Ecuador- land of textures and music

Buenos Diaz Mi Amigas and Amigos!

This tortoise weighs 300 pounds and is about 175 years old!!!
Found in the Galapagos! More Galapagos pics to add to blog tomorrow!

Back on USA soil and it is good to be here. Ecuador is a fascinating place, a developing country that has learned lessons from those countries who have been highly industrialized for many years.....

The people are warm, friendly, and very positive toward Americans....something that I always wonder about as I'm traveling to other countries. I'll never forget the school girls who gathered around us wanting to be close to "the Americans" who were helping in their community.

The children of Ecuador, even the most destitute, are treated with extreme love and kindness....they are held in mother's arms or swathed in shawls on the backs of grandmothers. They spend a lot of time with family because school hours are short.

I think that I understand now that Latin Americans revere their language almost as much as the French. Speaking English is not a necessity in Ecuador, except maybe in the international business community. I am determined to learn conversational Spanish!

The Ecuadorian people are extremely proud of their indigenous music and folk dances.....and they should be. Singing and dancing, like silver threads, is woven throughout everyday life.

I will always remember the children and tias of Calderon with the utmost fondness. They taught me so very much about the important things in life!

Ecuador is a place of gorgeous people, uplifting music and dance, tremendous texture in their woven fabrics and crafts.

Ecuadorians are the most industrious people I have ever seen!!!!

I believe that the Ecuadorian people are very accepting of others, not judgmental.


Concerning the national Galapagos Park system.....
They are determined to protect the many endemic species of the Galapagos. It is to their credit that the many seal lions, tortoises, booby birds (yes, that's what they are called), albatrosses, iguanas, frigits, and others are not afraid of humans. In fact, most animals were merely curious at our presence and not the least bit threatened. How very special to fall asleep on a Galapagos beach and wake up to find a baby sea lion lying next to you on the sand.