Boobies!

I'm on a roll with fake things in Ecuador.  First the Fake Equator and now the Fake Galapagos, Isla Del Plata.  It is the one you can get to for $40 vs. thousands.

And, it ain't the poor man's version of the Galapagos for nothin'.  There aren't any Sea Lions, Penguins, Turtles or Iguanas.  But there are tons of Boobies.  But, at least these Boobies are real.  And, they're fantastic.

'How are people supposed to take me seriously when my feet BLUE?"

"I dare you to call me a Boobie again"

Hard to look inconspicuous with those blue feet, fellas...

'Leave me alone, I'm kinda blue today'

I've also been diving here the past couple days and finally got to see the Manta Rays.  I didn't get any shots, but was diving with a few Manta Researchers (what a life these guys have!) and you can see (some of) their photos here and learn about their mission:   http://www.mantasecuador.org/.  A couple of them said that one of the ones we saw today was among the biggest they've ever seen.  Having only seen 4 or 5 in my life (all today), I'm not the best judge.  But, the one in question was MASSIVE.  Easily 7 meters in width.   And we did all the dives to the soundtrack of the Humpback Whales singing to each other.  So Cool!

The Middle of the World (sort of)...

"With the possible exception of the Equator, everything begins somewhere"

- C. S. Lewis

Since I'm in Ecuador, I decided to cross "standing in two hemispheres at the same time" of my bucket list.

CHECK!

Well, sort of...   The ridiculous thing is, despite all the pomp and circumstance, this isn't even the REAL Equator.  It's really just a tribute...  (the real one is, depending on who you ask, either 47km or 240km away from this spot.  So confusing...)

The entry price for the honor of seeing this spurious tourist attraction?: 3 dollars (which isn't bad considering the prices for some of the less monumental places I've been this year.  Though, in their (admittedly lukewarm) defense, those places were real.  Maybe Ecuador did some regression modeling on the price point at which people would stop coming to this place once it was known that it was just arbitrarily placed at this spot vs. the equidistant point between the North and South Pole. Hmmm...)

Anyway, it's all I have available (except the real one that I didn't go to despite driving right past it - long story, won't bore you) and I'm telling myself that it was the real thing (Heck, Ecuador is too.  Sort of...).

And, I have pictures of a line to prove it! (NB: I also read a book that was mostly about the French Geodesic Expedition to define the exact equator and shape of the Earth. So, I think that gives me a little additional latitude in doing so. Ha!)

Yes, I took my shirt off in public. Yes people stared. These things happen. NBD...

Traveling solo generally means that I can only rely on random tourists for standard shots, and even then it is no guarantee, therefore the crazy ones I have to take myself. And, as most of you can attest, there is nothing crazier than a no shoes shot!

And of course the equally as crazy "My-Shadow-is-in-the-Northern-Hemisphere-but-I'm-in-the-Southern" shot. For those wondering: Yes, I did hop back and forth from north to south. After the third time, I started feeling awkward and made for the exit.

*I will not apologize for my puns or parentheticals....

It's weird to be using American Dollars again*

The adventure started in Otavalo, Ecuador  Every town in the area has a similar statue at the entrance to town and is symbolic of what the town is known for (Otovalo = Dancing, other towns in the area are known for things like leatherwork and wood carving)

I've made it to Ecuador, country number 24 and, am somewhat sad to say, the last international stop on the Just Cuz It's Round Tour.

But don't fret, the journey will continue stateside on a sweet little cross-country adventure to deliver a car to Los Angeles.  I'll be stopping along the way to see some folks and you can bet hijinks (and baseball games) will ensue.

But I'm here, now.  So, we'll worry about the US part, and its lack of being round, later.

I got here a little over a week ago to meet up with my friends Nancy and Mark.   Nancy was my first, and then frequent, boss in Advertising and her involvement in Ecuador started about the time we met.  So, I'd heard a bit about it and definitely wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

The first stop was Otavalo, where she has set up shop.  It is surrounded by 4 different Volcanoes, Deep Valleys, Lakes and Fields - my lord was it beautiful.  And the bed was so comfortable that I habitually slept late.  Ahhh, the comforts of real life!

The view from the porch at Nancy's...

See the heart in the mountain on the right hand side?  That's a part of local lore.  When you can see the heart this volcano is in love with another one across the way (I think that's how it went). 

The valley in Intag, about 2 hours from Otavalo on one of the most treacherous roads I've ever been on.

And, in the town of Otavalo, there is a Saturday market that Lonely Planet lists as the #2 thing to do in South America.  That might be a stretch, but it is full of interesting artesan wares (every thing from bracelets to blankets to traditional clothing for the locals and, of course, food:

I didn't take many pictures of the textiles in the market, so this random one will have to paint the picture for you all. 

HOG!

The Otavaleña women here wear traditional clothes of white embroidered shirts, with these sweet little sheets on their head that can be placed in any number of different ways to shade them from the sun.

But, to me, the best part of it was the ANTENNA SALESMAN.  (yes, you read that right)

And yes, in case you were wondering, he was pushing these things in the same way as a circus sideshow caller, or the Slap Chop guy.  Love that it is connected to a flat screen too.  He kept turning it around to show how easily it could be plugged in.

Some other cool things that I saw: 

There is a Raptor center in Otavalo that we visited.  This guy is one of the Condors there.  They also had a Bald eagle, owls, and other birds of prey.

The two nights I slept in Intag, I feel asleep to the sound of the river.  Ahhhh!

REAL COFEEEEEEEEEE!

This spider has spikes on it's back so bird don't eat them.  Evolution is so cool! Ha!

I ate one of his family for dinner one night and kinda felt bad about it. Man's gotta eat though...

I know the posts of late have been pretty scattered.  I'll try to push through the wall I've hit to bring back some of the quality you all are used to!

* Ecuador is on the US Dollar, so everything is paid for in good 'ol greenbacks (and some Sacajaweas).  So weird.  The only other place I've used US is in Cambodia.  I guess it is prepping me fore re-entry though.