Cutting Off the Tags

After three fantastic weeks with ESPOIR in Portoviejo, the time has come for us to say our goodbyes and move on. Working with the foundation has been amazingly helpful, for both exploration of my posible future career path and our Spanish skills!



We are once again packing up to move. This is the real test, as it's the first time we'll have to carry all of our things since we flew in to Quito three and a half months ago. On our way down to Portoviejo last month we took two trips so we could split the weight between trips. Even so, the first time I put my pack on I literally fell over! We decreased the weight in my bag...mostly by putting it in Ben's. Such a gentleman!

We've gone through our things so many times that I'm pretty sure I could rattle them off on comand. Each time we get rid of a thing or two, but this time we have sunk to a new low of weight-weenie-ness. It started as a joke back in the beginning of last year while we were planning this trip. Ben came across a "lightweight backpacking" website that suggested cutting the tags off clothes and the edges off maps. At the time, it seemed quite ridiculous and funny. However, after being knocked down by my pack and twisting my ankle on the way to the bus station, it didn't seem so outlandish. Still hilarious, but not so outlandish.
After a few hours of cutting and sorting, we actually managed to loose a few pounds. Of course, most of that weight was from getting rid of packaging on products, not cutting tags off clothes, but I find it funny all the same.

So, feeling ever so slightly lighter, we are off to Canoa again this weekend. We need a few days to relax and regroup before heading south and working our way towards Peru. Canoa fits the bill perfectly. We'll spend some time on the beach and hopefully get to ride our bikes for a few days! Up the road from Canoa there is a road labeled ¨Hill of Suffering¨. Should be fun!