This is just a quick note to say thanks again to everyone for all the wonderful messages! We really enjoy reading them - one of the few english things we can get our hands on. We are finished Spanish lessons in Quito and are heading this afternoon to Otavalo for the weekend to see the outdoor market. Spanish lessons in Quito were great - our teacher was wonderful. We will not be sorry to leave the busses behind though (they always seem to be turning around ...

Wow what a weekend. On Friday night we headed down to "gringolandia" for a night out on the town with the other people from Casa Vida Verde. First stop was Papaya Net (an internet cafe) which is on one of the two main strips in the new town. These streets run perpendicular to each other, with Papaya Net on one corner, and consist pretty much of restaurants, pubs, and bars. Not many cars drive down there because most people gather in the middle of the st...

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 s...

Hola! ¿Como estan? After one bus ride and four flights, we are finally in Quito. Let´s start from Saturday. Thank you to everyone for the wonderful goodbyes...we are so glad so many of you could come to the open house (especially Braden´s dad from the island). It was a mad dash on Sunday to get to the bus depot on time, but we made it. Thank you to Erin and Kristen for the puzzle set, it kept us occupied for 15 minutes until we realized that we cou...