Mindo - Day 1: Detours, Detours, Detours

Up for breakfast at 7:00 (mostly), breakfast over ith around 8:15, and into the chartered bus and down the road. Our driver made several stops at AtMs to see if the people who have had trouble could get money; many were successful, a few weren´t. But we are sorting it out. And then down the road to Mindo.

there was a detour partway to Mindo, so we went up on a dirt road for a long while before rejoining the highway. (Apparently this keyboard won´t do capital t´s.) the detour was interesting and adventurous, and we came out of it fine. So all is well.

Rolled into Mindo around 11:15, and turned the kids loose until 3:00. they found lunch and had adventures that I´m sure they´ll tell you about - Ms sears (capital s´s are out too, apparently) said that she kept hearing from students as she bumped into them around town, ´I´m so happy!´the town is jumping with people, almost all of them vacationers from Quito. Veeeery few gringos.

At three oclock we all marched to a hostel that has hummingbird feeders, and then we turned them loose again until 8:00. they were having so much fun exploring the town that we didn´t want to try to sneak in any organized activities. good thing, too, because the kids organied pick-up soccer and had any number of adventures - including catching on to the fact that restauranteurs will take as long as they possibly can to give the check to a group of pretty young Americans who are attracting business to the restaurant. (Kudos to Maddie A for catching on to that.) At 8:00, we met up in order to do the points for the scavenger hunt, but a group of girls came down with Marco, their new friend, a twelve-year-old boy who was staying at the hotel and was giving them a hard time about their spanish. his sister (no h, either) had a pet hampster that rode around in her pocket, and we all cooed and awwed over them. turns out, their parents and grandmother, and sister, were sitting behind us in the cafeteria, and before you knew it, they were playing cuarenta with Ryan c, Shaun F and ryan M, and were very impressed with their prowess. the howls of laughter coming from that room had me grinning ear to ear, and i just didnt have the heart to break them up so we could tally points. tomorrow is another day. As often happens when learning is taking place, the teachers all stepped slowly away and just let things happen. it has been tremendous.

the kids are now strolling the street in Mindo, having a blast, as the streets are still filled with revelers, and even a long train-thing that rides up and down the street hauling children (including Marco, who mercilessly nailed our guys with foam spray as he rode past), glowing green with fluorescent lights.

the meals are amazing here. lots of ecuadorian cuisine - and a strolling musician who seemed to make it to every one of the kids´restaurants. he played a guitar, a cowbell, and a pan flute all at the same time, and this guy could sing. he was really, really good - as was the food, the company, the weather (softly rainy - just enough to be interesting and fun, and warm), the welcome...It´s been a great day.

tomorrow we do the ziplining, and the next day, bird watching and hiking before heading back to Quito. glory be!

On we go for another day. It´s been a fantastic ride so far.