Store in a Cool, Dry Place

These are the first English words I read en route from Panama to Ecuador and it hits me - hard - that that's the label that should be on me and I'm heading to a place that is neither cool, nor dry -- ever. What am I doing?? Thank goodness humans are adaptable. I have already begun to think of my physical body as a distinct entity from "me". Does it have enough water/rest/sunscreen/bug repellent? Is it cool and dry? Did it take it's anti-malarial medicine? Like a third party I am responsible for and need to take care of. I know it's really this way all the time, but I only have this disassociated perspective when traveling.

Roamed the streets today getting nails, rope, hangers and Benedryl - the last of my housekeeping necessities. It's been nice to find myself in familiar places (I was in Quito last Dec) and am now sitting in my favorite cafe. Familiarity in the midst of the unknown makes seeing my favorite hot sauce like seeing a long lost friend.

About 10 of us who are attending the wedding will be flying tomorrow morning to Coca. I've only met two others so far (british humor - yeah!) but consensus is that no one knows quite what to expect - the only difference in our perspectives being that they'll head home in 6 days while I stay for 10 weeks. We are all very excited for Mari & Pato - the first known wedding of a westerner and a Quechuan. Stay tuned.

p.s. I'm enjoying every second of this cool, dry place (Quito)

Photo from my trip to Sani - Dec 2009