Esperanza – Hope

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earthquake ecuador, El Matal Ecuador, helping others, jama ecuador, tent camps

“Manos Arrrrriba!”        Esperanza – Hope. Without hope, people’s souls would atrophy. My friends and I witnessed esperanza in most every place we stopped.

Jama-El Matal (Manabi Province) Ecuador

Having just returned from a visit to the coast (Jama) where the earthquake turned my friends’ worlds upside down then slammed them to the ground, I would like to share what burns strongest in my mind and soul. Yes, some friends cried when they shared their stories, but their tears also released a bit of grief.  More than tears, I saw smiles. Proud brave smiles that burned as bright and strong as the brilliant sunlight on their altered landscape.

Esperanza – Hope. Without hope, people’s souls would atrophy. My friends and I witnessed esperanza in most every place we stopped.

A buzz of activity kept the center of town in perpetual motion. A steady stream of people puchased ten-cent servings  of fresh rolls at the open-air panaderia, relocated only a slight distance from its original place on the block. The vegetable vendor location shadowed the panaderia, just like it did before the earthquake, and a second one held its usual spot on the other side of the one-way street. There was comfort in walking up to the glass-fronted bakery counter and requesting caramel-colored cubes of banana bread for my travel companions and me – and oh yes, delicate rolls of chocolate bread and — ‘look at those fresh orbs of bread that are still cooling – we’ll take some of those too.’

Enduring Difficult Times

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earthquake aid, earthquake ecuador, earthquake relief, helping earthquake victims, jama ecuador, using bamboo instead of lumber

Earthquake-damaged Manabi Province ahead.

“We warriors of light must be prepared to have patience in difficult times and to know the Universe is conspiring in our favor, even though we may not understand how.”    Paulo Coelho- The Alchemist

Manabi Province/Jama Ecuador

Friends Cynthia, Luis and Pedro agreed to make a very-fast trip with me to the coast on Tuesday to check on Casa Loca, to visit with friends who are enduring difficult times in the Jama area, and to listen to what’s in their minds and hearts.  We hoped to return to Mindo with a better idea of what was needed and share that information with others who might be able to help.    Leaving before sunrise, I reached my first road block only a few minutes after leaving the property!

(Pardon me, but who has the right-of-way when cattle are still sleeping?)

Five or six cows were sleeping in the road; several reluctantly moved out of the way after I rolled closer and closer while blowing the horn.  Others played ‘possum and remained in place.   After five or more minutes, I got out of the truck and found a remnant of a tree limb. I whacked several of the stubborn cows on their rumps and demanded, ‘Get up!’

Some were compliant and eventually ambled to the side.

They obeyed!

My friends were ready when I reached Mindo, and our first stop was about an hour later near the town of San Vicente Maldonado.   Peter had recently attended a 2-week appreticeship at Cenba, a bamboo processing center that produces an alternative to using lumber from trees. The stop was an eye-opener for Cynthia and me!

Cemba – What’s behind the gate?

Sign Sign Everywhere a Sign!

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ecuador travel, fun signs, rio bravo waterfalls mindo ecuador

Have a seat!

Ecuador – A few weekends ago while in Riobamba, I noted a simple-yet attractive sign inside a small cafe across the street from my hostal. White chalk on a large blackboard, it nudged the reader to take a seat. Perky hummingbirds hovered around the letters while whimsical lightbulbs illustrated the decor. How could one not stop and give them a little business?

The petite cafe was well scrubbed and inviting, and a soundtrack of unobtrusive music added to the atmosphere. The sign made me smile as I sipped what might have been the worst moccachino I’ve ever had as I waited on friends! The grilled cheese sandwich, however, was well made, and the owners were kind and attentive. In time, they’ll work out a better option for the coffee; my entire breakfast was an whopping three dollars! I marvel and often wonder how Ecuadorian restauranteurs can survive on such low prices!

Working on photos, I realized the growing number of images I have taken of signs. Here are a few that might make you smile:

Cloudforest Ironman (woman) Olympics?

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creative ways to cross small rivers, Rio Cinto Ecuador, trek in the cloudforst

Open call to anyone who would like to compete in the River-crossing Competition!!

(Rio Cinto – Mindo, Ecuador) —When I learned that a friend planned to trek to the high ridge across Rio Cinto, I asked if I could tag along.  We agreed to meet at ten o’clock this past Saturday morning.   Since the starting point was very near the property, I walked the short distance and arrived a few minutes before the rest of the group.

We planned to go to the top of that high point… well, we thought that might be the target!

…or was it there??  (Why were we trying to reach the top?)

New friends have a little vacation house somewhere on the ridge, and they have  GOOD INTERNET reception! We planned to explore options for bouncing that signal down to the property…

The neighbors, who live in Quito, were unable to meet us (car trouble!) but their worker Lenin was there to guide us to their property.

Since I arrived first, Lenin showed me how to cross, then he patiently waited for my ‘landing’ on the far side.

Here’s a little background music to get us in the mood to swing!

Ready… Set… Let’s Go!!!

Twenty One Wishes?

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cloudforest, Ecuador, mindo, Perseid Meteors, Riobamba

Full Moon Setting over Cinto Ridge (June 2016)

Rio Cinto – Mindo- Pichincha – Ecuador –

I awakend this morning a little past four and peered outside to find that the clouds had gone to sleep, and the stars were twinkling. A waxing moon nudged toward the zenith of the western ridge as a weak meteor taunted me as if to say, “Here’s a sample of what you’ve been missing!” After preparing a cafe-chocolate con leche and wrapping myself in a second layer of clothing, I stepped outside and peered skyward.

One hour and 21 meteors later, the night weaned into morning as two Tropical Kingbirds performed their tender wake-up duet. A Black-striped Sparrow joined them about ten minutes later with its song of precise and very-strong chords.

Black-striped Sparrow

During that sky-gazing hour, eight subtle flashes – most likely bashful meteors – appeared for brief mini-seconds; I refer to them as hiccups! Three of the stronger meteors all but sizzled across the sky and left lingering trails.

I regretted not preparing a spot to better view the skies, although the small section of unobstructed sky provided more-than-my rightful share of pre-dawn wishes! Every so often I did indeed remember, “Wish! Make a wish!” 

30-hour Days?

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Chimborazo, Riobamba

View of Chimborazo from Riobamba Ecuador

Riobamba Ecuador
This past weekend I made a pilgrimage to Riobamba Ecuador to attend a memorial “Misa” service for my dear friend Marta who died last October. (See:https://playamart.wordpress.com/tag/marta-brito-riobamba-ecuador/ )

I arrived knowing one member of Marta’s family – her lovely granddaughter Rowen, and I left with a huge new circle of ‘extended family.’  Through her beautiful family, Marta lives on through facial expressions and similar voice imprints, especially when they laugh!

Check out those feet!

Cayetina Cruz captivated us with a tribute to Marta… Marta was surely dancing beside her!

In order to work on photos, write while the memories are still fresh and share those experiences with you, I need 30-hour days! Since that wish has little chance of being granted, I’ll leave you with photos and promise to follow with stories soon!