Encounters in Ecuador: Stories from my "Other Country"

Sunday, Sept. 30 I originally planned to visit a Botanical Garden on Sunday because it was the only place I knew for sure was open on Sundays and go exploring from there, taking a shot at the other places or heading back to the hotel for a swim before I was supposed to meet up with the newlyweds for dinner. Change of plans: the owner of the hosteria suggested I go on a taxi tour of the city, so adventuring I go! This is why you make friends with the locals and say yes to opportunities that come your way. That way, I got to know my way around town a little bit. I figured it wouldn't matter, since I could always visit the gardens on Monday. And because apparently myself esteem needed a check, I managed to fall up the stairs 5 minutes into the tour at the first place we stopped (the place with the Puyo sign, handicrafts, and a view of the river – which I later found out is the end of the Paseo Turistico - see below). Yep, up the stairs. Thankfully, I never actually hit th

On Friday 9/28/18, I spent 9 hours traveling on 3 different buses. If you follow my blog, you know I don't have the best luck with transportation, so I was a little nervous to try this on my own. But strangers who help me along the way and call me mija = one of the best things about traveling in Ecuador. (Context: "mija" means "my daughter," but anyone can use it for any woman who is younger than them. It's generally a term of affection, so it helps lighten a stressful moment. Other common terms of endearment perfectly normal for strangers to use include: my princess, my queen, my beauty, etc. So what I’m saying is: English speakers really need to step up their game!) Thankfully (knock on wood), it went well, and André saved me a taxi trip + I got to see him Friday night, which I never expected!! It's fitting that my first (and likely last) trip to the Amazon was to Puyo to visit my "best friend," André! Side bar: for those who don’t know th