Gerald is a Hero
Mud Butt in Ecuador’ Day 1
Hello!!!
Well, I am here in Ecuador and life is good except for one big problem!! The computers are all in Spanish! The nerve! 🙂 Which means that it took approximately 2 minutes for me to figure out how to make that smiley face icon! So, needless to say…..all of the smiles that I want to send your way will have to be understood.
In all seriousness, life is really fantastic. Let me start by saying that Delta Airlines is the very best airline in the entire world and I will fly them always and forever! Why, you ask? (And it took me 90 seconds just to find the qestion mark!! This might be painful!!- at least you can all heave a huge sigh of relief, knowing that I did manage to find the exclamation mark!)
Anyway…..due to a series of unfortunate, stupid events on my part, I had to buy a last minute bag at the airport and check it on top of the other two I had already checked. It was supposed to cost two hundred dollars!! When I told the guy that it was important and that doing volunteer work was expensive, he asked exactly what I am doing. After I explained, he waived the fee and told me to just buy him dinner sometime. Seriously. So I teared up, which made him nervous, and he shoo-ed me off towards the gate. All I am saying is if you ever meet Gerald at Delta Check-In, tell him that he is a hero.
After a five hour flight, I landed in Quito, Ecuador in one of the scariest landings I have EVER experienced. We went sideways back and forth across the runway and I really thought that I was going to need my pre-flight video training! I always did want to slide down one of those slide-y things that attach to the side of a plane. (this would be one of those places that you assume a smiley face!!) Turns out that the wind gusts from the two neighboring volcanoes make this an interesting landing at times. Hey, it is all part of the adventure, right?
Customs and luggage were no problem, even though we are required to give customs the address where we are staying. I have absolutely no idea where I am staying! But I just write down something vague and head off to meet my ride. A nice young man and his girlfriend are there, holding a sign with my name written on it and in two shakes, we were off in the Ecuadorian rain. I try to catch glimpses of as much as I can, but the swirls of neon and honking horns come to a stop much to quickly as they drop me off at my residence.
Lizbeth, the woman that owns the house, shows me to my room and gives me a set of keys to the four locked doors between me and the street. My room is small and clean and has a private bath. I am very happy to see it. When asked how much the room costs, she says ´´ten dollars per night´´. You´ve gotta love it!! Tomorrow I am off to see FOSJE and to take on Quito. Until then……my bed is calling!!
Love, Anna