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Getting Around

Cherish the chivas!

Sarah Henningsen

02 Jan 2010

Ecuador

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Throughout the country, you will see them bouncing, jam-packed with both tourists and locals. The wooden, open-air chiva buses are a unique aspect of quotidian Ecuadorian culture. In the busy capital of Quito, a group of friends and I took a special chiva ride through the city that featured live music blaring from atop the party bus and personal cups of hot canelazo. In the adventurer's haven of Mindo, we rode on the upper level of a chiva through the lush cloud-forest and dodged branches Indiana Jones-style. No matter where you go, the chiva bus will carry you on a bumpy, memorable ride. Even in the unpopulated depths of the Amazon jungle, I had to use one for transportation! Only in Ecuador.

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Festivals & Events

Fireworks and cows

Jon Brandt

29 Jun 2009

Ecuador

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During the Corpus Christi celebrations in Ecuador, week-long celebrations take place in almost every town. You can expect to find candy being sold by churches and cathedrals all week long, and every night fireworks and "castillos" or castles are burned down. But there's a twist. The "vaca loca" or "chola loca" is a large paper mache doll that shoot fireworks into the crowd. The cows shoot out of their horns, and the doll out of their hands. People run and scream in fear but also laugh, as this is a tradition here. It can be dangerous, and once in a while something will catch on fire, but it's worth checking it out if you're around.

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Culture Shock

TP in the toilet is a no-no

Jon Brandt

20 Jun 2009

Ecuador

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The pipes in Ecuador are too weak to handle toilet paper, or basically anything other than human waste. So do not throw toilet paper into the bowl! There is a garbage can in every bathroom for this very reason. It can be hard to adjust to at first, but do not make the mistake of causing an overflow, or you'll have to deal with it. This might seem disgusting at first, but after a while you just get used to it. The hardest thing might be switching back to putting toilet paper in the toilet once you go back home.

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Must Do

Galápagos on a Budget

Sara Shahriari

01 Oct 2009

Ecuador

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if you can get to the Galápagos you don't need a zillion dollars to enjoy it. First, it is true that if you go to Puerto Ayora (fly to Baltra, take the ferry to Santa Cruz, bus into town) and wait, you probably can get on a nice boat at the last minute for deep discounts. When I was there two years ago, I saw discounts of up to 50 percent on some cruises. Second, if you don't want to spend the night on a boat, or if you want to do a quick trip, you can stay in Puerto Ayora and take day trips from there. I went on a great snorkeling and dive trip to Floreana and a trip to Bartomolomé. I also explored Santa Cruz, all while staying in a hostel. I spent under $300 during four days on the islands and really enjoyed it. For me, swimming with sea lions was the best!

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Etiquette

Don't bother waiting in line

Jon Brandt

29 Mar 2009

Ecuador

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That's right. Don't bother waiting in line because Ecuadorians certainly won't respect that you were there first. It's usually a free-for-all just about everywhere you go, and the one at the front will be served. The only thing you can do is try to push your way forward and be firm. A perfect example of this in on the buses. Even if you are in the front seat and let an elderly woman go first, the rest of the bus will blow past you, leaving you to wait five minutes while the whole bus gets off. That is, of course, unless you cut someone off first.

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Food

Order up a guniea pig

Ashley Haugo

04 Jun 2009

Ecuador

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Like in the United States, guinea pigs are common in Ecuador. However, you will more likely see them roasting on a stick on the side of the road rather than rummaging around in a pet cage. These cute rodents—known as "cuy"—are considered delicacies and Ecuadorians are proud to share this special meal with their visitors. While the meat is quite salty and a bit greasy, it is a must-try while you are in the country! The tricky part, though, is finding the meat on this softball-sized animal (Hint: look near the backbone). But don't be afraid to do an extensive excavation because Ecuadorians often lick the bones of the animal to get every last morsel. Just dig in!

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Packing

Quito weather: Don't trust the sky and always have an umbrella

Emily Rusca

18 Feb 2009

Ecuador

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I've been in Quito for four and a half of my six months here in Ecuador, and as an San Francisco-Bay Area native, I've been better prepared for the weather. But I'd like to save YOU some of the grief of learning the hard way. The key is wearing LAYERS when it's cold because you never know when it's going to clear up, and the equatorial sun at 9000 feet will burn you alive. You should also have layers and an umbrella with you at all times because you never know when a torrential downpour will start. They say "when it rains, it pours," and in the Andes, they mean it. As any Ecuadorian could tell you, the weather's going crazy, so no matter what time of year, be prepared for just about anything.

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Religion

What religion are you?

Jon Brandt

26 Mar 2009

Ecuador

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Living in a country that's 95 percent Catholic, I often find it a little awkward to tell people that I'm Jewish. Most people assume that you're Catholic, but even if you've just met someone they will ask, "What religion are you?" I don't advertise for various reasons, but I'm not going to lie about it when someone asks. The Ecuadorians I talk to are usually very surprised to hear that I'm Jewish, mostly because I'm the first one they've ever met. Though they ask a lot of questions, which can seem annoying and almost insulting, for the most part they aren't meant to harm. They are just curious.

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Sports

Fútbol frenzy

Ashley Haugo

03 Jun 2009

Ecuador

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To truly get to the heart of Ecuadorian life—especially that of a young adult—you must attend a soccer match. Many Ecuadorians practically live and breathe by their soccer team. However, be cautious when you go to a match... and maybe wear a hat. I discovered the fans often pass around rolled up "sticks" of newspaper and light them on fire to serve as torches. While the sea of light makes quite a beautiful spectacle around the stadium, I found I had to keep close vigil so that none of the flaming pieces of paper that broke off landed on me!

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Health

End that stomach pain without going to the doctor

Emily Rusca

17 Feb 2009

Ecuador

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When your intestines feel like they're going to explode because they're filled up with gas or you have nothing left inside of you after a long night of no sleep and a lot of time in the bathroom, you've probably got yourself an infection. If you've had unboiled water, get yourself to the doctor. If you've just eaten street food, head to the nearest pharmacy and ask for "10 tabletas de ciprofloxacino" and "suero" (saline solution). Take one pill once every 12 hours. The "suero" is to get yourself rehydrated with electrolytes. You'll be just fine in a couple of days--but no alcohol, as this pill is an antibiotic!

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Slang

It's Cold!

Jon Brandt

24 Mar 2009

Ecuador

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In Ecuador the indigenous language is Quechua, but everyone has adopted parts of the language into their Spanish. Instead of saying, "Hace frio!" when it's cold, most Ecuadorians will say, "Ah cha chay!" which is Quechua for "It's cold!" But be careful, because in other South American countries, where a slightly different version of the native language is spoken, it can mean something else. I was in Peru and said to the taxi driver, "A cha chay!" and he looked at me oddly. Apparently what I said meant, "I'm scared!"

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Being an American

"Gringo" isn't all that bad

Emily Rusca

18 Feb 2009

Ecuador

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The term "gringo," though invented as a derogatory term, doesn't always mean that an Ecuadorian hates you. Many host families are proud of their "gringitos" and use it actually as a term of affection. La Mariscal in Quito, the main clubbing/restaurant/bar area of Quito, is nicknamed "Gringolandia." Gringos are generally loved in Ecuador, even if they are thought to be filthy rich and get robbed sometimes.

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