Xmas at the beach with the Zambrano-Benavides

10 awesome days at the beach over Christmas. Parents of a child in my class, generously gave us use of their beach house. So for $6.50 each, we simply jumped on the bus for a 5 hour ride down to the Pacific.

We were joined by Carlos (Maria's brother), his wife Cristina and their daughter Mafe.

Spiny, puffer fish.

Guitar fish.

Prawn.

Many different varieties of crabs.

The beach house on the right. This photo taken from the top of the Arco de Amor...Arch of love....

Ramon's 1st time with a boogie board...no lessons required! Mafe's first time at the ocean.

Charlis y Cris

John and Paul, secondary teachers at the British School, brought 14 shoe box presents that we handed out to some poor families on the beach. Parents put about 300 of these together for various needy communities in Ecuador.

Who's the monkey?? Saw 3 in the trees, just behind this place.

This goat followed me home from a run, along with 2 dogs. I dragged him back along the beach and we butted heads a fews times.

Carlos and Cris' new store??

No electricity in the house....no need for it really....much cozier playing cards, checkers and chatting with candle light.

Carla the beach bum.

Tasaste...name of the 15 house town 1km down the road or beach. This location has it all....private, peaceful, empty beaches, run for 2 hours in each direction, lots of fresh seafood from the fisherman next door and your own rock arch right out front!

A short trip to Pasto-Caro's graduation-Mafe's 1st communion

I took this photo of Carolina in 1995 in Mocoa, Colombia.

....and 16 years later....she is graduating from high school!....and I havne't aged one bit.

Ramon, Caro's friend, Caro, Papi Ramon.

There's just nothing like a hug from your daughter.

Huh? It works! ...at a snail's pace.

Mafe's 1st communion....what a princess!

Carla with grandma Maruja

Ramon and grandma

A spider that was on our outside window of the house. We all enjoyed the grizzly spectacle of dinner time. Beetles and other insects being entombed in silk...to be consumed later.

Kids with Silvio Guerra before a race. He was 2nd in both Boston and NY marathons about 10 years ago.

Bonfire night at the school. Neo punk/vegas poolside gear...with Carla dressed the same.

International day at school. (Thanx for the hat mom)

The mouth watering, daily vegan fare, created by Chef Lauralee at the school.


Photos below are taken at La Luna
http://www.lalunaecuador.com/
A great little weekend getaway, above Otavalo, 2 hours north of Quito.

Carla...swinging in the Andes.

Ramon with an intense look of concentration. Does it really take that much effort to beat Pugz at checkers??