ECUADOR

Ah, Ecuador, or the Republic of Ecuador, home to almost 15 million people and on the western side of South America. Ecuador borders Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean (canoe from California to Ecuador? Me thinks yes!) The capital is Quito and the national currency is the U.S. dollar. Todo el mundo habla espanol.

 Head to Ecuador's main city, where the excitement is-- Quinto: 

1. Like Prague, Quinto has an Old Town!

2. Spend a few hours in the Museo Guayasamin, Museo del Banco Central or the Museo Etnografico de Artesania de Ecuador (looks extremely interesting- it's about the indigenous peoples of Ecuador). 

3. Munch on some authentic South American cuisine at: La Briciola, Hasta La Vuelta, Cafeteria Fabiolita.  

4. Start the day at one of the many breakfast cafes: Kallari or Magic Bean.

5. Visit the extravagant Basilica del Voto Nacional. 

6. Breathe easy at the Cotopaxi National Park, Parque El Ejido or Parque la Carolina.

7. Visit several of the surrounding volcanoes: Ilalo, Cotopaxi, Atacazo and Rucu Pichincha.

8. Throw your hands up on a roller coaster at Vulqano Park (an amusement park).

9. Wander around Plaza Grande for a while and take some tourist photos.

10. Drink a little, eat a lot and be fabulous in the La Mariscal neighborhood.

11. Spend a few hours gazing at the Colonial Homes.

12. Visit the Mitad del Mundo/Middle of the World Monument...literally, the middle of the world and then see the pretty animals at the Quito Zoo!

Cuenca, the third largest city in Ecuador is located in the Azuay Province:

1. Cave in and let someone guide you around a tour of the Inca Ruins of Ingapirca.

2. Spend a lazy day slowly walking around Museo Pumapungo or the religious museum, Museo de las Conceptas. 

3. Grab some souvenirs for your favorites back home at the Plaza de San Francisco Market. 

4. Snap some photos at Rio Tomebamba & Calle Large.

5. Grab a meal at: El Maiz, La Barraca, Cafe Austria, Tiestos or Moliendo Cafe. 

6. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Tutto Freddo. 

7. Get holy at the New Cathedral of Cuenca and Mirador de Turi...or get holy old-school at the Old Cathedral of Cuenca.

8. Visit the El Cajas- the national park in Cuenca.

9. Wander around Plaza Abdon Calderon. 

10. Smell the South American flowers at Ecuagenera.

Bored of the city scene? Explore the rest of beautiful Ecuador: 

1. Rent a car or take a bus for 3 hours to the Otavalo Market- South America's largest market. 

2. Breathe in the fresh rainforest air for 3 days on an Amazon Rainforest trip- starting at just $100. 

3. Venture for 3 to 4 days on the Quilotoa Loop.

4. Visit the Valley of Longevity and Vilcabamba.

5. Forget land, go to the Galapagos Islands!

6. Go to the middle of the world...literally, the middle of the world: the Equator (Mitad del Mundo). 

I am so excited to be moving to South America (Uruguay) in a year- I will definitely be making a trip over to Ecuador during my stay. The country and it's nature all looks so beautiful and refreshing. It's officially on the list for spring 2014 travels!

The next post will be on: Iceland.

Travel on wanderlusters!

P.S. I came across this article last night and I loved it. I will write a post about my thoughts/experience and opinions on this but here is the article for you to give a read. How beautiful is she? Gorgeous.

INTERIOR DESIGN

Lately I have been obsessing over interior design and I find myself glued to the screen whenever browsing through the Pinterest 'Home Design' section.
So, this is a fun, non-travel related post! Enjoy and have a lovely morning browsing (at school when you are bored or at work when you are drinking your first cup of coffee).

 

I love doing these types of posts, so I think I will make this a weekly thing- plus it's a nice break from all the travel posts. Also, I want to do a little 'What I am loving this week' at the end of a post sometime in the week. Starting this week sometime I will begin to do that.

Have a fabulous Tuesday and travel on wanderlusters!

P.S. It's the last day of April (on my side of the world)--where does time go!? I have two weekends of work left, three weeks of classes + exams left, I am moving into the new flat in the next few weeks, in 21 days my best friend comes to Prague and then we are off for our mini Euro-trip!!

EXPLOSION IN PRAGUE

For those of you who have not yet turned into the morning news, there was an explosion here in Prague this morning (about 10:00 AM our time). I was just leaving the gym around 9:45-9:50 and began walking towards the tram that would've taken me to the exact spot where the explosion went off at about 9:58-10:00- meaning I would've been in the blast. However, last minute, I had a strong gut feeling to turn around and take the metro. I was fighting with myself for about 30 seconds because I really wanted to take the tram so I could grab some fresh fruit on the way to my second class of the day at uni. I, luckily, followed my gut and decided to turn around and take the metro to school.

I got to my library building at about 9:54-9:56 and sat down. When I sat down, I suddenly felt the whole building and floor shake beneath me. What followed after was like out of a movie- an incredibly loud booming noise that shook the city, people running and screaming, trams screeching to a stop, sirens in all directions, helicopters and utter chaos. I was extremely alarmed thinking the city was being attacked when my Facebook blew up with worried friends and family asking if I was okay- I was so confused as to what just happened and then I found out that an explosion just in eyesight's view went off...in the exact spot I would've been either the exact moment the explosion went off or just minutes after. The city was in panic-mode as sirens continued to go off and people frantically running around everywhere trying to call friends and family who might of been there but were cut off by the overloaded phone lines. A lot of phones in the city actually lost service (mine did after calling my friends and family). We were not sure whether it was a bombing attack or a gas explosion for the first 20 or so minutes which was absolutely terrifying. I had the urge to go home and stay home for the rest of the day but my friends assured me it was all going to be okay and that it was just a gas explosion. Indeed, it was just a gas explosion- the buildings here in Prague are hundreds of years old so it is common that gas explosions occur from time to time, but it had not happened in the central area of Prague before- that injured about 40-50 people; leaving people trapped and blinded by the dust.

The city has calmed down but that first hour sounded straight out of a movie- an experience I will never forget. People are rushing to the other end of Prague though, in fear that there will be another explosion...I think we are okay though, but knock on wood. My roommate actually got interviewed by a reporter for a newspaper- cool stuff!

So, I guess the lesson of the day is: Always, ALWAYS follow your gut feeling/instinct....Had I not, I could have been spending my afternoon in the hospital with bandages wrapped around me.


For those of you who were affected or knew someone affected by the explosion here in Prague this morning, my thoughts are with you and I wish you a speedy recovery.

Travel on wanderlusters!