back in Quito

5/5/09
Today I woke up to no clouds in the sky. This means that I visibility of the Andes on my way to USFQ is likely to be spectacular, and it was. I could see all the big snow covered mountains. (USFQ is in the suburb Cumbaya that is in the valley below Quito, so on the way down you can get great views.) It is mornings like this that make me love Quito and make me want to move to a city in the mountains.
At USFQ I went to the Aquatic Lab and commenced taking pictures of macro-invertebrates. The past 2 weeks I have been organizing, taking pictures, and then putting together a guide of macroinvertebrates. I have also been analyzing the data I took on the Tacayacu, measuring suspended materials and chlorophyll levels. It isn’t the most exciting work but it is interesting and I know I am helping out in the process of learning about Ecuadorian rivers and how to conserve them. I work from 9-5 Monday through Friday and have the weekends off. However all of my friends are in different cities so I almost prefer being in the lab, at least I have something to do and there are people around me. But being a homebody isn’t the worst thing ever I have been able to catch up on my blog!
On the way home from USFQ I took a green bus like I do everyday. Supposedly not all of the green buses go to the Rio Coca station where I catch my next bus, but I have never encountered this so I don’t pay much attention. Well today I found out that there are 2 different green buses, and the other one goes to the south side of Quito (near old town.) I slowly gathered I was on the wrong bus and soon confirmed it when we crossed a bridge that I had never crossed before. So I sat on this bus going to a place I had no idea about, trying to freak out. Luckily the sky was still fairly clear and I had never seen the scenery on this bus ride so I tried to enjoy it and convince myself I had wanted to see other parts of Quito anyways and it was a good adventure. After what seemed like forever I saw Quito, I slightly recognized it as old town, which I have been to a couple times. I got off when everyone else did and went down to the main street. I was hoping I would recognize something, but I had no idea where I was. I didn’t have enough money for cab home but I knew which way was home and I got on the correct side of the street and observed the buses. I saw a bus that said “La Marin” on it. La Marin is a large bus station that I have been to before and know how to get home from there, so I jumped on and hoped for the best. Luckily it did go to La Marin at which point I easily found the Ecovia which met up with the blue bus I usually take home. So somehow I took the completely wrong bus without actually getting lost (I consider lost having to take a cab or ask for directions.) I got home and rewarded my successful adventure with a little ice cream.
¡Feliz cinco de mayo!