Been back a fortnight though it seems longer. Though not, as some have suggested, back to "reality". Hate to be picky but only returned to our reality.
Plenty of memories stored away: the kindnesses of Pedro and Mirella during our stay; their little boy Jordan teasing Susan with a baby bird he`d found - until he realised, to his amazement, that she really was scared; the dozens of children we met and worked with; the turtles swimming round our boat off the Isla de la Plata; the beach on our last evening at Puerto Lopez; Arturo`s big smile; humming birds around the breakfast table; Mindo Lava Cake (never did explain - a kind of fantastic chocolate "mousse").......could go on and on.
And of course there`s Paolo Santo: light a small piece and the scent takes you straight back.
Meanwhile we`ll do our best to maintain contact and to that end will be investigating the notion of "twinning" libraries as well as the logistics of sending more books out....not to mention trying to encourage as many other people as possible to go out and see for themselves. Go on. Why not? :)
Sunday 19 October 2014
Wednesday 1 October 2014
Wednesday 1.10.2014
Last day in Mindo....had to have at least one swim in the river that runs alongside the hostel so an early morning dip seemed the thing, the water looking very inviting with the sun shining and a blue sky overhead.....
......and it was absolutely baltic!! Nevertheless it was idyllic - even if it took me a couple of hours to thaw out......
A stroll in the sun, a bit of souvenir shopping, a couple of coffees (well alright - and a brownie but only one between the two of us) at The Beehive on Mindo`s main drag, a desultory attempt to find a butterfly and orchid garden...but hey look it`s lunchtime...another time maybe.
This little town has been such a delight to wander around with its mix of idiosyncratic buildings,
exotic blooms,
butterflies, humming birds - oh, yes, and the Jesus Christ lizard (I kid you not) that Susan spotted doing its special thing this morning.*
And, a bit like Puerto Lopez,it`s the laid back atmosphere that really makes it special: it may be an up and coming destination for stressed out Quito-ites as well as foreign tourists but for now at least it retains its own special character and we`ll be very sad to leave.
Which is what we must do tomorrow morning so this is probably the last post from Ecuador but there yet may be room for a few more reflections - and pics - once we`re back.
For now though, adios Ecuador.........
*http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Brown_basilisk
A stroll in the sun, a bit of souvenir shopping, a couple of coffees (well alright - and a brownie but only one between the two of us) at The Beehive on Mindo`s main drag, a desultory attempt to find a butterfly and orchid garden...but hey look it`s lunchtime...another time maybe.
This little town has been such a delight to wander around with its mix of idiosyncratic buildings,
exotic blooms,
butterflies, humming birds - oh, yes, and the Jesus Christ lizard (I kid you not) that Susan spotted doing its special thing this morning.*
And, a bit like Puerto Lopez,it`s the laid back atmosphere that really makes it special: it may be an up and coming destination for stressed out Quito-ites as well as foreign tourists but for now at least it retains its own special character and we`ll be very sad to leave.
Which is what we must do tomorrow morning so this is probably the last post from Ecuador but there yet may be room for a few more reflections - and pics - once we`re back.
For now though, adios Ecuador.........
*http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Brown_basilisk
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