Baños (place not toliet)

First stop on our road trip brought us to the last bit of the Andes before entering the Rain Forest. This was my second time to Baños, sadly the weather was not onour side but to be honest it would not matter if it snowed, we had such a good time.

The whole of Baños, view frío thriller mountains. We have now come back to Quito for one night to re group and begin our tour, this time we expect some hotter weather!

Kanda 2015

After almost one year, Kanda is reunited!
We picked Karen up from the airport yesterday afternoon and headed straight for Baños. After a big night catching up, we are up relatively early and ready to start seeing the sights.
As predicted, Luis and Karen are two peas in a pod.
So great to have her back, watch out Ecuador as our twelve day road trip begins.

Cuarenta (Ecuadorian card game)

A beautiful sunny day... Free

An Ecuadorian competitor... Free

A pack of playing cards... $2

A bottle of wine...$7

Beating an Ecuadorian at his own game... Priceless!

Buying a Car in Ecuador

If you plan to do this please prepare yourself for the most ridiculous process, in I feel almost safe to say the entire world. Ten months on from handing money over for my car and I still do not technically own it, and not for the lack of trying.
But today's ridiculousness was the icing on the cake. Three hours in I cannot tell you how many queues, various mini fines for what ever reason to pay, and the best was renting a first aid kit and triangles from stand outside place (as directed by inspector) to pass that test.
Finally we made it to the big queue, where we had all papers ready, where I was sure I was going to own my car, but nope the lady with ridiculous fake eye lashes dashed my dreams, she demanded I go to a bank to pay $6 and return Monday. My level of frustration is high and I can say the only thing stopping me from demanding we go, is the fabulous $8 hair cut I had this morning.

$2 Quarter Tank

Here I thought Bajans were late, nope I was wrong, compared to Ecuadorians Bajans are certainly always early. We went on Tuesday night for dinner at Luis's parents for 7pm. I hate being late but he insisted 8pm was a good time and probably eat 8:30-9pm, as it turns out 7pm really meant 10:30pm!

An enjoyable evening with my soon to be in laws :). I am always learning new things about the country I live in, that night I reconfirmed that Ecuadorians are not great time keepers and also about fuel. I knew petrol was cheap but did not really hit me until that night. The low fuel button had been for ages, driving on fumes, both being broke we searched for change. Two dollars and fifteen sense came to above a quarter tank..

Lola and Lucho

I do love travelling especially when it is to see family and friends, and I did have an amazing time.  But it is also nice to be back, and to be able to spend a lovely summers day in the park with L&L.

However, I must admit I am slightly jealous of Lola and Luis's new found closeness.  I am hoping it is a little out of spite from me being away for so long but really in truly the bound is a little too tight these days!

Till the Next Time

Back in Miami for a third time in a month, as usual terribly sad to have left but also so looking forward to getting back to the two L's in my life. I have also discovered even if it is a great price and seems the best option flying out at 7am is never ever a good idea. Especially on a Saturday when clearly I knew I would go out on my last night and even a little later as it was a Friday night. Four in the morning came around very quickly, and my time at Grantley Adams airport was a blur. Now on hour 6 in Miami with two more to go and beginning to feel human again.

 Blakeys, it all starts and end here, every holiday

 dancing, catching up

 a great way to end another great holiday. Thanks to all who as usual made it such a great time.

Tremors

Clearly the island is upset I am leaving tomorrow as there have been four mini earth quakes in the last two days (just like in Quito I seem to be one of the few who feel them). A big up minister claims it is the thumb of God to make people wake and behave but I still think it has more to do with my departure. As always the last couple of days is a whirl wind, this time even more so with a wedding to plan.

 Night out with Amy, we always go out for one drink, but end up having about a dozen.

 A day with Nicholas, ate at the fabulous vegan restaurant in south coast

 Tea at Aunty Andys

 And a final beach day with fabulous Jodi

 at my favourite beach, Accra, that thankfully has gone back to its beautiful self. Now to finish off with a night out with some friends and what I can only imagine will be a horrible day of travel tomorrow starting at 4:30am.

Quiz Master Returns

I love pub quizzes, I am not usually so good at them but really enjoy going. Even more than participating in them I really really love being quiz master. I really enjoy putting it together and trying to come up with unique relevant questions. I use to organise one every year in Basel and although it took a lot of time to make it right for all the Nationalities, I did love doing it. So when Vicki suggested a family BBQ and quiz night, I jumped all over organising it.

The winning team!! But it was solo close, all three teams drew at first so we had to have a tie break round. A great evening!! Maybe I should have a themed wedding...

Mis Primos

My wonderful cousin Natalie was teasing that this vacation all she reads about in the blog is about my wonderful goddaughter with no mention of her. So this blog was going to be all about wonderful Nats, but then when I went through the pictures of the day, I had none of her and 1000 of the Goddaughter. Therefore, I will have to save her special mention for another time.
Yesterday the first cousins, minus a few husbands and Craig, met at Accra for a thrown together picnic. It started with me and Nats (wonderful Nats) sitting in the rain under an umbrella and turned into a beautiful day with a great turn out, even Auntie Jillian and Uncle Tono popped down and I cannot remember the last I saw Uncle Tono at the beach.

 Aunty Jillian and Uncle Tono

 Rosette and Danielle

 Nick, Connor and Luke

 Danielle, me and Nick

 Power nap

 One of the million

James, Gail and Vicki

And surprise surprise on of me and Jodi!

50 and 75

Last night we celebrated my Aunt and Uncles 50th wedding Anniversary and my Uncles 75th birthday. As someone recently engaged (wow, I was really unsure I would ever say those words!) I can only hope that my marriage is half as happy as theirs after 50 years (and also that I am still alive and kicking to see it). I enjoyed hearing all the stories about their courting, engagement and marriage. I especially loved that Auntie Jillian's father threw her a huge 21st birthday party as he felt so badly she was so old and not married (both other sisters married at 18). If he had been my father, I would have had a huge 21st, 25th, 30th and 35th!

Of course it was a great night out and anyone who has visited me here knows that a night out with my family could go no other way!

Sea Moss

I cannot believe I have been here five days and not posted beach pictures! To be honest, it is largely down to the sea moss problem plaguing Barbados, well and other islands. And selfish me did not like the colour of the water, not thinking of all the damage it has caused. Loads of turtles caught in it have died, fishing boats have been caught in bays and of course tourists put off as the beautiful blue they were expecting was no where to be seen (on the South Coast, West coast not as affected). There are a few theories as to where this moss has come from and thankfully for the wild life and all the people who depend on the sea it seems to be clearing now.

And really and truly although not as beautiful as normal, still fairly lovely and coupled with my family definitely not complaining.