Per request by Big Brother Micah, here are pictures of our church. There are actually 3 LDS churches in Riobamba. Our ward is 5 blocks from our apartment, and I think it is the Stake Center. The building on the left is the Chapel, and the building on the right houses the rest of the rooms.
And now for the juice... I am going to tell a little story I like to call
My First Day of Church in Latin America.
After being in Ecuador for approximately 3 days, the Sabbath arrived. We already knew a few members, we knew where our Ward was, and what time it started at. We arrived on time, and greeted the 3 other members that were on time. Everyone was soooo excited that we were there because: we are white, we are from Utah, our last name is Young {little do they know Oliver Young isn't related to Oliver Cowdrey or Brigham Young, but it is easier not to disclose that information}, and we aren't even missionaries! We find where our classes are, and Oliver takes me to the Relief Society Room {in Ecuador they have classes before Sacrament Meeting, so that all of the members can get to the Sacrament on time}.
In the Relief Society Room there are 2 Sisters, one of them is the teacher and the other is just another member of the ward. Oliver explains that my name is Carly, I don't speak Spanish, but I can understand most of it and then he heads off to Priesthood. As I enter the room they both stand up walk over to me and kiss me on the cheek {not a normal kiss on the cheek, but a Grandma Glo Kiss: cheeks pressed together and we are both kissing the air}, at this point I am thinking to my-American with a personal bubble-self, that was different, but it is okay because Grandma Glo makes me do that too. I sit down on one of the wooden benches, when a group of women enter the room. Then it all starts again, everyone is saying "Buenos Dias" very loudly and kissing each other. I think to myself, oh good...everyone is here, I don't have to touch anymore strangers, and now we can start. Indeed class began, but not everyone was there.
The class started by everyone talking to the new girl. They were asking me all sorts of questions and trying to tell me all kinds of wonderful things, but to me it sounded something like this "BLBLBLBLidda RLRRRLBLBL BLBLKJFLAKJDF BLBLBLadadad BLBBBBBIDIDIDIDID." I just looked at them like a deer in headlights, I couldn't even muster a "No entiendo" or a "No hablo espanol"...I had nothing. At one point a sister asked me what my name was {she spoke about as slowly as possible} and I was able to mutter "Carly," they then began to call me Cathy {Side note: the name Carly boggles the minds of every single Ecuadorian, those sounds just don't make sense in the Spanish Language.} Then all of a sudden somebody walks into the room and we all have to stand up and Grandma Glo Kiss. One of the sweet sisters in the ward felt bad for me, her remedy was handing me a coloring book with farm animals in it. I really wasn't sure what I was supposed to do with the coloring book, but expressed plenty of gratitude and then flipped through it like it was very interesting.
Finally the lesson begins, but nearly every 45 seconds a Sister enters the room, starts yelling "Buenos Dias," and we all arise and kiss each other. Occasionally they all turn to me and ask me questions, I stare at them blankly, and then we move on. This hour of class seemed like an eternity. Here I was holding a farm animal coloring book, kissing all sorts of strangers, and I said "Amen" right in the middle of the prayer. The class ended, they all started kissing again, I hand in my coloring book and hymnal, and I dart out of there.
As soon as I saw Oliver I started hysterically laughing and crying all at the same time. Of course he thinks it is the most hilarious thing in the entire world, so much for sympathy. Since my episode, church has gotten a lot better. I now read scriptures, pray, and follow along in my class manual, but I am pretty sure that they still think my name is Cathy. Oh, and I found out that half of the Relief Society speaks English.
Since we are going away for the weekend and you don't believe in email, Happy Early 27th Birthday Nonny! Thanks for breaking my arm 5 times, wrapping me up in mattresses and rolling me down multiple flights of stairs, and teaching me what a Hershey Squirt is - it really helped me define my role as little sister. I love you and I wouldn't trade you for anything. Happy Birthday. 
Our Hotel:
The Church:
Please note that these last beasts {Tapers} were not in a cage, they were just hanging out. They weigh around 300 pounds.
Cherimoya {cherry moy a}. Rumor has it that this little piece of fruit can cost upwards of $50 in the states {I am not sure if I believe that}. I have enjoyed two of them today. Although I prefer the unadulterated flavor of the Mango, Cherimoya is solid competition. It tastes as if a Pineapple, Strawberry, and Mango were infused into one substance. Upon breaking it open you find a brilliant white interior. Cherimoyas are grown in the Andean highlands of Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru.
After about a kilometer there was no longer any snow pack on the road, so I didn't have an excuse for riding in the warm car anymore. I got on my bike and continued the rest of the 24.5 miles to Riobamba with Oliver. The trails were absolutely awesome; it was the most fun and amazing experience ever. The fog was really bad, we could not see 5 feet in front of us, but the lower we descended the better it got. We rode through amazing green fields, Bull farms, small villages, herds of Vicunas and Alpacas, Incan Ruins, and amazing ravines. Sure Oliver got attacked by a pack of dogs, we rode in the rain for 4 hours, it was white out conditions most of the day, and my butt is eternally bruised - but it was all worth it. {The photo at the top of the post shows our route. Click on it to see it bigger.}
We would recommend this tour to anyone, it was fantastic.
The first day we arrived I saw an indian grandma wearing these shoes and I had to have them. I searched for 5 weeks without success, but Saint Valentine {Oliver} pulled through. Aren't they hilarious? I love them.
And now for the juice... I am going to tell a little story I like to call My First Day of Church in Latin America.
We escaped the ash coming from Volcan Tungurahua on Saturday, and went to Chambo. It is a beautiful little farming town about 30 minutes from Riobamba. We spent the afternoon hiking along the green hills {and taking photos}. It was refreshing.
Our luxurious suite :).
Yesterday in honor of Super Tuesday and Fat Tuesday {depending on your location}, I even made chocolate chip cookies with ingredients that I hauled all the way from the good ole U.S. of A. When leaving the country, I am notorious for packing suitcases full of food.
I know they look kinda weird, but I had to light the oven with a match.
I did not take many pictures of Ambato, because I did not want my camera to get blasted with shaving cream. But maybe we will go back at a safer time. The city is a lot nicer and has more to offer than Riobamba.
If you are anywhere in the Rocky Mountains, and you are not taking advantage of the current situation...I have a bone to pick with you.
