Hi Everyone,
I guess it is the 23rd which means it is my last day here in Quito.
I am writing at 5:30pm (not having packed one single thing yet)from my hostal. I leave tomorrow morning at 9:30am and have plans tonight so I really have to get my ass in gear. Huge rainstorm outside is making me feel very lazy and more like lounging in bed listening to music than trying to squish about 500 kilos of luggage into one backpack and one suitcase. I feel bad facing the fact that some things are going to have to stay. I really donīt want to have to face that decision making process. Poor old shoes and t-shirts. Hope some kids on the street can use you.
We had a storm yesterday too. Just pouring rain with lightning and thunder. I was outside just before it started and so many people were still on the streets. Little dirty kids, men with no legs, indigenous women with babies at their breasts begging, tourists with the 6 feet tall hiking backpacks. Hope they all have somewhere to go. Am suspicious that they do not and are just melting now into the sidewalks. And once the rain starts it just doesnīt stop....
So yesterday I went to a community project which was amazing. Got to participate in a childrenīs meeting where they drew pictures of their perceived needs in life. Cheverre as they say here. (Cool.) Will have to write more on it later because I have got to pack!! But definitely worth the visit. Will devote one last entry to it from home tomorrow.
Today I slept in and then went to a huge park in the rich part of the city (Metropolitana) to hike with a friend. It was great. Actual trails, a waterfall, a beautiful view of Quito, and huge expanses of trees and grass. It was such good exercise (unfortunately was under prepared with my J Crew flip flops and ended up stumbling around and tripping over eucaliptis branches more often than I would have liked) but the sun was warm and it was the prettiest place I have seen in Quito. We bought orange juices from a vendor (you have to love the fact that they sell fresh squeezed orange juice right in the middle of the woods!) and I took lots of photos. Will post them probably from home...
Spent the afternoon running around to pay my bill at school and the hostal and marvelling at how comfortable I am here in Quito. I can walk anywhere now (or take the trolle.) I remember my first day here getting out the map, drawing a little line to where I needed to go, consulting every street sign, nervously clutching the camera and my money. Now I canīt fathom being that nervous or out of place here.
I walked down Juan Leon Mera (main street in Mariscal) and suddenly realized that I had not gone in ANY of the gorgeous artisanal shops yet. Really havenīt purchased any gifts for anyone! So was sucked into one after another, wandering around in a daze trying to choose between alpaca throw blankets, highland pottery, never ending array of magnets, wooden bowls, and every product that could possibly be worn made out of llama wool. Fortunately came to my senses before purchasing giant alpaca poncho or llama sweater that would never get worn in Washington DC and ended up with lots of other great things. (ie, happy birthday mom!!)
Then wandered around taking photos of every corner. I know it is silly but I think that if I can capture a little of it in a photo I will never forget. But the photos just donīt do the whole summer justice.
A couple of funny things and then I am done.
-Supermaxi (always giggle when writing that word) has a whole AISLE devoted to canned fish. Tuna, pickled herring, cod, and on and on. It is amazing to see. A whole aisle! Canned. When this is a coastal country. What are they thinking???
-There is a store that I always walk by called Alta Sociedad. High Society. It makes me laugh because the clothes in the window are seriously, and I am not kidding, bright red and purple womenīs suits from the 80s.
-Taxis like to trail you giving little honks to remind you that they are there. Like little annoying puppies. But of course, when you need a taxi. NEVER THERE! it is a conspiracy as my dad would say.
-People sell puppies on the street. Just hawking them like souvenirs. Yesterday came very close to purchasing a $45 cocker spaniel. Oh it was so cute!! Jeremy, donīt worry, I managed to gather some self control But it was so cute! My friends think I am crazy to want a puppy. Most dogs here live on the roofs or terraces of the houses and apartments. It is always a little disconcerting to see a dog running around the outer rim of a roof.
And that is it.
I leave tomorrow. Am torn between wanting to stay and wanting to be home. It is unfortunate that we can never have our cake and eat it too really. Thursday am off to MN for my high school reunion. Class starts at GW in one week.
It was a good summer. THat sounds like such an understatement.
It was an amazing summer. Better than I could have hoped for. (Except for the pneumonia of course.)
What more can I say for now? THere arenīt words.
I will write one last time tomorrow from home. Maybe the right words will come then.
Jer-love you and I will see you tomorrow!
A.
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