The Ice is Melting

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Originally uploaded by Courtney Knits

I'm so glad all this cold stuff is finally melting. I was almost forced to purchase a warmer outfit and the very idea of shopping for clothing in a hillbilly, logging town such as Portland made me shudder.

I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up

I seem to have fallen into a glacial ravine. This is getting ridiculous! I thought this was supposed to be a temperate climate?

Snow Day in Seattle

I have NEVER seen so much snow in my life. Good thing my hair is styled into earwarmers.

American Inn Express

However all my hopes of relaxing by the pool were permanently crushed when I saw our place of lodging. The American Inn Express. Thirty-five dollars a night. I HAVE to stop hanging out with plebians.

Palm Trees

Wasn't long before we were seeing palm trees. Always a good sign.

Hot Rod

Sacramento was completely fogged in- no sunshine in sight. However my spirits were temporarily lifted when I saw our rental car. Here I am posed seductively on the hood (on the wiper actually).

December in Red Bluff

A girlfriend convinced me to join her on a business trip to Red Bluff. I thought CA might be a welcome change of climate so I tagged along. Alas, not exactly the vacation I had envisioned. First of all we had to travel coach. On U.S. Airways. Which HAS to be the crappiest airline in the sky. Here's a photo that sums up the experience. My smile is totally sarcastic.

Help

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Originally uploaded by Courtney Knits

Crazy Lady

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Originally uploaded by Courtney Knits

I thought I had finally escaped this woman's clutches! I was kidnapped, shoved into and envelope and now I am running scared.
She drinks like a sailor and always has these massive, sharp objects.
if you read this post please help me.

Happy Birthday Courtney

Happy Birthday, honey!! Treat yourself to something special.

My favorite movie ever

After the seminar, it was time to relax in the Hotel Quito and watch my favorite movie of all time.

Near death experience

I had the worst scare of my life when this creepy jungle creature snuck up on me and bit my head. Luckily my hair product deterred it just long enough to allow my escape.

cooking class

Michelle Fried, an Ecuadorian cookbook author taught the group to prepare a few tradition dishes. Doesn't she know that starch is fattening?

Shopping the mercados

My discerning eye was invaluable during our group foray to market.

Street scene

Nice to see the streets so well patrolled. Promotes a girl's creativity.

Back to Quito

Quito has it's share of really old cathedrals. Some of them are quite impressive.

Tiputini and the Amazon rainforest

Here I am boating on the Tiputini River and hanging out in the Amazon rainforest. My photographer certainly did not do this site justice.

Termas de Papallacta

Here I am taking a dip in the hotsprings

Paramo and the polyleptis forest

After the Galapagos it was back to the Andes, this time to a site near the Paramo with some phenomenal natural hotsprings. We visited polyleptis forest, a very endangered ecotype, where I discovered this disgusting plant producing its own mucus.

Galapagos

We spent a week in the Galapagos. Amazing wildlife! And lots of lava.

Taxi ride to Hotel Quito

The taxi driver was courteous and helpful. I got to practice my Spanish.
Here I am in the Hotel Quito, still radiant after many hours of travel.

I arrive in Quito

The view of the Andes was spectacular as we made our descent into Quito.

tree-hugging in the Shasta-T

I spent the evening hooting for owls with a bunch of weirdos from UW and found some trees marked for removal on one of the supposedly best owl territories in the forest. Everyone was mad about it, myself included. If only we could have seen an owl instead.
BTW, I know my hair and make-up are less than perfect in this photo, but you should have seen the others I was with!

Finally a Sighting

Sorry it's been so long since I posted. I decided to remain in California and boy do they have some great beer down here. Guess I lost track of time! Whew!

It's good to be back!