So the Villa Maria team fly down to Lima to start their project work in Villa Maria this evening, but we're sure their time in Ecuador won't be quickly forgotten. Thanks to the sterling efforts of leader Jimmy 'Spielberg' McSparron - the 3 weeks of Spanish lessons, trekking, beaches and fun has been captured on film. Well done to the team - a great start to their 3 months in South America!
The Villa Maria team have only been in Quito a week but they have certainly packed a lot in....here's what they've been getting up toin their own words!
After dribbling into Hostel Tutamundo in Quito due to different
flights, accusations of bribery at Miami Airport and food poisoning
acquired before even trying Ecuadorian mussels, we shared our first meal
and took a quick tour of the city. The team were quick to settle down
to a movie in aid of jetlags ranging from New Zealand, South Africa,
Canada and the UK.
Friday was a day of hecticness. Our reason
for visiting Quito kicked in. We have 4 hours of Spanish every morning,
divided into 2 hours of vocab and grammar followed by 2 hours of
practical work, so visiting the market and asking what the bizarre
pointed purple fruit is, or taking a trip to the park and showing off
your ability to tell the difference between un perro y un gato.
Our evening events began with what only can be compared to a booze cruise in Magaluf; the Chiva Bus. Alongside our Spanish tutors we began the debaucherous tour around Old Town and up to the Virgin of Quito fuelled not only by diesel but also unlimited amounts canalazo, a traditional warm cocktail. The night continued with a slight pause to consume traditional chicken, rice and potatoes with yet more of the canalazo, which at this point was traded in swiftly for the cervezas. In the club shapes were thrown, jager was bombed and this is where the hangover was born....
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We're not ones to brag (too much), but it's great to read that top of the Guardian Readers' tips for "life-changing trips" list is the rainforest conservation project run by CREES in Manu in the Peruvian Amazon. CREES do some fantastic work at ensuring communities have the knowledge, tools and infrastructure to live sustainably in the rainforest - changing the lives of everyone involved.
This is why we work with CREES as a project partner, helping protect the stunning Manu biosphere reserve from further encroachment, and helping survey and catalogue its indigenous flora and fauna.
Want to help protect the Amazon on this trip of a lifetime? Join our project team travelling to Manu in July.
The 2012 Villa Maria Gap Team have quickly settled into the Ecuadorean way of life - and after last weekend's visit to Otavalo market I'm sure they all have the llama jumpers and hats to match. However being an intrepid Quest Overseas team they weren't shopping all weekend, Sunday saw them head off for a mere 5 hour stroll round Laguna Cuicocha, a crater lake nestling next to Cotocachi volcano. A great way to test out those walking boots and get everyone in the mood for the longer expedition treks to come.
Through the joys of modern technology - well Google Earth - you can see where they went. It's bigger than it looks - honest!
We should be receiving the first update written by the team soon so do keep checking back here!
Quest strives to be different, to challenge our team members and to inspire them......most evident when the South American teams reach Machu Picchu each year! The Quest tradition of trekking the Inca Trail dressed up, dressed down or simply carrying a porcelain toilet (yes it happened!) is still going strong.
Recent teams have really risen to the challenge, keen to cement themselves in Quest history....and in random tourists' photos! The best of the best so far are below....
Where it all started...Maquipucuna Gap Team 2000 are the Men In Black
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