More Basilica pictures

Basilica del Voto Nacional

This past Sunday we visited the Basilica, a large Gothic-designed Catholic church.    We climbed lots of stairs to ascend above the church ceiling for some spectacular views.   There is an option to climb the tallest tower up more flights of stairs (you can see people nearly at the top of one of the church towers).  We did not climb to the apex because two of us realized a fear of heights.      I am sure the elevation of Quito did not help and the stairs were very steep and precarious.    Nonetheless, we  experienced awe at the sight of this magnificent church.    The Basilica was started in 1926 and took several decades to complete.  Look for the turtles and iguanas instead of gargoyles on the church's sides.    John

We discovered a game where players use blindfolds (or not, if blind).

At Parque La Carolina we stumbled upon a court where players were using blindfolds, except the one player who clearly is blind.   The game was played on an enclosed court and a referee officiated.   The object of the game is to roll a ball across the court to touch the opposite back wall below a certain height.   Each side of the perimeter of the court (and a line parallel to the back wall) is lined with string to allow the players to sense their location.   The ball has bells inside to enable the players to track its motion.    The play was vigorous and attracted a nice crowd.   See pictures below.  John

Exploring Quito's Parque la Carolina

Each Saturday we visit Parque la Carolina.   At the park families stroll and athletes play soccer, volleyball and ride bikes.    Each time we access the park from a different direction and discover more activities.    Emmett usually finds some boys to play soccer with and Annalise likes the playground.   There are lots of small astroturf soccer fields but these typically are used by men and Emmett has not been able to play in any games yet.   The park is very festive and we have enjoyed watching informal dancing and puppet shows.     We have yet to visit the botanical garden and vivarium (reptiles and amphibians).   John

Our first earthquake

At approximately 11:30 last night we were all asleep and I felt my bed shake and my body bounce.  I knew immediately it was an earthquake and ran to get Emmett and Annalise.   Living on the third floor, we all ran down the stairwell.   As I fiddled to open the outside door lock, the landlady emerged from her apartment to say in a calm voice, "esta tranquillo"    We returned to our apartment to my bed where we soon fell asleep together.    This morning a bemused Annalise responded to my question  about the earthquake with, "Seriously?"    She seemed to have no recollection of last night's events nor why she was in my bed with Emmett.   Emmett seemed unfazed.    A fellow on my bus also said he ran outside when he felt the tremor but no one at Spanish school mentioned it.    It was reported to be a 4.6 magnitude but said to have "felt very strong".   Here is a link of the report (thanks to James Kinskey): http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Earthquake-Hits-Ecuadors-Capital-of-Quito-20160809-0003.html

Thankfully, nothing worthy to photograph to document this experience.

We are approaching the end of our second week in Spanish school.   Emmett and Annalise remain excited to learn Spanish.   We are becoming more familiar with Quito and are starting to explore the city and local cuisine.   My cooking has expanded with mixed results.   The pan-seared local chicken was delicious without seasoning (so far, I have purchased only pepper and cinnamon).    Cooking pasta was a challenge.    After 30 minutes waiting for the water to boil, I realized that the high altitude of Ecuador causes low air pressure and therefore longer boiling times.    The tomato sauce I intended to buy actually was tomato paste.   Emmet and Annalise said their pasta tasted like vegetables.     We've done some shopping and patronized the local market operated by an indigenous ethnic group.    I don't know which ethnic group, but will share with you as I learn.    Now that we are more comfortable attending to the tasks of daily living, we are excited to explore Quito further.    Emmet and Annalise are having lots of fun and becoming more independent.    On their own initiative they now get up early in the morning to dress themselves, put sun block on and prepare breakfast.    Maybe my heavy-handed parenting style fosters initiative and growth?

Emmett and Annalise at a hip outdoor restaurant plaza

Wearing their new locally-sourced pants. 

Emmett and Annalise channeling MC Hammer: "U Can't Touch This!"

Annalise's new hair band

The plan

So here is the plan for our time in Ecuador...  After the initial month of Spanish school in Quito, we plan to travel down to the small town of Guadalupe in the province of Zamora-Chinchipe in Ecuador.  There, I (Kate) will be volunteering in the Clinica Misional at the Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe mission.  I am a family physician, and I will be spending my days taking care of the local folk who, it is reported, sometimes travel for hours to get to the clinic to be seen.  Guadalupe is a very small town in southeastern Ecuador, in a climate area known as the cloud forest.  If you "Google Earth" the town, here is what you see:

You see the mission (La Mision) on the left, and the town on the right across the river.  There are two bridges connecting the mission and the town.  We will be living right across the river from the mission in an apartment that is provided to us by the clinic staff.  It's a small town, as you can see, and the kids will be going to the local public school (entirely in Spanish -- hence the month of formal language instruction before school begins!).  John, who is a social worker by training, will do a "needs assessment" once we get there, and find something meaningful to do.  I suspect the sisters will find a way to put him to work...