Doing the tourist thing...

It's hard to believe that we have been here in Ecuador almost a week - it has flown by!  Yesterday we were picked up by our schools driver and taken, along with two other teachers on a tour of the city, Guayaquil.  We got on a double decker bus and set off on tour of the city, complete with a tour guide as well.  We had a great time.  The city of Guayaquil is a fast moving, crowded city with approximately 3 million people.  The traffic is heavy, the foot traffic is also heavy, and there is a lot to see.  The Malecon 2000 is a boardwalk that is 2.5 miles long and runs along the Guayas River.  There is much to see there including a lot of historical monuments.  We were riding in the bus the whole time so we were unable to stop and see up close but we are going to make a trip back to the Malecon in the next week or two because it is some where worth spending more time - it looked beautiful!  The city of Guayaquil has many parks and historical monuments throughout the city.  There is a lot of history and the Ecuadorian people take pride in there culture. I took a lot of pictures and will post some following this post. Sam was very happy to see McDonalds and Burger King here!!

This past week we have been acclimating to the move and our new environment. We went to the grocery store 3 times already and still have forgotten things or figured out after the fact that we needed something.  It's strange not having a car - but I must say we do not  mind it at all.  It's nice to have a driver who knows where they are going, how to drive in this area, and how to maneuver the roads and parking lots - it can be a little crazy sometimes.  At one store, the parking lot looked like you could eat off of it... it was so clean!  So far at all of the parking lots (at the mall and grocery stores) there is security when you drive in.  They give you a receipt with your license plate number written on it.  You need to keep it with you in the store and must show that in order to leave the parking lot.  They do this to help cut down on people stealing cars.  This way no one can leave the parking lot unless they have that receipt - and it must match your plate number as written.  Interesting concept. I guess it works.

Because this is a subtropical environment there are a lot of little critters crawling around.  Mostly ants.  We have those teenie weenie tiny ants that you can barely see.  They are the same tiny ants that we have seen numerous times when we have been in Jamaica.  Those little buggers find any scrap of food or crumb you have let me tell ya! We keep all of our food products (the non-refrigerated ones) in zip-lock bags and/or plastic containers.  I have to remind Sam everyday to watch his crumbs and to clean up right after he is done eating.  I have went through a whole can of ant spray so far.  They really are not that bothersome but if I see them I attack them.  A couple times we have found some of those big beetle bugs that kind of look like a cockroach - but they aren't.  They are some sort of tropical soft shelled beetle, but some are pretty big.  We have found two dead and two alive.  One of them crawled up Dan's leg when he was trying to catch it!  Pretty funny actually.We think they may have gotten in when we left the doors open for a while. I sprayed all around the door and window openings now so I doubt we will see them much.  I have came across three small albino lizards in the house... two of them were on a window screen and when I came near them they darted out the window as quick as possible... they don't want anything to do with you.  The third one was actually hiding behind the refrigerator and I lost track of him. ?? I sure he has left the kitchen by now.  They like to eat bugs anyhow and since I have sprayed for those there is nothing left for him to eat anyhow.  Those lizards were less than 2 inches long... just babies and didn't bother me.  Other than those things, nothing too exciting around the home.

We did find out that we have a pool guy who also takes care of all the landscaping as well - nice!  Also, the garbage is picked up by a big truck that plays really loud music similar to an ice cream truck.  It was pretty funny the other day when they drove through the neighborhood, Sam went running out to see if it was the ice cream man... LOL... I had to tell him "no, it's the garbage truck!"  He just looked at me in disbelief.  I guess the music lets people know they are close and to get their garbage out.  We have a metal container that sits up about waist high on the sidewalk on a post and we put our garbage bag in it a couple times a week - no charge!  ??? huh?? yes, that's right, no charge for garbage pick up service.  From what I understand it's all part of our utility bill. I guess we will see.

Well... I just got a little surprise.  While I was sitting here typing this blog we experienced an earthquake!  The couch started moving and the air conditioner was making creaking noises.  Weird.  I have not experienced an earthquake for several years.  Earthquakes in Washington state were so few that it's hard to even remember how they feel.  I lived in California when the big one hit the Bay area and it was pretty darn scary.  I hope we don't experience any like that here.  We are in the Ring of Fire here and there were 9 earthquakes near Guayaquil this past year, so I'm sure we will feel some while we are here.

I've been sitting here watching the Olympics the last couple days and it's such an exciting feeling.  I am a proud American, however I must say, all of the athletes from all countries have worked their butts off to get to that level of play - the Olympics - the one place where all the best from all around the world come together.  Their passion and heart for their sport is so touching! I am so happy for each and everyone of the metal winners.

I better close for now... but will write more in a few days.  I have a lot of homework to do over the next 10 days, so if I do not post much during that time - keep checking back because I will sooner or later. Good night from Ecuador.
~ Michelle