Ryan ended up taking me to Papallacta! It really was a surprise up until we got off the bus at Supermaxi in Cumbaya. By then I realized there must be only one place we were going.
Papallacta is a small little town (if you can even call it that) far up in the Andes. It's a tourist destination because of the thermal baths. See, Papallacta sits near Antisana, a volcano, that heats the natural springs. Ryan could sit in a thermal bath for hours. Me on the other hand, I get a little too sleepy in them. Papallacta was the perfect place for both of us because in addition to thermal baths there is GREAT hiking in the area. We did absolutely beautiful two hikes! What's better than a thermal bath after a nice long hike? It was really great! We both came back feeling rested and relaxed.
Photos to come!
MULUB,
Taylor
Monday, February 14, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Valentine's Day
This is our second Valentine's Day here in Ecuador! Last year we went away for the weekend to Otavalo. It was our first little trip outside of Quito. We had a great time, except for the part when Ryan got sick for 3 days because he got dehydrated on a hike. Oops! We've learned a lot since then about traveling together and about hiking together. To celebrate Valentine's Day last year, my parents graciously (as always) let us go out to dinner at ZAZU on them (you all know how much we love ZAZU).
We were talking about Valentine's Day this year and we realized that our Valentines 2010 weekend was the last time that we've gone away just the two of us. In March we got Chuki and since then we haven't traveled too much just the two of us. So we decided that we'd go away again just the two of us this year!
Ryan has been planning the whole thing! I'm super excited because I love surprises! Chuki went to Sebas's for the weekend and we're leaving right now. I thought at first that we were going to the beach but a few nights ago at dinner Ryan said I needed to bring warm clothes and a swimsuit. So I'm not sure where were going!
Instead of trying to figure out where we're going, I've been trying to figure out what to bake to bring with. We're going to bring some food, because the place we're staying at is a little pricey. I'm thinking heart shaped cookies and red velvet cupcakes, but I'm not sure. I also made this awesome chewy granola when we went to Quilotoa for us to munch on during the hike. It was supposed to be bars, but they fell apart. I'm thinking a repeat attempt is in order.
Other than that, I'm just excited to be going someplace new, just the two of us! Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!
MULUB,
Taylor
We were talking about Valentine's Day this year and we realized that our Valentines 2010 weekend was the last time that we've gone away just the two of us. In March we got Chuki and since then we haven't traveled too much just the two of us. So we decided that we'd go away again just the two of us this year!
Ryan has been planning the whole thing! I'm super excited because I love surprises! Chuki went to Sebas's for the weekend and we're leaving right now. I thought at first that we were going to the beach but a few nights ago at dinner Ryan said I needed to bring warm clothes and a swimsuit. So I'm not sure where were going!
Instead of trying to figure out where we're going, I've been trying to figure out what to bake to bring with. We're going to bring some food, because the place we're staying at is a little pricey. I'm thinking heart shaped cookies and red velvet cupcakes, but I'm not sure. I also made this awesome chewy granola when we went to Quilotoa for us to munch on during the hike. It was supposed to be bars, but they fell apart. I'm thinking a repeat attempt is in order.
Other than that, I'm just excited to be going someplace new, just the two of us! Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!
MULUB,
Taylor
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Chicken (almost) Marsala
The dinner duties have been divvied up depending on who has night classes. It's been changing a lot lately because of our schedules changing. Often times, one of us gets home and we have a conversations something like... R: "I thought you were making dinner tonight."T: "I thought you were making dinner tonight." You get the picture. It's late and we're hungry and there's nothing made. Last week we had one of these nights and I decided that I would go ahead and make dinner, as Ryan had been making dinner a lot lately. I was completely uninspired to make anything, but of course we were both pretty hungry. So I consulted the usuals (smittenkitchen, 101 cookbooks, budget bytes, and sing for your supper) but nothing sounded oh my word, i have to make this right now good. Plus we didn't have too many ingredients in the house. I decided on Chicken Marsala after browsing Taste Spotting for inspiration (always does the trick). But of course, we don't like mushrooms and we didn't have actual Marsala. So I took a little from this and a little from that and the result was delicious!
Here's what I did for the two of us:
CHICKEN - Salt, pepper and flour two chicken pieces (bone in and skin on). Heat oil till hot. Sear on each side for 3 minutes. Remove from heat but keep them warm (I put ours on a plate in the toaster oven).
BACON - Reduce heat of the oil. Add chopped bacon. Brown. Remove from heat but keep warm (I put the pieces on the plate with the chicken in the toaster oven).
VEGGIES - Chop 1 onion and 3 peppers. Mince lots of garlic. Put veggies and garlic in the pan over medium low heat. Season. Add chicken. Cook until veggies are tender and chicken is almost done. Add a big handful of spinach, the bacon and about a cup of red wine. Cover. Simmer until ready.
I served this garlic mashed potatoes and lemony green beans. Everything was ready in about 30 minutes and it was delicious. Make sure to enjoy it with the rest of the wine! Even we were fancy and had wine from the bottle (not a box)!
Here's what I did for the two of us:
CHICKEN - Salt, pepper and flour two chicken pieces (bone in and skin on). Heat oil till hot. Sear on each side for 3 minutes. Remove from heat but keep them warm (I put ours on a plate in the toaster oven).
BACON - Reduce heat of the oil. Add chopped bacon. Brown. Remove from heat but keep warm (I put the pieces on the plate with the chicken in the toaster oven).
VEGGIES - Chop 1 onion and 3 peppers. Mince lots of garlic. Put veggies and garlic in the pan over medium low heat. Season. Add chicken. Cook until veggies are tender and chicken is almost done. Add a big handful of spinach, the bacon and about a cup of red wine. Cover. Simmer until ready.
I served this garlic mashed potatoes and lemony green beans. Everything was ready in about 30 minutes and it was delicious. Make sure to enjoy it with the rest of the wine! Even we were fancy and had wine from the bottle (not a box)!
Ryan's Back
That's right! Ryan is back to blogging. He should be posting at least one blog a week. So all y'all who prefer him to me, give him a hard time when he doesn't post enough!
MULUB,
Taylor
MULUB,
Taylor
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Taxis
At the behest of Taylor I am writing a blog. Lets start of with a little poll to see what people know of the subject matter:
So? How'd ya do?
Really, in Ecuador, this is more of a philosophical/metaphysical question than an absolute. As such, there are no right answers, so be prepared for some SOCRATIC METHOD to be thrown at your candy ass!!!
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| The Macho Man is not impressed with your faulty logic,OHHH YEAAHH!!! |
Now from my experience this is not always case. Say, for example, I have an empty tank of gas and I want to get up the hill to the bodega so I can refill it. I'll put out my hand to hail the taxi and the driver will look me in the eye and go all Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo on me.
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| REJECTED!!! |
Another time we were waiting with our cart outside our friendly neighborhood Megamaxi, which looks like this during the day:
.... and this when danger strikes:
So Taylor and and I were waiting by the curb and I hailed a cab. He drives into the circle and sees our cart and motions "no not you, them" and points at a couple of bimbos just walking out of the store with just a few bag. Well, you can guess where this is headed. The bimbos entered the cab. It was obvious that we had been waiting and had also hailed the cab, but why should they worry their pretty little heads about common human decency or an unwritten code. This isn't Nam. There are rules.
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| The next cabbie to pass me up is going to enter a world of pain. |
Quilotoa Weekend
Last weekend we went to Quilotoa with Sebas and Chuki! It was a great time, seriously a great time, but you probably wouldn't think that due to the lack of posting about it! Well, Ryan and I have been super duper busy with classes lately so, at least for me, there's been little extra time as I get used to my new schedule.
Let's start with last weekend -
Sebas came and picked us up from our place on Friday night and took us to his awesome house in Cumbaya (the valley). Ryan and I are both pretty sure that he likes Sebas's house more than he likes our house. He's no fool either, at Sebas's he has a big kennel, a big yard and more people to play with him. He basically loves it!
We spent the night at Sebas's because we were getting up early to head to Quilotoa. His Aunt made us dinner and it was delicious guatitita! Something we MUST learn how to make before we come home, which I believe will involve purchasing a pressure cooker which in turn will make Ryan SUPER happy!
Saturday we got up and left around 8 or so for Quilotoa. The men strapped Chuki's crate into the back of the pick up and off we went. This was the longest time Chuki's ever spent in his crate (by a lot!) and he did OK. He sat for most of the trip, which I can't imagine was comfortable but whatever! No crying, no whining, no trying to escape and actually no potty breaks.
We got to Quilotoa and it was just as beautiful as I expected. We hiked down to the water, ate our sandwhich lunch that I had made that morning and then hiked back up to the rim of the crater.
As we were getting ready to leave one of the other dogs in the parking lot stole Chuki's big knuckle bone that we had bought him in Chicago! Ryan chased the dog down for a bit but without success. We left knowing we probably had just made that dog's year!
On our way to Banos we stopped in Salcedo for ice cream. According to Sebas, it's an Ecuadorian tradition. Every family has 'their helado' spot. This was his family's place!
Then we went to Banos because Sebas's Aunt has a house (different Aunt then the guatita making Aunt) there. It was such a cool old house! We both told Sebas that he needs to fix up the house and start renting it out, it was that cool!
We went for dinner at Luna Runtun, which is a beautiful hotel on Tunguragua (a currently active volcano) that over looks all of Banos. It was really beautiful. Then we spent the night dancing in a couple of the different discos in downtown Banos.
Sunday morning Chuki and I got up and went on a hike in Banos to the Virgin.
Then we drove home but the drive was INCREDIBLE. The way between Banos and Quito is called Ruta de los Volcanes because you're supposed to be able to see all of the volcanoes. The problem is we've gone that way tons of times and it's never been clear enough to see all of them. Well Sunday, we were in luck and we got to see every single one CLEARLY!
When we got home we were so tired that we just watched movies and napped all day. Chuki slept straight from when we got home (about 11am) until the next morning at 7am. It was an amazing weekend! THANKS SEBAS!
MULUB,
Taylor
Let's start with last weekend -
Sebas came and picked us up from our place on Friday night and took us to his awesome house in Cumbaya (the valley). Ryan and I are both pretty sure that he likes Sebas's house more than he likes our house. He's no fool either, at Sebas's he has a big kennel, a big yard and more people to play with him. He basically loves it!
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| Sebas's Yard |
 |
| The Kennel at Sebas's House |
Saturday we got up and left around 8 or so for Quilotoa. The men strapped Chuki's crate into the back of the pick up and off we went. This was the longest time Chuki's ever spent in his crate (by a lot!) and he did OK. He sat for most of the trip, which I can't imagine was comfortable but whatever! No crying, no whining, no trying to escape and actually no potty breaks.
 |
| Chuki's crate in the back of Sebas's pick up |
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| Quilotoa |
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| The clouds coming down into the lake |
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| A little bit later in the afternoon |
On our way to Banos we stopped in Salcedo for ice cream. According to Sebas, it's an Ecuadorian tradition. Every family has 'their helado' spot. This was his family's place!
Then we went to Banos because Sebas's Aunt has a house (different Aunt then the guatita making Aunt) there. It was such a cool old house! We both told Sebas that he needs to fix up the house and start renting it out, it was that cool!
 |
| The entrance to Sebas's Aunt's House |
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| At dinner at Luna Runtun |
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| Downtown Banos |
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| The city of Banos from above. |
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| Not a bad way to start the morning, with the beauty of the Andes. |
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| Chimborazo |
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| Cotopaxi |
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| Illinizas |
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| Antisana |
MULUB,
Taylor
Friday, January 28, 2011
Egypt
Here are a couple of links about the conflict in Egypt. I can't help but think about our 'baby' coup we had here in Ecuador last September. All that is happening in Cairo really puts that in perspective. My first thought goes to all of the young foreigners, like myself and Ryan, who are in Cairo studying or teaching English trying to broaden their understanding of the world and happen to experience history in the making. One of the girls I studied abroad with in Prague, Reilly, is currently living in Cairo studying at the American University there. It's been so interesting to follow her updates and posts on facebook that I thought I would post some of them for you. Keep Reilly and the whole nation of Egypt in your thoughts and prayers today and until there's peace.
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/jan/28/egypt-protests-live-updates
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/middleeast/29unrest.html?_r=1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12311007
Here are just a couple of her status updates
2 hours ago -
http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/jan/28/egypt-protests-live-updates
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/middleeast/29unrest.html?_r=1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12311007
Here are just a couple of her status updates
2 hours ago -
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| Today in Tahrir Square |
And here's a photo that Reilly reposted. She's actually headed to Tahrir Square now.
MULUB,
Taylor
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