Last autumn we let Ceris out of the Oasis office for a few weeks and she made a bolt for South America to experience the Andes & Amazon in Ecuador aboard our brand new truck plus a solo jaunt to discover what Peru Encompassed is all about...
Saturday 11th September
I have arrived in Quito! I was met at the airport by Alicia Gomez, the mother of the family I'm staying with during my week at Spanish School. She and her daughter, also Alicia, brought me home to their apartment where I met the rest of the family. The Gomez's are so friendly and welcoming and patient with my terrible Spanish! I'm really feeling at home. I have my own room with a huge window that looks out over the sparkling lights of Quito.
Sunday 12th September
I spent my first day in Quito braving the trole bus and looking around the old part of the city. I explored the hilly streets, pretty plazas, colonial houses and old churches, finishing off by taking a taxi to the top of Cerro Panecillo, a small hill with a big Virgin Mary on it and great views of the sprawling city and surrounding mountains and volcanoes.
The altitude here is 2800m which is brought home to me every time I walk up the 5 flights of stairs to the apartment! Good training for my trek in Peru
Monday 13th September
My first day at school! It's a 15 minute walk from the family apartment to the small 'Escuela de Espanol Atahualpa' and I presented myself there at 8.30am. Lessons generally run from 9am to 1pm with a coffee break in between. It doesn't matter if you're a complete beginner or already have a reasonable understanding, your teacher sets the classes accordingly. It's one-to-one teaching and my lessons included conversation, grammar and written exercises. A lot for my redundant brain to take in but I did make progress! My teacher seems slightly mad so the lessons are fun too!
Wednesday 15th September
I took a day out from school today to do a guided trek up a volcano called Guagua Pichincha. We walked from 3800m to 4800m - the walk in itself wasn't difficult but the altitude gave me a helluva headache. But it was worth it for the view of the city and all the snowy mountains around!
Friday 17th September
Last day at school today. There have been 5 other students at the school and they were all finishing too so we had a few beers instead of coffees during our break! The rest of the lesson required a bit more concentration than usual My last day with Alicia and her family too. She and her husband, Guilhermo, dropped me at the Hotel Majestic where I sadly bade them goodbye but looked forward to meeting up with the rest of the group who are joining me on the truck tomorrow!
Spanish School, Quito)
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