Baños Ecuador

Tungurahua Comes Back To Life

2010-01-02T09:24:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday Tungurahua started acting up again with the strongest explosions on New Year's Day. The steam and ash emissions reaching 1.5 km above the crater.

The athoraties are keeping a wathful eye on the monitors.

This morning the activity was normal.

Baños Is Still The Number One Tourist Destination In Ecuador.

2009-12-29T13:49:00.000-08:00

I now live in Salasaca and have for several years; However I still visit Baños often and I will try to bring you up to date as to what is going on there.

If you are anywhere near Baños on New Years Eve, you can't find a better place to "burn" in the new year. The tradition of burning in effigy the old at the stroke of 12 is still as popular as ever.

If you are wearing a custom of any type still gives you the right to beg from those who don't. It is great fun to walk the streets and see all of the displays which will be heaped on the fires that will create a cloud of smoke which will cover the whole city. For one night a year....Join the polluters.

2008-08-29T05:34:00.000-07:00

Internet Prices In Baños Have Dropped.

2008-06-29T13:40:00.001-07:00

Many hostels and hotels in Baños are now offering free Internet usage to their guests. This has caused hardships for many of the Internet businesses in Baños forcing them to either close or lower their prices.

Anyone who has ever spent time in Baños, after visiting other places in Ecuador have wondered why the high prices. Now you can spend time in almost every Internet cafe in Baños for $1 or less per hour.

Thanks To An Old Friend For All The Pictures

2008-05-10T19:46:00.000-07:00

For all of you that have followed this blog for the past four years, you must have noticed a lot more pictures a lot more often.

Last August Homero, my friend for more than 29 years came to Baños for a visit. We had a wonderful time and when he left he gave me his camera. I am told that a picture is worth 1,000 words so he has saved me hours and hours of Internet time.

Thank you Homero and come back soon.

Every Once In A While, Tungurahua Lets Off Steam

2008-05-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

This morning the view was fantastic of Mama Tungurahua. but in a few minutes it was hidden behind a self-generated cloud.

This is a common occurrence as it belches up steam and it is much preferred to the destructive ash.

Tungurahua Still Resting.

2008-03-10T12:10:00.000-07:00

On the way to Katitawa this morning I took this photo of Tungurahua from the main street of Salasaca. There is a little ash being emitted but not enough to cause concern.

Walk to School

Click on the picture and join us on our walk to school. Or Click Here for "Slide Show".

This & That

2008-02-16T09:44:00.000-08:00

It is a beautiful day and I suggest we all enjoy it.

Ryan and Cara, volunteers from the United States went to the jungle for a week or 10 days. They will be back in Salasaca at the end of the month.

I received an e-mail from Enda, a volunteer from Ireland who asked about Maria Antonia. Well I am happy to say Enda, that she is back. After a six month sabbatical in the United States, taking care of some pressing personal business she is back for an indefinite period. She is a good friend and a dedicated supporter of the Katitawa School.

Welcome home Antonia. Your garden awaits you.
During a recent conversation, we were discussing money or the lack of it and she said “have you ever had to budget $0.40”. I had to laugh because I knew exactly what she was talking about, for I had been there myself.

Today I met our latest volunteers, Wendy and Adam from England. They plan to stay for a minimum of three weeks but it could be longer. We will stay at the hostel in Ambato tonight and tomorrow I will take them to Salasaca and up to the school at 7:30Monday morning.

The hostel and spa are now open in Ambato. All of the proceeds from this venture will go to the projects in Salasaca. Since we have no crystal ball to look at for the amount of donations we will receive each month we are hoping that we will be able in a few months time to have a steady income from the hostel and Spa of at least $500.00. This will help with our monthly expenses in Salasaca. We only have two paid employees who work in the spa and give massages. The rest of us work for free.

In the meantime we need to spread to word. We have added an Ambato page to this site which you can reach by clicking here.

Ambato is not a tourist town, however there are tourists that visit. The spa is located in the city center which attracts 100% of the tourists. There are many musical concerts and two or three act plays that take place in the city and most are free. It is well worth a night or two to get to know the city. I will be posting on the Ambato page, a calendar of events so that visitors in Baños could possibly come down for a night of culture.

We will also be looking for volunteers who would like to help out for a week or two. If anyone is interested, leave a comment.

I had to cancel my Internet Service because the service was just tooooooo bad. I have really missed being able to write and post whenever I had the urge, not to mention the additional cost of going to the Internet businesses. Part of the problem with the service was, I am sure, the age of my computer. Recently a friend donated an almost new computer so I am contemplating signing up once again for the Internet service. We will see.

Tungurahua Is At Rest....And Baños Is Empty

2008-02-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

After a couple of weeks of almost constant activity, Tungurahua is now resting. Some days the activity was violent enough to cause the authorities to suggest that maybe it was time for folks to think about leaving Baños. The explosions were strong, and rattled window as far away as Salasaca. During the day you could see the clouds of ash that drifted to the west but Bañon was generally ash-free. From the center of Baños you are not able to see the top of the volcano although it is less then a mile away, but from the surrounding communities such as Salasaca when the peak was not shrouded with clouds, spectacular sights of the fiery eruptions were visible.

Today was a beautiful day, warm, sunny and empty. Walking around the city I was reminded of Yuma, Arizona at midday in the summer. It was hard to find anyone on the streets, or in the parks.

Even some of the most popular restaurants were closed for vacation.

The news media however, both national and international, continues to pass information about how dangerous it is and recommend that people change their travel plans which causes more financial losses to the merchants in Baños then they have ever suffered by actual damage caused by the volcano itself.

I have grown to hate most 24 hour news channels. It seems that in their quest to fill all the time with something spectacular they commit that despicable act of managing the news without checking the facts. One station announced to the world on January 6th or 7th that Tungurahua was erupting again and showed some footage of the August, 2006 eruption. I received e-mails from friends asking about it and a friend from Mexico arrived on the 8th, commenting about the big eruption that he said “looked bigger then that of 2006”. That was of course news, to the people of Baños who wondered how they could have slept through that one.

Project Stilts

2008-01-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

Today was a wonderful day at Katitawa School. I repeated a project for the kids here that I had done for my own children when they were about the same age. Click on the title of the post for the story.

Katitawa....Nice article in El Comercio, Jan. 1, 2008

2008-01-01T14:23:00.000-08:00

Check it out here.

New Years Eve.....Ambato

2007-12-31T13:59:00.000-08:00

I walked around the center of Ambato around 4:30 this afternoon and there was not a whole lot going on. Compared to last year nothing. I will make another round around six. I did get a few pictures on Calle Vela, close to the 12th of November Park.

More later.

Christmas....2007.

2007-12-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

My friend Linda, who lives across the Pastaza River from the small town of San Francisco, invited myself and some friends for Christmas. Linda's place is about a 45 minute trek into the mountains. When we got off the bus at San Francisco it was raining cats and dogs but we were not going to let a little rain dapen out Christmas spirit.
We arrived looking like drowned rats but after putting on some dry clothes we warmed up by the fire and had a wonderful time.

Let Me Tell You About Fabiola.

2007-12-18T14:52:00.000-08:00

I met Fabiola more than two years ago, when Lorenzo, my weaver friend of mine from Salasaca brought her over to the spa and told me she needed a job. She was 19 and a very shy girl, dressed in the typical Salasacan dress. I told her I could use her if she was willing to do whatever needed to be done. She agreed and started the next day.

Well that shy young lady that arrived that day is still with me and helps in all of the projects that we are doing…..But she is not shy anymore. Where at first I would ask her to do something and she would only nod….today she will look at me and say..."I’ll get to that later as I have something more important to do now". She drives me a little crazy and at times I’ll admit that I am almost angry with her. When she sees that look, whatever it is that I give her, she will turn to whoever is around and say “He’s mad at me”, and I have to smile and usually I just say….”almost”.

I don’t think she has ever been to work on time. When she worked at the spa in Ambato, there was always an excuse. The busses were full, I had to feed the cows….or this or that. The list could go on and on.

When she was working at the school and her house was less than 10 minutes away she still had the same excuses except for the bus.

She is now working at the volunteer complex and her work habits have not improved. She knows and I know, that I will never tell her to find another job. And if she ever quit, I would miss her….a lot.

All of the above, I say with all of the love one person can have for another. She is part of my family of friends, that I have here in Salasaca. I am the godfather to her brother and I am not even Catholic. On my 74th birthday she hosted surprise party for me at the home of Jose her “novio”.

Almost a month ago now, Jose and a few members of the musical group left on a tour of Peru, Chili and Argentina. I don’t know who arranged it, but I hope they come back rich and famous. In the meantime Fabiola is coping with the loss. She and Jose have been together for a long time. She jokes about being liberated, but I know she cries when no one is around.

Recently, around the 1st of November when everyone was getting ready for the big party to honor the dead at the cemetery. I asked her if she was going to take care of me when I died. ( Which means preparing you for burial.) She said “yes, I will do that, but you need to leave me $4,000”. I asked her why, ”Because I will need to buy four cows”. “Four cows”?, I said. “Yes, because I will have to feed all of the people who will come to the funeral”. I doubt that it will be a four cow funeral, but it is jokes like that, that make me feel like I am doing something that is worthwhile.

The first of the year we are giving Fabiola a new job. Her passion in life is not cleaning and washing clothes, but dancing and being part of the local folkloric dance group. In fact, Fabiola helped prepare the children for their dances in the Christmas program.. After the program I talked with Rosa Maria about making the folkloric dances of Salasaca part of the curriculum here at the school, and have Fabiola teach the class once a week. She thought it was a wonderful idea so starting in January, Fabiola will be in her own element at least one day a week.

Baños Babes On Parade.

2007-12-18T14:09:00.000-08:00

I went to Baños on Sunday to pick a volunteer for Katitawa and caught the tail end of the annual parade that is part of the two week long Baños Birthday Bash. Here are some pic's of some some Baños Babes....
And a few other entries.

Katitawa Christmas Program

2007-12-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

Check it out on the Katitawa Page.

What We Really Need Is Cash.

2007-12-14T14:17:00.000-08:00

Many people have asked, "What do you need down there?" Well we need a lot of things, and most of what we need is readily available here and the prices are fair. Some good hearted people have sent us materials and books for the library. The items have been sent priority mail, which is expensive, and we have to pay duty, not on the materials but on the amount that was spent for postage and insurance. More often then not the duty is equal to the cost of the items. If you are making a trip to Ecuador....Bring all you can as the duty is normally zero. If you want to bring a computer or something expensive we would appreciate it, but let us know ahead of time and we will advise customs that it is for the school.

There is a French tour company that has the Katitawa School on their itinerary and brings a bus load of French tourist by about once a month. They always bring a box of the most commonly used supplies which keeps us in pens, pencils, notebooks and such. This really helps and we rarely need to buy these types of supplies.

What we need, is money for maintenance and improvements.

We would also love to be able to raise the salary of our only paid teacher. Luis is a creative teacher, the likes of which you will not find in many schools. His salary is only $150.00 per month.

I know in today's economy, extra money is hard to find. However if you feel drawn to the donate button in the right hand colum, feel free

The Winds Have Changed....Salasaca & Ambato gets little ash.

2007-12-12T15:14:00.000-08:00

Monday night the winds over Tungurahua changed and the ash that normally flows to the West, reversed and we got a little fall-out. Not much, but just enough to remind us that our neighbors to the West have this almost everyday.

There is no cause for alarm....If you are anywhere near Baños, plan to visit this weekend. The big two-week long birthday party has a lot of entertainment left....including the annual race of the wooden cars, or carts may be a better word, on Friday the 14th. Here are some pictures from the race in 2004.

Tungurahua Is Causing Concern.....Mostly for the farmers.

2007-12-09T13:52:00.000-08:00

In the past few weeks the activity of Tungurahua has increased. It is spewing a lot of ash and for a couple of days last week the winds shifted to the east and gave Baños a little dusting.

The newspapers have been giving it a little more coverage then usual and that of course effects tourism. The first two weeks of this month are the fiestas that mark the anniversary of its founding. This is always a busy time of year and this year the numbers are way down. Let's hope the next two weeks will be better.

The farmers who grow their crops on the side of the mountain are getting so much ash that it is causing damage. These poor people who lost so much just one year ago are getting discouraged....They are tough people but there is just so much a mind and body can take.

Volunteers

2007-12-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that 2007 is almost history. The year has been full and each day has been an adventure.

Bill and Debbie, volunteers from Scotland will be leaving for home in two weeks and we could use another volunteer, so if you are in the area and want something worthwhile to do please come on by. Our annual Christmas program will be presented on the 13th and you are all invited. Seriously, if you are in Baños we would love to have you visit….You may even want to stay.

When we first started this project, I was a little concerned about having so many different English teachers. I thought that it would be a problem for the kids….Getting attached, (and they do get attached), to one person only to have her leave and then having to get to know another. I have however, dismissed this concern as no problem. The kids are sad to see a friend leave but then they are excited when the next one shows up. They are getting an international course in English and I often wonder what kind of accent they will end up with.

It is wonderful to see the kids learn….I remember just one year ago in October or maybe it was November when we started the program not one word of English was in their vocabulary. Now….I am amazed. The volunteers have been absolutely wonderful.

When I think of the volunteers, I look around and see things that remind me of them….Their presence is still felt. They all left something behind that the children and myself will never forget. The other day Darwin, took the map of the world and pointed to Australia and said Mark and Adriana. All of the kids are like that. You give them a name and they will point to their home country.

Every time I enter the English classroom I see the different colored papers on the walls….showing the alphabet, days of the week, months of the year and “What is your name” and I think of Janneke. The kids will never forget Ian and the trip to the zoo, nor will I. His blue vest that he willed me and I am wearing today….A wonderful person who joined the Salasaca soccer team and helped finish a thatched roof for a family. He was ready to do most anything.

Each time I turn on the water pump I think of Elizabeth who hand delivered the new pump. She hated tomatoes and I can still see her picking them out of salads and soup. She is a beautiful girl and promises to be back next year. When I see the new roof on the old building or see the sign on the library I think of Enda and John. And, Hotel California and Julie are synonymous. Marco from Ireland, said he was born in 1969 and one of the kids said, “We have not had that vintage here since”.

The littlest kids and I water Marco’s apple trees and Adriana’s rose bush everyday. They promised to be back. And when I look at the new school sign or the “Wash Your Hands” in three languages over the sinks by the dining room I think of Ganga and the many nights we sat in the kitchen and played cribbage. And Rachel, a much giving women. I still see her at the kitchen table making up new games to teach new words to the kids and we still play them. And Sonia….from France. One of the easiest women to get along with I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. It did not mater what she was dong, she always loved doing it and if you didn’t giver her anything to do she found something. And now we have Bill and Debbie….They are still with us and when they leave I will miss them as well.

One day we had a couple from Chicago stop by for a visit and stayed three days…. And a young man from Israel who came by for a day and gave us some help.

I thank you all and you can be sure that the children remember you and they talk about each and everyone of you often. You have enriched all of our lives.

Library Up-Date

2007-11-28T15:54:00.000-08:00

The library is gaining populariaty and we are getting students from other schools who come in the evening to get help with their homework. They also come looking for particular books that are refferenced by their teachers. The problem is that most of these books are fairly new and we do not have them. We are taking note of them and would like to buy some of them in Quito. This takes dollars that we do not have so we are looking for some sponsors who would like to help.

If this strikes you as something that you would like to help with, please feel free to hit the donate button below. This fund has a new number and all the donations will be used to buy books.

Thanks for your help.

A Morning To Remember

2007-11-27T15:36:00.000-08:00

I awoke this morning to the public announcements that started at 5:34 according to my cellular telephone that I mostly use as an alarm clock. That had to be a new record for the earliest wake-up call.

I was alone in the volunteers compound this morning, as Bill and Debbie, volunteers from Scotland, had gone to Quito to get their Volunteer Visas processed. So after a leisurely breakfast I decided to head for the school about 15 minutes ahead of my normal 7:30 departure time. As it turned out I left early and arrived late.

The morning was crisp and clear and one of those rare days when there was hardly a cloud to be seen in any direction. A perfect day for a hike.

As I crossed the highway and headed north along the dirt road, I looked up and there right in front of me was Cotopaxi, a 5,897 meter volcano whose peak is always covered with snow. This was the first time in all the mornings I have made this walk that I had been able to see this magnificent mountain. And as a added touch there to my left was the almost full moon in the morning sky left over from the night before. My camera of course was in Ambato,

I made the right turn which takes me to the west, which kept Cotopaxi to my left. I looked back to the south/east and there was the ice covered peak of Chimborazo and the jagged peaks of Carihuaicazo about 10 km in front. From where I was the snow on Carihuaicazo looked almost black as it gets an almost daily dusting of ash from Tungurahua. The ice and snow are fading on this mountain….due to global warming some say. However, I’ll blame Mama Tungurahua for its loss.

Up ahead I saw Tungurahua, an impressive mountain, but the peak and crater are obscured by clouds. All of a sudden I saw this large plume of gas and steam rising straight up from the clouds and as it rose it turned into a huge cloud. Normally the winds move the clouds quickly to the left, but this morning they just seemed to hang there and grow. On other days, the eruptions sound like cannon shots and then you see the black ash thrown upwards, but today the mountain sounded like a large furnace that just can’t get enough air.

At the cemetery I cut through the eucalyptus grove and on up the hill. I could no longer see Cotopaxi because it was hidden by the low hills in front of me and I could only hear Tungurahua which was now behind me, but looking to my right was Chimborazo. I stood and looked at it for many minutes before moving on. Knowing full well that in a few minutes it could be shrouded with clouds and who knows when it would show again.

So today I was slowed by the events taking place around me. The school van passed me and I waved....happy that I had lived a different experience then the children who just passed me, although we had traveled on the same road,

I would like to dedicate this post to all of the volunteers who have made this walk with me. I missed you this morning.

Is There A Librarian Whe Reads This Blog?

2007-10-16T15:03:00.000-07:00

We are looking for a librarian who would like to come to Salasaca and show us how to run a library. We now have enough books where we need a good filling system. Can anyone recommend a program for a small library that would make the job easier? We would appreciate your advise and your help.

Alo....

2007-10-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

This picture is dedicated to all of the volunteers who have been here. We had an electric storm a few nights ago and it was my wish that one of the bolts would take out this tower....But when the storm passed the tower was still there.If anyone wants to add something to this post, feel free.

The Library Is Looking Better And Better

2007-10-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

The library now has its own page. Click here to view.

Yes....You can help.

2007-10-06T15:43:00.001-07:00

As the months fly by and we close in on Christmas, I would like to offer you an uniqe opportunity to help.

I came to Ecuador three and a half years ago without any real plan. I just took things as they came and if you have been a long time reader of this blog you have seen that everyday has been an adventure. I don't know why I ended up in Salasaca but through fate or happenstance I am here and it feels like I am doing exactly what I am supposed to doing.

Our volunteers have been wonderful and as one of them said in a recent e-mail, "the two weeks spent in Salasaca go down as the best two weeks of her South American adventure. That feeling seems to be the rule rather than the exception.

The expenses for the projects here are funded solely by donations. We receive no government support, (nor do we want any), and survive solely on donations. Most of these come from family and friends of the volunteers who have spent time here. We are grateful for their help.

We have three paid employees who are paid by the foundation, Clemente, Fabiola and Fanny. We do offer the volunteers a place to stay and make sure that they do not go hungry, however they all seem to want to help and contribute to the food supply.

We are making a difference here in Salasaca and could really use some additional help. If by some chance you feel drawn to the donate button in the right had side of the page, we could use your help. A donation of any size will be appreciated.

Sumak Kawsay Yachay....Foundation for learning.

2007-10-06T15:35:00.000-07:00

Click on the above title to see how you can volunteer to help us in our projects in Salasaca.

Katitawa School

2007-10-05T14:24:00.000-07:00

To find out what is new at Katitawa School juch click on the title of this post.

A New Beginning at Katitawa School

2007-09-29T13:59:00.000-07:00

September the 4Th marked the beginning of our second year of English classes at Katitawa. Although we had five graduate we still have six of the older kids returning. Four of the six are doing exceptionally well and it is great to see their progress.

We also have four of the littlest kids who have moved up from the kindergarten. Last year we had two one and a half hour sessions per week and now we have a one hour class everyday. Since we are a small school we are able to limit the classes to four children per class which is great for teaching a new language to kids who already speak Spanish and their native Kichwa. For the rest of the story click here.and you will be linked to the Katitawa School site.

New Hours For The Library.

2007-09-29T11:09:00.001-07:00

The Biblioteca Rosa Maria is now open every day from 2 til 7. We have hired one of the brightest English students who attended the vacation classes at Katitawa. Her name is Fanny and attends high school in Salasaca.

She is pictured below with Robert in front of the library.We now have more than 600 books, in Spanish, Kichwa and English. We hope to have at least a thousand by the end of the year.

To help pay some of the expenses, a few of the local weavers have put some of their work on display and have agreed to give us a commission on what we sell.

We invite all visitors on their way to Baños to get off the bus and spend at least a couple of hours in Salasaca. Who knows you may want to stay a while and take away an unique Ecuadorian experience.

We provide free accomodations and food for our volunteers and have no fees. All we want is your time.

Return to Tungurahua....A year later.

2007-09-09T13:28:00.000-07:00

A year ago, August 2006, Jose and I, along with a couple of friends made the trek from Cotalo, across the Champa River, through the devestation of the July eruption, to Cusara and on to Baños. In August of 2007, Julie from Canada, Nieve from Ireland, Fabiola, Jose and I took the trip again and found that the terain had changed considerably after the mid-August eruption.Decending halfway down the mountain from Cotalo we look across at Tungurahua and wonder if we can even get across the large canyon that was carved last August.

The hike down from Cotalo and across the river was the same as the year before but sfter a short up-hill trek we came to the area where the lahars flows have created several canyons blocking our path....Some of them very deep.

This was our first little detour to get across a gap where a bridge had been taken away. As we learned a little later this was a "piece of cake".
When we started this downhill we were not sure if we could get across or not. The sand was very unstable and at this point Fabiola was in front and started to slide. I jumped in front and used my boots to stop her. It was not not life thretening as we were pretty close to the bottom by that time....Just a little scary.

After this crossing the rest of the trip to Baños great. We walked into Baños five and a half hours after we left Cotalo. What an adventure.

Thank you Julie for the great pictures.

Biblioteca Rosa Maria

2007-09-04T06:08:00.001-07:00

The new sign over the door of the library in Salasaca village.

One of the on-going projects that the volunteers are working on is the setting up of a library in Salasaca village. The library will serve as a place where the children and adults alike can go in the evenings to read and supplement their classes at Katitawa school.

The beginning stages of the library.

So far most of the books in the library have been donated by friends and family of the volunteers. We have also had some money donated towards the library, which went to buying books. We bought these books in "Libreria Española" on Av. Colon in Quito (Thanks to the staff there for their help and discounts offered!) Finally, the "English Book Store" on Calle Calama in Quito has donated some children's books.

As always, anyone interested in helping out can hit the "Make A Donation" button.

Enda, Robert and John outside the library.

Our Volunteers....Past and Present.

2007-07-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

The young people who have volunteered here in Salasaca have been great. Learn a little more about them at our Sumak Kawsay Yachay Foundation site. We would not be able to do what we are doing without them.

I will be going to Baños tomorrow afternoon with Fabiola to pick up a new volunteer that Lorenzo at the Casa Hood Restaurant talked into spending a little time teaching English at the Katitawa School. We have two weeks left of the Summer Session and we are two teachers short. Thanks Lorenzo.

Vacation English Classes At Katitawa

2007-07-22T12:11:00.001-07:00

Vacation school English began on July 9th. We really did not know what to expect as to the number of kids who would show up but was very pleased with the turnout.We started out the day with 20 students and before the week was out we had 30. We split them into three groups seperating them by age and ability.
Elizabeth took the most advanced. This group was made up mostly with Katitawa students who she had worked with during the school year. For the rest of the story please visit the Katitawa School Site

Katitawa School Projects

2007-07-19T14:51:00.001-07:00

We have many projects at the Katitawa School. Here on the Baños Ecuador blog I will list them and if you click on the titles you will be taken to the various posts on the Katitawa School page where you will find a description and the progress being made.

Sports Court...Soccor, Basketball, Volley Ball area.

New walkway at the entrance to English classroom.

Ian's Thoughts

2007-07-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

I have to say that my expierience here in Salasaca has been more than normal, infact it has been extraterrestrial. I mean that in a good sense. The people are inviting and loving. I believe that there reaction to my being here is positive in part to my activities at Katitawa school. I am not sure wether my life style and interations with the teachers and students at Katitawa have made me smell better, or if the fact that I am living a good life has caused such a positive response from each and every person I come in contact with. I lean towards the idea that the children I am teaching are teaching me. I hope that the impact these kids are having on my life is reflective. It has been almost a month and I am torn with the decision of leaving. On the one hand I miss my family and friends and have a long way to go before I make it back to Texas by land. On the other hand, I feel that leaving here will be like leaving new family and friends that I have only just begun to know. When I arrived the openess and acceptance of all the people was shocking. Usually there is some barrierors to break through before people let you in, here there are no walls, instead the farmers of this community separate their plots of land by useing large agaves. This is one metaphor that explains alot about the society here. I am a teacher here in Salasaca, but more than that I have become a friend. For all of those reading this, it would do you good to visit, even for just a day.
Ian Chambers

Live And Learn....There Is A Better Way To Send Books.

2007-07-01T15:27:00.001-07:00

First of all I want to thank everyone who has sent books for our library. It is growing little by little and we will be open everyday starting next week. I would like to see more tourist on their way to Baños, jump off the bus and spend a few hours in Salasaca or maybe even overnight. I would love to show you around and any books that you brought would be worth a nights lodging at the volunteers quarters, if we have an extra bed available.

Now that I have brought up the subject of books I would like to relate my last experience with the Post Office here in Salasaca.

I received a message from the post office in Salasaca advising me there were three boxes in customs at the Ambato Post Office and I needed to pick them up before noon that same day or they would send them back...wherever back would be. I got the message around 9AM. So with a deadline three hours away, I left the school in the rain and headed to Ambato. Because of the road construction going on at each end of Salasaca, I had to walk to an area at the outskirts of Pelileo to get a bus to Ambato and arrived at the Post Office around 11:00.

This was my first experience with Customs at the post office so I did not know what to expect. As it turned out there were indeed three boxes of books sent by two different people in Texas. The labels stated that the contents were a donation and I was armed with a letter from the officials of the school district to the customs officials requesting that any duty that might be due be waived. After checking the contents I was surprised that the customs agent got out his calculator and started punching numbers. He then looked up and said in a very calm voice. "That will $94.00 (and some change). I looked up and said, "Your not serious?" and he said "Tes I am." I then went into my poor school routine but it had no effect. I asked weather the letter from the officials had any weight at all? I was told that it did and there was no duty charged on the books...Only the postage. And since there was no way I could take the books and they keep the stamps I had to figure a way to come up with the money. Unfortunately, these kind folks from Texas and undoubtedly friends or family of our last volunteer, Inn Chambers had sent the packages Priority Mail at a cost of $275.

What I learned was:
1. If you are going to send anything by mail send it the cheapest way.
2. If the weight is two kilos or less, it does not go through customs and therefore no duty.
3. If it is more than two kilos you must pay duty on the contents and 30% duty on the postage.
4. This tax only applies to items sent by mail. The 30% does not apply if you send by other means.

I did ask the agent what would happen if we could not raise the money. He told me they would be put in storage and a judge would decide what to do with them. I commented that maybe the judge would donate them to the school and the agent responded, maybe, but we would have to wait a year.

I will not abandon the books to chance and next week I will deliver the money and take the books.

A final note....We need more books and if you send them by mail just make sure that the package is less than two kilos. In the meantime we are trying to get one of the air carriers to ship them for free. I will keep you advised on how we are doing in this regard.

Thanks again for the books....We learned a good lesson and education is not free.

I really would like to know if other countries are this creative in their tax laws.

Chimborazo....The Highest Peak In Ecuador

2007-07-01T11:37:00.001-07:00

On Thursday afternoon we were treated to a rare view of Chimborazo. This majestic ice covered volcano is 20,000 plus feet above the leval of the sea.
The jagged snow covered peakes to the right of Chimborazo is Carihuairazo. It is an inactive volcano that stands a mere 16,496 feet about sea leval. Carihuairazo in Kichwa means Man, Wind, Ice or Windy Ice Man.

Another view of Chimborazo. This one taken at sunrise from a forth floor hotel room window in Riobamba. Pretty nice site from a ten dollar a night room.

Up-Date...The Road To Baños From Pelileo Is Now Open....but there could be delays.

2007-06-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

Since Friday the 22nd of June, the road to Baños from Pelileo has been closed to all but the most hardy. Last Friday, after days of heavy rain over much of three provinces, Tungurahua among them, there was a massive landslide a short distance outside of Baños, making the road impassable.
The workers have been working desperately to carve a new road around the area. Several of my friends have crossed the area on foot. This was not an easy trek but to my knowledge none have been lost to the canyon below.

The Governor of Tungurahua announced that the road would be open for traffic this weekend but the people in charge of the construction work said that the task is very complicated and he could not give a completion date, but he was sure that it would not be this weekend.
There is another option. I just got an e-mail form my friend Lorenzo who stayed a couple of days in Salasaca and then returned to Quito. He told me he was now in Baños. He left Quito at 8 AM on a bus to Tena. After a six hour trip on a very rough road. he caught another bus to Baños via Puyo....another four hours. So it can be done, if you have the time and the desire to make the trip.

I Was Thrilled, I Was Proud And I Am Happy

2007-06-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, as I walked the 3KM's to the Katitawa School, which is located in the hills above Salasaca, I was a little preoccupied because I did not know really what to expect for the day. We had an event scheduled to begin at 10:00 AM and when I left the school the afternoon before, nothing was ready. This event had been scheduled for the 21st of June, which in the old Inca calendar, is the Day of the Sun, and still has some significance today. We had been disappointed when we were told that because of the conflicting schedules of the dignitaries from Salasaca and Pelileo we would have to celebrate the day on the 28th. As it turned out it rained almost all day the 21st but was sunny all day on the 28th which for this area is extremely rare. For the rest of the story please click here to open the Katitawa School page.

Emergency Room Visit....Not a bad experience.

2007-06-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the month long hiatus. I have many excuses but none of them worthy of any merit so "sorry", will have to do.

Yesterday morning I had another first hand experience with the medical procedures here in Ecuador. I was awakened at 6:30 by a phone call from a friend who had been in an automobile accident and wanted me to accompany her to the Emergency Room at the Hospital Provincial Docente Ambato.

Once there I realized why, when going to the hospital, you need a companion. The service was good, however it is a pay as you go process. The first charge was the consultation, which was $1.00. I needed to go to the cashier and pay the $1.00 and return with the receipt. After the examination they determined that the cut on the head should be sutured. I was given a list of necessary items and went to the hospital pharmacy and bought the items for mini surgery ($6.00). After that they needed an x-ray. Back to the cashier to pay the $4.00. When the medical staff was pretty sure that everything was intact we were free to go.

From what I saw, the place was clean, orderly and very affordable.

You Guessed It, J.

2007-04-28T14:47:00.000-07:00

I received a message from a reader a few days ago asking what was the meaning of this box that has been adorning this wordless post for many weeks.

He answered his own question...."It must be something to do with the solar panels" Well he was right on the money. It is the control box for the two panels that give power to the pump that furnishes the fresh water to the school up the hill. Some months ago the discharge pipe sprung a leak and sprayed water on the box and in a short time a fire destroyed the electronics. Since then when they needed to fill the water tank above the wires from the panels were were draped over the pump wires and to everyone's surprise it worked fine. So as the old saying goes "If it works don't mess with it." For the rest of the story Click Here

When I found the problem I was a little concerned that this direct connection may in time, if the conditions are right, cause a problem with the pump, I asked a friend who was returning to Florida to see if he could find a replacement. He took this digital picture of the unit and all of the specks and is looking.

So far I have not gotten a reply. If any one who reads this blog has experience with this type of equipment and has an idea where I can get replacement and its cost. I would welcome the information.

Specs.
Maker: GRUNDFOS
Type: CU 200 Elunil cpl. V-NO-V02
Product No.:96467801
S/N 1582

Live Life One Day At A Time....But plan for the unexpected.

2007-04-28T14:35:00.000-07:00

I know now for sure that the number of readers of this blog is proportional to the number to posts that I make. In the past two weeks I have spent very little time in front of this machine as I was laid low by a bout with pneumonia which was my first experience with the realities of this common ailment. I am happy to say that I am feeling great and hope to return to the classroom on Monday.

It is amazing how things work out...My problem started two weeks ago when I met up with our new volunteer, Ian Chambers, from Austin, Texas, for the walk up the hill to the school. We had met the previous Saturday in Salasaca where I gave him a tour of the school and showed him his quarters. I did not appreciate then just what a great find we had made.

It was a rainy morning and we thought about taking the truck with the kids, but the rain stopped suddenly so we started on foot. It is a beautiful walk and a great way to start the day. I introduced Ian to the first class as my helper for the next month. Two hours later I had the chills and had to leave. He took over at that point and I headed for Ambato, where a hour and a half later I crashed and slept for four or five hours. Four days later, after x-rays and lab tests I was told that I had pneumonia. I am glad to say that after what seems like a thousand hours of sleep I feel great. I saw the doctor this morning and he confirms what I feel.... I am fine.

Ian stopped by a week ago Thursday and we talked a little about how things were going and he said everything was fine and he loved the job. I had planned a trip to the zoo in Baños for the next day and I commented that, "I guess the trip to the zoo was cancelled", because I had made a deal with the director that I would pick-up the difference in the cost of the trip and what the kids could pay. He responded.."don't worry, everything is taken care of." Thank you Ian. I don't know if anyone had a camera that day, but I hope so.

One lesson that this little adventure has taught me is that we humans are pretty fragile individuals. One minute we are fine and the next ....Who knows. Rosa Maria, the director of the school and I, had a conversation a few weeks ago and she was concerned what would happen to the school if she was not there. I did not pay much attention because she is a healthy women. and those problems were years away. Now I am taking a different look at that possibility and am working on some ideas that could insure for the future that what we have started here in Salasaca will continue with or without Rosa Maria or myself.

If anyone who reads this blog has had experience in this type of program I would appreciate your input. More on the subject later.

Sandy...I think they liked the books.

2007-03-30T14:35:00.001-07:00

A picture is worth a lot of words.
I received this picture from Janneke that she took before she had to leave.

Katitawa School Gets Electricity....Thanks to Arizona State University.

2007-03-12T13:14:00.000-07:00

While surfing the web a few days ago, I ran across a post on the ASU website telling of the solar pannels that were installed at the Katitawa School in 2003. This is where our foundation, Sumak Kausay Yachay,is providing the teachers for the English clases here in Salasaca. For the rest of the story plaese go to our new Katitawa School site.

It Can Be Dangerous To Vote Against Something Without Knowing What It Is Your Voting For.

2007-03-06T15:33:00.001-08:00

For months now I have been pondering the question: Why is the socialist model of government becoming so popular in Latin America? Many reasons have popped in and out of my mind and I have been trying to put my thoughts into words....But the words kept eluding me. A few days ago, I stumbled across an article written by Carlos Alberto Montaner titled, Neofascism intent on destroying democracy. In this essay Montaner outlined how Europe fell into the Neofascism trap after World War One and a few things that Latin America has in common today, and I quote "frustration in the face of the persistent poverty among a substantial part of society, disorder and state inefficiency, the lack of opportunities and generalized corruption". These were the words I was looking for. So simple and so true. These un-faced problems create the breding ground for socialistic ideas that open the door to future fascism.

In my opinion, you cannot call the victory in Ecuador by Rafeal Correa in November, a mandate by the people who were agreeing with his ideas for change. For the reasons quoted above the people were and are frustrated. They voted against something, and for a change, and for the most part, I don't believe they had any idea what that change would be or where it would take them. Most people I have met, have no interest in politics and only vote because it is mandatory.

So....who is to blame for the sorry state of affairs that set the stage for the Correa win in November? In my opinion, it is the past governments from the federal down to the city, and the big corporations who control the economy, but don´t give enough back to help develop the future work force. In my opinion, these two groups are the root cause of the social dissatisfaction that we experience today. They failed to pay attention to the basic needs of the people. And when you think about it, the solutions are fairly simple, if the problems are attacked before the people reach that point where they no longer have hope or faith in their government.

I don't believe we necessarily need to hit bottom before we are jolted back to reality. There seems to be a tendency with our new president to take us on the same path as Venezuela. If we are smart we need to learn the truth of where Hugo Chavez has taken his country in the past eight years before we follow blindly down the same road. This knowledge could be our best defense against the best laid plans of our new president.

Tungurahua, coughed but no cause for alarm.

2007-02-25T10:15:00.000-08:00

For the past two weeks "Mama Tungurahua" has been showing a few signs of life and around three AM on the 24th had a significant explosion that threw out s little ash and pulverised rock. As usual Baños continues to be fine and the athorities say there is no cause for alarm.

The communities on the other side of the mountain received some fall-out but there was no danger to the population. The ash is always a hazzard but for now no one is alarmed.

I will keep you advised.

More Books Arrived On Saturday....Hand Delivered.

2007-02-18T17:44:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely young 61 year old women from Wisconsin in Salasaca yesterday afternoon. She had stumbled onto this blog a few weeks ago and since she was coming this way she brought along a beautiful selection of childrens books for the school. When the kids come to class on Monday they will be very pleased. Thank you very much Sandy Kinne form Wisconson, USA.

More Designs From Salasaca

2007-02-09T12:44:00.000-08:00

I had a visit from my weaver friends from Salasaca. They brought over some of their latest designs and we are going to market them at a fair price for both the customer and the creator.

The following are the works of Lorenzo Masaquiza who is a native of Salasaca.

href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_4w3WXBzdg1U/RczeWbubZLI/AAAAAAAAAMI/Z6f0B_EXAiU/s1600-h/DSCN5448.jpg">No. 1..Galapagos, dipicting the various creatures from land, sea and air that you will find in the most popular tourist destination in Ecuador. It is 24" x 54", hand made from 100% sheeps wool and takes three days to complete. Cost: $40.00.

No. 2..The name of this tapestry is Tansante Corpus Cristi. The size is 24" x 54" y is hand made from 100 % sheeps wool and take three days to make. The cost is $40.00.

Called the Garden of the Campo Ecuador this popular piece is 54" x 39" and takes about 1 1/2 days to complete. 100% sheeps wool and the cost is $35.00.

These beautiful pieces are available to you direct from the artist. We haven't got the shipping charges worked out yet but if you are interested leave a comment and tell us where you are and how many pieces you would like and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.

2007-02-09T12:27:00.000-08:00

2007-02-09T06:57:00.000-08:00

Where Else Could You Live For $200 Per Month

2007-02-08T17:58:00.000-08:00

In the past, I have posted about my adventures at Margarita Ville, later, we changed the name to HOSTERIA ECOAVENTURA. Lorenzo, my partner, at the time and I lived and worked in that paradise until he got the urge to mone on and explore a little more of South America so I carried on alone. It was

a great place to live with acres and acres of open spaces in the heart of the beautiful Pastaza Vally. Well, not exactly open spaces, as it was covered with all types of vegetation.
Photo by J. Walker
There are three rivers that either border the property or pass through it. A true "Nature Lovers" delight. There was also enough work to keep you busy and healthy form daylight to dark.

When I took over the spa in Ambato it occupied most of my time for about six months, and when a friend wanted to take over my personal paradise, I let it go. Two days ago my friend came by and asked if I wanted to take a ride to San Francisco and since it had been six months since I had visited the place I was delighted to take the ride.

On the way, he told me that it had been a month since he had been there because his business in Ambato was taking all of his time. The next question was "why don't you take the place back?". I would love to do this but I do now want to do it alone. If there is anyone out there in never-never-land who would like a change and perhaps the adventure of a lifetime, why not come down and take a look. Think about it.
Margajita River

Photo by J. Walker

Two New Ecuadorian Stamps Commemorate Tungurahua.

2007-02-07T12:42:00.000-08:00

Although the stamps came out several months ago they are just now available everyday. If there are any stamp collectors reading this or anyone who would just like one for a reminder of your trip here, I would be happy to send them to you. The face value is $1.00 each plus shipping and handling which brings the total to $4.00 for the two. Any profit that is made will go to the English School. So buy, buy, buy.

To order just push the button below.
Thanks.

Cause For Concern?

2007-02-05T07:33:00.001-08:00

The following is an excerpt from a piece that was published by Alek Boyd at VCrisis. If you change a few names and dates you would believe the story was about Ecuador in 2007 and our new President Correa. Should we not be worried?

"Referenda processes and the National Constituent Assembly: With a fresh mandate and riding the popularity wave Chavez proposed a novel concept; that of referenda. At the time the body of laws was built upon the constitution of 1961, which, needs be stressed, did not contain any provision, article or mandate allowing the use of such supra constitutional mechanism nor did it exist any legislation to that effect. But that did not stop Chavez. Ever the gifted communicator he convinced the people that under the circumstances he could not rule: his line of reasoning could be summarized as “the State and its institutions must be re-found. Originary power resides in the people, as such I propose a referendum so that the people can vote on whether or not to convene a National Constituent Assembly that will rewrite the constitution and lay the foundations of a new State.” The actual question presented on referendum to voters on 25 April 1999 was “¿Convoca usted una Asamblea Nacional Constituyente con el propósito de transformar el Estado y crear un nuevo ordenamiento jurídico que permita el funcionamiento efectivo de una Democracia Social y Participativa?”

Neither him, nor the people, were bothered by the fact that convening a National Constituent Assembly was unconstitutional; with polls indicating 80% support he did not give a second thought about alienated parties. 3,630,666 votes, or 33% of registered voters, signed the blank check and approved the experiment of transforming the State, creating a new judicial order that would allow an effective functioning of a participative and social democracy. Selection of members of the Constituent Assembly followed and cronies of Chavez managed to get 124 out of the 131 seats."

You decide.

Medical Care In Ecuador....Great if you can afford it.

2007-02-02T10:25:00.000-08:00

It was a beautiful day here in Ambato and as I was walking through the Montalvo Park I noticed so many people who walked with a limp, that I am sure has been with them since childhood. Many of their problems, I am also sure, could have been corrected if detected early. And early detection, especially with the poor, is out of the question.

Outside of my visit to the dentist, I have not had to visit a doctor since I have been in Ecuador, however I have talked with enough people who have, to know that it is expensive for the average worker. Fifteen or $20.00 per visit may not seem like a lot, but to someone who takes home less than $200 per month it is tough. The visit is always followed with a trip to the pharmacy to get the prescription filled, so there goes another $5 to $10 bucks or more. But what if your kids are sick and you don't have a job which means you don't have any money. No money, no service.

When I first heard stories of people being denied service for an emergency because they had no money to pay, I did not believe it. I decided to take a poll and the result was the same. No money, no service. Today I asked one of my employees here at the spa who lives in Salasaca. This is the conversation:

Me: When a person in your family gets sick and needs to go to the doctor, where do you take them?
Carolina: To a doctor in Ambato.
Me: Why Ambato....Aren't there any doctors in Salasaca?
Carolina: No.
Me: If you have no money will they treat you?
Carolina: No. Our families are large and they know that if we have no money we need to first go to all the relatives and borrow the money.
Me: What if it is an emergency with your child and you have no money?
Carolina: You still need to have the money or there is no service.
Me: What happens if you can not get the money quick enough?
Carolina: Sometimes the child dies.

I have basically had this same conversation with at least a half-dozen people, in different levels of society and the story is always the same.

So what is the solution? I believe that in a free, democratic society, every man, women and child should have the right to medical care. It is a tragedy that people sometimes die because they are denied service.

In Salasaca, a clinic is needed. If I was a retired doctor I would take on this project. But I am not. Maybe someone who reads this blog is. This could be a great opportunity for retired doctors and nurses who wanted to keep on working even when they didn't need the money.

More on this subject later.

Sumak Kausay Yachay...Good Life With Education.

2007-01-28T13:15:00.000-08:00

For almost three years I have been posting the adventures of my life here in Ecuador. Not the, volcano climbing , river running extreme adventures that many seek out, but the adventure of living....One day at a time. I am amazed at number of people who are interested enough in what I am doing here to read, comment and sometimes donates to one cause or another. Some are family, others are friends who I have known and loved in times gone by, but the vast majority are people whom I have never met, and most likely never will.

For what it's worth I would like to tell you a little about me. What I am doing and just maybe you would like to help.

In a few more months I will be 75, and life just gets better and better and fuller and fuller. I am asked often, "why are you here in Ecuador?" My only answer is....who knows. I don't know how many more years I have left on this planet....a day, a month or years? The answer is not important, what is important to me is that I put that time to good use. At times, I feel like Charlie Brown did in a cartoon where he is contemplating the things he has to do, and says...."God has given me so many things to do, and I am so far behind that I may never die." As long as I am healthy and happy....I'll go for that. But when I can no longer function and become a burden to others, I will be ready to give up my space on this earth to someone else.

Meanwhile, life goes on. When I first arrived in Ecuador, I went directly to Baños where I lived for almost a year before moving to San Francisco, about 25 km from Baños on the Pastaza River. A place that is as close to paradise as you could ever find. No telephone, no Internet, water directly from the river and all of the physical work that you could handle. It was wonderful. However, something must have been missing because early in 2006 I ended up in Ambato. Who knows how or why. I had an opportunity to take over a spa that was about to close. "No investment, live on the premises, pay me rent when you can, here are the keys and good luck." Well, the conversation was a little longer than that. But it was easy. So here I am, a year later, spending most of my nights in Ambato...running a business called Splash, Baños de Cajon y Masajes.

I love Baños and I travel there often. I love the San Francisco area and I don´t visit there nearly as often as I would like. Ambato is a city of 200,000 or more, full of cars, people and noise. So why am I here?

Ambato is not a tourist town. It is the capital of the Province of Tungurahua and an industrial center. Living here has given me the opportunity to get to know the Ecuadorian people that are not involved with tourism. How they live, what is important to them and what is not.

Here at the spa I have the opportunity to to talk with the people, listen to the their problems, learn from them what life is really like. My first employee was from Salasaca. A friend of mine brought her over and said she needed a job. She was only 19 and very timid. She talked with her head down and you had to listen very closely to hear her. Now after a year she is outgoing, talks back, and is a good friend. She is now helping me with the English school in her pueblo and I am the "padrino" of her brother....And I am not even catholic.

The spa is not a good business....every month I need to take money from my pocket to pay the bills. So why do I continue?. I have four employees. Each adds something to my life and I add something to theirs. There is Martha....a woman with arthritis, who has no money. She comes three or four days a week with an armful of eucalyptus branches in exchange for a session in the steam box. Another woman comes for a leg massage because she is always in pain.... but has no money to pay. I could go on and on. The paying clients are becoming friends. We talk politics, the need for education, and the tragedy of not being able to go to a doctor because you have no money. So, I listen and learn.

Because of the spa I got to know more of the indigenous people of Salasaca, a community only 14 km away on the road to Baños. When the protests were taking place here in Ambato last year, some of my friends walked the 14 km to chant "No TLC" and "No OXY" in front of the city hall, stopped by for a rest before heading back home by bus. I asked them what is the "TLC". (Free Trade Agreement). Their answer was "I don't know".

Since I believe education is the key to solving many of the political problems in Ecuador, when I was asked if I would give some English lessons to some kids in Salasaca, I could not say no.
Keep in mind that I am not a teacher, but maybe I was better than nothing. So I rented some space and started the English School.

I am glad to say that we now have a girl from Holland who is conducting the classes. In addition to the private classes we now are giving English lessons to the children in the Katitawa School.

Last week, we expanded the space at the private school so we now have a separate room for the library. We have more than 60 books so far, of which most are in Spanish.

The funding for these projects are from my pocket and donations from friends. We are not associated with any government agency or charity. For the time being, we would rather save money by not having to go through a lot of red tape to get things done. Personally, I have everything I need. I have a small income for the rest of my life and I am doing what I can with that. I would however like to move a little faster and if anyone out there in never-never land, would like to help, we would accept your donations gladly.

We are also looking for another volunteer teacher. We can give you a place to live and put food on your table. Let us know if you are interested.

Anyone who made it this far....Thanks for reading.

How Would You Like To Learn Kichwa In Salasaca?

2007-01-27T13:24:00.000-08:00

In the past there has been some interest in learning Kichwa, by tourists who spend time here in Salasaca. I have found some potential teachers if there is any serious interest. We do have space in the mornings at the English School and on weekends. It would be a basic class with emphasis on pronunciation. A small dictionary with popular words and phrases would also be available.

Why would you want to learn Kichwa or Kechwa depending on who is doing the writing? (At this point I am not sure which is correct or if they both may be.) When I was trying to find the words to answer that question I ran across these words on the .Ermal Garinger Academic Resource Center, University of Kansas web site. They say it much better then I.

With 6 to 10 million speakers, Kechwa, the language of the Inkas, is the most widely-spoken indigenous language in the Americas. For many years, western historians and anthropologists have predicted the disappearance of the Kechwa language and its cultures. Instead, both are becoming stronger.

Learning Kechwa will be a meaningful adventure. You will learn a new language and be exposed to the ideas of an indigenous American culture that is vastly different from Euro-American cultures and languages. By stepping outside of your own culture and identity, you will learn to see yourself, your culture and the world through new eyes. You will acquire a much deeper and realisitic understanding of globalization and the problems humanity faces. And you will enrich your understanding of the human experience and condition through knowledge of one of the America's great but too little known civilizations. If you supplement your study with travel to Andean countries, you can live in contexts that are entirely different from your current cultural reality. There are opportunities to live in Kechwa communities, to visit Kechwa bilingual schools in the Andes and to take part as a direct participant or co-teacher with native teachers in Kechwa.

This is just an idea. Please comment if this is something we should pursue

Carnival in Ambato

2007-01-24T06:47:00.000-08:00

For the the 56th year Ambato will present their Annual Fiesta De La Fruta y De Las Flores. This fiesta lasts for most of the month of February and coincides with Carnival. The festivities start on Friday, February 2 and officially ends on February 20th.

This fiesta was inaugurated 56 years ago after an earthquake leveled most of the city. It draws people from all over the country and for at least a month Ambato is the distination for hundreds and maybe thousands of tourists who put Ambato on their itinerary. This year the big parade is scheduled for Sunday the 18th. Every year it is bigger and better and should not be missed if you are anywhere near Ambato. It is definitely worth a detour.

Ambato is located in the center of the country and is the capital of the Province of Tungurahua. It is easily reached from most parts of the country and is only two plus hours from Quito and a hour from Baños.

There are more than 100 events scheduled and are varied enough to be of interest for almost anyone. From special presentations at museums to musical concerts to bull fights.....and everything in between. Many of the musical events are free or the cost is nominal. A schedule of events is posted on the Official Site for the events and you can access here. http://www.fiestasdeambato.com/2007/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7&Itemid=5http://

Now Buy Salasacan Tapestries Directly From The Weavers.

2007-01-16T17:38:00.000-08:00

For centuries the Salasacan weavers have been turning wool into clothing, but the tapestry is a relative new endeavor. Sometime in the last 50 or 60 years (my best guess), they discovered the potential for sales of more colorful woven items such as the very popular wall hangings that in recent years have garnered international acclaim for quality and beauty. Today however the number of weavers in this community of more than 12,000 people, have shrunk by as much as 80%. Many have moved to other parts of the country to pursue work in construction and other trades because there is more money to be made elsewhere.

When I learned how many hours it takes to weave a tapestry and the price they can sell it for, I see why there is an exodus of these fine craftsman. For example, my friend Lorenzo who is pictured with one of his products on a previous post, sells these for $22.00 to his wholesale customers who in turn sells them in the world famous markets in Otavalo. From there it ends up in homes all over the world. Depending on where you happen to shop they will cost anywhere from $40 up. His production is limited by the number of hours in the week as it takes him approximately 16 hours for each piece of this size. So you can see why the weavers are looking for a different line of work and it will be a sad day when the machine made products are the only choices available.

This morning I had a visit from three of the top weavers from Salasaca. They were looking for other ways to market their products as the competition between machine made and hand made pieces keep the prices low.

Hand made versus machine.
First of all, we are talking about two different products, even if at first glance, they look and feel the same. The machine made pieces vary in quality and precision depending on the machine. In many cases they are perfect replicas of an artists conception. They are all the same in their perfectness. With the hand made product there are differences....No two, of the same design, are exactly the same. There is an uniqueness to each of the hand made pieces even if they are the same design and created by same artist. There is a market for both.

Selling through the established channels or directly to the consumer.
At the present time many of the Salasaca weavers travel once a month to Otavalo to sell their work to a buyer who cleans, packages and puts on a label that says it is a product of Otavalo. There is no protection for the weaver who has created a new design. Once he sells his products he may, on his next trip to market find copies of his design. To counter this a weaver could weave into the design their name and date so they could establish a reputation, and in time, if their work is appreciated it can demand a higher price. The other consideration is to put a limit on each design that they make. For instance if they have a design that is truly different they could limit the number to say 200 and sign and number each piece. Once an artist established a reputation his limited editions could demand more money.

We believe there is a market for hand made pieces of exceptional quality so we are going to this new marketing strategy a try. We will introduce these three artists with a short bio and introduce the products via the Internet and market them to the end user. We will market these products through our new Sumac Kausay Yachay foundation who will add a small commission which will be used for our education program and library.

If you have ever been to Salasaca or Otavalo, and bought or wished you had bought more of these beautiful works of art...you now have a second chance.
Here are three hand woven stock designs that are available on an on-going basis.

I will have more pictures soon and you will be able to order direct from the maker.

Tomorrow Rafael Correa Takes Office.

2007-01-14T10:14:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we will have a new president, for better or worse. We will have to wait and see. However if you judge a man by the company he keeps, then we are in for some rocky roads ahead.

In Ecuador the people are fed up with politicians. It is not that the people who elected Correa are so far to the left, in my opinion, they just wanted a new face, and when this unknown shouted from the rooftops that he was going to take his belt to to the old politicians in power and run them out of the congress....the masses responded loud and clear....Yeah!!!!!

Correa has called to his supporters to take to the streets if the Congress does not give in to his demands, so tomorrow, after his inauguration, I would expect our first demonstration of his presidency. It should be interesting.

My Trip To The Dentist

2007-01-07T08:34:00.001-08:00

Many have asked over the past three years....What is the quality of health care available in Baños or Ecuador in general? Up until yesterday my only experience was with my friend Magda, when she had her hip replaced, and that was only as an interested observer. However that changed yesterday and I was the subject. I am happy to say that my experience yesterday was pleasant and quite painless and that is a lot to say about a having a tooth extracted, at least as far as I remembered. I am not committed to the old adage "see your dentist once a year" and I am sure my teeth show it. I think my schedule has been more like once every 15.

For several nights I suffered, (mildly), with a tooth ache so yesterday I told a friend and she took me to a dentist that was only two blocks from the spa. We walked into a beautiful suite of offices that belied the building's exterior and after a five minute wait, only because my friend was chatting with the receptionist, I was ushered into an ultra modern room with all, I suspect, the latest equipment, and after a brief consultation they removed the molar. After the offending tooth was removed the dentist checked the other teeth and being an excellent sales person, it was recommended that I have a good cleaning, a root canal on another and finish off with two crowns. The cost for the extraction was $35, and the future work work would be $300. The service was great, the place was spotless and although the price sounds expensive for Ambato where the majority of the people work for less than $200 per month, business was booming, if the number of people in the waiting room is an accurate indicator. By the way they were dressed, I suspect, they were from the upper levels of society. I would be curious as to how much this would cost in other countries.

The rest of the story...When I left the offices I had a prescription for pain pills, "if I needed them" and an appointment for the rest of the work for Friday. Two days later, my cheek was swollen and I returned on Friday morning to find out what went wrong. The dentist asked if I had taken the pills that she had prescribed and I said no because I had no pain. She then got very defensive, gave me another prescription for an anti-inflammatory and penicillin tablets and told me it was all my fault because I did not take the pills she had prescribed. I guess she was right....I should have had a lot of pain. I left the office, went home and took some raw garlic and in two days the swelling was gone..

My question....Why do people have to get defensive and negate all the good feelings that they had built up previously?

Sumak Kausay Yachay. Foundation for Education

2007-01-02T11:17:00.000-08:00

Sumak Kausay Yachay...is the new name of our Foundation in Salasaca. I had asked my friend Jose who is with the folkloric dance group to come up with a name in Kichua that would be representative of what we were trying to accomplish. The words in English means....Good or beautiful life through education. Through this foundation we will accept donations for the education programs in Salasaca.
At the present time we have three projects:
1..English classes at the Katitawa School in the hills overlooking Salasaca. The school has thirty students ranging from six to 14 years old and classes are conducted by Janneke Robbe, a volunteer from Holland.The foundation provides her with a place to stay and food.

2. We also have a small private English school in the center of town where we have two classes a day with a total of six to eight students. There is a small charge of $2.50 per week per student, however if the parents have no money we accept almost anything. A bag of potatoes, or corn or rice or whatever they can afford. So far we have not collected any money but we do eat. We feel that it is necessary to charge something for the classes, because if they are free they loose their value.

3. We have started to collect books for the new library. These books are now in the English school. We are looking for books in any language, however Spanish are the preferred at this stage.

If you would like to donate to this worthwhile cause we would welcome your contribution. There are no middlemen or government agencies involved, so your contribution goes directly to the cause.
Thanks you.

Looking Forward To 2007

2007-01-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

I love the first of anything and the first day of the new year is no exception. It is a beautiful day here in Ambato and I plan to enjoy it.

As I reflect briefly on 2006, it seems that the year passed like a hurricane in the night, but when I think about all of the things that happened, both good and bad, happy and sad....I wonder how could all of those things have taken place in those 12 short months. All in all....it was a wonderful year full of surprises and I am glad that I had a chance to live it.

I do want to thank all of you who have visited this blog, and a special thanks to those who have donated to any of my projects. Your generosity has been accepted by everyone, in the manner given.... “con coriño”. Join me, as we rush head-long into 2007, with all of its unknowns....that is what makes life the adventure that is worth taking. At the risk of repeating a favorite poem, I invite you to join me. ”Come to the edge”, Life says. “I can´t, I am afraid”. “Come to the edge”, Life says. “I can´t, I am afraid”. “Come to the edge”, Life says. I went. Life pushed and I flew.

Feliz año nuevo.

English Classes in Salasaca

2006-12-17T10:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago, by popular demand, I started an English school in Salasaca. A friend of mine gave me the space which is small but for the present is fine. He did not want to charge me, but I agreed to pay him $30 per month because I know he needs the money and could rent it to someone else for the same price.

I am not an English teacher but what the heck I am better than nothing. I have about six kids ranging from six to 17 years old. A couple of the older boys had had some English in school but since the English program for them was only one hour per week they understood almost nothing. My method of teaching English is probably un-orthodox, but we are making progress. I believe that the best way to learn is the way that you learn your native language. First learn words, words and more words....a little later you put the meanings to the words.

One day I got an e-mail from someone who had read this blog and I told her about my project in Salasaca and she decided to help in collecting preschool English books and supplies. It turned out that her husband works in Ecuador and travels back and forth between Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada and Quito, and all I had to do was to go to Quito and pick up the supplies. Thank you Holly for all of your help. The kids have read and reread the books that you sent.

The word is spreading....A few weeks ago I was invited to a small local school that is in the hills overlooking Salasaca. The director, Rosa Maria wanted to start an English program but had no money for a teacher. They have 32 kids from five to 14 years old and many do not even speak Spanish as Ketchua is their native tongue.

As luck would have it I had just had a visit from a young Dutch women who had also read this blog and was looking for a volunteer job teaching English or doing something useful for at least six months. When I took her to Salasaca she was excited about the project and wanted to help. I am happy to report that on Dec. 12th Janneke Robb started teaching the first class at Katitawi School. She is teaching about four hours or more per day and according to her last message to me I believe she is doing just great. From the looks of the below photo she is having no trouble connecting with the kids. For a better look, click on the photo to enlarge.

Janneke wrote:"Faviola and I have been jumping in the back of the car every morning at 7.45 to go to the school Katitawi. It´s been a lot of fun teaching the kids. In general they are very well behaved and seem to be excited about my classes (on Friday when it was time to go they said they wanted another hour of English class).
I´ve been spending some time with Faviola and her friend Jose, which has been a good opportunity to immerse in the culture and get to know the way the people live there. Their houses are so old, simple, full of chickens, dogs, love and music."

.I hope to have some pictures soon.

Along with some Salasacan friends we have started a library. We need books of every description. Of course Spanish will be the most useful, but I would also like to get a good section in English. If anyone wants to donate books you can send them to my new best friend in Saskatoon who has offered to include them in the luggage of her husband on each trip that he makes to Quito. Any English school books that you have in the attic or in the garage would also be appreciated. From preschool up. Her address is:

Holly Walker
2206 Kenderdine Road
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
S7N 4G7
Canada

Well that is what is new in my adventure here in Ecuador.

We have started a Salasaca English School and Library Fund. If you have ever visited Salasaca, and even if you haven't, you may want to make a small donation. It is easy just push the button below.

Thanks for your help.

A Great Way To Spend An Evening....Indulge Yourself.

2006-11-01T09:02:00.001-08:00

Last night I joined about thirty or forty others for a luxurious mineral bath in the the thermal pools in Baños. It was a lovely night and for a time the moon was directly overhead. Most of the foreign visitors were freom Europe and appeared to be with a tour group. This was the first time I had visited the thermal baths at night for a very long time. The city has done a lot of work on the facility over the past year and although the price has gone up some it is still a great bargain. $1.80 during the day and $2.00 at night. If you are over 60 the price is cut in half.

The facility has two levals. The upper leval has three pools, cold, warm and hot. Most people use the warm pool which is the sise of a swimming pool. The water is a dirty yellow color and you can only see a few inches below the surface...but there is no odor. They have underwater benches around the sides so that you can relax with just your neck out of the water. The hot water pool is about half the sise but there are fewer users....especially in the early morning hours (4:30 AM) it is just too hot for most people.

My favorite time to go is around 5:30 AM, it is dark but a great place to greet a new day. Daylight is from 6;00 to 6:30 depending on the time of year but sunrise is delayed for a couple of hours because of the montains. The hours of operation are from 4:30 AM to 5:00 in the afternoon. They close for an hour to clean and drain the pools and open again at 6:00 and closes at 10:00.

In the evening they only use the hot upper pool and the lower level circular pool. It is about 20 feet in diameter and will comfortably handle 50 people. There is a snack bar and tables where you can enjoy a snack or a drink. Bathing suits are required as well as a shower before entering the pools. Bathing suits and towells are available for rent should you arrive unprepared.

They do not allow drunks or drinking in the pools and as the sign says..."if you want to drink the bars are only a mile away"....or something like that.
It was a great evening....I think I will indulge myself more often.

Daily Tungurahua Volcano Reports

2006-10-22T17:08:00.000-07:00

The latest news on current volcano eruptions all over the world can be found on the Southwest Volcano Research Centre site. By clicking on the title above you will be transferred to the site. Once there scroll down near the bottom of the page for the Tungurahua report.

Magda Up-date.

2006-10-08T18:25:00.000-07:00

It took two operations to get it right, but I am happy to say that Magda is now at her home and hopefully in two weeks time when she takes her first steps everything will work properly.

The doctors operated on Tuesday night and thought everything was ok but the next day when the the swelling and pain was getting worse, not better, they took an x-ray and found that the leg had slipped out of the socket. They took her back to the "OR" and put it all back together. It seems to be working because she is more or less comfortable in her own bed. The extra trip to the "OR" really played hell with the budget. The doctors fee stayed the same but the hospital cost doubled.

Now all we have to do is give the body time to heal. Thanks for your prayers and phone calls and for your donations. Thanks to PayPal...it is easy to transfer, even small sums of money.

Why Are We Here, If Not To Help?

2006-09-30T15:48:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered why you are in a certain place at any given time? I know I have, and the events of the past few weeks have given me much food for thought. Here is my story.

For the past nine months, my time has been split between Margarita Ville in San Francisco, Baños, Salasaca and Ambato. The distances are short, as it is only about 40 miles between Ambato and San Francisco, with Salasaca and Baños in between. In Ambato I am operating a small spa, that is not a very good business but I have a few customers and many have become friends.

One of my first customers was a young woman, I'll call her Magda, because that is her real name. She is an attractive 23 year old law student who is gregarious and has a great sense of humor. Everyone loves to have her around. After a few visits, I noticed that she walked a little funny and when I got to know her she told me what her problem was. She has, what they call, a congential hip. I knew what that meant because my own daughter had that problem and the only thing the saved her from having the same problem as Magda was an astute doctor who caught the problem when she was only a few months old and put her in a cast, for I believe, around six months. The result was excellent and today in her 40's she has no problems.

Over the past nine months, Magda’s problem has become worse and every step that she takes is torture. The joint that should ride comfortably in the hip socket is so far out of center that it looks like it will disjoint at any moment. She has a small motor scooter that gets her around because to walk even a block is too painful.

The answer to her problem is an operation, where they will replace the joint with some plastic parts. She is scheduled for the operation on Tuesday, which is expensive, but way below what it would cost in the United States. We are talking about $6,000. Her father lives in the southern part of Ecuador and her mother is in Columbia. They are doing everything they can to raise the money but are still short. I told her that I would see what I could do to raise the extra money and to make sure the operation takes place as scheduled, I would guarantee the amount that was missing.

So today I was thinking, just maybe this was the reason I came to Ambato. To help make it possible for Magda to walk, run and dance again.

If anyone who reads this blog regularly or even for the first time is moved to donate to the fund....feel free to push the “donate” button.

If you are so inclined, say a little prayer for Magda on Tuesday. Thanks.

Tungurahua, And Other News.

2006-09-23T09:37:00.001-07:00

Yesterday afternoon the Tungurahua volcano awoke for a caughing spell that emited material into the atmosphere as high as 2.4 miles. The alert level remains at "Orange".

Baños is a low risk area for visitors and all services are available. If you have any fears about spending the night...Salasaca is a great option.

Salasaca Overnight Option.

2006-09-21T13:33:00.001-07:00

The Tungurahua volcano is still stable and poses no real threat to Baños for the time being. Some international tourists are returning and little by little they are pumping new blood into the failing businesses. The tourist office in Baños along with a group of business people are in Quayaquil for an international tourist fair promoting the destination. Along with the usual handouts they took 6,000 small volcanic stones that had rained down on the city the 17th of August.

There are still a lot of people who would rather not bed-down for the night in Baños so I have the following suggestion. Why not spend the nights in Salasaca. It is only a $0.50 bus ride and the Hosteria Salasaca is a great bargain.
$10.00 for a single cabin and $15.00 for a double. At the present time they have six cabins with a restaurant and bar. In 15 days they should have their new SPA open which will include a steam room, whirlpool bath and massage service. It is located just a block from the main highway on the north side of town. The e-mail address is hosteriasalasaca@hotmail.com. (I will have some pictures soon.) The place is owned by Michele, a French lady, who has lived in Salasaca for the last 8 years, and her husband Antonio.

While you are in Salasaca you can spend some time visiting the market on the main plaza where many of the crafts that are made locally are sold. I will expand on this idea a little later.

2006-09-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Day In Baños

2006-08-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

The weather has been wonderful this past week in Baños. The skies have been almost cloudless and the temperature warm. The volcano continues to be activ emitting a small amount of gas, ash and small amounts of lava that dribble down the western slope for a short distance, however in Baños, this all goes unnoticed since the winds take all the ash to the West and from the city center the view of the crater is obscured.

There are a few tourists, but only a fraction of what normally are here this time of year. Everyone is looking forward to an increase of locals from Ambato and Quito on the weekend.

I did get my first look at the new DVD that is now available of the recent eruptions. The vendors on the streets are selling it for $1.00. I am going to include one of these videos with each of Lorenzo's tapestries.

Maybe It's a Good Idea & Maybe Not...You Decide.

2006-08-30T13:53:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago while in Ambato, I met with a friend who is a rice distributor. I was telling him of my project to raise a little money for the famililes who were forced out of their homes when Tungurahua erupted. He offered to sell me rice at cost and I even talked him into going with me to deliver it at no extra cost.

The conversation drifted to tons of ash that needed to be cleared and he suggested that I send a little bag to each person who made a donation. The more he talked, the more excited he got. His last comment was, "we could bottle it and make a fortune". I told him that that was not the idea, however we could send an ounce in a little plastic bag along with a note describing where it came from.

So this is the plan...I do not want to take anything from the donations, but if anyone would like an ash sample, just add an extra $1.00 to cover the cost of mailing, and advise me that $1.00 is for the ash.

Better act fast....There are only 40 thousand tons of the stuff scatered around Ecuador.

Thanks again for all of you who have made a contribution.

Clean-Up Begins In Salasaca Hours After The Big Bang.

2006-08-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

Tungurahua Eruption Sale

2006-08-28T08:57:00.000-07:00

Because of the lack of tourists in Baños, the artisans from Salasaca who provide many of hand-made items in the shops are finding no market for their products. One of the artisans happens to be Lorenzo, a friend of mine, who came to see me a few days ago and told me that he was not able to sell his work and was thinking of moving to the coast to look for employment. I offered to buy his inventory for the same price that he would get if he sold them to his customer in Baños.
I now have 10 tapestries which represents about a months work. I will now try to sell them at the wholesale price of $22, plus of course the $14.72 which is the cost of delivery to anyplace in the Americas. If you would like to own one of these 1.7 meters x .7 meters all wool walhanginggs and help a hard working entrepreneurur at the same time, just push the button below.

I thank you, and Lorenzo thanks you.

Baños is Ready...When You Are.

2006-08-25T09:38:00.003-07:00

Just a week ago the volcano Tungurahua exploded in grand style discharging an estimated 30 to 50 million square meters of material in the form of ash and heavy pyroclastic material and lava which caused the death of four people, injured a dozen more, killed thousands of cattle and other livestock, devastated thousands of acres of prime farm land, burned a number of houses and displaced thousands of people. From one day to the next lives changed drastically and there wasn't much anyone could do about it..

While many areas were changed others received little or no damage. Baños, for instance, received a pelting of small volcanic rocks, but it had very little ash which is the real healt hazardrd. The lighter ash moved west with the winds and left Ambato and other cities to the west covered with up to three inches of the dense material, affecting many with breathing problems and causing damage to the crops and in many cases death to the livestock. A week after the giant eruption the people in Ambato are still wearing masks while the people in Baños are enjoying clear, clean air.

Although Baños is in almost perfect condition it is suffering. I would estimate 99% of its income comes from the tourist, and since there are very few tourists the town is hurting. I did see about 10 young people with backpacks yesterday, but they were the adventure seekers who did not listened to the dire predictions that Tungurahua is ready to blow again at any time. We will just have to wait and see.

The busses are running and even if you would be a little nervous about bedding down for the night....why not take a day trip? After all...the Virgin of the Holy Waters has a perfect record of keeping the town safe.

Back to Cotalo...

2006-08-10T17:28:00.004-07:00

On Tuesday I took a trip with two of my frineds from Salasaca to see what was going on on the West side of the Tngurahua Volcano. We hiked from the town of Cotalo across the Chamba River and up to Bilboa. The town was mostly deserted but we did see a few children playing by the church and a few famlies working in the field. There had been some rain the night before so we had no problem with the ash that was everywhere.

From there we went North tword Baños across no-mans land where most of the pryoclatic flow had passed a few weeks ago and into the comunity of Casua. On the South side of the town there is a clear line where the fiery flow passed. On one side it is lush and green on the other is like a dry river bed that streathes more than a kilometer and still smells like a bonfire that had been doused with water. There were large rocks (2' x 2') that had been tossed out of the crater and looked looked like they had been turned to charcole.

The town of Casua was also deserted except for a few people we saw working in the fields. Except for a few minor rumblings the volcano seemed harmless enough even though it was obsured by clouds. We continued on to Baños, arriving late in the afternoon.

It was a great day and I was thinking that the danger was over and if I was one of the misplased persons camping out in the church in Cotalo I would return to my home.

However, on Wednesday there was an increase in the seismic activity and 38 evemts were registered and some 400 explosions....two were very large and windows rattled some 15 kilometers away...so once again in my life I was wrong.

Just In Case You Missed This.

2006-08-06T09:31:00.000-07:00

Four villages on the skirts of Tungurahua had to leave their homes because of the risk of more eruptions and the rain of volcanic ash that is as deadly as the lava itself. Many of the people in Cusua lost their crops as well as their livestock. The community of Cosalo across the Chambo River is giving shelter and food to these families whose homes are still at risk. The food is coming from private donations as well as a little help from the government. I would like to do what I can to help provide help and maybe you would like to help as well. One thing that is different here than in many other parts of the world.... one dollar goes a long way. One dollar can feed a family for a day. I have added this "donation button" to make it easy to donate. You have my word that every dollar collected will go directly to the familes who need the help.

Anyone who would like to make a donation for the misplaced people who had to leave their homes on the side of the Tungurahua Volcano you can do so by clicking here.

Thanks for your help.

Trip To Cotalo

2006-08-02T10:35:00.000-07:00

A few days ago I visited Cotalo, a small community on the western side of the Tungurahua volcano. This picturesque town sits on a platto with the Chamba River and a narrow valley between it and the volcano. On the Cotalo side of the river the land is lush and green and on the other is a wasteland left after the last serries of eruptions.

I went with a couple of friends from Salasaca and we hiked about two-thirds of the way down to the river but had to return because the ash was getting pretty thick and we did not have masks. Going down was easy but it took us a hour to get back to town. Cotalo is hosting the families who lived on the other side until it is safe to return to their homes. I am going back on Sunday and plan to explore the other side of the river to see first hand the amount of damage to Casua and Bilbao

A Picture Tour Of The Baños Area

2006-07-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

A short time after I arrived in Baños, I met a man who was also a new arrival and was living with his wife Yvoone, on the other side of the Pastaza River and about 25km from town. To get to where they were living takes a 25 minute bus ride and a 30 to 45 minute hike depending how much of a load you were toteing.

He came to town several times a month to get supplies and we became friends. He was a photographer by trade and for more than a year we spent many happy hours hiking the countless trails around Baños and the Pastaza Valley. He ended up with hundreds, if not thousands of pictures of the area. J and Yvoone returned to Florida last year and he has started posting a photo-essay of their time in Ecuador. Take a look....You will see why I love this area.

Most of the pictures on this blog were taken by J, and I used to call him my personal photographer. I miss him. The latest word is that he will return. I hope soon because I have some projects in Salasaca and I need him.

Enjoy the fotos.

Tungurahua....Still showing off.

2006-07-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

The volcano continues to emit gas and ash at times as high as 7 km. The winds aloft continue to be to the west and southwest so Baños and the nearby city of Ambato have been spared the fallout. The western side of the mountain is still being bombarded.

In the early morning hours there were several large explosions which created lava flows with out any warning. The road from Baños to Penipe has received the a lot of damage. I am not sure if it is passable or not.

Yesterday afternoon all of the businesses closed and a evacuation drill was held. At the present time there is no problems in Baños but the city is ready should an evacuation be necessary. The condition is still "yellow".

A week ago Friday most of the tourist left along with a some of the locals. Most of the locals returned but the tourist went on to other destinations.

The financial loss to the city is enormous.

Everything is Normal in Baños.

2006-07-18T08:47:00.000-07:00

As of this morning, with all of the activity of Tungurahua, life goes on as usual. Although Tungurahua Volcano is located only a mile to the north of Baños, the city has been spared from the ash which is a major problem for other comunities close by.

Up-Date on Tungurahua

2006-07-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday during the day the activity of Tungurahua increased with almost 300 explosions and 26 quakes recorded. There were also reports of some mud flows because of the rains in the area. However in the early evening the activity increasd and for the first time since 1999 that there was significant lava flow.

I was in Ambato last night and although Ambato is about 20 miles or less (as the bird flies) from the volcano we had an impressive view of the eruptions that lasted until around 9:30.

Since the crater is a little off center and faces North, I am sure that we had a view of the lava flow that was not seen in Baños.

The mayor of Baños suggested a voluntary evacaution of the city and many people who had cars left, and many from Ambato and surrounding communities went to Baños to help evacuate friends and relatives. What percentage left...I have no idea but my guess is that it was small.

The big problem is the ash which polutes the air. So far here in Ambato there has been no significant fallout as the prevailing winds have taken it in another direction.

If any of my friends in Baños are reading this, I would appreciate a first hand report of what the feeling was and is, in the city. Please e-mail me at banosecuador@hotmail.com. I will have more info later.

Tungurahua, Spouting Off

2006-05-16T12:14:00.000-07:00

Tungurahua has been putting on quite a show the last few weeks, and not since 1999 has there been talk of another evacuation.

The seismic activity continues to increase with more than 100 hundred explosions on some 24 hurs periods, with emissions of gas and ash. The explosions vary in intensity, some strong enough to break windows in nearby villages.

The people living in main risk areas been advised to pay attention to the status reports as the volcano is changing. At night you can see the fiery eruptions when there is a break in the clouds. The fact that the steam emissions create instant clouds does not help the viewing either.
Business is also efffected....Baños is concerned with its tourist business and the other communites are concerned with the health of their livestock and the condition of their produce

Everyone is a little nervious at this time remembering well October 1099.

What is going on at Margarita Ville

2005-07-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

As the days and weeks fly by, living in paradise just gets better and better. The project at Margarita Ville can become all consuming....of time, money and energy, and it is a struggle to keep it from becoming an addiction.

Here in the mountains at the equator the days and the night are equal. Well, that is not exactly true. We are located approximately one and a half degrees below so there is a difference of about 30 minutes a year, but it is hardly noticeable. This time of year is typically the rainy season but that too doesn’t change much either throughout the year. It is either raining or it isn’t. For example, the last two days it rained most of the day and night, but this morning dawned with a dense low fog that lifted about 8 AM and was replaced by an almost cloudless sky. You cannot imagine the beauty. A week or so ago there were four or five days without rain. I was beginning to worry that we were heading into a drought, but the next day it rained and didn’t stop for three days.

Yesterday we had a couple of visitors from Great Briton who missed a turn-off outside of Baños and ended up two hours later at Margarita Ville on their 4-wheeler. It had been raining for most of afternoon but they were having a good time. Over coffee we discussed the weather and the consensus was....without the rain it would not be nearly as beautiful.

A typical day here usually starts with a walk with Blaze to the Pastaza River. Blaze is a six month old pup that we were given five months ago. She is a pure bred Ecuadorian and smart. She looks forward to this walk in the mornings and is pretty discussed with me if for some reason I have something else planned. I have never been much of a dog person, but I have to admit this one has changed my mind. As soon as I grab my walking stick she takes off, stopping every few seconds to be sure that I am following. When she is satisfied that we are really on the right path she takes of in earnest. We head down the trail that parallels the Margajita River and she has her 101 places that she has to check out until we reach the clearing that borders the Pastaza.

Blaze, the wonder dog.

Photo by Alex Hernandez

Here she goes crazy. (This is a site where for several years was a gravel and sand operation, providing materials for the construction of the new highway and tunnels connecting Puyo and Baños. Now it is a large flat area covering several thousand square meters that is just starting to return to its original state). As I am walking, she will take off at full speed and run 100 meters and dive into a puddle of water, thrash around for a few seconds and take off again in another direction until she finds her favorite sand pile and dive in, dig like crazy for a minute and then come racing back. If she happens to come up on my blind she will jump on my back as if to tell me to pay attention.

When she was just a couple of months old we walked down to a little pond fed by a nameless creek and she slipped on the loose sand and went sliding down with her front feet straight in front and her back legs dug in to slow her down as she ended up in the water. She was a little shocked at what had happened, looked up at me, shook herself, struggled back up the hill and when I turned around down she came again. Ever since that day, that slide became one of her favorite stops. Since this area was a sand and gravel operation in the past there are still several mountains of sand and gravel left which have become favorites as well.

One more story and then I will move on. One day I was pretending to chase her and she took off at full speed and after 25 yards she did what I can only describe as a pirouette She changed directions without stopping. Going full speed in one direction she raised up on her hind feet, did a 180 degree turn and was heading back to me without loosing any speed. I should change her name to Wonder.

This week we are working on a new entrance and hope to have the swimming pool back in operation. The local people enjoy the pool....for me it just never seems warm enough.

Doors are opening here in Baños.

2005-06-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago I had the pleasure of being a judge at an English poetry contest taking place between the different high schools in the Canton of Baños. My name had been submitted by my English teacher friend, to the Foreign Language Department of the Tungurahua Education Department in Ambato.

When I received the invitation, I was a little apprehensive and somewhat nervous because I have always felt uncomfortable being in the spotlight of anything. I was assured that I would not be asked to make any remarks unless I was chosen to be the spokesman for the three judges. It was with more then a little trepidation that I arrived at the designated place on the 25th of May. As it turned out, it was a pleasant experience and I was happy that I had been invited.

The group of contestants. The first and second place winners are holding their certificates.

Photo by Alex Hernandez

In addition, the judges received a very large basket of fruit, (about 25 kilos), as a gift for our participation. These baskets were donated by the Patate students. (Patate is a small agricultural center outside of the city proper), We were told during the presentation that all of these fruits were products of their town of which they were very proud.

During the event, I had the pleasure of meeting Lic. Susana Mayorga, the Director of the Foreign Language Department for the Province of Tungurahua. Since that meeting I have met with her in her office in Ambato where we discussed at length the need for volunteer English teachers in the province. I will meet again with her and her associates on the 10th of June when we will formulate descriptions of the kind of help that is most needed. I will have more details next week.

In the meantime….think about this wonderful opportunity to see a new country, immerse yourself in a different culture, while having a wonderful time doing so.

Most Bus Scams Can Be Avoided.

2005-05-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

I talked to two visitors to Margarita Ville this past month that related stories of how they were conned on the bus before they left the station in Quito. The young conmen/thieves are alive an doing well at the Quito bus station. A little extra precaution is advised for single travelers as both of these incidences involved women traveling alone.

The first involved a young German girl who was helped by two well dressed young men whom she thought worked for the bus company. They helped her to her seat and when she was seated with her backpack on her lap, one of them told her that she would be more comfortable if she put it under her seat. He helped her get it in position for his partner who was behind her, to cut the bottom and extract her camera. These guys can be charming…so beware.

The second involved a mature lady that arrived at the station by taxi and the driver had helped her get her luggage stored below. She entered the bus and took a seat. A few minutes later a young man approached and asked where she was going and told her the fare was $3.50. She gave him a $10 bill and he said he would bring the change back. He then continued and took money from several other passengers. When the bus left the terminal and was on the road the drivers assistant started through the bus to collect the fares. She told the man that she had already paid and in fact was waiting for her change. His remark was, “You didn’t pay me.” So she had to pay again the correct amount of $3.40. In retrospect, she realized that he only asked money from those that looked like tourists.

This problem can be solved easily if you know how the system works. There are two ways you can buy passage on all of the busses. Buy a ticket at one of the many ticket windows in the main bus station. They will note the bus number, the time of departure and assign a seat number. The second is to board the bus without a ticket and once you are on the road the conductor will pass through the bus and collect the fare. In Quito they never ask for the money before you depart unless you are buying a ticket from one of the many ticket windows.

The overall bus transportation system in Ecuador is good and I have not personally had a hint of a problem.. It is affordable and there is no place that I know of that is not on some route. You can flag a bus anywhere on the street or highway and they will drop you wherever you want along the route. Most of the population here in Ecuador depend on the busses to move around along with their cargo. If you get tired of riding your bicycle, flag a bus and they will hoist it on top, without hesitation or groans of displeasure. It is just part of the job.

Banana Plantation at Margarita Ville

2005-04-26T10:50:00.000-07:00

Photo by J. Walker

Although bananas are big business in Ecuador, here in the Pastaza Valley at 1,200 meters in elevation they are not what you would call a cash crop. Here on the property we have about 50 plants which provide more fruit than we could ever eat.

Learning about the care of these prolific plants has been challenging. Knowing when to cut the bunches has been trial and error and I hope by next year I will know a little of what I am doing. If, among the readers of this blog are any banana growers, I would really appreciate any information you are willing to give.

I have learned that in order to have healthy plants you need to separate the shoots. I read where you should to this when they are around one meter high. We have cleared an area where we intend to use for our small plantation. How far apart, I am not sure, but will start with about six feet.

At the present time we have many bunches hanging and are just waiting for the right time to cut them down, which is still hit and miss. I have been told that you should cut the bunch when the sharp edges have become rounded. This is sometimes hard to judge when the bunch is almost 20 feet above the ground, so as a result I have cut several bunches too early and they never did ripen.

Photo by J. Walker

The appearance of the bloom happens overnight it seems. One day there is nothing and the next you have this giant pod. A few days later, the flower starts to open and the individual hands appear one by one. From what I have heard, from this point it takes about four months for the bananas to mature.

Photo by J. Walker

At this point you may now have more information about bananas then you care to know, however I have found it a fascinating process.

Rio Negro....A Walk Along the Rio Estancia.

2005-04-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

Just a few kilometers east of the village of San Francisco is Rio Negro, a 70 year old of about 1,000. The first time I visited this quaint little town I looked for the Black River but only found the Pastaza. Although the river is far from clear it is not black. One of the residents told me that there is indeed a Black River a little West of town. Since this town is in the middle of what is known as the Corridor Ecological Amazona and there are plenty of reasons to spend some time and explore the area. There are several restaurants and small hostels for the tourist who would like to spend more time. From San Francisco or Margarita Ville you can take the bus for $0.25 or walk. You can always bus back.

At the east end of town there is a road to the right that crosses the Pastaza and takes you up the mountain beside the beautiful Rio Estancia, taking you ultimately to the a small village by the same name. The walk is a pleasant one with breathtaking views of the Eestancia River with an abundance of the beautiful Sobralia Rosea orchids growing along its banks.

Photo by J. Walker

Three kilometers from the Puyo Highway you pass a Hari Krichner compound and one km further, brings you to a to the beautiful Hosteria Encanto Natural.

Photo by J. Walker

This hostel is a little out of the way but would be a perfect place for a group get together or special retreat where you want to get away from the crowds and yet have all the comforts of a first class resort. If interested you will find more information here.

One kilometer past the hostel you come to a trout farm where you can catch your own trout and have it cooked to your order. Medium sized fish dinner is $2.50 and a large is $3.00.

The best way to make this trip is walking or by bicycle. The walk along the Estancia River is one of the highlights of the trip. I have been told that there are some trout in the river…probably fugitives from the trout farm up stream. The round trip from Rio Negro is about 10 kilometers, and if you don’t cotton to the idea of walking roundtrip you can always taxi up from Rio Negro and walk off lunch on the return. A taxi/pick-up cost $2.00 for the trip.

2005-04-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

Sunrise over the Margajita River.

Photo by J. Walker

At the Close of the Day....

2005-04-05T09:03:00.000-07:00

Looking west towards Banos, from Margarita Ville we are treated with some beautiful sunsets.

Photo by J. Walker

Short Walks from Margarita Ville.

2005-04-05T08:55:00.000-07:00

In a small box canyon up the Margajita River, about a 10 minute hike from Margarita Ville is one of the loveliest watterfalls I have ever seen. It drops aproximately 50 feet into a clear pool. Very few people visit the area even though it is very close to the highway.

Photo by J. Walker

Photo by J. Walker>

At the base of the falls the water runs into a small pool. On a warm day it could be a fine bathing pool.

Photo by J. Walker

Orchids, Orchids Everywhere.

2005-03-09T10:37:00.000-08:00

A few days ago while walking along the highway close to Margarita Ville I saw a few new blooms of orchids growing on the side of the cliff and then I realized that the mountain side was covered with them. Hundreds and perhaps thousands in a two or three kilometer stroll.

This is just one of the estimated 4,000 species that grow in Ecuador. I am not sure of the name of this particular flower but will post it as soon as someone enlightens me. What a beautiful sight.

Photo by J. Walker

River Rafting on the Pastaza River

2005-02-28T15:35:00.000-08:00

A popular activity in Banos is rafting down the Pastaza. This group has just arrived at one of the put-in points for experienced river runners which is located just a couple hundred meters west of Margarita Ville.

Photo by J. Walker

After carrying the raft to the water the group is ready to go....With or without the guide.

Photo by J. Walker

The Pastaza changes colors depending on the time of day and the cloud cover....From a chocolate brown to a slate grey. Certainly not one of your favorite swimming rivers.

Photo by J. Walker

Photo by J. Walker

Miscellaneous shots around Margarita Ville

2005-02-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

One of the many nameless waterfalls in the area.

Photo by J. Walker

Photo by J. Walker

Margarita Ville

2005-02-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

Just 25 KM from Baños, (25 minutes by bus), on the Puyo highway, is a wide spot in the road called San Francisco. There is not much there, outside of a few houses, and a general store.

Margajita River

Photo by J. Walker

A few hundred meters past the "City Center" is the Margajita River and a small resort consisting of three A-frame cabins, river fed swimming pool, main house on the highway and an outside restaurant...And just about the prettiest scenery you could ever imagine.

Photo by J. Walker

A month ago I received an E-Mail from a friend of mine who lives in Mexico, advising me that a friend of his, for many years, was bored in Cabo San Lucas and was going to visit Baños. When Lorenzo Walters arrived, I gave him a tour of the neighborhood, so to speak, and when I showed him the property that was for lease on the Puyo Highway, he went a little nuts. A couple of days later he asked me if I wanted to go 50-50 on the place. I guess going nuts is contagious because a week later, we have "Margarita Ville".

The main house and restaurant are on highway level.
Margarita Ville on the Margajita River.

Photo by J. Walker

One of the most popular activities here in Baños is a bicycle trip to Puyo. Since it is 90% downhill it is an easy trek even if you are a little out of shape. All of these trekers have to pass Margarita Ville, and our first order of business is to get flyer/maps in the hands of all of the bike-rental companies with our new name highlighted and offering, Coke, Beer or a pitcher of Margaritas. If they go for the pitcher we may have them for the night. I suggested to one of the outfiters that they sell them a two day trip with an overnight. No need to fly by these natural wonders, that should be seen in two or three days at the least. Hardly anyone bikes the return. They put the bike on the top of a bus and ride in comfort.

Looking up to the main house and restaurant.

Photo by J. Walker

Photo by J. Walker

The sleeping units are clean and comfortable. Each cabin has two levels and sleeps up to six.

Photo by J. Walker

We are not overly optimistic about the overnighters, so we have decided to turn one of the units into an English school for the pre-school children from San Francisco and Rio Negro. There is sufficient room for two volunteers to live in the upper level and have the lower level for a class room. If anyone is interested in this type of volunteer work please let me know.

For continuing information on what is going on at Margarita Ville and the English school for toddlers click here.

Carnival in Baños

2005-02-09T06:07:00.000-08:00

The Carnival Celebration was a little tame for the younger generation but just right for me. There were parades and fireworks and a few cultural events. The streets were blocked off for the better part of a week and it was nice to walk around without the traffic. The town was completely full as Monday and Tuesday were national holidays giving everyone a four day weekend.

There were not many water balloons, but there was a big business being made with a special “Carnival Foam” spray. It came in different colors and although it looked pretty bad during the first attack, I found that it disappeared in five or ten minutes and did not leave stains. Before Tuesday was history, I was looking for a store to buy a can so that I at least I could fight back.

t is still a wonder to me, how you can have all of that rowdy fun, mixed with a lot of beer and not have one altercation, at least that I saw, during the entire carnival celebration.

What´s new in Baños

2005-01-21T08:58:00.000-08:00

It is official...I am now a legal resident of Ecuador. Shortly after arriving in Baños I realized that if I traveled the world I would probably not find a better place to call home, at least for now, then where I was. The process of becoming a legal resident is extremely simple, but not easy...the frustrations caused by typical bureaucrats, who are the same the world over, made the process an adventure. After eight trips to Quito, I walked away yesterday with my visa, and a wealth of information about the process. I realized, after the second visit that I could have saved a lot of time if I had accepted the services of one of the many lawyers that hang around the visa office, but being the stubborn person that I have always been, I elected to tough it out and do it myself. I am glad I did....I got to know Quito better and I learned a lot about Ecuadorian culture.

After the Christmas and New Years celebrations, Baños has been calm for the last three weeks. The weather has been beautiful....mostly sunny days, a few rainy nights and although the calendar says it is summer, the temperature is about the same as the middle of winter or spring....a little less rain. Three Kings Day, the 6th of January is not a big celebration here in Ecuador as it is in other Latin countries. In Mexico, it is a day for gifts for the children and the special cake with the plastic doll that is baked inside. In Columbia it is a holiday with a lot of people in the streets spraying each other with colored substances, with the festivities continuing with music and booze until the early morning. But here in Baños....nothing, if you did not look at the calendar, you would miss it altogether.

Carnival, however, is just around the corner. It will start on the 2nd or 3rd of February and end at midnight on the 8th. There are many events planned for these days but as yet there is not a firm schedule. There is a custom in Ecuador of throwing water balloons at each other and dropping them from the roofs of buildings, on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Here in Baños the sport has been banned because the tourist do not know weather to get angry or join in. Although the custom is officially banned, according to my friends the young people still participate. When they run out of balloons they may use eggs or avocados or what whatever they can get their hands on. One friend said it is best to stay off the streets unless you want to get wet. I will see first hand in a couple of weeks, just what happens...maybe a raincoat will be in order. It is expected, during these days that the town will be full. If you plan to visit, a reservation might be in order.

Well now that I am a resident, I plan to keep busy on some projects that I have been considering. The first is the library. My first call for books, netted a few, and I thank the donors very much.. I realize that the cost of postage can be several times the book cost so this was not a very practical idea. I would also like to find a way to put a couple of computers in the library and connect them to the internet. It will be a great investment in the future of this community. More on this later. It is a fine line that I have to walk, so as not to offend, and yet make a difference. I have made friends with a number of Bañeros who have lived here all of their lives, some young and some old. I keep remembering the book...The Ugly American....where this physically ugly Peach Corp volunteer changed the lives of a small village in SE Asia by setting about to do his work with the materials at hand. In a short time the locals were asking him how he made the improvements and when he showed them, they copied his ideas. If he had tried to force his ideas on them he would have made a difference, but not without some resentments.

This is a great town to live in, with so much natural beauty that I would hate to see it change. Everything necessary to be happy is here. We have no super markets or shopping malls...but those places just make a person want more and if you don´t have the money to buy the latest gadgets you feel deprived. I have always felt that no mater what you have, it is human nature to want more and herein lies the beginning of discontent. The solution is to get rid of some of your wants and peace returns. And that is what I have found here...the people have a decent life style and for the most part are content. The retired people living on pensions are the group that needs help most. It is sad to see them lined up at the bank to get their monthly $30 payment. Even here it is just not enough.

Welcome 2005

2005-01-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

First of all, I want to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous 2005. As always, when I look back on the previous year it seems that it flew by, and yet when I think about all that happened, the adventures and the misadventures, it brings back so many memories that I wonder how it all could have happened in one short year. The past year was not without disappointments, but that is life, and I don’t think I would enjoy the experience half as much without a few, just to keep things in perspective. It was a great 2004 and I look forward to a greater 2005.

Here in Baños, life continues to be an adventure. The Christmas Season started somewhere near the first of November when some of the businesses put up Christmas trees, however, I did not feel the commercial undercurrents that motivates people to spend more than they can afford, even though there were plenty of advertisements on the television.

One might think that the town would be “fiesta’d out” after the eight-day birthday party, but starting Christmas Week, there were parades almost everyday, put on by the different schools in Baños and the surrounding communities. On Christmas Eve, many people go to mass at midnight and Christmas day it is business as usual for most people.

New Years Eve is another story...today I saw many cars and trucks with effigies of someone strapped to the front bumper. When I inquired as to the significance, I was told that these dolls represented someone who had given them problems during the year. It could be anyone....your wife, your husband or a politician. (All in fun I am told). At midnight these along with others, large and small will be burned after a reading of their last will and testament

During the day and night there are many people dressed in all sorts of costumes roaming the streets. During the day they will stop busses and cars with a cord stretched across the street or highway and ask for money. During the night if you are not wearing a costume you will be asked for money by those who are. If you are wearing a costume you are home free, so it could be much cheaper to make a costume and buy a mask.

After living through my first New Year’s Eve in Baños, the words that first come to mind “It’s a Riot”. Some “Barrios” really take the whole thing seriously, making elaborate displays, blocking off entire streets for their own block party.

Photo by Alex Hernandez

Photo by Alex Hernandez

This is my friend and photographer, Alex Hernandez. Anyone that would take a spike in the head so that he could save a few pennies or make a few...deserves at least a dime.

Photo by Alex Hernandez

Walking around town in the early evening, trying my best to dodge the hoards of ghouls who are bent on extracting money whenever they catch you, I realized I had better find somewhere to change my dollars into smaller coins. These are not just children ....these are people of all ages who are definitely young at heart. During my wanderings I saw all sorts of effigies....In front of one restaurant I saw what appeared to be the chef. In front of the market was the likeness of the manager and the butcher. Of course there were likenesses of the local police, the jailer and of course the President. Even Bart Simpson with his slingshot and two of his victims were represented...all awaiting their fiery demise.

Photo by Alex Hernandez

Photo by Alex Hernandez

Around 11:30PM, I went to the roof of the building where I live, which gave me a view of the whole city and waited for the climax. From there, I could hear at least four different bands at various points in the city. Thousands of people were in the streets and fireworks were erupting from everywhere. This went on for about a half hour and at 12 midnight, bonfires were set on every street and the effigies creamated.

Photo by Alex Hernandez

The music continued for several hours before things started to quiet down. It was a wonderful experience and although the booze flowed freely, I saw no fights or wanton disregard for the rights of others.

New Years Day....after a cloudy beginning, the clouds cleared and we had a beauty sunny day....a wonderful beginning for 2005. With the exception of the Santa Maria Supper Market which was closed....business was normal. Because of the long holiday weekend, the city was packed.

The Fiestas de Baños 2004 Are Now History

2004-12-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

The 60th anniversary of the founding of Baños is now history. The eight day celebration started with an Albazo throughout the streets of the city at 5:00Am on the 9th of December and finished with a concert and fireworks display in the Palomino Florez Park in front of the City Hall on the 16th. The “Albazo” is a Spanish word meaning, dawn attack, or maybe reveille. Most of the population awoke to the sound of music provided by a band sitting on top of a small bus, as it drove through all of the streets of Baños. From this awaking it was almost non-stop activities for the next eight days.

There were events for all ages and interests. Chess tournaments on the main street; bicycle races from Baños to Puyo, a distance of about 30 miles and mostly downhill; bicycles and tricycle races in town for the kids from five years to eight years old; there were cake sales; art fairs; a volleyball tournament with nearby towns competing; parades; a soccer match between Quito and Baños with Quito taking the trophy. The list could go on and on.

On the seventh day of the festival, Baños was treated to a concert by the Metropolitan Orcastra of Quito. They preformed for more than an hour inside the Basilica. They played a variety of music which included Glenn Millers, In The Mood.

Photo by Alex Hernandez

During these days, although an event would end late at night, with all the trash that is thrown by the crowd, the next morning when you walked down town the streets were clean and looked as if nothing had happened the night before. If they needed a stage for an event, they blocked off the street and with 12, 55 gallon drums, 12 large bamboo polls, a little rope, a few plywood sheets and some canvas, in less than an hour you had a covered bandstand. The following morning there was no evidence that an event had even taken place.

On the first day of the Fiesta de Baños, the 40th running of the Carrera de Coches de Madera. (Race of the Cars of Wood.) This race starts about 20 KM outside of town, at a place called The “U” de Pelileo. There were 42 cars entered for this years race. From this point it is approximately 90% down hill to the finish line in the center of Baños. When there is an uphill grade the drivers must get off and push. When they enter the city they come down a “S” curve, across the Bascun Bridge and when they run out of steam they need to push the car about 500 meters to the last down hill run on Martinez Street at Gonzalo Diaz de Pineda.

An hour before the race the first enthusiast start arriving. And who could be more enthusiastic then kids.

Photo by J. Walker

A fallen tree makes pretty good bleachers-

Photo by J. Walker

The police clear the street anticipating the first cars.

Photo by J. Walker

This is the most dangerous part of the race as the downhill grade on this section of Martinez is about 30 degrees or more.This picture gives a feelins of how steep the downhil grade.

Photo by J. Walker

As the cars cross Pastaza Street they are actually airborne and when the wheels touch down, some loose control and crash into the crowd injuring both the drivers and spectators alike. The race this year was not without injuries. Thirteen people were taken to the hospital...five had broken bones and one had a head and neck injury.

Photo by J. Walker

Photo by J. Walker

Photo by J. Walker

Photo by J. Walker

Although the police are there to keep the crowd out of the way of the on-coming cars, is almost a sport to temp fate as the crowd envelopes the oncoming car. At times accidents are caused because the crowd doesn’t move fast enough. Just like Pamplona....only these are not bulls.

Photo by J. Walker

The race is against the clock and each car leaves the starting point at approximately one minute intervals. Even with this one minute separation some of the cars overtake the one in front. This year, one car was trying to pass on the steepest part of Martinez and clipped the rear wheel and they both flipped. That accident sent several to the hospital.

A few years ago, the city changed the final leg of the race to come down Montalvo Street which does not have the grade of Martinez. The race was completed without accidents and the next year it was moved back to Martinez. As one person told me...”A race without accidents, is not a race.”

Over the years, the all wooden cars have evolved into hybrids of wood, metal and even some with inflated tires. It was interesting to see that the cars with hard wooded wheels had better times then the numatic tires. All of the cars that finished made the trip in from 35 to 49 minutes. The contestants are mostly from Baños but several come from other cities to win the coveted trophies. A very emotional afternoon.

There were two major parades in this years festival.

Pregón de Fiesta...This parade took place in the afternoon of the second day. It started at 2:00PM and ended close to six. For a town the size of Baños it seemed to be a very long parade.

Photo by J. Walker

Photo by J. Walker

Although there were many beautiful children in the parade...this is my favorite.

Photo by J. Walker

Most of the town turns out all along the parade route as most of the businesses close, at least until their child has passed in review. The theme of the parade was the “La Alegria y Encanto de Baños”, more or less....The happy and enchanted life in Baños.

The Military Parade is always held on the 16th. This parade was impressive as each school participated with a band, and all of the senior grades marched in uniforms. The bands were made up of mostly drums. I counted 50 in one unit from one of the larger schools. The students have practiced for the last month for this parade and for the most part they were very good. Close to where I live there is a night college that practiced at least an hour for this event each night, starting around 9:30PM, in the parking lot of the bus station which is across the street from where I live. If you can imagine 40 or 50 drums beating for an hour at this time of night, I was obviously happy when the big parade day came. I watched with special interest when this group passed. They looked stunning in their white uniforms and as they passed I had to admit that all that lost sleep was a small price to pay to view their performance.

It was a wonderful week. Everyone has a great time and if you plan now you can watch the 41st running of the Race of Wooden Cars....live.