back now

alright - im back now. no, really. expect bi weekly blogs from this point on. i mean it.

because - we are off. abandoning our beloved cats, who are really behaving terribly these days. i think they know we are leaving. cats Know Things. also, abandoning our beautiful apartment, and cuenca too. but its all very temporary, we plan to come back and do another term at CEDEI (unless ecuadorian customs officials are in a bad mood on january 1, in which case we may not be allowed back into the country as, apparantly, we will have stayed too long. whatever.) in the meantime, we are off - first to the latacunga/lake quilatoa area, where there is a cold blue lake surrounded by indiginous villages and whatnot, then Back to Baños for 2 nights, then off in an avianca jet to cartagena, colombia. then, 3 weeks later, the southern oriente of ecuador where we might see some jungle animals and hopfully, a shuar village or two (made famous by a notorious tradition of head shrinking.
no-to-RI-ous.)

so we head out tonight, on a midnight bus bound for latacunga. sure to be a blast, that part. and, of course, im in the process of trying to shove everypiece of clothing that i have into my pocketbook sized backpack. ah, traveling. again. i cant lie, i took out my stinky old non absorbant travel towel, stared at it, packed it, cast one last loving glance at my fluffy, absorbant, terry towel and burst into tears. the travel towel epitomizes all the negatives of travel. as the Bible, i mean lonely planet´s South America on a Shoestring, says "travel aint all mangoes and hammocks. sometimes it SUCKS" (sic) oh, it can be fun alright. but having all of your possessions strapped to your back, as you struggle to take a seat on a wildly careening bus that stinks of diesel fumes and spilt coca cola, and sounds of screeching "romantica", and as the bus driver screams at you to SIGA SIGA SIGA NO MAS (the most commonly used expression here makes absolutely no sense) and the woman in the seat next to you curses you as you accidently plop down on her baby´s head, and all the whole while you are trying to fight off a bout of diarrhea and the urge to run off the bus and make for the nearest starbucks (in lima, peru, btw) for a clean bathroom and a real cup of coffee, it can be trying. but then i guess, the idea is that you find an amazing place, sit in a hammock (or hike over the mountains if you are into that. i used to be. i am not anymore.), look at buildings or people or alpacas, and think "it is all worth it. im so glad i am here, doing this. too bad about that baby, though......"

colombia.