I ... just....can't.... STOP!!! The clicking is consuming my life!!

I think its genetic, maybe coming from the O'Donnell side... somewhere in Toronto... wait, Etobicoke I think!

Yeah, I have apparently exceeded my photo album allowance and have been told to delete some picture. Because that is the most absurd thing I have ever heard I have decided to open a new photo account. I will add a link below the other one on the right side of the blog.

Snapfish Album

One album (Colombia and Otavalo) has been disected between the two sites. sorry.

This is a lot more complicated than the other photo thing, but we will see how it goes.

Danger.... Danger Bay!!

So, I have been living such a tranquil life here in Quito the last couple months I decided a couple weeks ago that I should start living up to my middle name, Danger, .... and go on some WILD, potentially life-threatening adventures..... or misadventures..

Colombia Bumblia
My first excursion was to Colombia, about 12 whole kms across the border too! When I heard that some friends of mine were going to take a trip across the border to renew their visas I thought it looked like a perfect opportunity to get a Colombian stamp on my passport (p.s. apparently now they have resorted to terribly ugly computer printed 'stamps' as opposed to fancy, colourful, and UNIQUE stamps of the old days ... very disappointing).

Unfortunately, maybe because I am not a very good liar to begin with, I could not convince myself that I had actually been to Colombia. Really, in my very rational mind, crossing the border to renew a passport (even if you stay a few days as I did in the closest town) is essentially the same as having a stop-over in a different country but never leaving the airport. You can't, by law of rationalism, say that you have really been to that country. That's just a dirty deceiving LIE!

A note on traveling to Colombia: When people tell you that the Ecuadorian side of the border is wet and cold, don't be fooled by Colombia's tropical reputation that the Colombian side of the border won't also be frigid. Ipiales, which lies about 10kms across the border was rainy and cold... and I was not at all prepared to say the least. We sucked it up though and headed for the nearest pub. On our last day there we made a wee journey to frequent pilgrimage site of El Sanctuario de Las Lajas, an intriguing gothic style church. There were so many people there visiting, on the walk down to the church the walls are covered in plaques from donors or people who had experienced miracles. One of my favourite parts about visiting shrines like this is seeing the economic opportunities some people make out of it. Walking down to the church we passed vendor after vendor selling everything from religious paraphernalia to roasted cuy (aka guinea pig), and traumatizing eye flickering crucifix holograms.... among other things! (sorry I don't know how to rotate the video).

In the end, my trip to Colombia, the country with more kidnappings than the ENTIRE WORLD COMBINED (or so the rumour I am spreading goes) turned out to be pretty danger-free.

Evacuation Station
My next peligroso adventure was this weekend when I went on a volcano chasing excursion. You know how there are people who chase tornados, well I was chasing a volcano. Now, I realize that volcanoes are relatively immobile, but the task turned out to be much trickier than I had expected.

Presently, some 135 km south of Quito the Tungurahua Volcano is erupting. According to the papers, "Hot and dangerous lava was due to reach the town of Baños, which has 15,000 residents, on Monday". Well its nice to see that the Chinese online news were able predict (though incorrectly) the course of the eruptions, because due to some unexpected clouds I was hardly able to get a decentglimpses of Tungurahua at all. Friday night I stayed in the village of Pelileo, a little farther north of Baños where the view is supposed to be good. I actually set my alarm three times that night to get up to see if I could spot some explosions, but NOTHING!! The clouds were think all they into day. That day I went with two friends into Baños where we participated in a very relaxed and actually quite spirited mock evacuation. It was funny. Here we were, the whole town walking through the streets, the National Police in dust masks and the tourists running around trying to get pictures from every possible angle. Yes, really quite interesting. Anyway, on our way back to the town to have dinner... that's right, I said I was living dangerously didn't I, I caught a glimpse of a wee poof of smoke and dust rising into the sky above the clouds. So, with that I was as satisfied as I could be; the nasty weather foiled my plan once again. And off I went to catch the 45 minute late no explinations bus to the jungle.

Birthday Salute....

Happy Birthday Mr. Ormsby. Hope you have a terrific day (and party night). If you see that crazy MacDaddy give him a big birthday kiss for me! Take care, wish I could be there.

Joyeux Anniversaire Maman!

Have a spectacular bday in la Ville des Lumières!

New Photo Album

Hi there. I have just started a new photo album on the "More Pictures" link that is dedicated entirely to interesting graffiti and propaganda. Everywhere you look here there are tons of subliminal messages, whether by the government or by the public. I find the ones sponsored by the government most interesting. Maybe we have messages like this at home and I just don't notice them, but the ones here seem to stick right out. For example, the messages frequently encourage the reader to take a greater role in his/her life. In Guatemala there used to be a huge billboard along the side of the highways that read (in spanish of course) "The Future is in Your Hands". Another genre of gov't propaganda here is health related. In Lima there were always signs hanging below street signs that read something about always remembering to wash your hands. Similarly, I often see signs encouraging people to mind the environment, keep public parks proper and water clean. Anyway, I will try to take pictures whenever I can. Hope you find this as interesting as I do.

Centro Historico Quito

I just went on a wee day trip today down to the Old Quito City. I love it so much because the architecture is really gorgeous and so colourful.... one might even say stunning (Michaelle??).
Anyway, here are a few select pictures. I will post more in the Quito album on the more pictures link. Enjoy.

p.s. I am open to visitors if you like it enough.







The boys...... busy.

Anyone recognize??

Closer look??

Mmmmm donuts...

Boogie Boarding rocks my world / kicks my ass (multiple times)

I spent Canada Day 2006 on Ecuador's northern coast in the beach town of Atacames. No worries Sara, festivities were not forgotten. Thanks to Valeria, myself and 3 other friends (including one very cooperative American) were well decorated with Canadian flags and maple leaf tatoos. The weather wasn't that fantastic, pretty overcast, I guess due to the season here, but that didn't stop us from hitting the beach. Anyone who knows me will know that I am not one to dive into the water, but thankfully the water here was quite warm.

We started the weekend off with, surprise surprise, the England-Portugal game.... a little beach time, then the France-Brazil game in the afternoon. When we finally got the obligatory soccer watching out of the way we were really able to take advantage of the beach. I have never been surfing, nor do I really feel that comfortable in the ocean (I feel like I am going to be dragged away), so body surfing was a terrific place to start... and HECK was it fun!!

I don't know why, but saturdays waves were more gentle on me... I guess a kind introduction. The first wave was amazing. My friend Julie and I were both waiting to take it. Then all of a sudden I am up on top of the wave and I look down to see Julie looking up at me a metre and a half above her. Moments later I glide smoothly (though without control) into the beach while Julie got beaten down by the wave Blue Crush style (according to Julie)... it was really quite hilarious. The rest of the day went fairly well, in fact, zero salt water inhaled. Sunday however was a different story. I got worked by the waves time after time, my throat was burning I had inhaled so much dirty, salty (and probably petrol-y) water.

All in all it was a very fun Canada day weekend. Happy Canada day.