Crossing the Ecuador Border on Foot: the Longest 100km of My Life

By on May 23, 2013 in Peru

“This can’t be the same station!” I looked out, bleary eyed, from the folds of sarong wrapped around my head. I’d spent the last half hour trying to fall asleep, but the combination of the Pan-American Highway’s ever present road bumps and a bus with zero suspension were doing their utmost to stop me. Through [...]

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Colour, Chaos and Crazy Graffiti: Travelling the Age Gap

By on May 18, 2013 in Ecuador

“Do you feel older than us?” asked Mhairi, as we sat in a cosy cafe on a Wednesday afternoon, discussing our travelling plans for the months ahead. I didn’t know how to answer for a minute. It’s a pretty loaded question to be honest, particularly when you’ve chosen to spend six months of your life [...]

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Eating All the Food in Ecuador

By on May 11, 2013 in Ecuador

As is often the way when travelling, my daily lifestyle in Cuenca tends to revolve around food. More specifically, the time of day and my location in the city dictates what exactly I’ll be eating. So there’s a strong likelihood that a bowl of fruit salad will be sat in front of me at 10:20 [...]

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A Fiesta of Fireworks at School Founder’s Day

By on May 4, 2013 in Ecuador

It’s been two months since I started working at Collegio Miguel Merchan as a voluntary English teacher. In that timeframe, there a few things I’ve become certain of. Firstly, teaching is not as easy as I thought. Secondly, there are elements of the Ecuadorian school system that I can never hope to understand. And finally? [...]

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Cuenca to Cusco and Back Again: the Pitfalls of Planning a Trip to Peru

By on April 26, 2013 in Challenges, Ecuador, Peru, South America

I stood in the small office, studiously trying to avoid the unflinching gaze of a prostrate Jesus. Under his crucified frame, a nun was peering at a computer screen, clicking idly through her Facebook page. “So…is it ok if I go to Peru next week?” I shifted uncomfortably as the nun looked me up and [...]

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Learning the Ropes at the Rodeo

By on April 20, 2013 in Ecuador

“Hola Piña! Como vas?!” I turned around for the fifth time in half an hour to see a group of girls eagerly clambering down the stone bleachers towards us. In front of me, the tall figure of ‘Piña’ – otherwise known as Jose, and still further known as my friend Sherri’s host brother – stretched [...]

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