happy anniversary to me

these are some pictures from my life in Ecuador:

~this is a vacation to Baños on the left and the pic directly above is a view from the roof of our first apartment way up in the northern part of Quito

~this is me eating a typical fruit called Tuna, fyi if someone tells you that you should try a fruit named tuna and your better judgement tells you that you shouldn't, listen to your better judgement. (note that the rubber gloves are not a fashion statement in this photo but a part of the safety equipment needed to eat this fruit)

~this is a picture from the new apartment we moved into that truly was in Quito as opposed to our other apartment where cab drivers refused to take us and friends would never visit because it was so far away. here we were finally within walking distance to the hospital, a grocery store (real one not a small curbside tienda), a church that wasn't surrounded by packs of rabid dogs, and our friends were actually willing to pick us up or just stop by.

~here is the Good Friday procession through El Centro, the guys dressed in purple are part of the brotherhood Cucuruchos and basically are penitents who walk the procession carrying crosses, wrapped in chains, and are in some way making acts of penance

~here is a picture from our Easter celebration. that's monica is the photo with me, she came in to spend a few weeks with us. note the artwork in the background came with the apartment and was not chosen nor hung by us, there is a long story behind it suffice it to say we felt guilty taking them down.

~this is another picture in the apartment (across from the disturbing children's artwork in the hall) us with a few of our Ecuadorian friends

~and no photo album of my life on the equator would be complete without at least one photo from the bull fights. it might not be politically correct to say this, but bull fights are awesome. awesome except for the whole part about the bull dying and all that, but watching the bullfighter especially the good ones is amazing.

Well, i could put many more photos up and reminice for a lot longer but i need to get back to my relaxing. only 31 more hours until i have to go back to work.