WELCOME TO ECUADOR!
Our flights to Ecuador were very eventful! On our way to Miami, a woman passed out and luckily a doctor was on board. Everyone was riled up. Because of this we were held back loner in the plane; we had to run to ur connecting flight to Ecuador. On our brisk run to the air tram, one of us fell and had to crawl to the train. Needless to say were all a little stressed. However, as soon as we boarded our plane to Guayaquil, everyone had calmed down.
We arrived in the evening, where we immediately felt the heats humidity. Our guide Sebastian was waiting for us. He is so cool and knowledgable. His English is impecable; he was very sweet and accommodating. After a short rest at our hotel in Guayaquil, we had a quick breakfast. From there we went on a brief walking tour of the city. We went to Simon Bolivar Park also known as Iguana Park. There were so many iguanas, as huge and abundant as squirrels at UMD. We got to see the Cathedral, el Malecan (the boardwalk) and las Penas , a traditional colorful neighborhood of Guayaquil. We climbed 444 steps to get to the highest point of the city, and the view was magnificent!
From there we embarked on our 4 hour drive to Cuenca. We stopped many times for bathroom breaks, snacks, and to pick up a *lit* Regeaton CD's for a jam session that left us all asleep.
Our last stop was at 3 cruces (three cruces) which is at 30,000 ft. high. It was very cold but breathtakingly beautiful. When we arrived at Cuenca, we met our host families. They are so sweet and accommodating.
After settling in we had a reflection to help get to know each other on a deeper level. People began to be vulnerable and more comfortable with each other. This will help us have a meaningful with joyful experience with each other, the community and our host families.
We have already noticed large differences in lifestyle between the two cities. However both have been exciting and welcoming. Everyone is so excited! We can't wait to meet the children and their families to see what the week holds,and immerse ourselves in the Ecuadorian and indigenous cultures.
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