So today is the end of our third day of classes and the beginning of our weekend. The last two days have been good. Our Spanish is getting better...Braden is speaking in full sentences. Found a grocery store close to our lodging... well stocked. Interestingly, we found two grocery stores and both are located in huge American malls complete with Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klien, etc... many stores full of things that most Ecuadorians cant afford. this computer is so slow... cant make changes or post pictures.

we found a church in the old town to explore. oddly enough, they let you climb all the way to the top of the bell tower using a flimsy wooden plank and some rusty (and very steep!) metal ladders....safety first i guess. in any case, the view from the top was unbeatable. when we get to a better computer, we will write more.

So far our plan is to stay in Quito for this weekend and next week. On
Friday of next week, we will leave for Otavalo, which is 2 hours north of
Quito. We will stay there for the weekend market and leave on Sunday,
heading south. We will pass Quito and go to Baños where we will hopefully
stay for about 5 days. We are trying to get in touch with a Spanish
school down there to take some more lessons. This weekend, we are going
to snoop around in the Old Town, and visit the "Cloud Forest" which is
somewhat similar to the Galapagos because there are lots of endemic
animals.

Will update soon, miss you all,

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Maya and Braden