Quito and a visit with Pablo Corral Vega

Hello all,

Yesterday was our last day in Quito. . . we head to the Galapagos Islands today! Yesterday we had the opportunity to ride the teleférico and to see the city from high in the surrounding mountains. In the afternoon we visited an artisan market to buy gifts for our families and friends. We then broke into our On Assignment groups to continue work on our final projects. They are coming along great!

Last night we visited the home of Pablo Corral Vega, an Ecuadorian photographer for National Geographic. His home is filled with his photography-- it looks like an art gallery. The students asked many questions about photography and Pablo gave them advice for their projects. Many students said that they came away with life lessons. One student asked a question of Corral Vega and said that his answer will change the way she approaches her life and career. We hope you enjoy the photos below from our time with him.

After a few inspiring hours at Pablo's home we came back to our hostel for a joint birthday celebration for Callie and Justin--we celebrated with two delicious cakes from a nearby bakery. There is nothing like a little sugar before bed!

Now we are all packed and ready for our 9:45 a.m. departure for the Galapagos!

Bon voyage!
Elie, Alex, and Jes

Pablo Corral Vega

El Porvenir and the Paramo

Greetings family and friends,

Paramo, in loose translation, means unhospitable land. Although some of us were challenged to adjust to the high altitude, strong winds, and colder weather, our time in the shadows of the great volcano Cotopaxi was quite memorable.

Upon arriving at El Porvenir, our hacienda in the highlands, we warmed ourselves near crackling fireplaces and drank tea. We then took a two-mile hike around the grounds, and watched the sun set across valleys, mountains, and volcanoes.

On our first full day at El Porvenir we headed out for a horseback ride along gorgeous highland trails. Despite a few worries beforehand, everyone had an amazing experience. Students also planted trees and watered vegetation around the hacienda.

The next day we traveled by vans approximately 35 minutes to Santa Rita, a reserve with completely different ecology and biodiversity. After a quick hike to a waterfall, students painted orchid holders and went zip-lining over the canyon and river below.

Our last day in the paramo was the most challenging, but perhaps the most rewarding. After an early wake up and delicious breakfast at the hacienda, we drove to the Cotopaxi volcano and hiked up to the Refugio José F. Ribas, which stands at 4850 meters above sea level. The air was thin and misty, but our purpose was clear. We took our time, supported each other, and everyone made it up to the refugio, a huge accomplishment for our group! After reaching the refugio, we walked around a glacier lake, Limniolago, and returned to the hacienda for one more delectable lunch.

We are now in Quito preparing for our stay in the Galapagos. Everyone is excited to meet National Geographic Expert Kitty Coley and leave for the Galapagos on Thursday!

Saludos,
Jes, Elie, and Alex

Hacienda el Porvenir's dog, Lobo

Back to Quito

The view from our hostal in Quito.

Tarabita and the bird whisperer

Saludos!

The past two days in Mindo have been full of excitement. Split into two groups, we visited Angel Paz, a man we now call the 'bird whisperer'. We woke up at 4:30 a.m. to bird watch and hike. Angel spotted at least five species of birds for us, including the Toucan. After the hike, we were treated to amazing food - plantain balls, cheesy empanadas and a fruit juice cocktail. The vista from where we ate was incredible.

The other day we rode on a tram called the Tarabita over a valley. We then hiked down to a waterfall for swimming. Along the way we learned about plant species and uses. In the afternoon we went zip lining. Many of the students tried tricks and everyone made it through all 13 zip lines. What excitement! After lots of traditional Ecuadorian food-- rice and beans-- we are splurging for pizza tonight, followed by a chocolate demonstration!

Tomorrow we leave Mindo for Cotopaxi with a stop em route at Mitad del Mundo - a museum marking the line of the equator!

Until soon,
Elie, Jes, and Alex

To Mindo . . .

Hello all,

Tuesday morning the group broke into their On Assignment teams. Wildlife & Conservation students spent the morning at the Botanical Gardens and Vivarium, which houses a significant amount of amphibians and reptiles, while the two Photography groups visited different parks and worked on perfecting techniques. After lunch in different areas around the city, we all regrouped at Hostal Arupo and boarded our bus for Mindo.

After a 2.5-hour drive through spectacular cloud forest, we finally reached Mindo, where we met our two guides: Nikki and William. Our guides, who are both bird experts, will be with us for all of our hikes and activities while here and accepted our invitation to join us for dinner last night. After dinner and our brownie/ice cream dessert, we headed back to our hostal and had a quick powwow before lights out.

Today we began our morning with an hour walk to Mariposas de Mindo, a small butterfly garden down the road from our hostal. After learning about the butterfly life-cycle, we entered into an enclosed garden housing over 30 species of native butterfly, including Morphos and Monarchs. The butterflies were quite friendly and more than a few of the students acted as rest stops for the lime green, orange and even translucent insects. Despite the cold water, the students embarked on a tubing expedition right after the butterfly garden. Tied together in groups of 5´s and 6´s, the tubes carried the students down the Mindo River for about 20 minutes, conveniently dropping them off near the entrance to our hostal.

With an hour of free time before lunch, many of the kids participated in a game of volleyball, while others lounged around in the hammocks and admired the view. We ate lunch in town and then took part in some community service. Directed by Klever, an extremely friendly local resident, the students broke up in to two groups. The first group spent the afternoon cleaning up the town square by removing unwanted plants and trimming trees and bushes. After working for about an hour, the group was joined by local Mindeños who worked alongside the students. Meanwhile, the second group painted and repaired the jungle gym of the local pre-school with help from some of the school´s children.

Now we´re off for some well-deserved showers and dinner!

Saludos!
Alex, Jes, and Elie

Quito Eterno

Hello family and friends!

After a morning of getting to know each other through orientation games yesterday, we broke into our On Assignment teams for the afternoon. Photography students worked toward a body of 8-12 images that have a common theme while Wildlife and Conservation students created projects on various topics, including plant biodiversity, bird species comparisons and carbon footprints of Ecuadorians.

Last night as a group we visited Quito's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An organization called Quito Eterno led us on an educational tour. Our students took lots of pictures and learned much of the city's history, as well as many of its secrets. The tour concluded with a cup of hot chocolate at a spot with a great vista of the city. The best part - our tour was lead by the caped Diablo! (see photo below).

This afternoon we leave for adventures in Mindo!

Saludos,
Alex, Elie, and Jes

The group has arrived

We've received word from the expedition leaders that the group has arrived in Quito. They are settling into their home in Quito, the Arupo Hostal.

En route to Quito yesterday, the students took time to get to know each other at the Miami International Airport-- there was much talking, card games, and airport snacks. (See photo below.) They ended the evening with a little celebration and song for Justin on his 15th birthday!

Today the group will hold an orientation and begin to explore this historic city.