Busy few days and new adventures

Hi there!

Things are going rather well here, although a bit crazy! Julio arrived yesterday and we went to the airport to pick him up. He arrived on time and we took him to the colonial part of town to check into his hotel and have a nap. We were exhausted after the night out - full of dancing and drinking a little. We picked him up again later after an hour-long problem with street closures, and headed out for dinner at the Magic Bean in gringoland where we tried some delicious veggie food - I was actually really craving veggies and it was awesome! Then we went to another bar for some drinks. I tried an interesting guanabana daquiri! Mmmm... After we dropped off Julio, Santy took me for a romantic walk in La Rona, a very ancient and closed street that was all fixed up by the city hall and absolutely glowing with a warm neighbourly area. We are definitely going back there.

Today was rather busy as well. While Julio enjoyed a day in Quito to rest and acclimatize, Santy and I headed to Guallabamba to drop off some things for his parents. I had to learn to drive the standard to at least an acceptable level, but I started out on the Panamerican highway, where one has to also get used to people sitting between lanes and driving like maniacs. It was very tense and stressful! I still don´t feel comfortable driving in Quito but I can if I need to, at least if something happened to Julio. I felt like crying a few times after almost hitting people. I am learning to use my horn a lot more.

In Guallabamba I learned to pick grapefruit, using a big long stick and shaking the branch holding the fruit. We picked so many! I also climbed an avocado tree but got freaked out when a gigantic spider the size of my palm crawled onto me! I was screaming until Santy told me it wasn´t poisonous. He is still teasing me... about my lack of entomological prowess.

Then it was back to Quito, with more stressful driving adventures. When we got home, we had a quick late lunch and headed to the mall to get some basics for groceries. It was so insane because it´s back to school tomorrow, so it took us hours to get our groceries and get home. We got home around 7 and have been frantically rearranging and packing my stuff. It´s basically ready to go tomorrow.

The plan is to start work tomorrow. We have to go get Julio and stop by USFQ in the morning to get some supplies. I really hope I can beg-borrow-steal some ethanol. Then we will drop off Santy and head north to Ibarra. Then, just a matter of finding a place to stay for the night in town, and probably setting up some traps if we have time. The plan is to work on the route until Thursday and come back to Quito then.

I have to say upfront that Santiago has been a saint. He is working nonstop with me to get everything ready, driving me around, carrying heavy things for me... he even rigged up a battery charger in parallel device for me while I was packing. He is an angel, and oh! ... just brought me a sandwich. I´m really really going to miss him while I´m in the field.