Thursday, February 26 Heavenly

We left early this morning by car, Carlos, Vincent and I to try out the baths (hot springs) in Chachimbiro, about an hour from Peguche. The road climbs and climbs and climbs! Carlos told us that the valleys around here (and they are DEEP!) are much warmer than the hill or mountain towns. That makes sense, I guess. We ARE on the equator after all, and the closer to sea level at the equator, the more likely to have warmer weather. My uneducated guess. Carlos said this was a back road, seldom taken, but these springs get more and more popular every year. On the weekends they are jammed, so we were glad to be trying them out on a Thursday.

Carlos is absolutely full of interesting information. We learned about African settlements in the deep valleys and indigenous groups in the mountains. The baths were clean, practically deserted, and warm. We spent hours lolling about in the water and saunas and ended up with a nice, hot shower. We decided since it was only 12:20 to try for lunch at home in Peguche, so Carlos bought some chirimoyas. Now, I have to tell you I like fruit. But this fruit was like nothing I have ever tasted. Sweet, soft, juicy with a somewhat cottony texture. If chirimoya was what Eve stole, I cannot blame her one bit! Vincent agrees. Nothing like it anywhere. From the outside, it looks like an underdeveloped artichoke with unindividuated leaves pressed together to form the peel. Inside it looks a bit like white cotton candy. Mmmmmmm!

Carlos drove by where the government is building a "city of education," Yachay University. Only the most accomplished students are allowed to attend there. Although there are quite a few classroom buildings and dormitories, it is obvious this is to be a show place for the whole country. The land being developed is enormous. There are unbroken fields for a lot of it, and a whole lot of large buildings under construction. As a means of developing a country, building quality educational institutions and attracting great educators and foreign students is second only to building roads and ports. Ecuador has plans to be great. We wish Saya good luck in getting admitted there next year.

Sulema had made lunch, as Carlos had hoped, and after lunch, we had a short rest, because Vincent was tired from the soaking, the sun and the warmth. I was less tired, so at 3:30 I went downstairs to greet Sulema's mother and the other embroidery worker who came to the house to deliver the blouses they had embroidered by hand that week. The colors and patterns and the rapidity with which they demonstrated their work were dazzling and mesmerizing. We simply could not believe our eyes. Every single pattern was unique both in color and design. I guessed that they might have been bored if the designs were all the same. The women here learn as children to sew and embroider, as I did when I was five. They have developed their skills much more than I, however, and it is a delight to see how proud they are of their creations. No embroidery machines for them!

After we bade them good-bye, our new hosts came to pick us up from Ilumán, ten minutes away. We were not too sad though, because we have arranged to come back Monday to watch the tie-dying process.