at 3pm to catch a cab to a (different) bus station. (There is only one afternoon bus to Mindo). Amazingly, we made it on time, getting for of the last seats on the bus.



After a 2 ½ hour drive on winding mountainous roads (mostly down to 4500’ elev.), arrived in the cloud forest NW of Quito. Checked in to a hostal (Cecelia’s) next to the river. BWB had a terrible fall, severely pulling a quad. In order to keep Brian immobilized, BPB ran and CMB & DWB ordered pizza to carry in. Private pizza party on the hammock deck outside our rooms (complete with a bottle of wine).

While waiting for the pizza, CMB & DWB checked out an Internet café to find that Deb had a Sunday flight problem. (Continetal cancelled it). Slept sideways (bed was too short!) under mosquito netting.