Top Ten Memorable Moments from my
Ecuadorian adventure over Holy Week:
1.) Walking Across the Peruvian-Ecuadorian border- This was most definitely an interesting experience. I am not sure if everything that went down was completely legal, but we quite literally just walked over the border (a bridge that took us over a river of floating, pungent trash.) As three white girls with our huge travel backpacks on, we stood out, to say the least..... Everyone was staring at us, trying to sell us their outrageously huge watermellons, and laughing at us as we clearly had never "immigrated" in such a unprofessional, casual manner before. The only "official" thing about our border crossing were the two HUGE signs enclosing both sides of the bridge reading "Bienvenidos a Ecuador" and "Bienvenidos a Peru."
2.) Best Meal Ever- After lots of bus rides and shady immigration offices, naturally we built up an appetite for our first Ecuadorian meal. At a pitstop in the middle of nowhere, in a rainstorm, we decided we had to eat. We looked around at a few restaurants and finally gave into our gut instincts, settling upon the most adorable little food stand/tent/shack on the side of the road. The smells surrounding it were too good, we simply could not resist. The little Ecuadorian woman, encircled by tons of pots and pans over hot coals, smiled as we approached her. We asked her to see a menu. Her menu=her taking us under her "restaurant tarp" and verbally listing off everything that she had prepared for the day. We stayed. And ate. And it was amazing. Who says that street food isn´t top notch? It was the best meal I had the entire trip. :)
3.) Ecuadorian Baby Shower- Just one day after arriving in Quito, Ecuador, my two friends and I found ourselves at one of the most beautiful gatherings ever. The family who we were staying with had been preparing for their son and daughter-in-law´s baby shower for quite sometime, and we just happened to arrive on the day it happened. As South American culture goes, they naturally invited us to join the celebration (even though we had just met them minutes before.) The Baby Shower was absolutely beautiful....a mini Wedding reception if you will. There were over 80 people there, the event was catered in with waiters, champagne, and was held outside under a beautiful white tent. It lasted a total of 8 hours and was full of friends and family that had travelled from far to welcome little baby Isabella-to-be into their family. I felt so blessed to be a part of the event, and everyone welcomed us as though they had known us forever. It was a beautiful way to spend our first day in Eucador.
4.) Trip to Baños- Us girls had heard many amazing things about the city of Baños in Ecuador, and we decided to make the trek there for a three day gettaway. We took a 6 hour bus ride (which cost only $2 per person of course) and were absolutely in awe when we arrived. Isolated in the greenest valley of tropical rainforest, Baños could not have been a more beautiful site. Our hostal´s view included a waterfall, natural hot springs, and the most lush vegetation I have ever seen. Not bad for $15 :) While in Banos we shopped, sought out adorable local restuarants, went horse back riding and hiking into the rainforest, zip-lined through the canopies, rented bikes for $5 and explored the area, and swung jumped off a bridge (not quite bungee jumping, but very similiar.) And yes, diving head first off a bridge attached to a rope with no slack was one of the scariest things I have ever done. But so worth it.
5.) Mitad del Mundo- After returning back to Quito, we made the trip to "Mitad del Mundo," the Middle of the World. You can literally jump over the northern and southern hemisphere line. (or be in both at the same time...hehe)
6.) Sketchy Hostal Experiences- Traveling around Ecuador for 10 days, I almost have to make atleast one comment about some of the nasty hostals we stayed in. For example, gotta love the hostal with live crickets in the bed, concrete floor that smells like someone´s rotting basement, and walls that are perpetually vibrating from the never-ending bar party next door. Or, cant forget the hostal with soaking wet beds, upon arrival. (I shared a bed with Steph that night...and was too grossed out to go under the sheets.) It´s nasty hostals like these that just get you all the more excited to wake up in the morning, check out, and head to your next planned adventure!
7.) Montañita Tríp- The only way I can think of describing this city is...the mini Miami of Ecuador. Although we only spent 1 night and 1.5 days in this vacation town, its almost impossible not to feel like you are on a reality TV show entitled, "I live at the beach and have no responsibilites." haha, this little town is dominated by tourists who come to enjoy the gorgeous beaches and do nothing but relax, eat, and drink. As much as we loved Montañita, the frozen margaritas at sunset, and laying on the beach, us girls decided that too much Montañita could be dangerous....(meaning you forget that real life and daily routine actually exist.)
8.) Holy Thursday- All day long on Holy Thursday the only thing I could think about was Mass. Holy Thursday is one of my favorite Masses of the year, and I was so excited to celebrate Holy Week in such a faith-based, culturally alive country. When we arrived at the catherdral in downtown Quito, La Iglesia San Francisco, I was overcome by the beauty. Every part of the enormous chapel was covered in gold and the archetiture was breathtaking. We arrived 25min before Mass, and there were already thousands of people packing into the Church hustling around to find seats. My friends and I were lucky to snag a pew. I settled in, took off my purse (BAD idea), placed it next to my friend sitting in our pew, and kneeled down to pray. A few minutes later my purse was gone, stolen right out of the pew. Pretty much all of my valuables (minus my Passport, thank God) were inside my purse. After reporting the incidence to a police officer, a local man told me that he saw the 50 year old couple that took it but was too afraid to say anything....The whole experience was a major learning experience for me. Attending Mass that night right after my purse was stolen was exactly what I needed...and God reminded me in a loving way not to become too attached to any form of material wealth. My friends were amazing....they called my dad while I was in Mass asking him to cancel my credit card, bought me a new prayer journal and crucifix, and asked our taxi drviver to stop at McDonalds on the way home so we could pity-eat McFlurries to make me feel better. With me, ice cream cures everything. . :)
9.) Good Friday- On Good Friday we were blessed to partake in one of the coolest religious ceremonies I have ever experienced. In downtown Quito every Holy Friday thousands of people gather to celebrate the Lord´s Passion with a long, beautiful, and very intense procession through the streets. People dress up in purple costumes covering them from head to toe and march to solemn music for hours. Many Ecuadorians also dress as Jesus, carry a cross, and have people literally whip them with chains until they bleed. I have never seen such dedication and outright passion. The ceremony was not only a rich cultural experience, but spiritually it was very moving as well. Good Friday Mass was also extremely powerful, as always. To experience Holy Week in a South American country is something I will never forget.
10.) Easter Sunday- I had to save the best for last, EASTER! Easter Sunday was one of the most refreshing and spiritually renewing experiences! (especially after the whole incidence with my purse.) I got the Mass times wrong, and accidentally got to the Church 1.5 hours early. That time before Mass ended up being a beautiful opportunity to be alone in a gorgeous church on a sunny morning, thank God for my amazing trip, and simply rest/rejoice in His Risen presence! The Mass was perfect. Absolutely perfect. My favorite part? -Out of nowhere, they lowered down a 5 year old boy dressed like an angel from the choir loft. The members of the church had taken out the boards from the loft, placed the little boy in a chair attached to ropes, and little by little lowered him down. The boy, extremely proud of his highly esteemed role and big white wings, was so adorable. As he was being let down, he sprinkled rose petals and Holy Water over the statue of Mary. When he finally reached the platform where Mary was, the men took the ropes off of him and placed him on the board where Mary was mounted. What was the first thing he did after being released? He went straight to Mary, clinging to her, and hugging her for what must have been atleast 10 minutes. Ahh, you cannot deny the perfectly pure, innocent joy that is Easter Sunday. :)
As soon as I can get a hold of my friend´s pictures from our trip, I will put them on my blog! Unfortunately, all +500 pictures that I had taken were on my camera...which was inside my purse...which was stolen. ha
