Here we go again on our own...

We left "La Casa De Luli" on Saturday. We were sad to go. We are by no means home stay experts. But we can say with confidence that in our limited experience Luli's house was by far the best home stay that either of us has ever experienced. Luli is able to cultivate a familial experience in such an abbreviated amount of time due to her cooking and counsel. She preaches a gospel of soup, sunscreen, and safety to her visitors. You know she is delighted to have you in her home. Mothering to her is an art. She is the matron saint of home stays and hospitality. We will indeed miss her...and the cream of tomato soup...and the cream of cauliflower soup...

According to the Instituto Superior de Español, Brigitte and I are both at the "Nivel Intermedio Español" which is a real confidence builder for the both of us. We have been noticing lately that even though I am supposedly "more developed" in my Spanish, Brigitte understands people better. I am hoping that this is just her quick learning nature and not my early onset hearing loss (thanks mom!). More than once I have turned to her and said, "what did that guy say?"

Our last night in Quito we went out for a drink to celebrate our certification and our passports being legit. We took a six dollar taxi. Taxi drivers are a great opportunity to practice Spanish. Oftentimes I have a general idea of what is being said, but as to details...who can know? The following is a transcript of part of our conversation in the taxi cab that night translated to the best of our "Nivel Intermedio" abilities...

Taxi Driver: "I have women for sale."

Andy: "Uhhhhhh. You sale women?"

Taxi Driver: "Of course."

Andy: "I have womens."

Taxi Driver: "I have 5 wives."

Andy: "Problems many have you must."

Taxi Driver: "I do not drink or smoke."

Andy: "You drink smoke?"

Taxi Driver: "There are a variety of different kinds of love."

Brigitte: "Like...like."

Taxi Driver: "Like and love are the same. But love is stronger. There is brotherly love, fatherly love, romantic love..."

Andy: "Love know you much"

We got to our destination. Both inspired to love in ways not yet known and ready to sell women. Just kidding. And hope he was too. Truth be told he probably did not say half of the things we thought he did. But we thought he did. He was just another heart in need of rescue. Like a drifter born to walk alone.

Unlike this gentlemen in the painting above, we made it safely to Cuenca by way of Baños. We have made up our mind and we ain't wasting no more time...Here we go again.