Feb. 2 Up to Otavalo

Hello, everyone,

We flew back to Quito this morning on a 40-minute delayed flight because of weather, but not like you in Chicago think. Wind at high altitude delayed us--it was a perfect early spring day here on the ground. It was very impressive to see the city laid out before us like a giant Oriental carpet with intricate designs of roofs and trees. It is massive--over 2 million people--spread out over the landscape like spilled beads. Over most of what we saw, the roofs were white, not red like in Cuenca. The landing was one of the softest I've ever experienced.

We spent the day with Juanita and Andrés Flores about 45 minutes outside Quito in a city called Mitad del Mundo (middle of the world). The French geodesic mission marked out at that point exactly where the equator is, there's a monument, and if we wish, we can like down with one foot in the northern hemisphere and one in the southern. All day we were looking at, discussing and tweaking new tagua jewelry designs. They are so talented and creative! They are in the process of building a new house. It will be 1500 beautiful square feet! Juanita's mother (81) showed us the avocado and fig trees. Yum! the fruits are amazing here. We also met the Flores' two children, Mateo and Emily. Such warm smiles and hospitality!

We are to spend the next week with Chris, who will show us what kinds of things he would like done, and how to do some of the questions for the interview. We're both excited about that. Having a bit more direction will be good.

After a very nice lunch prepared by Juanita's mother, Florinda, we worked until dark, then Andrés brought Chris to a friend's house to see how she was recovering. While we waited, we connected to Jeannie Balanda of Maya Works via Face Time, who told us of the 19" of snow now decorating all the front yards in Chicago. Such a contrast to where we are now!

Andrés then brought us to the bus station where we caught a bus, offering a two-hour ride for $2 each. As we were loading our suitcases into the bus, we saw a tiny puppy, no more than five or six weeks old, sitting in a low cardboard box in the luggage compartment. Chris and Vincent both questioned the driver, who said that someone had abandoned the poor thing, and another person had brought it to him to take care of. He was bringing it home in the luggage compartment! So Chris said, "I'll hold him on my lap," and brought him up into the bus, introduced him to the other passengers, and sat quietly with him for half an hour. Vincent wanted to hold him, too, so he ended up sleeping most of the way on Vincent's lap. He was a sweet little thing, and I wished it had been possible for us to bring him home. Just would not have worked!

While the puppy slept, they showed a film on the bus!!!! It was Gifted Hands with Cuba Gooding, Jr. It was a repeat for us, but we still found it moving and inspiring. I have never in my life been in a bus (it was quite comfortable) that showed films. Another first.

We're both exhausted and going to bed now, with visions of tagua nuts (from which we get the jewelry) dancing in our heads. Buenas noches!