holy cow

Okaay
Here we go, boy have we've been busy and been through a whole hell of alot. Okayyyyy, we took the bus to Quito and on the bus we got our bags cut into and robbed. They took all our stuff that was techy and also my tooth brush???? But the amazing thing is that there was a great guy who was the witness who saw the whole thing. And guess what he was a cop from Puyo. What a great thing. This hero also stopped the bus then stopped a citizen chased down the city bus to capture the robbers. Sooooo after 6 hours and then also a bout in the night court we finally could leave. And told that we would have complications of putting them in jail because of various problems without legal representation and so one and so forth...... So after much stress.... we could leave... Unfortunately this meant that we got to the hotel room at 2:00 in the morning and our plane was scheduled to leave at 6:00 and you have to be at the airport two hours ahead. This meant that we would have to be there at 4:00 YIKES. Then without sleep we arrived at the airport and all seemed well we were to wait for the plane.... then Rachelle gets called to the front of the line to be taken away to have the luggage checked. I ask why and they say a narcotics check. Please wait... then. After 5 min and 10 min and 20 min, I go to the desk and ask about the where abouts of my daughter. This was my answer.... Mammm if you don't stop bothering us about your daughter you will be arrested. Now because of the kindness of another attendant and having told her of our evening she phoned down for me and found out that Rachelle would only be 5 more min and when she finally appeared, I actually wept. Then after we got on and we were in the air I finally calmed down. The stewardess there was fun and saucy and cheeky, she made it possible for me to laugh again. We did finally make it back to Rob where I cried again when he asked about the flight. If you know me, I NEVER cry, it was a very big deal. Soooo in reference to the robbery, a very dear friend of mine went to Quito in my name and hopefully we have the representation to get the band of six people put into prison... So for all of you who think that Ecuador is dangerous and corrupt. I can say this we got a police officer to help us, the police in Quito were very nice and a robbery can also happen in Canada. All is well. Tranquilo, no pasa nada.....
The kids have now gone to camp for a fabulous and amazing experience in the LEAP leadership program. Rachelle is quoted as, " it changed her life and Dane was the comedy and moral of the camp. Dane is my reclusive kid!!!! so there you have it. We have now also gone to bike around the Vancouver seawall and tonight we will see the firework competition in English bay ish area. Tomorrow we go to the Vancouver Aquarium to encourage Rachelles zest for sea biology and then we start on our trek back to the interior of BC. I didn't realize that I missed the BC coast so much and if I ever have a chance and if the politics of Canada change I would live there. We are now staying at our city friends apartment and are getting a dose of downtown city heaven. Because of this though, I am writing this after consuming 2 bottles of very good wine and a scotch on the rocks (first time experience, not needed to be repeated). So I will happily but tiredly say even though it is it is probably hard to read this experpt through my lightheadedness and poor punctuation, so I will end it here. If you wish to know more let me know.
Talk with you all soon
Robin

What was all that noise about!!!

Hi there:
Well, yesterday there were fire crackers a'goin' off quite regularly and causing the dogs to disappear under and into anything that they thought would protect them. The bravest of all the dogs, Crisis (aka. Isis) hid in the shower and wouldn't come out. Occasionally there are people here who feel the need to blow off a few fire crackers, so it doesn't seem all that strange all that noise but it did persist throughout the day here and there. What we found out this evening was the city of Banos was thanking the Virgen de Santa Agua for protecting them from an eruption. The Santa de Agua blesses the healing waters and those who live in the town and ask for her help. So there she is in the Cathedral in the church above the pulpit. Apparently, she is only taken down in extreme times after she has done her thing. Her crown is truely solid gold and usually stored in one of the banks, her gown is of real gold thread, and the town and those people of Ecuador, adore her.
Legend has said that there was a large eruption in the past and those people of the town decided that the destruction of the town was emminent and they had to remove the Virgen for her safety. At first 2 men tried to remove her from the church to safety but she became so heavy that two more men tried to help and then again she became so heavy that two more had to help and so one until 10 men were used. It became obvious that when after many men and enduring time just to get to the doors of the church that she simply was not leaving. They all agreed to put her down and return her to here rightful place in the church. Two nuns then lightly carried her back to her place above the pulpit where she wanted to be so that she could protect the town. And the town was saved from the eruption once again.
The Banos this time had a different objective. They felt it was time to forgive the military for their misdeeds of the last large eruption of looting the city rather than their job of protecting Banos. So on this evening, the military was given the blessing and forgiveness for the priviledge to carry the Virgen through town, so that she could bless Banos, to the sacred waters and return her to the church and sing her and sing Ecuadors praises. It was kind of weird and wonderful as you could really see these men and women be devoted to her but in military wear. I think it was rather nice for Banos to so publicly forgive the military, I just hope that the military are worth it.
Banos is a wonderful town that calls you. Even though you are right under a volcano there seems to be a protective bubble around her. In the church are huge paintings documenting the miracles of the Virgen. This church was funded, made, and decorated by the towns people not a rich community but a devoted one. The people are devoted to their religion but also very devoted to her the Virgen de Santa Agua (aka Mama Tungurahua the volcano) So the final part of the evening after mass was to go to the Virgins waterfall set off fire works and hot air balloons and sing.
Sing away and forgive but not forget
Robin