Our last few days in Cuenca were CARNIVAL! Thursday night was the kick-off party downtown, to which we brought our raincoats. Different countries/areas have different traditions (obviously) and in Ecuador Carnival means water: water balloons, water guns, pushing each other in fountains, etc etc. A few years ago some kids in Cuenca started putting dye in the water and as usual they spoiled it for everyone. Water is now discouraged (although still present), and now the big thing are foot-tall cans of bubbles. Or more like a cross between bubbles and shaving cream. They call …

On Monday I wandered around the city in the morning while Mom was at her first day of Spanish classes! When she got out we headed to the bus station to catch a local bus to the town of Chordeleg. The bus station is surprisingly chaotic for an otherwise orderly city, but after asking three attendants we were directed to the correct bus, paid 10 cents to get through the turnstile, and then 75 cents each for the 45 minute ride.
Chordeleg is known for its silver jewelry, and for good reason. The bus dropped …

I made it to my fifth continent in 12 months! Now if I can score a job in Antarctica I could make it to all seven…. Kidding (Mostly)
After my ridiculous travel day, I did finally make it to Quito at 5 in the morning. I got a taxi from the airport (which was very well organized and secure, given my warnings about taxi drivers in Quito pulling out weapons and demanding all your valuables) to the hostel where my Mom was staying. After about ten minutes of “who is your mother? What is her name? …