Boy, it was not easy to say goodbye to this place. But all good things must end (and be continued at a later date).
For what it's worth, my favorite astrologer tells me that a person's birth chart resonates with certain spots in the world. Whether you call it "astro-cartography" or simply 'feelin' it', you know when you find that spot that works for you. I've traveled quite a lot in Latin America and never felt so at home as I did here.
Again, for me it was the people more than the place. I find the Quechua in this part of Ecuador to be the kindest, friendliest, most helpful People I've come across anywhere.
Ecuador is not without its problems, however, and poverty and crime do abound throughout the country just as they do in the U.S., something which we gringos tend to forget sometimes. As a traveler, it's always good to be aware of your surroundings, speak the language well enough to know if you're being cursed at (or worse, laughed at), and never to flaunt your "stuff." Having a base like El Meson to take care of you if you're sick, arrange transportation, and provide a helping hand and a healthy diet is a big plus. I know for a fact that this is a rare commodity in a foreign land, so I have Gary and Merri Scott and their incredible staff to thank for providing that safety net.
I was delighted to find that I was not the only woman traveling alone here. In fact, I made some friends for life, and we enjoyed a great breakfast at Susannah's before I headed out to Quito. Coincidentally, one other woman, Maggie the import-export queen, was leaving that day too, so we shared a taxi (Susannah took our picture.)At right: Cricket, Maggie, Jaci, Patricia, and me.
I mentioned Dennis and Nicki Goff in an earlier post. Dennis took the picture of Dan Prescher singing as well as the one of me that appears in the left profile of this blog with a guitar (I posterized it), and he is a marvel with a camera - an eye for color and detail that is amazing! If you have an interest in getting to know more about Cotacachi or ever plan to visit there, I would suggest joining the ning site that Dennis set up earlier this year to share photos and information (as well as a yahoo group as I mentioned previously). You can see some of Dennis' incredible photography on the site as well as photos from the scores who have already joined on the ning site. The address is www.cotacachi.ning.com . There is no substitute for first-hand experience, and I'm the first to recognize that what is heaven for some can be hell for others. The only way to tell is to experience it yourself. And to that end, I hope you have the opportunity to visit all the places calling out to you.
Other helpful links:
http://www.embaecuador-malaysia.com/general%20information.htm (general info on Ecuador)
http://www.ecuador-travel-guide.org/general/default.htm (Ecuador Travel Guide)
www.garyascott.com (lots of posts about Ecuador, the hotel, and the Scotts' business seminars)
http://www.garyascott.com/2008/04/13/2078.html (Gary Scott's webpage for El Meson de las Flores)
http://hostalelarbolito.com (El Arbolito is another small hotel in Cotacachi, less expensive but very nice - no internet on site, but an internet cafe is nearby).
