{"id":4002,"date":"2015-03-22T09:11:37","date_gmt":"2015-03-22T17:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/?p=4002"},"modified":"2016-12-27T09:19:38","modified_gmt":"2016-12-27T17:19:38","slug":"ecuador","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/2015\/03\/ecuador\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Ecuador"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-1IMG_2976.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 1IMG_2976\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re not really sure why, but Ecuador for us has been dotted with long stays separated with short drives. It could be the effect of almost constant rain, our need to connect somewhat deeper with the places we visited or even a feeling of safety and comfort wherever we went. Most likely, a combination of all of those&#8230; <\/p>\n<div class=\"videoContainer\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/embed?mid=z9VqMRCwxasc.kncMBBSbkqPU\" width=\"100%\" height=\"480\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-3IMG_2943.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 3IMG_2943\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Having left the Amazon behind, we moved south towards Ba\u00f1os but stopped a few miles shy of it, at one of the best campgrounds we&#8217;ve ever been to so far on this trip. Peque\u00f1o Paraiso was nestled between a great canyon and the Ba\u00f1os Highway and it provided us with more playroom than we could ask for. <\/p>\n<div class=\"tt_sc columns\">\n<div class=\"one_half column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-4IMG_2948.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 4IMG_2948\" \/><br \/>\nOur camping neighbors repelled down into the canyon.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_half column last\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-5IMG_2955.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 5IMG_2955\" \/><br \/>\nTara is too young to be excited or afraid about such endeavors. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--tt_sc --><\/p>\n<div class=\"tt_sc columns\">\n<div class=\"one_half column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-14IMG_3018.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 14IMG_3018\" \/><br \/>\nWe occasionally hiked through the rain to the nearby waterfalls. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_half column last\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-13IMG_3019.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 13IMG_3019\" \/><br \/>\nEl Pailon Del Diablo waterfall in Rio Verde.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--tt_sc --><\/p>\n<div class=\"tt_sc columns\">\n<div class=\"one_third column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-6IMG_5081.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 6IMG_5081\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-11IMG_3001.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 11IMG_3001\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third column last\">\n<p>\nHaving Tara is really like having a baby. We constantly watch over her, but sometimes she manages to find dangerous toys and hurts herself. It\u2019s not always possible to figure out what happened. This time it was a scorpion she tried to hunt! Of course she got stung but somehow managed to survive the poison. Her little body is going through so much in terms of vaccines, poisons and digestion. She\u2019ll grow-up into a tough one.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--tt_sc --><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>To our surprise, Ivan and Fabienne (the Swiss couple we shared our shipping container with between Panama and Colombia) showed up at the same campsite a few days later. Sarah had Ivan\u2019s word for an interview so that she could finish the video she wanted to do about them. So here it is! The Blue Vision Expedition\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"videoContainer\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"970\" height=\"546\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eh9P9ccR6S8?rel=0\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"tt_sc columns\">\n<div class=\"one_third column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-7IMG_29661.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador-7IMG_2966\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-10IMG_5090.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 10IMG_5090\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third column last\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-2IMG_5077.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 2IMG_5077\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--tt_sc --><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-9IMG_2974.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 9IMG_2974\" \/> <\/p>\n<p>Marc and Sue, the owners of Peque\u00f1o Paraiso were definitely one of the most inspiring couples we\u2019ve met on this trip. Once Erdem learned that Marc was making short nature documentaries in his backyard, he also decided to do a short about the man himself and his work.<\/p>\n<div class=\"videoContainer\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/121531739?color=ff9933&#038;portrait=0\" width=\"970\" height=\"546\" frameborder=\"0\" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"tt_sc columns\">\n<div class=\"one_third column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-25IMG_5107.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 25IMG_5107\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third column\">\n<p>\nAs seasoned overlanders they outlined some of their favorite routes through South America for us. The energy between them is beautiful to witness. We felt not only at home, but among friends\u2026 Our last visit in Ba\u00f1os was to the local zoo. Being not too keen on diving and spending a fortune, we had decided not to go to the Galapagos Islands but did not want to miss out on one of our favorite animals, the Galapagos Turtle!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third column last\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-18_MG_4217.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 18_MG_4217\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--tt_sc --><\/p>\n<div class=\"tt_sc\">\n<div class=\"flexslider primary normal\" data-autoplay=\"1\" data-loop=\"1\">\n<ul class=\"slides\">\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-21_MG_4310.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 21_MG_4310\" \/><\/li>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-20_MG_4254.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 20_MG_4254\" \/><\/li>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-19_MG_4243.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 19_MG_4243\" \/><\/li>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-17_MG_4209.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 17_MG_4209\" \/><\/li>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-16_MG_4166.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 16_MG_4166\" \/><\/li>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-15_MG_4165.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 15_MG_4165\" \/><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--tt_sc --><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-22_MG_4317.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 22_MG_4317\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-28_MG_4344.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 28_MG_4344\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We followed the road south to Chimborazo, one of Ecuador\u2019s amazing volcanoes standing more than 6K meters tall. Of course, our eyes and lungs couldn\u2019t catch up with the ascent fast enough.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-27_MG_4340.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 27_MG_4340\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"tt_sc columns\">\n<div class=\"one_half column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador2-3_MG_4606.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador2 3_MG_4606\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_half column last\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador2-2_MG_4604.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador2 2_MG_4604\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--tt_sc --><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-26_MG_4330.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 26_MG_4330\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-29_MG_4353.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 29_MG_4353\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Andean advertising at work! This huge land-art \/ sign will not only capture anyone slightly interested in buying trouts, but it also looks and feels like an Ed Ruscha piece. The semantic power of the word challenges the scale of the landscape. Certainly works better than the Holywood sign!<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-30_MG_4372.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 30_MG_4372\" \/> <\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s neither a Llama nor an Alpaca. Meet the Vicu\u00f1a! These beautiful creatures roam freely on the mountains near Chimborazo.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-31_MG_4396.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 31_MG_4396\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador2-1_MG_4597.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador2 1_MG_4597\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-44_MG_4596.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 44_MG_4596\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-43_MG_4482.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 43_MG_4482\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We finally get a glimpse of the icy peak of Chimborazo as the fog clears out briefly. <\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-42_MG_4459.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 42_MG_4459\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-39_MG_4454.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 39_MG_4454\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The vegetation stops and we climb above the clouds into an alien world. At this point, the signs of altitude sickness were evident. We started experiencing a slight but constant headache along with a diminished capacity to move and talk. We were not even near 5k! We descended as much as we can that evening and spent the night below 4K. Nevertheless, our sleeps were constantly interrupted by the urge to take deeper breaths and the headache was always there.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-33_MG_4418.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 33_MG_4418\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"tt_sc columns\">\n<div class=\"one_third column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-34_MG_4419.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 34_MG_4419\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-36_MG_4428.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 36_MG_4428\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_third column last\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-35_MG_4424.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 35_MG_4424\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--tt_sc --><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-37_MG_4434.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 37_MG_4434\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-32_MG_4415.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 32_MG_4415\" \/> <\/p>\n<p>It took us a few days to normalize as we enjoyed yet another beautiful campground in Cuenca in the company of other overlanders. Arthuro, Becky, Spoons, Rick, Latisha, Fabio, Sandra and Felix were all great fun to hang-out with.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-45_MG_4613.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 45_MG_4613\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"tt_sc columns\">\n<div class=\"one_half column\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-47IMG_5141.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 47IMG_5141\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"one_half column last\">\n<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador-46IMG_5135.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador 46IMG_5135\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--tt_sc --><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/ecuador2-4_MG_4618.jpg\" alt=\"ecuador2 4_MG_4618\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We&#8217;re leaving Ecuador behind after traveling and &#8216;living&#8217; here for amore than two months. It feels like we&#8217;ll be missing it. After all, it&#8217;s Tara&#8217;s motherland&#8230;  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;re not really sure why, but Ecuador for us has been dotted with long stays separated with short drives. It could be the effect of almost constant rain, our need to connect somewhat deeper with the places we visited or even a feeling of safety and comfort wherever we went. Most likely, a combination of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[26,12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4002"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4002"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4002\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4002"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4002"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nonurbia.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4002"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}