'Echoes of Ecuador: Tales from the Trail

 Cotacachi is one of my favorite places to visit. There is so much to see and so much of what I love is right in the heart of this beautiful little town, rich in heritage, culture and amazing finds of all kinds.  Cotacachi's Hollywood Sign by Daniel Bozza  As you enter the town limits, you are treated to this Hollywood like sign up on the hill. This is the town where leather goods are made. Many bargains are made here at this artistic town. This is Catredral La Matriz de Nuestra Señora de La Concepcion or Immaculate Conception Church, is  in the center of town where many activities are held. One of the most attended festivals is that of the celebration of Inti Raymi (Fiesta of the Sun)  According to retired resident and historian, David Sasaki ;  It is a tradition that dates back to pre-Hispanic times in the Andes. The commemoration is related to the end of an agricultural cycle, for which nature is thanked with products for the 10 months of planting. The S...

August 2023 Bella and me in Cumbaya, Ecuador How long have you ever waited for something? Do you think 30 years is a long time to wait? I sure do. I am not sure why I did not make it more of a priority to make my way back sooner, but as soon as I saw an opening to make a run for it, I did. I can't tell you how nervous I was to go back. Packing was a 2 week process. I wanted to remember (and bring) everything.  I went over what I needed over and over in my mind. Did I forget anything?   Did I pack everything? Was there enough room?    (I did end up remembering everything and it turned out to all be fine!)   I used this occasion to take my 2 youngest daughters with me to mark  their graduation and for turning 16. It was their very first time traveling out of the country  and to Ecuador. It was also the first time they would meet some of my family members.   It was a pretty big deal on many accounts.  You see, my Uncle was on...

  This is the story of how Mindful Ecuadorian Travel Adventures began.  To be honest the vision of this business started a long time ago. The seeds were planted back in 1990 during my trip at the end of college. My parents gifted me a trip as I was the first to graduate from college in our family. While I was there, I felt a deep connection to Ecuador and wanted to make a way to always be connected, but of course life happened.  I got married to Dan and we created our family of seven children. The financial strain of raising such a large family kept me away for so many years. Yet, the seed that was planted over 30 years ago took root and never stopped growing. So, when I returned in 2023, it was easy for me to see what needed to be done to cultivate the connection. When I landed in August of 2023 it felt as if Ecuador had been waiting for me. Like the prodigal son returning to his father, I had made my return. The trip in August provided a firm foundation from which to gr...