Some random thoughts from Ecuador:

-Staying with friends is nice. Staying with friends who have maids and free WiFi is heaven on earth. Thank you, Pablo! ☺

-For a city that´s practically on the equator, the weather in Quito leaves a lot to be desired. Lots of clouds. Lots of rain.

- Mango is not a very good street food, unless you have a gallon of Purel handy. In Ecuador, though, you can buy “mangos de chupar,” which you don´t have to cut open. You just cut a tiny whole in the top and suck out all the mango-ey goodness. Same taste, with a fraction of the mess.

-One month in South America without a hint of intestinal distress! Take that, Montezuma (or Atahualpa or whoever is in charge of gringo revenge in this part of the world.) The sheer volume of Imodium that I´m carrying must be working as a deterent.

-There is such a thing as too many hummingbirds.

-If anyone needs help with an upcoming application to graduate school for landscape architecture, I´m your girl. Among my more random experiences in Quito, I spent three very frantic days helping Carolina get her applications out the door before the deadline. Seriously, I´m an expert now.

-Do you know what we need more of in the States? Crepes y Waffles (pronounced "waff-lees")