Ambling Along —

Tags

azul plata cumbia, brown wood rail, costa rica, Ecuador, living with nature, Panama, Slow Internet

A frustrated Long-tailed Mockingbird – near Portoviejo, Ecuador

A very contented Toucan in Panama…

A deer in my friends’ yard in Costa Rica…

A very-rare Brown Wood Rail in the yard at the Poza Honda Ecuador house!

From Dictionary.com : Amble “verb (used without object), ambled, ambling.
1.    to go at a slow, easy pace; stroll; saunter:
He ambled around the town.

2.   (of a horse) to go at a slow pace with the legs moving in lateral pairs and usually having a four-beat rhythm.
noun
3.an ambling gait.
4.a slow, easy walk or gentle pace.
5.a stroll.

Ambling along a shady road with Marie in Costa Rica….

“We ought to take outdoor walks, to refresh and raise our spirits by deep breathing in the open air.” — Seneca

Don’t forget to look up when walking! – Costa Rica

Variegated Squirrel in the park near the Municipality Office – Nandayure Costa Rica

In the past three weeks I’ve been from Ecuador to Costa Rica and back via a stopover in Panama to visit my friend Barb.   These were quick-but-very rewarding  visits that combined ‘business’ with pleasure.  Comparing the three countries, I definitely give Costa Rica and Panama the top scores for quality of internet!

Panama wins on shopping opportunities as well as the dramatic skyline contest… 

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Where Am I?

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Ecuador

With sudden alertness, Celeste snapped out of her dream, though she did not remember going to sleep. She opened her eyes and stared at the built-in bookcase near the bed.
“I don’t have a bookcase…” – from scribblings

I’ve never seen this view or this glass-topped table for two…

There’s a magical arch sculpted through a red-hibiscus hedge….

Latitude Zero and Holding

Tags

Ecuador, latitude zero, magic carpet, things to do on vacation in ecuador

Hola Ground Control, this is Zeebra on the Magic Carpet, presently in a Holding Pattern over Latitude Zero, though we are veering slightly north and slightly south.  Skies have been clear with no turbulence, and presently we have one passenger who seems to be content with her travels so far.

Marie balanced the egg with record speed!

Maintaining zero turbulence at Latitude Zero has required a bit of focus, so I will divert my attention back to my passenger and continue searching for unique destinations for her Cloud Forest experience.

We dropped in to experience the magic of Angel Paz and his feathered friends’ private performances.

Would you like to see a bit of what we’ve done so far?

Timeout for Ballet?

Tags

balletnacional de ecuador, Ecuador, Mindo Ecuador, national ballet of ecuador

“Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.” – Mary Oliver

A small poster in dramatic reds and blacks caught my attention last weekend; a stunning photo showcased a cluster of performers for the National Ballet, scheduled to perform on Tuesday September 6th. Taped to the door of the closed tourism office, the poster radiated a mystical allure. “Lazos de Tierra – Fiesta en el Mar” – A Free Event – Ballet Nacional de Ecuador.”
“Oh well,” I mused, “It would be nice to attend, though I don’t plan to go to Quito.”

Before resuming my errands, I decided to check the fine print for the location. Otavalo and Cuenca often have cultural events, and I was curious about what city would be hosting the performance.

Mindo! A ballet in petite Mindo?

I looked again to be sure I had read it correctly.

Yes, the National Ballet would be performing on Tuesday night! I enthusiastically passed the information to friends, and they seemed as surprised as I!

……. Fast forward to “Hora:  19:30 — Martes 6 de Septiembre”…..

Since my camera does not work well in low light, I wasn’t expecting to take many photos. Cynthia pointed out that the entire front row of chairs was basically empty, so we scampered forward and claimed a prime vantage point!!!

The curtain rose in almost total darkness, and the audience peered with collective expectations. As the lighting increased, the darkened forms of dancers began to rise from prone positions. I groped for my camera and managed to get a few blurred shots. The scene quickly morphed to full throttle, and as dramatic lighting showcased these talented dancers in stunning costumes, the camera performed quite well!

(A grayscale version of the top image is a bit easier to decipher…)

What follows is a pictorial summary of the event.

Ladies and gentlemen – please take your seats; the lights have dimmed!   Enjoy the show!

Twenty One Wishes?

Tags

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!” 

Spiraling through Good Times and Bad

Tags

earthquakes, Ecuador, Spirals

Creative Spirals with Corn

“Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost between two spiral arms in the outskirts of a galaxy, tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people.”  Carl Sagan

Hi from Mindo, where I’m here for a short time then back to the property.    Some of you ‘saw’ where Ecaudor was rocked last night by two more back-to-back earthquakes;  yes, the Mindo area rattled, though last night only one radio station mentioned the quakes which were 13 minutes apart.    

Timeout for Art & Friendship

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Ecuador, mindo, property for sale ecuador, Rio Cinto Ecuador, Timeout for Art, timeout for ecuador

Guess who flew in LAST NIGHT to help Zeebra?

Seeing Cotopaxi blowing off steam was quite sobering. (Photo taken from airport.

Standing at the arrivals gate, I held a sign that said, “Hummingbird.”  – Many of you will know what this means! (The following photo was taken when she helped design the magic carpet;  we had just finished painting the hummingbird for her home.)

(I forget how much taller I am than she is until I see a photo like this!)

Yes, my dear friend Barbara flew in from Panama last night and will be helping with various tasks in Mindo.   I handed her a new pair of work gloves last night, and we’ll purchase the mandatory boots in Mindo!   It will be fun to see what creative projects we tackle while she is here; for those interested, here’s a link to my friends’ property: A Little Bird Told Me

Speaking of gates, the all-seeing eye that watches over Casa Loca did not do the best job while I was in Mindo. My friends on the farm were trying to make the ‘bridge’ easier to use, but the workers forgot to clean up when finished!

New Month, New Week & a Bright, Bright Sun-shining Day!

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Bright Sun Shining Day, Ecuador, happy people

“Let’s get moving!” – Otavalo – Child in Bucket!

With great pleasure, I embrace the start of this week feeling much better! I’m not ready for the hurdles or pole-vaulting competitions, but as Johnny Nash’s lyrics state, ‘I think I can make it now, the pain is gone.’

Enjoy Jimmy Cliff’s version of the song while cyber-strolling through Playamart’s Ecuador files.

Pour a cup of coffee or tea – hot or chilled and take a magic trip to the middle of the world.  My neighbor Nelly will lead the parade!

Nelly at La Division

Smiling Nelly gets silly!

Jama Parade

Oh, to be tall! (No Chikungunya in those joints!)

“I can see all obstacles in my way!”

Jama Mermaid

San Vicente Cabalgata

Near Montechristi

It’s a bird.. it’s a plane.. it’s — SuperBarb!

Photo by Henry Groff

Marie Groff, Smiling with new friends in Cuenca!

Silly moments in Jama

End of Day – Tired but Smiling… (Jama)

The rain is gone!

It’s going to be a bright, bright sun shining day!

Every Grain of Sand

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coastal erosion, Ecuador, i won't back down, let's talk about sand, olas bravas el matal, tom petty

“In every outthrust headland, in every curving beach, in every grain of sand there is the story of the earth.” Rachael Carson El Matal Ecuador – June 6 – 11, 2015 The coastline along Playa El Matal continues to change daily.  This post will show images taken on June 9th and 11th, 2015.   Before seeing this week’s changes, let’s turn back time and take a peek at this beach as it was in June 2012.

One of the prettiest posts painted in 2012 anchored the end of the road. near the Coco Beach entrance…

2012

Maestro painting the light post. June 2012

From 2012.. Coco Beach entrance ahead… (From post-painting competition)

Let’s move forward to images from this week;  the image below shows the Coco Beach entrance at the end of the road:

Entrance to Coco Beach- June 8, 2015

Offense and Defense

Tags

aguaje, Ecuador, high tides on the pacific, playa el matal ecuador

El Matal, Jama, Manabi, Ecuador

El Matal-Manabi Province- Ecuador

Once upon a time, a friend of mine gave me some advice that I carry with me every day. He said, “Lisa, remember to be on the offensive, so that you never find yourself in the defensive mode.” That advice from my Episcopalian priest-friend has been some of the best advice I’ve ever received.

I have watched my friends take a proactive role after Mother Ocean took her first big bites from El Matal 18 months ago. They researched, brought in engineers and specialists and selected the sand-bag approach based on the advice they were given.

From 2014: One line of bags below ground level and a second half in and half out…

“The sand bags will buy you time to put a more long-term solution in place,” Engineer Daniel Santana suggested at a public meeting in March 2014.

A summary of those meetings and work done on the bags can be found HERE.

How well I remember the beauty of this beach.   Look at the image taken in June of 2012 during the post-painting competition…

From 2012.. Coco Beach entrance ahead… (From post-painting competition)

 

Mother Ocean played a sadistic card this past weekend, and the people of El Matal do not appreciate her sense of humor. The critical window during the high tides passed, and when everyone assumed there would be two weeks of relief, she played her trump card.  Most of the following images were taken at the same spot as the image above.

Looking ‘down’ the beach…

When I Grow Up…

Tags

central america, childhood dreams, costa rica, daily prompt, Ecuador

Nandayure/Guanacaste/ COSTA RICA

“Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him. We, people’s hearts, seldom say much about those treasures, because people no longer want to go in search of them. We speak of them only to children.   Later, we simply let life proceed, in its own direction, toward its own fate.” Paulo Coelho – The Alchemist

Years ago while I was visiting with expat friends and their on-vacation friends in Costa Rica, someone asked, “Did you ever dream when you were growing up that you’d live somewhere like this?”

Turning back time: Costa Rica – After the Competition

My mind peddled backwards, and within seconds I recalled a wanderlust dream from grammar school. I smiled wistfully and answered, “When I was in 5th grade, I wanted to live in Argentina and raise quarter horses.”

S is for Sonrisa! (Smile!)

Tags

costa rica, Ecuador, happy people, madres, mothers day, Panama, Smiles, sonrisas

Break time from kitchen duty! Doesn’t she have a genuine smile?

There are many great words that start with S in Spanish.  After I typed an assortment of words in the “New Post” page, I pondered the many photo options for those words.

Most people don’t particularly care for images of snakes; the word for a poisonous snake is serpiente. (Otherwise it’s culebra – correct me, Spanish speakers, if I’m wrong!)

I usually sign my emails and notes with the word siempre, which means always.

Sandia – watermelon would make a fun pictorial, as would sapo – toad.  (A frog is called a rana.)

Other helpful words are Sabor-Taste,   Sed-Thirsty, Salud-Health, Salud-Cheers, and Salud-Bless You! Last year I was walking down a quiet sidewalk in Cruzita, and two men were walking on the other side of the street.  One sneezed, and I automatically stated, “Salud!” and kept walking.  They looked over at me, were shocked to see an ‘outsider,’  and they chuckled – as did I!

Shunning all of the above, I present to you an assortment of sonrisas in honor of Mother’s Day! (The photos were taken in Ecuador unless otherwise noted.)  Enjoy!

Postcards from Zeebra’s Flying Carpet #3

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Ecuador, hand-painted floors, La Division, painting concrete floors, Places to eat in Jama Ecuador, Postcards from Zeebra Flyinc Carpet 3, restaurant exclusivo jama, Restaurant Exclusivo Jama Ecuador, where to eat in jama ecuador

What are those women doing today?!!!

Thanks, everyone, for your great feedback about the Postcard series! Barbara has enjoyed riding copilot in the WordPress seat, and one of these days she might join us with tales of her own! The riverhouse sits ‘one curve back’ from the mouth of the river, and during the rainy season, an amazing amount of debris washes past the house and later finds its way to the Playamart shelves! As the pelicans fly, the beach is very close; by land, one walks parallel to the beach about a mile to that petite village of La Division.

Alison and the shoe thief! (La Division Ecuador)

Did anyone else see the face?

The shrimp ponds prove year-round feasts for the birds.

One feels as if time has stopped when Jaime, one of the lone icons on the river, passes the house in his primitive boat.

Jaime, one of my downstream neighbors, often sets out crab traps and promised to bring us five dollars’ worth manana.   Little did any of us know that strong rains were in our future!

Global Warming and Daily Prompt

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Chimborazo, Ecuador, Ecuadors Melting Snow Caps, Global Warming, Melting Glaciers, Volcano Cayambe, Volcano Chimborazo, World Wetland Day, WP Daily Prompt Think Global Act Local

The WordPress Daily Prompt states this:  “Think global, act local.”  Write a post connecting a global issue to a personal one.”

Words failed us. We were no longer comfortably numb!

“At 6,268 metres (20,564 ft) ”Chimbo,” the highest peak in Ecuador and the farthest point from the center of the earth on the planet, will forever be branded in our hearts!”

(Above photo and quote from: Mystical Andes, published here on November 16, 2012.)

Several pages on my screen reflected an environmental issue as I pondered today’s WordPress Daily Prompt.  This post grants me an easy way to share those global concerns with you.

Light & Shadow – Illumination Through An Artist’s Eyes

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Dark and Light, Ecuador, Hacienda Guachala Ecuador, Light and Shadow, WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge - Illumination

First Light: Sun-drenched Datura

The WordPress photo challenge for this week is Illumination.    The above datura illustrates the dramatic effect of early-morning light.   The image below shows the opposite view, which also captures a golden beam of light while the rest of the landscape awaits its turn.

We often associate illumination with man-made objects like ethereal church windows or dreamy night-time settings. Artists often seek the sun’s dramatic light, which creates shadows that are just as important as the light.

Peaceful Chimborazo

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Chimborazo, Ecuador, Guaranda, Jakes Sunday Post Peaceful, Peaceful Landscapes, Snow Capped volcano

Jake’s Sunday Post prompts us for images that illustrate peaceful.   Here are some images that show the serene, peaceful Andean area between Volcano Chimborazo and Guaranda Ecuador.    Enjoy!  Z

Peer Closer Through Macro Photography

Tags

Butterflies, costa rica, Ecuador, Green Iguanas, Hermit Crabs, Insects, Let's Be Wild Photo Challenge Macro

The foliage thief nibbled himself too fat to squeeze back through the fence!

I’m honored that the image of a flaming sunset at Playa San Miguel was selected as one of the top five for last week’s Let’s Be Wild competition.  This week’s competition is for closeups.  Although my tough little Lumix camera doesn’t have macro accessories, it has a big heart and usually lassos the subject without much fuss.

Here are a few of my favorites.

INSPIRATION: Portrait of an Artist

Tags

Andes, Cuenca Tourist Police, Ecuador, Guaranda, i can do this painting workshops, memyblog, Portrait of an Artist, WordPress Daily Post INSPIRATION

Happily Immersed in the Andean city of Guaranda Ecuador, Lisa Brunetti critiques just-shot images of red-caped Indians. (Photo by Marie Groff)

WordPress hurled a curve ball today!   Thankfully the challenge works well with my life as an artist, naturalist and blogger.  Finding images for this challenge was an easy task!

“We want to know what inspires you. For this special mid-week photo challenge, we want to see portraits of you doing something that inspires you to blog  …  Show us photos of yourself doing things that inspire you to blog. Have a cooking blog? Let’s see you in the kitchen. Run a fitness blog? We want to see you in action. ” 

The above instructions used the words “portraits, photos’ and “doing THINGS,” so I jumped in with both feet and retrieved images that reflect those requests!

“Red Capes” in progress; Watercolor by Lisa Brunetti

What inspires me?  What doesn’t inspire me?!  The byline on my main blog states, “An Artist’s Eyes Never Rest.”  

Mystical Andes

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Ailsa Where's My Backpack Mystical, Chimborazo, Ecuador, HIghest peak in Ecuador

On retrospect, I think that this shaggy burro mystically appeared to lead us out of the Andean mist. (Photo by Marie Groff)

Ailsa’s prompt for this week’s challenge is Mystical. Before dashing off for the day, I wanted to share these images from a magical mystical Andean experience that brought tears to Marie’s eyes and to mine.  Hank, the intrepid driver, most likely suffered from our same affliction!

“Q” is for a Quinoa Farm!

Tags

Cayambe, Ecuador, Frizztext Story Challenge Q, Hacienda Guachala, Latitude 0, llamas, quinoa, Quinoa in fields, rose production

Trekking across quinoa fields near Cayambe Ecuador

While staying at Hacienda Guachala near latitude 0 in Ecuador’s Andes, Hank & Marie Groff and I toured a rose production center as well as a quinoa farm a few mornings ago.   The pastoral landscape soothed our senses as we journeyed through the Andean countryside, far off the beaten path.

How can one have a bad day when views like this soothe the senses?

Who forgot to close the gate?!

Disconnect from your worries and go with us!  We need someone to help with the gates!

SILHOUETTE – WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge

Tags

bamboo canya construction, Ecuador, Manabi, palm thatch roof, ramada roof, silhouette, wordpress weekly

Cristian earned his brief respite in the window!

A “ramada” project is underway at the riverhouse, and I have been observing every move like an inquisitive child.  I retrieve each tiny fragment of bamboo that’s discarded and add to the incubation corner for rainy day projects!

There have been several opportunities for images for the silhouette theme for the WordPress weekly Photo Challenge, so with no spare time for things cyber, I present the images then return to the project!

This & That – October

Tags

balsa boats of Playas Ecuador, Ecuador, high energy and rain, High Fives & Flutterbys, John and Mary McDonald, painting concrete floors, Pelicans, Playas Ecuador, San Clemente Ecuador, This & That

Amigos!  How great it feels to be well and 100% Zeebra again!   Your get-well wishes surely helped speed my recovery!  Thank you!

Zeebra Frog – Copyright Lisa Brunetti

I am recharged and in full-throttle creative mode!  On Sunday and Monday I prepped five or six large panels for painting – (three to five coats each!)  With a wheelbarrow, I moved a dump truck load of earth and then transplanted small trees and flowers to better locations. These bursts of energy* usually precede heavy rains.  Over the years, friends have witnessed this strange occurrence and stated, “You might have warned us.”    (*Do you think that a subtle change in barometer triggers my creative output, or does my creative output discharge into the atmosphere?!!!)

Tornadoes, straight-line winds, 30 inches of rain in one week – those are some of the most memorable storms that followed an energy binge!  Many times after painting for ten or twelve hours, I put down my brush, and half an hour later the rains begin.  The rain seems to diffuse my energy, and later I have little desire to paint or shovel or scrub the house spotless!  Every so often when I realize that I’ve been rolling for hours, I pull in my reins and say, ” Uh-oh… prepare for rain.”

We received a barely-noticeable drizzle last night, and I smiled.   It’s the first in months.  Typical for the first rain after the dry season, we also lost power!    We will lose power a lot in the next six months, so when I vanish from cyberspace, suspect lack of electricity!

A repair & maintenance and improvement project kicked off today at the river house.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Happy Circles!

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costa rica, Ecuador, happy people, Nicaragua, Republic of Panama, WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge Happy

“I LOVE MY JOB!” Mueso Cancebi – Manta Ecuador

WordPress updated gallery options for sharing images and asked us to test them.  *For this post, I am attempting to put each image in a circle of a spotlight.   Visit the WordPress DailyPost Home Base to see posts from all over the world!

Thank you, WordPress for the great weekly challenges.   Thanks, everyone, for your incredible feedback on last week’s Post on Solitary.  I hope to have a follow-up story on that old man as soon as I can retrieve more images trapped in an old hard drive!  

Thanks, also, for your support for the Inspirational post about my nephew Don.      I am blessed to have so much positive feedback and support.  He seems genuinely baffled that we think he’s a very special and unique person!

WordPress community: YOU ROCK!    I hope that these images make you smile!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Moment

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ceibo trees, Cruzita Ecuador, Ecuador, portoviejo ecuador, postaday, Weekly Photo Challenge, weekly photo challenge fleeting moments

Typical fleeting moment while travelling between Charapoto and Cruzita Ecuador.

(ECUADOR)  Yesterday I journeyed from Cruzita to Portoviejo for a final visit to the museum before next week’s opening reception of The Mola Series.   Armed with WordPress’s newest photo challenge, I stepped onto the bus with anticipation of the many fleeting moments that were about cross my visual path.  With camera in hand, I was ready to capture the photo opportunities that raced past my window!

Weekly Image of LIfe: Breathtaking 2

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costa rica, Ecuador, Iguana, NATURE, Rattlesnake, Sea Snake, spotted skunk, Weekly Image of LIfe, Weekly Image of Life: Breathtaking

Hang tight, baby monkey!

Here is a second round of images that depict “Breathtaking” in honor of the Island Traveler’s Weekly Image of Life.  

Let me know if any of the photos took your breath!

Weekly Photo Challenge: CREATE

Tags

Art in Ecuador, costa rica, Cruzita, Ecuador, El Matal, i can do this painting workshops, Jama, Lisa Brunetti, Post-Painting Competition, Weekly Photo Challenge, Weekly Photo Challenge: Creative, WordPress Post a Day

As I prepared to leave Cruzita for a long weekend at home (aka to build a goat-proof fence!) I saw this week’s Photo Challenge:  Create.

The query asked, “Have you snapped a picture of something you’ve created, or something someone else has created? ‘

I chuckled! What have I NOT photographed lately that wasn’t related to being creative?   I smiled, decided that the ‘next’ bus out of Cruzita would be just fine, and I began the arduous task of deciding which photos to share! (Or deciding which ones NOT to share!)

Solstice Photos June 20, 2012

Tags

Ecuador, Solstice, Solstice 2012

Honoring my expectations, the clouds parted so the sun could flash its solstice smile on Cruzita Ecuador. 

,

..

https://playamart.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/solstice-a-day-of-reflection/
May the sun escort this greeting around the world and place a smile in your heart!

¡Salud! 🙂  Z

My Cup Runneth Over

Tags

Bolon, Bolones from Plantains, Cancebi Museum, Chiva Bus, Cruzita Ecuador, Ecuador, Experience Ecuador, Hostal Cruzita, Jacqueline Simon, Lisa Brunetti, Manabi, Manta Ecuador, Museo Cancebi, Sarah Dettman, Semester at Sea, The Mola Series

This modest house transforms into a work of art beneath the street light!

Tipping out of Hostal Cruzita during the pre-dawn hours,  I stopped  for several photos on my way to the corner bus stop.  A full day awaited me at the Cancebi Museo in Manta, Ecuador, where The Mola Series Exhibition entered its third week.

A lone rooster broke the serene stillness of the morning  as he announced the arrival of the 5:20 bus to Manta.     Although I anticipated meeting the Experience Ecuador group at the Manta airport in less than two hours, I would never have dreamed that the next two days would bring such an amazing and diverse group of people into my life!

From Airport to Playa Tarqui to Museo Cancebi

Major Tom(boy) to Ground Control

Tags

Cruzita, Ecuador, Jama, Manta, The Mola Series

Oops!

Before dashing to the beach at La Division with my friends here in Ecuador, I updated a post on the wrong site!   Forgive me for juggling way too many balls and getting some of them mixed up!

Here’s the catch-up post: http://zeebradesigns.wordpress.com/2012/05/27/major-tom-to-ground-control/

More soon!

Z

 

BIRDING AROUND

Tags

Birding in Ecuador, Black-Crowned Night Heron, Cattle Egret, Ecuador, Frigate bird, pelican, Snowy Egret, Yellow Crowned Night Heron, zeebra, zeebra rocks

When high ebb coincides with sunrise and sunset,  a living work of art calls me to the river.  Thousands of waterbirds punctuate certain areas of the mangroves, and to my good fortune, they roost in my little slice of heaven!  During nesting season (now!) their numbers swell, and the cacophony builds as the sun slinks toward the horizon.  With paddle in one hand and camera in the other, I shove the kayak into the water and join them.

Detours

Tags

Camarones Ecuador, Cruzita Ecuador, Cruzita Lodging, Ecuador, Hostal Cruzita, Jama, Playa Escondida, Tasaste Ecuador, Vista Pacifica

Last week brought several delightful surprises;  the first was a brilliant eclipse on ‘Carnival Sunday.’    I was painting outside and happened to look up and see the halo ringing the mid-day sun.  Many others experienced the same unexpected show overhead, which might have been an omen of more torrential rains.  It also might have been a good omen of unexpected guests!

“Jama Me!” (Ecuador)

Tags

Barbudo Ciragan, Ecuador, El Matal, Jama, Lalo Loor Dry Forest, Manabi, Map Don Juan Ecuador, Map Jama Ecuador, Map Tasaste Ecuador, Playa Escondida, Tasaste, Vista Pacifica, Zeebra Map Jama Ecuador, Zeebra Maps

Til the Cows Come Home

Jama is one of those sleepy little areas along Ecuador’s Pacific Coast where life slows down and reminds you of ‘the good old days.’  Although Jama Proper is a large town which includes a futbol stadium, fairgrounds and a museum,  the wide streets have more foot traffic than cars.

IT’S NOT WHAT ONE HAS PLANNED FOR THE DAY….

Tags

Don Juan, Ecuador, El Matal, Jama, Lalo Loor, Library, Manabi, Tasaste

“A Maracuya Day!”

It’s not always what we have planned for the day, but what the day has planned for us!  This week brought two visitors to my doorway –  Rycardo, my sculptor friend, and Sergio, the director for tourism for the canton of Jama, Ecuador.   After finishing a painting (Bamboo) and posting “A FRAGILE BALANCE” for the Zeebra Designs website, I was happy to disconnect from art and visit with my friends!                                                                                               Sergio, originally from Chile,  has spearheaded a renaisance of the arts in Jama;  Rycardo and I have been helping!   As we tossed around ideas for future projects,  Sergio saw the latest Zeebra Map (in progress) on the drawing board.    He asked if I would draw an additional one for Jama “proper” then volunteered to drive me around the canton.

From the Deck, A Bird List

Tags

Ecuador, Ecuador Bird List. Birding, frigate, kingfisher, pelican

A birding friend recently asked, “How many birds can you see from your front door?”

I retrieved my modest scribblings and began to count.  Though not taken from the vantage point of the door,  this list documents birds seen from the deck that faces the river.

Los Anos Viejos

Tags

Ano Viejo, Ecuador, effigies, New Year's in Ecuador

In flaming tradition, Ecuadorians say goodbye to the old year with “Anos Viejos.”   From elaborate works of art to primitive attempts, these effigies often adorn front porches and doorways as the end of the year approaches.

 Sometimes stuffed with fireworks, the Anos Veijos honor the tradition of burning away the old year as the new one arrives.