Our last week in Cuenca...

We are wrapping up our 7 month stay with many wonderful memories and fabulous experiences.  Our hearts are bittersweet because we are looking forward to going home to our kids, family, friends and dog.  However, we leave behind dear friends that are our kindred spirits, just like many of you at home!  We are definitely torn between two worlds!

We also leave behind a lifestyle we will not be able to re-create in the US.  If you have been following our blog, you know that we eat fresh fruit and vegetables daily, walk between 5 and 8 miles each day and enjoy lots of volunteering and outdoor activities.

The past month we have shared our life with many friends and family.  

Sunshine!

Ziplining in Banos

Classic Raderstorf Boys!

Los Hermanos arrived and did a whirlwind tour of Ecuador.  With the ziplining in Banos as a highlight.  They did lots of other fun activities.  I don't think any of them at cuy (guinea pig)

Dinner with Maureen and Phyllis

Hiking in Cajas

Our second visitor was Phyllis, our next door neighbor in Minneapolis.  She came for a week and we had a great time.  We did some hiking in Cajas, went to the spa, and explored the Cuencano art scene and enjoyed hanging around. We also went to see the Canari Ruins in SigSig.  With Phyllis here, it felt like I was at home again.

After Phyllis left, Las Cunadas arrived!  (sisters-in-law)  Another great time! We spent one day at the  spa, another day touring some small towns outside of Cuenca where we saw Canari ruins.  The Canari people pre-date the Incas by thousands of years.  We went on an art tour and had great bike ride.  The bike ride was all down hill and ended in a small town.  We then took a truck to a spectacular waterfall and had an amazing trout lunch.

Mud Baths

Las Cunadas on the old Canari road, this pre-dates the Incas!

Sculptures by Miguel Illeascas

We then had a more visitors and did ziplining, biking, eating at great restaurants.  It was really fun to have everyone come and visit.  Jenna was here for almost 2 weeks. It was wonderful to have her here that long.  Here are some photos of people you may recognize!  Diane and her sister, Sandy were here also, but I don't have any photos of them!  :-(

Ziplinig with Monica, Mary, Nancy and Jenna.  We loved it!

Miles and Leslie Anderson.  

Ziplining with the Anderson/Plunket Family and Cuencano  friends

Rob and Julia 

Enjoying a beer after our bike ride to Giron.  Note the Waterfall in the background

Volunteering in Cuenca

         Ecuador is a beautiful country as evidenced by the numerous photos we have posted on this blog. Breathtaking landscapes and very friendly people abound.  But underneath all this natural beauty are natives living in very poor conditions.  The World Bank estimates that 33% of the population is Ecuador is below the poverty line, which the government has established as a few hundred dollars a month for a family of four.  One out of every 3 Ecuadorians live in poverty!

       I see this poverty everyday when I head to the El Arenal Foundation, a non-profit that serves kids from families that work in the large commercial market in Cuenca.  There are hundreds of hard working Cuencanos working in this market, Feria Libre, selling anything from newspapers, to clothing, to vegetables and fruits.  The more fortunate ones have a permanent stand or “tienda”.  Many just sell their strawberries or cherries or belts or wallets from baskets or wheelbarrows on the street corners.

      The market is not a healthy environment for kids to hang out at.  The foundation was set up as alternative for children in the market.  Rather than shine shoes, sell newspapers, or get into mischief, the foundation provides a positive refuge for the kids to do their homework and grow socially.

        When I first started volunteering at the Foundation back in November, I spent most of my time assisting the kids (age 6 to 13) with their homework. This was a bit challenging for me because of my limited Spanish, but I soon realized that math problems have no language barriers and 2+2 =4 in any country – Que Bueno! 
         As I got to know the kids and staff, things just naturally evolved for me to take on other responsibilities.  The Turkey Trot and Jingle Bell Run was a fun way to involve other Gringos (expats) in fundraising activities.  The Director of the foundation, Betty Valarezo, learned that Linda was an instructor in Nutrition, and she approached Linda about putting on a nutrition class for the kids.  Their diet is quite unbalanced …lots of starches, rice, potatoes, etc and very little fruits and vegetables, even though these foods are so plentiful. Linda adopted her nutrition education program that she had developed for the inner city kids through City of Lakes Loppet Ski Foundation.  The goal was to get the kids to experience different, healthy foods.  Each class module was followed by the kids preparing the food for the next day’s snack.  We concluded the Nutrition program in late February with a two-hour class for the parents.  This was attended by over 30 parents…their good questions showed that these parents are very concerned about providing healthy foods to their kids

Linda instructs the kids with the help of interpreter Anika

Snack served by the kids

Chicken and red pepper delight

Cutting pineapple

These kids know how to use knifes!

Linda and interpreter Sandra teach the parents

What are healthy foods to eat?  

The moms prepare a healthy meal 

       I have noticed violent behavior, mostly roughhousing among the kids, both boys and girls.   The staff have shared with me that family violence is quite prevalent as is alcoholism.   Single moms head up over half of the families.   I approached the social worker about doing a home visit so I could get a better understanding of these home situations.  I was able to visit the home of my two favorite kids, Armando and Wilman, and what an eye – opener that was! This family of four lives in a one-room house no bigger than your average bedroom.  The boys share a small bed and mom and dad have a small bed.  No refrigeration, only a two-burner stove.  A small 3-foot long bench serves as their eating area, and clothes are hung from the ceiling on long wooden rods.  Three  families share an outdoor toilet and shower.  The family has been living in this house for 11 Years!   Dad works as a cartadora (Cart pusher/ carry out boy) and mom sells vegetables on the street…. Bringing home $10 a day is a good day for both of them!  Count your blessings everybody! 

Armando and Wilman's Happy Family

      As I have thought about what can I do to make a sustainable contribution to the foundation, I noticed a foundation website in Spanish and English was sorely lacking.  With Betty’s blessing, a talented team of 6  Gringos has formed to create a top notch  website, including links to social funding sites.  So if you are thinking of ways you could help out the Foundation – hold that kind thought…we hope to be live with our new website in a month and you could make a contribution then!

     We have had many visitors come in the past month, including my 4 Brothers and brother-in-law Tom, my 3 cunadas (sister-in-laws), my sister Kim, and our good friend and neighbor  Phyllis.

The Cunadas and Kim at Cajas Nacional Parque

Enjoying a Pilsner after a long uphill bike ride!

The 6 Hemanos in front of the Old Church

On the Way to Banos 

We have had muy divertido showing people this beautiful area.  Daughter Jenna arrives tomorrow and 4 other families will be coming before April 15^th.  We are definitely in full swing with our tour guide hats on!

Sadly, we will be leaving for home on May 9, but we know we belong in Minnie!!

Gringos on Parade!




Mark and I enjoy a good celebration. No surprise to most of you. This past month has been no exception! We started off with my birthday, moved on to Valentine’s Day and then the big one: Carnaval!



We celebrated my birthday with a great party at our friends’  house, Miriam and Fernando. It was a dance party and we were lucky enough to have lots of friends join us for dancing, conversation, and a really great chocolate cake!



We decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day by spending the night at a beautiful resort in the Cajas Mountains. It’s about a 45-minute drive, so we called a taxi to take us out. Everything was going well, until the taxi started to smell like burning rubber and steam was pouring out of the engine. So, we stopped and Mark and I hoofed it and looked for a ride along the way. We did stop and ask for a ride from two people who turned out to be drunks in a truck that wouldn’t start, and so we went back to hitchhiking. We finally did find a ride after a couple of miles and our Valentine’s day was back on track.

Mark making the fire in our room

We had a great meal in the dining room, had a wonderful room (with Jacuzzi and fireplace) and the next day we had yet another fantastic hike in the Andean Mountains. Truly, a Valentine’s Day to remember!

View from Dos Correra (two waterfalls)

Those two celebrations were terrific, but Carnaval tops them all!

All the "Carnaval Goers"

We are very fortunate because we have some friends who have included us in many Ecuadorian traditions and celebrations. The Palacios invited us to join them in their annual Carnaval celebration. Of course, we accepted right away! We invited a few other friends to join us, rented costumes, bought the foamy, spongey stuff to spray and readied ourselves for the Carnaval experience. You can see from the photos that it’s something that just doesn’t happen in the U.S. Water and the spray foam stuff is a huge part of the event. We were covered with foam several times over; all part of the fun. Unfortunately, one of our friends had an allergic reaction to the stuff and had to leave the festivities early. However, we “ partied on “ in her honor and attended a concert and danced much of the night.

Maureen, Linda and Cody bring "Cougars" to Ecuador

Ken, Fabian and Mark are ready to "Par-Tay"

Our Float

The Palacios Children

Ken and Mark marching toward a storm of foamy spray

Nati on the float

Juan D and Nati

Mark has gotten adept at “sniffing out” potential water-balloon-bombers. He can hear laughing and talking and sure enough as we walk closer a water balloon comes our way. So far, we have avoided most direct hits, but we have one more day to go!



We are famous! I was interviewed during the parade and my quote and our photo has ended up in the paper! Here’s the link. Scroll all the way down to see Mark (in top hat) Me behind him and some of our friends. My quote is in the 4th paragraph and here’s the translation.

Carnaval article, scroll to bottom for photo

Las Mujeres

“"In America we have a Carnival party,but we have no Carnival Parade. We're very happy here. Paute is the best town in Azuay (province) to celebrate. "Viva la Carnival " said Linda Armstrong of the U.S., while dancing samba with five of their compatriots who were dancing with the club UDE.”

The Palacios partying in the rain!

Monica with her dance troupe

Paute

The best to all of you!

Paute where the parade took place

Exploring Beautiful Ecuador

This past month has been a magnificent month for Linda and I as we explore this beautiful country, both near and far.  Locally we have been riding out into the country  surrounding Cuenca on Sunday mornings with a local biking club.  Our Spanish is still not the best, so we follow the faithful leaders of the club, often not knowing if we are going 5 miles or 50.  But these rides always lead to stunning countryside and new friendships.  

Luis, Fabian, Jr., and Mark on their 50km ride to Paute

Our Canadian friends and Linda take a break on ride to San Joaquin valley

The Couple that bikes together, stays together! 

      We continue to take Wednesdays off from our volunteer activities and Spanish classes, and we take a "day trip" to local towns by bus.  The highlight trip this past month was a day trip to Alausi, a little town set dizzyingly on a river gorge.  Ecuador built a railroad in the Andes Mountains over 100 years ago, and Alausi is the last place the trains stops before it makes a plunge down the gorge to Nariz del Diablo (Devil's nose).  It was quite an engineering feat to build these one of a kind railroad "switchbacks", and we so enjoyed sticking our heads out the train car.

Ron, Linda and MArk on Cajas National PArk 

When South of the Equator, which side does the moss grow on?

Train ride to the Devil's Nose

Check out the switchback below

The Devil's Nose - notice the Blue Bustrain on it way back up

Mark, Bill, Lawrence, Cody and Linda at the end fo the line

      We just returned from 8 day trip to Northern Ecuador and points east, including the Amazon Jungle.  We were so fortunate to be guests of our Friends, Lynn and Sean Tracey,  at their home inside  Hacienda Cusin, near Otavalo.  We had a wonderful 3 days at this tranquil, restored 17th century hacienda. One of our best hikes ever took us around a volcanic crater lake named Cuicocha, famous for the the two islands. 

Sean and Lynne's home at Hacienda Cusin

View from front yard - Volcan Imbabura guard the llamas 

Lynne shows us the garden at Haceinda Cusin

Lago Cuicocha- no fish in this lake - bubbles stil rising form the Volcan

LTD!

      From Otavalo, we headed east to the Amazon jungle.  Getting to the jungle is not an easy task.  We first took a 5 hour van ride to the jungle town of Tena. From there we took a 90 minute bus ride down a dusty road, we were greeted by our Liana Lodge hosts for a 2 mile canoe ride deep in the forest. But the long travel time was worth every minute of it. There was no electricity at our cabin and so relaxing to be off the grid.  Our wonderful guide , Angel, showed so many things in the rainforest, gigantic primary forest trees, huge insect nests, pretty flora, unique birds, and off course, monkeys!  We loved the nice deck of the lodge, where we ate all our meals, and relaxed over drinks every evening. 

our jungle cabin - reading by candlelight at night

Our Guide Angel and new German friend, Biggie

Biggie and Linda enjoy the vegetation

out tucan friend

50 of these furry friends came to visit one morning

Our favorite evening spot

       Our last night of our trip was spent in Banos, arguably the prettiest town in Ecuador.

Although a bit touristy, this scenic Andes town is nestled up against a still active volcano. We enjoyed a 2 hour bike ride down the valley, followed by a hike to some beautiful falls.  I look forward to returning back to Banos at the end of February when my brothers come to Ecuador - some zipllining and bungee jumping will be the order of the day

Banos park and church

Banos at Sunrise

Diablo Falls

We thank all our family and friends for helping make this dream come true!