The Happiest Place on Earth

So before we get into what we think the happiest place on earth is...let me just tell you...Ecuador has outdone the Americans when it comes to oatmeal. I dont know what it is...there is not much to it: a dash of nutmeg, a healthy dose of cinnamon, a bit of whole oats, and lots of WHOLE milk. Forget the 2%, it doesn't exist here...and rightfully so! Our lives have changed with the freedom of drinking whole milk. It has turned oatmeal from a blan, diet food to a sought after dessert-like meal! Wow...

Now, for our last adventure. Last Sunday, the entire house (9 people) went to a village called 235 about 5 hours from Quito in bus. The significane of village 235 is that it is the home of our very dear friend Lenin ( 3rd picture down). Lenin is an Afro Ecuadorian in his early twenties who lived in Casa Victoria for about a year and grew up in this village before moving out to Quito to study and work. Lenin's village is made entirely of family members.

To get to this village you need two buses. The first drops you off in Ibarra where the second picks you up to take you the last hour and a half to the middle of the Andes mountains. There isn't much to mark this bus "stop"...a little gravel, a small white house, and lots of greenery. So, you hop off the bus, literally, or they may take off while you have one foot in and one out.

You walk down and through the mountain trail, about 15 minutes. After about 8 minutes you come to a roaring river that looks a little like something out of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. You say your prayers and cross the manmade bridge which has collapsed twice ( restored by the locals and some fellow Casa Victorians). Forgetting about the shaky bridge, you stand in the middle and take in the breathless scenery of green, green, and more green. As you continue on your trek, you stop to say hi to some of the local villagers sitting in front of thier houses, as well as the many many chickens and pigs along the way.

Finally, you arrive. There is a decent sized home on your right, where Lenin's immediate family lives (mom, dad, brother...there are 11 siblings in total but the others have moved) a school classroom in front of you, a few houses behind that, a slabe of cement used to play futbol on, a small chapel at the top of the incline, and a couple more classrooms.

Lenin's mom came out to greet us upon our arrival, squeezing each of us as if we were her own...not 10 seconds later the kids came out. That was one of the most amazing parts. The children, all cousins, were the most energetic, joyful, rambunxious (sp?)kids ever! They were all soooo beautiful with double the personality to match. The older ones, for the most part, looked after the younger ones...that is, if they weren't launching water balloons at them! The village was full of energy and life and beautiful smiles. Beth Ann, a friend of Charlie Beck's from New York, came along with us and brought lots of Snickers and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups to give to the kids...they lasted maybe 30 seconds!

Lenin's mom cooked us Gringos a feast...to start: Chicken head and foot soup ( it is something else to see a little mohawk poking out of your soup); main course: a HUGE plate of rice, potatos, and fried chicken ( keep in mind this fried chicken was probably alive just the day before!); for dessert: fruit in a syrup. The Gringos ate alone at the table with Lenin. In thier culture, they cook you the food and serve you while they stay and eat in the kitchen. We've tried to undo this but have been unsuccessful.

In order to work off all that food, we all had a dance party in one of the classrooms. Charlie Beck started it off with some MJ until it later turned into a spanish music variety. The traditional music here is Bachata... slightly less complicated than salsa but not easy. Surprisingly enough, the Gringos were up and dancing every single song while the kids watched in awe ( I don't think it was a good kind of awe either ;). A few hours into the dancing, grandma came out. Grandma was a 5'6 lady with her gray hair in a tight bun, who could move better than anyone on that floor. She entered the room with a large green bottle FULL of water on her head (!!!)...from the moment she entered she didn't stop dancing. It was all hips...that bottle did not move. It was incredible. So much fun!

Later, we went to bed, stinky and sweaty and still very full. All us Casa Victorians stayed in one of the classrooms on what started off as air mattresses and ended up as just a plastic layer on the tile floor. It made for a very funny, restless night! 4am the rooster crows....6am the rooster crows....and on and on.

We left the next afternoon after another hearty meal of fried yuca (which is a very common potato like vegetable), rice, chicken and potatos....at 11am :) Lenin kissed his family goodbye and told his mom "no llores" ( don't cry). It was very, very sweet. And, we were off.

...one of the best Casa V trips yet!

P.S.
Sorry for the photo layout....still can't figure out how to post them in a logical sequence!