Step one is to think, daydream, about what you really want to do. What is your vision for travel or your future dreams? Maybe start a wish list. It’s sort of like a bucket list, but somehow wish list sounds better. iWish is a fun app to get you started. Think about what makes your heart sing, brings you happiness, brings joy and excitement to your day. Maybe your dream isn’t even travel related – whatever it is – if you dream, and believe it, you can make it happen. 

“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.”  ~ Vincent van Gogh

I have always heard that travel changes a person, but had no idea at the start of this journey how profound these changes would be.

It all started with the planning process and the letting go of “things” almost an entire year before setting out for Ecuador. I had no idea what freedom would come with the simplicity of having only a few material possessions. It’s hard to believe I was recently able to fit all my worldly possessions into one vehicle, but more about that later.

Vilcabamba – what can I say about Vilcabamba – paradise, oasis, sanctuary? It was a place like no other that I visited in Ecuador or anyplace else for that matter. Nestled in the Southern Andes it is referred to as the Longevity Valley. It is unclear why, but there are stories of an uncommon number of residents over the age of 100. Some theories behind this phenomenon are the minerals in the water, the healthy diet, exercise, and laid back lifestyle.

Our next stop was Ingapirca, an Inca-Canari archaeological site. My guide David shared interesting facts about the history of the area along with details of the exceptional stonecutting done by the Incas.

On day 18 of my 25 day road trip in Ecuador, we drove from Banos to Alausi. Like so many other days on the road, it was full of amazing landscapes, beautiful Andean indigenous people, and interesting sites along the way.

Baños de Agua Santa, commonly referred to as Baños, was the perfect place to rejuvenate and “clean myself up” after four days in the jungle. While staying at the Sangay Spa Hotel right next to a beautiful waterfall, I was able to send my clothes out to actually be laundered in something other than dirty sink water; took a long, hot shower with clean water; and got a much needed mani/pedi to dig out the remainder of the jungle mud. All that followed by an awesome Ayurvedic massage (the prices are very cheap here for massages) and I felt like a new person! It was so relaxing to take leisurely walks around the peaceful, tranquil city.

In Ecuador the jungle area is called the Oriente. It is on the eastern side of the country and even though it encompasses almost half of Ecuador’s territory it has less than five percent of the total population.

My trip to the Cuyabeno reserve in the Amazon began with a 30-minute flight from Quito to Lago Agrio (I swear when I got off the plane it smelled green).

While I’ve enjoyed all the people of Ecuador,  the beautiful countryside and the people who live in the indigenous communities  have really intrigued me.  They are obviously strong, hard working people.

The women, even the very elderly, always have a baby, an animal, or something on their back as they walk up and down these mountains and hills. Quite often there would be large groups working the fields.  Even more amazing to me is how most continue to dress in their traditional clothing. Each group has their own individual style, colors, or hats which makes it easy to distinguish what region they are from. There is a peacefulness about the smooth skinned women with the shy smiles and men with long braids down their backs that is so interesting

On day 10 of my 25 day road trip we drove to National Park Cotopaxi. Unfortunately as we began the hike to the refuge from 14000 ft. to 15000 ft and then on to the glacier, I had my first problem with altitude since arriving in Ecuador. My head began to pound and I started having tunnel vision, so we came back down. I’ll have to try and tackle that one again the next time I’m in Ecuador!

Other than the hot soak and great nature walks, my favorite thing at Papallacta was the use of a hair dryer. It was the first place I have stayed in weeks where I could actually blow my hair dry. I’ve slowly gotten rid of extra weight in my suitcase along the way and I’m down to pretty much using sunscreen & bug spray for makeup and skin conditioner, no hair products, washing my clothes in the sink, and hoping they will at least be close to dry by the next morning. Trying to find that perfect balance between a life of simplicity and those creature comforts I still love.

After a cozy night’s sleep by the fire we made a visit to Cayambe volcano, an amazing 4WD up rocky roads with long drop offs to the side of the road. While making a tight turn in the road our vehicle stalled and after several tries, we realized it was not going to start back up.

Looking back at the long windy road we had just ascended, there wasn’t a car in sight and of course there was no cell service.

The Pan-American Highway passes through Tulcán, over the Rumichaca bridge and on into the Bolívar province of Colombia. We had planned to visit the closest Colombian town to the border, Ipiales, but things were a little shaky the week of my visit so we decided it best to alter that part of the trip. David did want me to see the busy border crossing which is full of activity and money-changers on both sides of the border. (Ecuador uses the United States dollar, but Columbia uses the peso). So… I spent 3 minutes in Columbia, crossing the border, and then right back to Ecuador.

After another huge breakfast (I’ve eaten so much here!) we continued north through the Ibarra valley with beautiful views of the subtropical landscapes of the rich Imbabura province.  Just before crossing into the Carchi province we drove through the Chota valley.

From Quito we took a beautiful drive north through the Guayllabamba valley, and the north part of Cayambe valley. Just as we entered the province of Imbabura we stopped for this scenic view along the Pan-American Highway.

My original plan was to travel throughout Ecuador on my own, but several factors, including the weight of my suitcase and my limited Spanish, sent me on another path. After several emails back and forth with Dennis at Guanguiltagua Expeditions, I was all set with a 4-wheel drive vehicle and driver for a 25 day road trip. I happily settled on dry land at the Hotel de La Rábida in Quito upon my return from the Galapagos, and enjoyed two nights in a quiet little room next to the courtyard guarded by the bunny named Brownie.

On Floreana Island we took a hike at Punta Cormorant where we saw flamingos, shore birds, Sally Lightfoot crabs and a turtle nesting beach (actually witnessed a couple mating in the water) before an afternoon snorkel at Champion Islet – some of the sea lions joined us in the water - so cool!

The Otavalo Market was one of my favorite destinations in Ecuador. Otavalo is in the Imbabura Province of Ecuador. The town has about 90,000 inhabitants, mostly indigenous. They speak Kichwa instead of Spanish. The market on Saturdays is amazing with everything from live animals, to fruit, flowers, grain, lentils, garage sale type items, and colorful handmade items.

The restored colonial architecture in Quito's Centro Histórico (Old Town Quito) is amazing. I was fortunate to be able to visit both at night and during the day. Incredible to see the details during the day and magical at night. There are many stories and legends behind Quito's churches which make them that much more interesting and unique.

After a three day snow delay in St. Louis, I arrived in Quito, Ecuador to be greeted at the airport by my warm and friendly Spanish teacher, Mariana. I was welcomed into her home along with a young man from England and a retired couple from Colorado. Living with Mariana, her husband Frank, and children Jon Pierre and Marie Jose was a wonderful experience.

Their home is in the Los Chillos Valley with a beautiful view of Quito and the mountains. I felt a little like a kid at camp as I settled into my bed and slept soundly to the sounds of clicking frogs, barking dogs, and roosters (who seem to think 4 am is a good time to rise).

“The presence of dignity doesn’t mean poverty is absent.”

This sentence truly hits me in the heart of what I witnessed last week on my trip with the Compassion International Sponsorship Tour to Nicaragua. My first impressions were more distant – seeing the homes and destitute situations from our air-conditioned bus; attending worship services at Be Tania Baptist Church in Ciudad Sandino; even the visit to the project in Hilario Sanchez where the children greeted us with smiles, laughter, and a beautiful program of music and dance. None of this prepared me for the heartbreak I felt after walking down a dirt road to visit a rural family home.