Admittedly they have not been as excited as I am about some things...like buses...they have all but refused to ride on them....and the food....after being terribly sick for 3 days my dad and brothers are very scared to eat anything (though I can't entirely blame them...).
Although admittedly it is far different to be here with an entire family than when it was just me to worry about....I have 6 people that don't know a lick of Spanish, don't know there way around the city at all and don't know anything about living here (though they all are catching on quite quickly!) and one little one that doesn't understand all the rest and is trying to adjust to living in a new family and then there is me....the one who relied on other people, to get me around and speak Spanish for me in sticky situations....but now its just me....(but I also have some amazing friends who have been very helpful with directions and advice, I am very thankful!).
So I wanted to give my family another Ecuadorian experience, which included getting up early, getting to the bus station, buying tickets and getting 8 people safely on the bus and headed two hours out into the country....At first I thought it was a great idea, but the evening before as I planned out every detail...I started to think maybe not...could I really do this safely with my Spanish skills? Well at 2 in the morning apparently my mind decided not...because I didn't sleep a wink after that...morning finally came...and we all set out the door...for the adventure of a life time!! Or so they tell me....
Well we flagged two taxis I gave directions and prayed we would end up at the same bus terminal...Perfect! We landed in the same spot at almost the same time and I was the only one that got ripped off...the bus was just getting ready to pull out and amazingly enough it had 8 spots left to fill!! Chance? I think not! We set off and true Ecuadorian style...the bus was stopping...people were selling...people were moody....baby's were fussing....we seen a car on it's side....almost seen another accident on a narrow mountain road.... and ya they pretty much got it all wrapped up in one bus trip!
We arrived had no problem bought our return tickets and I was just praising the Lord! We were in the county, it smelled good, looked good and everyone enjoyed our day in Mindo!
It is a beautiful and unique place! I wrote down all the suggestions so first off we headed for a hostel where we could watch some birds....
It was beautiful, peaceful and relaxing! The owner has over 100 different kinds of birds that go there to eat. The air was filled with birds!
This little beauty enjoyed the birds too!
After enjoying the relaxing atmosphere we headed off to explore the rest of the town!
Heading off to go canopying!
Here is Harmony coming in a for a landing!
Here comes Hope!
Aaron having a hanging good time!
Micah more than enjoyed the mountains and the cows he spotted!
There goes a butterfly....
and here comes super women!
Taking a break from the treks up the mountain!
The whole crew!
We are getting our exercise in at all the parks! Ok, well I needed it after stopping to get a world famous Mindo brownie! Ok, well maybe not world famous, but they are amazing!
And here is our ride home! I forgot how comforting it could feel to have a bus under you after a long day! We made it to the bus terminal and two taxi's were waiting there.....we made it home safe and sound and soooo grateful!
It was a wonderful day and I think it will be a day my family will always remember.....
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