Quito awaits

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Originally uploaded by jbracken.

John and I are staying with my family, the Proaños (my uncle Pablo and aunt Lila with their kids Daniel, Sara and Santiago; my aunt Gladys with her kids Juan Francisco and Asayana; and my uncle Eloy) at 3222 Avenida de la Prensa next to the airport.

Their phone numbers are 224-9630 (Gladys’s apartment) and 246-1884 (Pablo and Lila’s apartment). To dial from the US, use 011-593 and then dial the last 7 digits.

Here’s what we have planned for 8/27 through 9/4:
- Saturday, 8/27– For those of you arriving early, and with energy, we are planning a night of dancing in Quito. We will have details when you arrive.

- Sunday, 8/28 – Come over to the Proaño home for a little soccer around 10:00 AM and a BBQ around 12:00 PM.

- Monday, 8/29 – Departure at 10:00 am for an overnight trip to Mindo. You’ll need comfortable clothes, a swimsuit, bug spray and about $50 to cover transportation, housing and meals.

- Wednesday, 8/31 – Meet at Las Tentaciones de San Joaquin for dinner at 8:30 PM. It’s located at Alemania and Italia (1142 Italia; 2 blocks from Amazonas). The traditional Ecuadorian meal with dessert and a drink will cost about $15. Taxis will get you there cheaply and quickly from anywhere in the city.

- Thursday, 9/1 – 10:30 AM departure from Proaños'. We’ve rented a bus to take us to Hacienda Cusin (90 miles from Quito) with a detour to spend the day at the volcanic hot springs at Papallacta. We’re leaving from the Proaño residence. Have a swimsuit and towel handy.

- Friday, 9/2 – We plan to ride horses or hike on the grounds at Cusin. You’ll need to sign
up for horse time with the hotel staff. We’ll then meet up for a BBQ luncheon.

- Saturday, 9/3 – The Saturday crafts market at Otavalo is world-famous and easily accessible from Hacienda Cusin and Las Palmeras Inn. We encourage you to make arrangements to visit the market with hotel staff or get there on your own with taxis
or public transportation. Our wedding will begin at 4:30, followed by cocktails, dinner, and dancing.

- Sunday, 9/4 – You’ll want to leave Cusin at least 4 hours before your flight time in order to make your international flight. The hotel will help you make transportation arrangements upon request. Everyone’s leaving at different times, so it’s not possible for us to arrange a bus back to Quito. We’ll do our best to connect people with others with similar departure times, so you can share the cost of transportation back to Quito.

The NarcoSphere || Showdown: Washington Threatens Ecuador, Demands Immunity for U.S. Troops

The NarcoSphere || Showdown: Washington Threatens Ecuador, Demands Immunity for U.S. Troops: "Showdown: Washington Threatens Ecuador, Demands Immunity for U.S. Troops
By Al Giordano,
Posted on Thu Jun 23rd, 2005 at 01:44:06 AM EST
The Guayaquil, Ecuador daily El Universo reports:

President Palacio Will Not Approve Immunity for U.S. Soldiers in World Court

This is potentially large. Read on...

Ecuador's President Alfredo Palacio has decided not to sign an immunity treaty for U.S. military and civilian officials before the World Court, confronting Washington, which considers (the Ecuadoran capital of) Quito as important to its war on drugs...

It's about the Manta, Ecuador, U.S. military base, the key 'Forward Operating Location' (FOL) for the U.S. military intervention named 'Plan Colombia.' And Washington is now trying to blackmail Ecuador's new (60-days-old) President, Alfredo Palacio with threats of cutting aid.

'Absolutely no one is going to frighten me,' Palacio told the press. 'Neither the government, nor Alfredo Palacio, nor the Ecuadoran people should be afraid.'"

Airport greeting team

Airport greeting team
Originally uploaded by jbracken.

Meet Andrea's cousins, all around good folks. you may want to print this and bring with you to the airport; they might be looking for you to bring you to La posta for coffee and rolls when you land.

Giselle Pinck

WIA26
Originally uploaded by jbracken.

Here's Giselle on the right, reflected from the Bean in Chicago's Millenium Park nextto her partner Kathy. Giselle is a hockey player and former Swiss softball player (she's still Swiss.) Kathy and Giselle live the George School outside of Philly. kathy is a teacher and coach there, and as school starts in the next week or so, she can't come. Giselle is a classmate of Andrea's at the Fels Institute at Penn.

Katie & Cameron

Angel Island Post-Picnic
Originally uploaded by jbracken.

Last month, we attended Katie and Cameron’s wedding on a ranch in Pecos, New Mexico. They are such gamers that they’re coming to Ecuador for the wedding, and staying. Katie’s left her Santa Cruz (Pescadero) teaching job and they will spend a year in South America, based in Quito. You can follow photos of their honeymoon here.

Scott & Sophia

Scott and Sophia are making the trek from San Francisco. They are longtime residents of San Francisco's Mission District, and more recently, homeowners and landlords. Scott just started a new job selling software, or else they would be liable to be planning an extensive Ecuadorian trekking experience. As it is, we hope the intrepid outdoors-people will lead us up mountains and across rivers safely.

The Quaker Ceremony

carrot raisin oatmeal cookies
Originally uploaded by fo.ol.

Some of you have begun to ask us about the type of wedding ceremony we will have. We were unable to secure the commitment of the archbishop of Quito, so we have decided to marry ourselves in the style of the Quakers.

Below is a description of a Quaker ceremony we found online. (Among the ways that our wedding will be different is that we will be outside.)

The wedding itself is a meeting for worship, held
after the manner of Friends, within which the marriage
takes place. The bridal couple enter the meeting and
take their places at the front of the room. In giving
themselves to each other, they eliminate the custom of
the bride being given away by her father. No third
person pronounces them man and wife …. Neither a bridal party nor an
exchange of rings is necessary to Friends' procedure,
although both have become customary today.

In an atmosphere of quiet and reverence during the
period of worship, the couple rise. Taking each other
by the hand, they make their promises, first the groom
and then the bride, using the following or similar
words:

[these will be a surprise]

When the couple is seated again, the marriage
certificate is brought for them to sign. Then someone
who has previously been selected to do so reads the
certificate aloud. The meeting then continues in silent waiting
while those assembled share in the worship through
prayer and meditation or through spoken messages.

The person chosen to close the meeting may, if
desired, provide an opportunity for the bridal party
to withdraw. Those present are asked to sign the
certificate as witnesses to the marriage.

Many Quaker marriage certificates, handed down from
generation to generation, have proved to be valuable
historical records. Today, as well, the certificate
becomes a cherished possession in the new home,
recalling the reverent attitude of worship with which
the marriage began and the company of loving friends
who took part in it.

Altitude sickness medicine: Ginko biloba

13_10A
Originally uploaded by jbracken.

Hi folks,
It can take 2-3 days to acclimate to Quito's altitude. This study makes the case that Ginko biloba helps prevent altitude sickness.
Hot Topics in Altitude Medicine: "Ginko biloba was effective at preventing AMS symptoms"

Guest: The Daddy

Here's Andrea with her dad Patricio last winter. He retired 10 days ago. Considering that he is a workaholic, and rarely had just one job, we're not sure what he's going to do-- besides running his two businesses. Thirty-four years ago, he was a frogman poised to invade Cuba as part of the Bay of Pigs. He has some great stories about growing up in the Ecuadorian jungle-- ask him about bats and snakes. He was Andrea's first soccer coach and is a good dancer.

Ecuadorian Sports Legends

If you think Ecuador is not known for its athletic achievments, well, you're not alone. Jefferson Perez, however, is an exception; he just won his second world title in marcha, or walking.
BBC Mundo | De todo un poco | Nueva haza�a de Jefferson P�rez: "El atleta ecuatoriano Jefferson P�rez se consagr�por segunda vez campe�n mundial de marcha de 20 kil�metros en el Campeonato Mundial de Atletismo de Helsinki, en Finlandia."

Meet the Velasquez-Torres familia

I met Michael Torres (left) and Antoinette Velasquez on my our first day at Pitzer College. Antoinette used to drop me off at the Ontario airport so I could fly home. Mike and I worked together under Bill Lerach for a few years in San Diego, where I taught him how to surf. He has a bit of a Star Wars collection. They are bringing their two daughters, Alejandra and Amalia, so that the rabbits in Andrea’s family’s backyard won’t be lonely.

Pre-Wedding Actividades

Inspired by attending weddings in southern Italy (below) and New Mexico (right) last
month (photos here: http://flickr.com/photos/bracken/), we are
increasingly excited about our upcoming time together in Ecuador. We
are planning activities so that you can get to know each other before
the wedding Sept. 3. To help us, please send us your flight arrival
information if you have not already: date & time, airline, flight
number, and departing city.

Before the wedding
We expect many of you to arrive Saturday and Sunday, the 27th and
28th. Andrea's family's house (coined La Posta by her abuelo) is a 15
minute walk from the Quito airport at #3222 Avenida de la Prensa.
Andrea's young cousins (Juan, Santiago, Sara and Asayana) have offered
to form the airport welcoming committee. Andrea and I will be at La
Posta, where you will be welcome to wash up, have some tea and catch
your bearings. On Sunday afternoon (8/28), you're invited to join
Andrea's family's weekly soccer match and the post-game "parrillada"
BBQ.

We are planning an overnight outing either Monday (8/29) or Tuesday
(8/31). Options include Mindo and Baños. For Wednesday (8/31) night,
we are planning a group dinner at a restaurant in Quito. Please let us
know if you're interested in any or all of these activities.

Vehicles will leave Thursday morning from La Posta for the wedding
site at Cusin, with a stop at the volcanic baths at Pappallacta.

Thanks again for planning to join us, see you soon.

John

All About Altitude Illness

All About Altitude Illness: "Certain normal physiologic changes occur in every person who goes to altitude:


-
Hyperventilation (breathing fast)


-
Shortness of breath during exertion


-
Increased urination


-
Changed breathing pattern at night


-
Awakening frequently at night


-
Weird dreams"

Photographs of Historic Quito

Friends, Here is a site with some nice photos and an OK history of Quito.
Please note, the elevation is 9200 feet in Quito. We humbly advise holding back from running steps and drinking for the first day or so after you arrive. I'll post some advice on dealing with elevation shortly. You can get prescription pills to help you.


Duane's Photographs of Historic Quito: " Nestled high in the Andes mountains is Quito: the capital city of Ecuador. Quito's elevation is around 9,200 ft and it lies in a valley on the western slopes of Pichincha; an active volcano.

It is the only world capital that begins with Q and is the oldest capital city in the South America."

Andrea and I saying hello

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Wendy & Stephen

WIA299
Originally uploaded by jbracken.

More guests; Andrea's friend since forever Wendy Ortiz, and her special friend Stephen Miller. Stephen hosts The Hacienda on the famous Internet radio station Killradio.org. Every Tuesday at 9 pacific, The Hacienda is "Part redneck derive, part situationist honky tonk - all punk cabaret."

Meet the Guests: Tania and Michelle

WIA1B
Originally uploaded by jbracken.

Staying in LA, please meet Tania, in the red, and Michelle, in the middle-- Andrea's mom and little sister.
Here they are lounging last winter at Uncle Bill and Aunt Maria's (right)house; Karen is in blue.