Greetings to you all,
Today is Saturday and much of the hustle and bustle of the city I spoke of earlier is absent today. What a difference!!
Yesterday I had the entire morning to myself with no plans so I decided to make it a mini-retreat. I got up about 6:00 and I had the entire morning in silence (not really that hard when you are alone with no one to talk to), but no music, no TV, I just stayed in my apartment just kept silence all morning: reading Morning Prayer and Scripture, spending time in prayer and mediation and reading one of the books by Thomas Merton that I brought. It was a gloriously refreshing time.
About 11:30 I got a call from Chris Morck asking if I could help him a little. He and Trish were hosting a seminary student from Berckley who had arrived the night before. She is here for two weeks to improve her Spanish and help at the medical clinic operated by one of the parishes here in Quito (she is also a nurse). It seems Chris and Trish both had a meeting in the afternoon that would run most of the afternoon and he asked if I would take her around part of Quito for the afternoon, which I was glad to do.
He brought her to the supermarket near my apartment and from there we took a taxi to Plaza Grand and spent the afternoon there. We took a tour of one of the cathedrals there and it was an incredible experience of the churches opulance and extravagance in the presence of overwhelming poverty. I will go back and take some photos to show what I mean, but it was almost nauseatingly grandeose.
After that Chris met us and we took the seminary student to the churh where she will be working and to the family with whom she will be staying.
That church is the opposite extreme from the cathedral we had been in earlier in the afternoon. It is located in a very poor area, with a very meager sanctuary that is filled with worshippers twice on Sunday and again on Thursdays. It has a small medical clinic, a day care center for 45 children and an after school program for older children, a program for elderly and a seemingly endless list of classes and projects. It functions on donations from the diocese and from churches in the US and is always doing more for people than its meager resources can support, but they live and love by faith. IT IS THE CHURCH AT ITS VERY BEST.
I will go back to take photos of the church, its work and worship there on a Sunday.
As I said recently I am planning to get out of Quito and explore some of the rest of the country. I will start next weekend by going to a town called Otovalo. It is a town about two hours drive north (into the northern hemishphere). It is famous for its artisans and its market on the weekends, a market that includes not only works of the artisans, but a market of large and small animals--anyone what a llama, or a pig, or perhaps a guinea pig? It is a beautiful area about 7000 feet in elevaton. There is an Episcopal Church there and I want to get to know the church there also. I think I will go on Thursday, explore the area and the church on Friday, go to the markert on Saturday, go to church there on Sunday, and come back on Sunday afternoon or Monday.
You can take a taxi from here for $7.50, and stay in a very nice hotel for $35 a night. It will be a great first trip.
I understand that the recent small eruption of Tungurahua volcano is new in the US. It is not a threat to Quito, but it is news here also. Such minor eruptions are not uncommon and in fact it will erupt out of one side of the mountain while the other side remains covered with ice and snow. There is aways the possibility of a big eruption, but no one here seems concerned.
This afternoon I am going to the Botanical Garden to learn about and photo the flora of the Andes, and then I want to visit the Chapel of Mankind, a museum didicated to the struggle of the indigenous people here over the centuries. I am told it is very interesting.
Tomorrow I will go to church at the Cathedral and see what I might do next week with the Bishop and/or Chris.
Adios for now
Glenn+
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Clean Clothes and a visit to Plaza Grande
Hello from Quito,
Last night I had a great dinner at what I thought was an Argentinean-Chilean Restaurant, but it turned out to be an Ecuadorean-Chilean restaurant. Not that I would know the difference, mind you. The food was very good, a great chicken dinner with rice salad, bread, for $7.00. The chicken had a sauce that I cannot identify but it was very good.
I had a great nights sleep, 8 solid hours. In fact I have slept well most every night since I have been here. Some of that may have to do with all of the walking, and climbing stairs and hills. Or perhaps it is some of the Spanish TV progams, which are quite boring. may be the reason, but regardless of the reason, it feels great. Speaking of Spanish TV, I do watch it and it does help with my ability to understand Spanish.
This morning I washed clothes ealy, before others could get to the machines. The machines at the apartment are not fast, but they eventually do the job. After finishing the wash and a quick run to the supermarket for bottled water, I took a cab to Plaza Grande.
I was there the other day for a short while when I went to Old City, but today I spent about 5 hours there just walking around and taking photos mostly of people. There were no demonstrations there today as there had been the other day, just people of all kinds hanging out in the Plaza. A lot of old men meet there and sit on the benches and talk, and nap, or just sit there doing nothing. It is full of vendors, kids in school uniformes, various police and military people, old ladies and young couples, etc. It is a fascinating place for people pictures.
I had a lunch in a neat little place and had lamb and rice and ¨water with gas¨, that is the phrase for bottled sparkling water. If you want plain bottled water you have to ask for ¨water without gas¨.
I also stopped in mid afternoon at a place highly recommended in my travel book that has great fruit salads with creme. And it was also wonderful.
I have mentioned getting around in taxis. They are everywhere and very cheap. The meter starts at 35 cents and a trip across town is seldom more than about $2.50. There is no tipping taxi drivers, but it is common to round the fare up to the next highest quarter. So a fare of $2.15 would really be $2.25.
Tomottow afternoon I am going to Chris´s house and meeting him and seminarian from the US who is here for about 18 days. Then we are all going to a meeting of the PanAmerican Leage of Churches. This is a very active group and it is the same group I met with on Monday morning with Chris. On Mondsay it was mostly just introductions, but this is a meeting about some of their projects, so I am looking forward to it.
I am also beginning to look at some of the areas I want to visit by myself and when I see Chris tomorrow I will get some guidance from him. Depending on what the Bishop may have in mind for me next week I might try a 3 day trip to one of several places I am interested in. It will be nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, of which there is plenty. A little tranquility in some outer, more remote area for a few days would be nice.
Despite the hustle and bustle I must say this is wonderful. I have had more time to relax, read, pray, and just let my mind wander than I have known in a long, long time. My morning time is very special. I start each morning with Morning Prayer (and coffee), and then have time to just think of and pray for all of you. It is strange perhaps how you can be so very far away, with only internet communication with a few, yet still feel very close to you all. I feel your love and your prayers, and thank God for all of you and for this incredible experience.
My meeting tomorrow may run late into the afternoon and I may or may not get a chance to post anything here tomorrow, we will just have to see.
Mean while I love you all and keep you all in my heart.
Glenn+
Last night I had a great dinner at what I thought was an Argentinean-Chilean Restaurant, but it turned out to be an Ecuadorean-Chilean restaurant. Not that I would know the difference, mind you. The food was very good, a great chicken dinner with rice salad, bread, for $7.00. The chicken had a sauce that I cannot identify but it was very good.
I had a great nights sleep, 8 solid hours. In fact I have slept well most every night since I have been here. Some of that may have to do with all of the walking, and climbing stairs and hills. Or perhaps it is some of the Spanish TV progams, which are quite boring. may be the reason, but regardless of the reason, it feels great. Speaking of Spanish TV, I do watch it and it does help with my ability to understand Spanish.
This morning I washed clothes ealy, before others could get to the machines. The machines at the apartment are not fast, but they eventually do the job. After finishing the wash and a quick run to the supermarket for bottled water, I took a cab to Plaza Grande.
I was there the other day for a short while when I went to Old City, but today I spent about 5 hours there just walking around and taking photos mostly of people. There were no demonstrations there today as there had been the other day, just people of all kinds hanging out in the Plaza. A lot of old men meet there and sit on the benches and talk, and nap, or just sit there doing nothing. It is full of vendors, kids in school uniformes, various police and military people, old ladies and young couples, etc. It is a fascinating place for people pictures.
I had a lunch in a neat little place and had lamb and rice and ¨water with gas¨, that is the phrase for bottled sparkling water. If you want plain bottled water you have to ask for ¨water without gas¨.
I also stopped in mid afternoon at a place highly recommended in my travel book that has great fruit salads with creme. And it was also wonderful.
I have mentioned getting around in taxis. They are everywhere and very cheap. The meter starts at 35 cents and a trip across town is seldom more than about $2.50. There is no tipping taxi drivers, but it is common to round the fare up to the next highest quarter. So a fare of $2.15 would really be $2.25.
Tomottow afternoon I am going to Chris´s house and meeting him and seminarian from the US who is here for about 18 days. Then we are all going to a meeting of the PanAmerican Leage of Churches. This is a very active group and it is the same group I met with on Monday morning with Chris. On Mondsay it was mostly just introductions, but this is a meeting about some of their projects, so I am looking forward to it.
I am also beginning to look at some of the areas I want to visit by myself and when I see Chris tomorrow I will get some guidance from him. Depending on what the Bishop may have in mind for me next week I might try a 3 day trip to one of several places I am interested in. It will be nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city, of which there is plenty. A little tranquility in some outer, more remote area for a few days would be nice.
Despite the hustle and bustle I must say this is wonderful. I have had more time to relax, read, pray, and just let my mind wander than I have known in a long, long time. My morning time is very special. I start each morning with Morning Prayer (and coffee), and then have time to just think of and pray for all of you. It is strange perhaps how you can be so very far away, with only internet communication with a few, yet still feel very close to you all. I feel your love and your prayers, and thank God for all of you and for this incredible experience.
My meeting tomorrow may run late into the afternoon and I may or may not get a chance to post anything here tomorrow, we will just have to see.
Mean while I love you all and keep you all in my heart.
Glenn+
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
I am getting around town
Greetings to you all.
Getting used to these Spanish keyboards is a bit of a challenge and I apologize for typos and other goofs. You may note I dont use apostrophes. I dont know how on these machines. There are a few other peculiarities also and they are sometimes different on different keyboards. So we will make do as best we can.
Yesterday I had a great time visiting a couple of the great places here in Quito. First, I went to Old City, which is the old colonial part of Quito. I took a taxi, that is how I get everywhere that is not in walking distance, arriving first at Plaza Grande. This is a grand open area on one edge of Old City. It is where the government buildings are and it is where everyone with a cause comes to speak out to the crowds about their issue. There was a huge gathering to hear speakers about a proposed change in the tax system. There were armed police and military personel everywhere in the Plaza. They acted like this was all normal, not as thoiugh they were there for this particular occasion, but is was a strange feeling.
I took some photos of the plaza, the buidings there and some of the crowd and speaker and moved on. I stopped and had some lunch and then just started walking the narrow streets of Old City, taking photos of people and of the peculiar architecture. I walked a number of the streets and then started the long up hill climb to the other end of Old City and I do mean UP and I do mean LONG CLIMB. At 10,000 feet it was quite a climb. There is an old gothic-style cathedral at the top of the hill that looks like an old Europena Cathedral and looks completely out of place here. I took a few shots of it and grabbed a taxi to my sec0nd stop, Parque Carolina.
Carolina is a huge park in the center of the city with every imaginable activity from horseback riding, to soccer and backetball courts, a fantastic skate board course that is unilike any I have ever seen, a lake with paddele boats and endless open spaces to stroll. I strolled and came upon a group making a televison spot about the proposed tax issue. I struck up a chat with the main actor in the production and had a fascinating time with him. I then strolled some more and took a photo of a guy who was doing spray paint art on the outside of one of the tunnels, and I do mean ART, not graffiti. The photo shows some of his art as well as him spray painting and I relly like it a lot.
I grabbed a taxi, that is the only safe way to get around town, especially with an obviously valuable camera. You have to be very careful as regards security. I dont carry a walle, only a copy of my passport, and only small amounts of cash, one credit card, all in secure pockets. I am most careful when I have my camera with me. I dont want to over state the case, but pick pockets and grab and run crimes are very, very common.
I found a TGI Fridays for supper and went back to my apartment to try to get some news about the NH primary--forget it--nada, nada, nada. I finally got the results this morning at the diocesan office.
That takes me to today:
After breakfast I took a cab to the diocesan office for a eucharist at 9:00 and a tour of the office and an introduction to everyone there. Then I had luinch with the Bishop and Chris Morck, his assistant. We talked about a host of possiblities for places for me to go, but didnt make any immediate plans, except on Friday I will attend a meeting at one of the churches here in Quito, and attend church at the cathedral on Sunday. The Bishop just returned from his vacationa nd he really doesnt have his own plans made yet.
I need to wash some clothes tomorrow early before others in the apartment get into the laundry room and then if the weather is nice, it is raining today, I will look for another part of this fasciating city to cruise and shoot photos.
I have learned that to take photos of people you have to ask first and usually they want paid, either 50 cents or a dollar. You cannot blame them though. The peoiole that are the most intersting to photo are the poor, and I dont begrudge them at all.Well, it is time to head off for supper. there is an Argentinean-Chilean restaurant a block for my apartment and it is not raining hard so I think I will go there. I has lunch with Chris there and the food was very good.
Adios Amigos from Quito.
Getting used to these Spanish keyboards is a bit of a challenge and I apologize for typos and other goofs. You may note I dont use apostrophes. I dont know how on these machines. There are a few other peculiarities also and they are sometimes different on different keyboards. So we will make do as best we can.
Yesterday I had a great time visiting a couple of the great places here in Quito. First, I went to Old City, which is the old colonial part of Quito. I took a taxi, that is how I get everywhere that is not in walking distance, arriving first at Plaza Grande. This is a grand open area on one edge of Old City. It is where the government buildings are and it is where everyone with a cause comes to speak out to the crowds about their issue. There was a huge gathering to hear speakers about a proposed change in the tax system. There were armed police and military personel everywhere in the Plaza. They acted like this was all normal, not as thoiugh they were there for this particular occasion, but is was a strange feeling.
I took some photos of the plaza, the buidings there and some of the crowd and speaker and moved on. I stopped and had some lunch and then just started walking the narrow streets of Old City, taking photos of people and of the peculiar architecture. I walked a number of the streets and then started the long up hill climb to the other end of Old City and I do mean UP and I do mean LONG CLIMB. At 10,000 feet it was quite a climb. There is an old gothic-style cathedral at the top of the hill that looks like an old Europena Cathedral and looks completely out of place here. I took a few shots of it and grabbed a taxi to my sec0nd stop, Parque Carolina.
Carolina is a huge park in the center of the city with every imaginable activity from horseback riding, to soccer and backetball courts, a fantastic skate board course that is unilike any I have ever seen, a lake with paddele boats and endless open spaces to stroll. I strolled and came upon a group making a televison spot about the proposed tax issue. I struck up a chat with the main actor in the production and had a fascinating time with him. I then strolled some more and took a photo of a guy who was doing spray paint art on the outside of one of the tunnels, and I do mean ART, not graffiti. The photo shows some of his art as well as him spray painting and I relly like it a lot.
I grabbed a taxi, that is the only safe way to get around town, especially with an obviously valuable camera. You have to be very careful as regards security. I dont carry a walle, only a copy of my passport, and only small amounts of cash, one credit card, all in secure pockets. I am most careful when I have my camera with me. I dont want to over state the case, but pick pockets and grab and run crimes are very, very common.
I found a TGI Fridays for supper and went back to my apartment to try to get some news about the NH primary--forget it--nada, nada, nada. I finally got the results this morning at the diocesan office.
That takes me to today:
After breakfast I took a cab to the diocesan office for a eucharist at 9:00 and a tour of the office and an introduction to everyone there. Then I had luinch with the Bishop and Chris Morck, his assistant. We talked about a host of possiblities for places for me to go, but didnt make any immediate plans, except on Friday I will attend a meeting at one of the churches here in Quito, and attend church at the cathedral on Sunday. The Bishop just returned from his vacationa nd he really doesnt have his own plans made yet.
I need to wash some clothes tomorrow early before others in the apartment get into the laundry room and then if the weather is nice, it is raining today, I will look for another part of this fasciating city to cruise and shoot photos.
I have learned that to take photos of people you have to ask first and usually they want paid, either 50 cents or a dollar. You cannot blame them though. The peoiole that are the most intersting to photo are the poor, and I dont begrudge them at all.Well, it is time to head off for supper. there is an Argentinean-Chilean restaurant a block for my apartment and it is not raining hard so I think I will go there. I has lunch with Chris there and the food was very good.
Adios Amigos from Quito.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
It is Tuesday
Good morning everyone out there in blog-land,
I have settled into my apartment and started to get around a little. This is a big accomplishment as I have had Chris as a guarian angel the first day or so and now I am on my own. My apartment is right on one of the main drags of the city, right in the heart of the city and it is a perfect locatuion for access to literally everything I need.
I got some grocieries from the super markert, explored he neighborhood and went out for dinner. I had selected a restaurant from my book on Ecuador and got a cab to go there. When I got in the driver told me that restaurant is closed. So I asked him for a recomendation and he took me to a great place.
I came ¨home¨ and watched TV and had a glas of wine. I am beginning to get used to Spanish TV. I watch mostly news and I did get an American PBS broadcast and got a little of the news on the eve of the NH primary.
I forgot to tell you all the other things Chris and Trish and I did on Sunday after we went apartment hunting. There is a hill in the center of the city called ¨Panecillo¨, literally ¨little bread¨. It get its name because the hill looks like a little loaf of bread. On the top of the hill is an enormous statue of the ¨Virgin of the Revelation¨. Also from the top you have a 360 degree view of the City of Quito and the surrounding volcanos and glaciers, when it is clear. It was not quite clear enough to see more than one volcano and a mere glipse of one of the glaciers.
The disovery of glaciers here was very surprising. Imagine there are glaciers on the equator, and there are a number of them and they proviode the water supply for Quito. The concern is that due to global warming the glaciers are disappearing and the fuyure of the City of Quito is at stake.
Also, the top of Panecillo is a popular gathering place for locals on a Sunday afternoon. There are streeet venders selling everything from what looks like bowls of chicken livers to cotton candy, kids are playing soccer, los novios, that is lovers, walk around holding hands, and it has a certain carnival atmosphere. It is quite cool, literally and figuratively.
After I finish this I need to go to the bank, and then take a cab to the Old City, the old colonial part of Quito. This is where the old churches, the most recent is about 100 years old, are located as well as some old museums, and who know what else.
If I have time for more adventure today I will go to one to the huge inner-city parks. El Parque Carolina and wonder around with my camera.
Tomorrow at 9:00 AM there is a Mass at the Diocesan Office and the Bishop will have returned from his vacation to Puerto Rico. I will meet him for the first time and talk about what I might do with him and his staff and how I might help at the Cathedral on occasion.
I am feeing great! The altitude is only noticeable when I have to climb up several flights of stairs. Climing stairs here is a way of life. Everything is ¨up stairs¨ and most of the stairs are bigger steps than is typical in the US, and few have hand rails. One of the best features of my apartment is the elevator--gracias a Dios. But I just go slow and all is well.
That is about all for now. The sun is burning off the morning mist and it will get warm soon. No rain in sight as far as I know and I guess it has rained only one day in the last couple of weeks.
You are all in my prayers and I truly feel the prayers of you all.
Hasta mañana,
Glenn+
I have settled into my apartment and started to get around a little. This is a big accomplishment as I have had Chris as a guarian angel the first day or so and now I am on my own. My apartment is right on one of the main drags of the city, right in the heart of the city and it is a perfect locatuion for access to literally everything I need.
I got some grocieries from the super markert, explored he neighborhood and went out for dinner. I had selected a restaurant from my book on Ecuador and got a cab to go there. When I got in the driver told me that restaurant is closed. So I asked him for a recomendation and he took me to a great place.
I came ¨home¨ and watched TV and had a glas of wine. I am beginning to get used to Spanish TV. I watch mostly news and I did get an American PBS broadcast and got a little of the news on the eve of the NH primary.
I forgot to tell you all the other things Chris and Trish and I did on Sunday after we went apartment hunting. There is a hill in the center of the city called ¨Panecillo¨, literally ¨little bread¨. It get its name because the hill looks like a little loaf of bread. On the top of the hill is an enormous statue of the ¨Virgin of the Revelation¨. Also from the top you have a 360 degree view of the City of Quito and the surrounding volcanos and glaciers, when it is clear. It was not quite clear enough to see more than one volcano and a mere glipse of one of the glaciers.
The disovery of glaciers here was very surprising. Imagine there are glaciers on the equator, and there are a number of them and they proviode the water supply for Quito. The concern is that due to global warming the glaciers are disappearing and the fuyure of the City of Quito is at stake.
Also, the top of Panecillo is a popular gathering place for locals on a Sunday afternoon. There are streeet venders selling everything from what looks like bowls of chicken livers to cotton candy, kids are playing soccer, los novios, that is lovers, walk around holding hands, and it has a certain carnival atmosphere. It is quite cool, literally and figuratively.
After I finish this I need to go to the bank, and then take a cab to the Old City, the old colonial part of Quito. This is where the old churches, the most recent is about 100 years old, are located as well as some old museums, and who know what else.
If I have time for more adventure today I will go to one to the huge inner-city parks. El Parque Carolina and wonder around with my camera.
Tomorrow at 9:00 AM there is a Mass at the Diocesan Office and the Bishop will have returned from his vacation to Puerto Rico. I will meet him for the first time and talk about what I might do with him and his staff and how I might help at the Cathedral on occasion.
I am feeing great! The altitude is only noticeable when I have to climb up several flights of stairs. Climing stairs here is a way of life. Everything is ¨up stairs¨ and most of the stairs are bigger steps than is typical in the US, and few have hand rails. One of the best features of my apartment is the elevator--gracias a Dios. But I just go slow and all is well.
That is about all for now. The sun is burning off the morning mist and it will get warm soon. No rain in sight as far as I know and I guess it has rained only one day in the last couple of weeks.
You are all in my prayers and I truly feel the prayers of you all.
Hasta mañana,
Glenn+
Monday, January 7, 2008
I am settling in
Greetings to everyone,
It has been a very busy time since yesterday. Yesterday morning Chris Morck drove to about 5 possible apartments looking for one that would work for a place for me to stay. We found one that is in a perfect location, but it was not available for inspectionm until today. The ones we saw we ok ,but we waited to check out the one in the better location. We saw it today and it is perfect. A very confortble furnished apartment on a main thoroughfare with a laundry room and a gym. I took it and moved in today. Chris dropped me off and left after we went out for lunch. Now I am going to a super market to get some supplies and settle in. The internet cafe and the super arkeet are virtually across the street from my apaprtment.
You may have heard that one of the volcanos outside of Quito is erupting. It is the same one I saw on fired when we landed. It is about 75 miles from Quito.
Tomorrow I will begin gettting around town on my own and that is an adventure in itself.
I will add more tomorow.
Adios
It has been a very busy time since yesterday. Yesterday morning Chris Morck drove to about 5 possible apartments looking for one that would work for a place for me to stay. We found one that is in a perfect location, but it was not available for inspectionm until today. The ones we saw we ok ,but we waited to check out the one in the better location. We saw it today and it is perfect. A very confortble furnished apartment on a main thoroughfare with a laundry room and a gym. I took it and moved in today. Chris dropped me off and left after we went out for lunch. Now I am going to a super market to get some supplies and settle in. The internet cafe and the super arkeet are virtually across the street from my apaprtment.
You may have heard that one of the volcanos outside of Quito is erupting. It is the same one I saw on fired when we landed. It is about 75 miles from Quito.
Tomorrow I will begin gettting around town on my own and that is an adventure in itself.
I will add more tomorow.
Adios
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Greetings from Quito, Ecuador
I had a wondeful flight via Miami and arrivesd here in Quito last night. As we were landing in Quito I could see the fire in one of the volcanos outside the city. What a fantastic sight!! I was met at the airport by the lay assistant to the Bishop, Chris Morck. He and his wife Trish and their two children hosted me last night and they are a wonderful young family. Today I will look for a permanent place to stay here in Quito. The weather here is very comfortable, about 60 degrees, a little cloudy but very delightful. I have been talking with Chris about places to visit and many of them are places where the diocese has churches and he has offered to take me with his as job is to visit these outer congregations.
I know this is short, but I wanted to let everyone know that my trip was terrific and everything I have learned from Chris about the diocese and the country is very, very exciting.
Adios for now.
Glenn
I know this is short, but I wanted to let everyone know that my trip was terrific and everything I have learned from Chris about the diocese and the country is very, very exciting.
Adios for now.
Glenn
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
