Outdoor adventures in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, with some occasional reflective storytelling.
Ahh, Cotopaxi. The volcano I admired most from my Quito bedroom window since my first day in the country. Snow-capped, majestic, imposing. And, a quick day trip from the city! It doesn’t get any better than this. Jose Rivas Refuge Hike Hiked: mid-December Distance from Quito: 2 hrs Accessibility: Difficult. While the first part of…
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It’s hard to believe, but while I was living in Ecuador for four years, I didn’t do all that much hiking. The main reason was accessibility. Though I lived in the Andes, and there are ample trails within a fairly short radius of Quito, the problem was that you can’t easily bus to many of…
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Itinerary for two weeks in Ecuador for adventure lovers and nature lovers.
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In under two months, my closest friends and family members will be visiting Ecuador for my church wedding and reception. For you all, and for any future visitors to my adopted country, I offer the following advice in order to help you blend in here in Ecuador: Don’t Wear Athleisure Any and Everywhere While socially…
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On January 3, 2018, Gonza and I got married in a civil ceremony at the Civil Registry in Quito. Since then, it’s been happily ever after. Right? Not quite. While we are absolutely enjoying married life, marriage to a foreigner is a serious undertaking. It is not for the faint of heart. While all newlywed…
Read MoreOr, a lesson in navigating Ecuadorian bureaucracy. Step One: print out the cancellation documents, including a copy of the ex-volunteer’s passport, a copy of their visa, a copy of our proof of having a legal presence in Ecuador, and two copies of a letter requesting the cancellation of the visa because you need one to…
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(*Scroll to bottom to just see the video*) It happened: my parents boarded a plane on Christmas morning and flew to Quito, Ecuador. For my dad, this was his first trip abroad. For my mom, her first to South America. I’d been waiting for this day for oh, 2+ years. When I first moved abroad…
Read MoreHaving co-facilitated an orientation for a group of volunteers arriving in country exactly two years after I arrived as a volunteer was a surreal experience. At this point, I like to think of myself as a Veteran Expat. Not much surprises me anymore about living in Quito after having spent almost two entire years of…
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I have a love/hate relationship with Facebook memories. Sometimes they drag up ugly photos from my braces-fille high school years, or pictures of people I was once close to but through time and space no longer see. Other times they remind me of amazing moments like rafting in the jungle or a date at the…
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Have you ever gotten sick abroad? If you have, you might be aware that ideas about sickness are different from place to place. Read on for an Ecudaorian approach to enfermedades. Prevention is key! Ways to prevent sickness include keeping your windows shut against the cold air, not being a vegetarian and consuming plenty of…
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Elizabeth Seeks 