I arrived home last evening after eighteen hours of travel from Guayaquil to San Salvador to Los Angeles to, finally, Vancouver.  Vancouver was, as if often the case in winter, overcast though there was a strip of sunset showing as we flew over the San Juan Islands.  This part of the world is entirely different from Ecuador, but both are beautiful. It was a shock, though, going from 32°C (90°F) and 85% humidity to 1°C (34°F)!

Road Scholar tours are educational tours – hence the “scholar” part of the name – and I learned so much on this trip.

I learned that the trick to keeping cut roses fresh is to recut the stems at at 45° angle and change the water every other day.

Ecuador is an oil exporter.  The price of regular gasoline is US$1.48 per gallon which translates at 90¢ Canadian to the US dollar to 43¢ per litre.  Aargh!

I proved that taking four ibuprofen at a time cures sore knees and toes.  Thanks for the supply Bill!

I discovered that putting a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol in ears that are plugged with water gets rid of the water instantly!  Thanks Peter and Chuck!!

But most of all I experienced a beautiful and varied country full of warm and welcoming people.  I am so happy to have discovered Ecuador.