HAL Prinsendam
SA Grand Voyage 2012 – Private Tours
SA 2012 Tours
Scotland – Craig McCall
Ireland – Tim Morrissey
Denmark – Brian Jørgensen
Iceland – Bragi Ragnarsson
Tag Archives: South America
Postcards from Ecuador
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- Falcon Park
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- Cuicocha Lake
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- Village Dancers
Legend of Mt. Cotacachi and Mt. Imbabura
I started thinking about how much we were using the names of these Mountains and thought I would pass on a legend about them. Now I can’t credit where I found this out, because I have read so much and searched so much information about Ecuador, I really don’t know the source. Ok now for the Legend…
Mama Cotacachi (the mountain) is a pale-skinned woman with long white hair, and took care of the children at her feet [read the people in the villages]. She was married to Papa Imbabura. When they argued the thunderbolts fell.
Imbabura cheated on Cotacachi with Cayambe, a snow covered mountain to the south. He gave Cotacachi grain, but gave Cayambe rain and water.
When Cotacachi found out about Imbabura cheating on her she cried and those tears formed the lakes at the bottom of Cotacachi.
From the lake is the birth place of the Inca nation – but that is another legend for another day
Antigua – Guatemala
Antiqua
Just had to include a picture of the famous Arch in Antigua. What self respecting tourist wouldn’t? I can tell you first hand, I do a lot of self respecting too. Now to use some platitudes that usually accompany tourist pictures…
The pictures just don’t capture the natural charm of the city. Nor do they show that there are 45 churches and 43 convents in this little city that was so central to the foundation of settling Central America. The city dates back to the mid 1500’s I believe, March 10, 1543 if you want to be exact, (and you thought I don’t remember birthdays). Now back to the normal dry narration.
If you get a chance it is worth spending some time enjoying the city. There are MANY people trying to sell you things every time you turn around though. So the trick is DLAT (Don’t Look At Them). If you make eye contact with them or pause to look at what they have you are doomed to have them nagging you the rest of the day. So there you go.
Panama Canal
Panama Canal
What an amazing trip it is to go through the Canal. You go up 85 feet from the Pacific Ocean side, go through a very long lake, and down 85 feet into the Caribbean. Watching ships along side, in front and in back makes it seem like ships are rising and sinking around you.
I am sure I could talk for an hour about the Canal but you just have to experience it for yourself. You can see the progress they are making on the new locks for the really big ships too. That is due for completion in 2014.
All in all it makes for a very entertaining day.
Merry Xmas Everyone!!!!
Christmas Tree
This is our make-shift tree for Christmas Tree. What do you think? Just so you get an idea of size, it is a little over 6 ft tall.
We think we will be creating a fad in Ecuador. They don’t have the natural trees here. They have fake trees.
Don’t be surprised the next time you see pictures of Xmas in Ecuador you see a see of trees like what is in the picture…