Under construction...

My dear follower,

I have to confess I am just to busy with work and writing my German blog that I just don't have enough time to translate my blog in English. Please enjoy the pictures of my Sabbatical vulture year "On vulture's wings around the world" on www.geierwelt.blogspot.com and one day the translation will follow here soon...

I am sorry,

Bettina

A day under the sign of a cow

Unfortunately Patrick left the Spanish school yesterday early afternoon and I tryed to study vocabulary most of the day.

Every now and then a vegetable car is driving through the village, making lot's of noise.

But all in all the first day with hot sunshine all day and a wonderful sunset in the evening.

Today, my last day at Atahualpa, Rocio, her brother Wilson and me were driving to her cows very early in the morning. And for the first time in my life I had the chance to milk a cow!!!
But first we had to climb up a hill and again I had to take some breaks. And in between I could not believe I am walking through a bamboo forest!!! Amazing!!! Never saw such a wonderful bamboo forest before!

When arriving at the cow pasture we had a wonderful view over the area.

All in all there were maybe 7 cows and 3 little calves. Muy bien!

Milking the cows was very difficult and I got the milk everywhere but not into the bucket. Slow but finally I made it!

One cow seemed to get a baby very soon, so we got very excited.

We hurried up, back to the wonderful bamboo forest and to the meeting point, where people can sell their milk.

After that we went back to the cow pasture, this time from another direction.

Again walking through a bamboo forest and back to the cows...

But the cow still did not got her baby. We were waiting one or two hours, but nothing happened. We all got worried, cause in general it takes just one hour for a cow to get her baby. That's why we left to call a vet, but the vet was not in town. So Rocio called many friends to get medicine and after a very late breakfast we went back to the cow.

Unfortunately I had to realize that many nice days are followed by a bad one: When we arrived we saw mother-cow standing next to her stillborn calf :-( She did not stopp licking her baby to revive it, but of course nothing happened. It was really really sad to see this little, dead thing... and I avoid to think about "calf carrion = Andean Condor lunch".

Spanish school and Atahualpa

Today I like to show some pictures of my Spanish school and the little village Atahualpa.

My Spanish School is located in a house at the end of the village. A very friendly family is living there and they have some guest rooms for the Spanish students. Spanish lessons are in this house, too. Because just two women are speaking English it's easy to practise your new vocabulary all day. But in just one week it's not possible for me to learn complete sentences instead of: "A mi me gusta el condor"! I am so sorry that I cannot talk as much to these nice people as I would like to!

View from the terrace.

Some melons next to the neighbours house. Every day we get fantastic juices.

Always a wonderful view, no matter if there are clouds or sunshine.

Next to our house there is a funny pig living on the grass.

View from the top of the Spanish school! Today we had a Salsa lesson in the sun, on our terrace... and I got my first sunburn ;-) It's an unbelievable atmosphere when you are dancing Salsa or singing to the sound of the guitar with such a fantastic view!

View from one of the kitchens.

The church of Atahualpa, next to the little park and the police station.

15 minutes to walk from the Spanish school to the police station with WLan...

My room...

Walk to a waterfall

After four Spanish lessons Patrick (another German here in this school) and me were guided to a wonderful waterfall of Atahualpa.
Half an hour we were walking along this amazing panorama, listening to the sound of cows, crazy chicken and the wind...

After some minutes we had to climb down a hill, muddy road, narrow, but beautiful!

What a wonderful place to be!!!

Much bigger than expected!

Patrick and me infront of the waterfall...

But after enjoying this beautiful place we had to climb up the hill again... and I had to realize how badly in shape I am. Crawling on all fours and taking breaks after each altitude of 5 metres. It took a very long time to climb up the hill and I was hardly breathing all the time, but this waterfall was worth it! Patrick and our guide were really patient and so I finally made it up the hill and back to the school.

After this amazing trip we went to the police station for our internet access. And what did I see there? An male Anden Condor painted on the wall!!! My first Anden Condor in Ecuador ;-)