The Adventures of the Tober-Zambrano Family: June 2013

Monday, June 10, 2013

We miss you Emily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My niece Emily (the bestest niece in the world) spent 5 months in Ecuador, hanging with us and volunteering in the mtns and on the coast. She turned 19 recently and just went home to Halifax to find a job and save some more $ for university in September. It was a super privilege to have her here and we hope it's not too long before we see her again. Good luck in uni Em! We love you!

Coturco hike

Near the top of a hill, Coturco, opposite Quito and Pichincha. The kids managed a 6 hour hike up 500m vertical metres or so. I so proud of them! It's amazing what a 4.5 year old can do, and still have energy to play at home after!

How did a lizard end up in a birds nest? Maybe that's why he's not breathing anymore. Carla loves playing with dead animals....she took him home and asked me what the little white things were that were coming out of his body.....maggots.

This is Ilalo in the forground....we live at the bottom right of this extinct volcano. Volcan Atacazo in the background.

Ramon, sliding on his bum for the steep sections.

.....and cooling our heels afterwards.

Carla 2

Carla the swimmer.....well....floater

With her best nursery pal, Olivia.

With a dress from Emily

Pasachoa with Emily and the kids

Pasachoa is a blown out crater, 45mins from home. It's much green than the photo shows. Great hiking trails for the kids and picnic shelters.

Teacher Emily.....

Rolling Em down the hill..........

All the national parks in Ecuador, no longer charge an entrance fee.

Fast food playgrounds

McDonalds, KFC, and a Pizza joint all in one morning? Well, it sure wasn't for the food (Ok, I'll admit, pancakes and OJ and Micky D's, coffee, blackberry juice and humitas at KFC, and pasta at the pizza place) Of course the cynic in me is aware of the need to get 'em young, so I've tended to avoid this type of playground. In fact we've been here four years and that is our first time in McDonalds or KFC. Sure frees up dad to read a book though!

Carla with her cousin.....

Yahuarcocha ride

Lake Yahuarcocha–a famous historical site just outside of Ibarra. The name is Quechua (indigenous language) for “Lake of Blood,” and it was named such after a battle between the Incas and the Caranquis, the indigenous people who lived here at the time. Volcan Imbaburra behind, which Emily and I climbed a few months ago. Ibarra is the small city between the two.

A wee bit dry around these parts.

Nothing like an old hiway with no traffic!

Cununyacu 4


A photo display of Ecuador's main volcanoes. Climbed all but about 5 or so, so it must be time to go home!

Mr. Handsome with Pichincha in the background.

Yup....the boy can swim....sort of.

Just a few bums hanging around, Carla, Ramon and Emily

The new Bugs Bunny?

Team poncho!


Pablo/Compadre....road side repairs in the wee hours of our attempt to ride 600km in one shot to the Peruvian border. I couldn't hack it an more, mentally, after 330km.....from 4am to 11pm. At that point we determined with our current pace that we'd have to ride into a second night....and with only 4 hours sleep the night before....... ah ya...excuses, excuses	Steve

Interesting to note that a lot of old bridges built in the 40's and 50's were done by the Americans. Well....things have changed in this century. Tons of new road works in Ecuador.