Sunday, July 22, 2007

another week in and around Cuenca






Research has been going well in Cuenca, and it´s looking quite possible that I will try to base myself here for a longer period in the future (pending funding!). I have been talking to a lot of community leaders who work with migration in and out of Cuenca. One day I went to Azogues, a city of around 20,000 about 45 minutes away, and then another day to the small town of San Marcos, just outside Azogues. In these places, literally everyone I talked to knows many people in the US. There are government campaigns feebly trying to fight human smuggling (coyoterismo). I am including a poster that says "You can do it, Ecuador needs you. Say no to coyoterismo." I think I will be focusing on how coyoterismo works in Ecuador and beyond. This week there was also a celebration and parade for the Virgin of Carmen, photos included here too.

This may be my last posting from Ecuador this visit. Tomorrow I will be back in Quito for a few more days of meetings, and back to the US on Friday. Thanks for reading!

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Sunday, July 15, 2007

Nancy in Cuenca, Ecuador

I´m now in Cuenca, Ecuador, about 9 hours south of Quito, continuing research here for a couple of weeks. Cuenca is a classic colonial city, with many churches, plazas, narrow brick streets -a pleasure to walk around, and a welcome respite from hectic Quito.




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Monday, July 09, 2007

Quito and Atuntaqui photos






Here are a few Quito photos. One is a view of Quito with Cayambe volcano in the background. And there are two other shots of the church of Guapalo, on the outskirts of Quito, with the highways leading out of town in the background. And last weekend I went to Atuntaqui, a small town a few hours north of Quito, where Maria (who used to work for Larry at the lodge) has opened her own restaurant. They were shorthanded so I helped out both days. In the photo are Sylvie (a cousin), Maria's mother, Saskya (Maria's daughter), and Maria.

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Sunday, July 08, 2007

Borja photos

Nancy in Borja, Ecuador again

I've been in Quito the past two weeks working on research stuff, but have gotten out of the city both weekends. This post has photos of Borja in the Quijos Valley, where I kayak guided from 1997-2000. I stayed at the lodge/cabins my former boss Larry built, which has been turned into even more of a paradise since I was last there. I went with my friend Emily, who is also a Syracuse University grad student here doing research. We also went to the San Rafael waterfall, the highest in Ecuador (about 500 feet).

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Round 2: Israel & Jordan







1. Tel Aviv coastline; 2. Dome of the Rock mosque, Jerusalem; 3. Wadi Rum, Jordan; 4. Sunset at Wadi Rum; 5. Our Bedouin camp, Wadi Rum.

Round 1: Israel & Jordan







Hi folks... Here are a few photos from my travels in Israel and Jordan. More to come. Enjoy! -Sean

1. Wailing Wall, Jerusalem; 2. Mural at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem; 3. Wadi Rum, Jordan; 4. Wadi Rum; 5. The treasury building at Petra, Jordan.