"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!"

This trite little expression takes on new meaning when faced with the seemingly neverending heaves of food poisoning. Which I unfortunately was last night, thanks to some innocently purchased made-to-order spinach and ricotta ravioli and homemade tomato sauce. (Yes I am still in Ecuador!)

I thought that if anything got me in South America, it would be the ceviche. Which I had already discovered I liked when I tried it for the first time a few months in Cusco (ahhhh, Cusco!). Had it again just the other day for lunch with Fabian, who has been such a lovely host to me these past few days in his home in Guapolo (along with his rambunctious super hairy golden retriever, Pisco). To repay the favor of his patient hospitality I thought to buy some fresh pasta from the gourment pasta store on my walk back to his place (Quito has everything!). Unfortunately, the ravioli got us both and now I will forever be trying to live down being the guest that tried to poison him.

Aside from this little tidbit of news, my few days in Quito so far have been quiet and peaceful. I've spent them strolling about, slowly taking things in and trying to get myself oriented in no particular rush. It's such a different way to experience a city when time seems to be less pressing. I've visited the Mariscal neighborhood and checked out a potential Spanish school there. And yesterday afternoon, I went to the Museo Guayasamin which houses the most extensive collection of art by this artist. Guayasamin is Ecuador's most famous painter/sculpture, a contemporary of Picasso, and I was especially surprised I'd never heard of him when I discovered how much I loved his work. The museum was small - just a collection of three modest-sized houses on a green lawn - but perfect for absorbing everything, without losing focus. Always a problem for me at the Met.

In true New Yorker fashion, I am trying to walk everywhere but it's not easy as Quito is quite hilly. The city sits in a valley high in the Andes surrounded by the peaks of assorted hills and mountains, including Volcan Pichincha. By early afternoon, the clouds and fog rolls in and hug the mountainsides. Today it rained all day, which suited my food sickly self just fine. The only time we left the house was in the late afternoon to visit Fabian's parents in the fancy Cumbaya neighborhood for Saturday dinner.

Things should be picking up soon though. For one, I am already FINALLY feeling better!! :) For another, my friend Tim has decided to pay me a spontaneous visit in honor of his 40th birthday. So tomorrow we are going to visit the cloud forests of Mindo with its waterfalls and exotic birds, for a few days. Then next week, too, I begin my volunteering with the Huayra Causay school. Between all of this and the number of things there are to see and do within just a few hours of Quito, these next few weeks will surely fly by.