Work (Quito, Ecuador)

I don´t have much time to write a blog right now. I say this just to prove a point really. Ever since I have started working again, 6 days per week, 8 hours per day, I haven´t had much time of my own. It just goes to show that work really does take away from a lot of the good things in life; a topic that many travellers often discuss, the mundane lifestyle in the western, capitalistic world that we have all been socialized to believe as normal. With all that said, I am really enjoying my hostel job. When I get a chance, I´ll write more about it.

'Work Destroys Life'  - Some grafitti I found in Colombia. 

So, on my one day off that I have had thus far, I went to our sister hostel in a remote valley area called Cotopaxi which is surrounded by tall mountains and glaciers, including the famous one called... Cotopaxi.  There I was able to somewhat relax, but all the guests that were at the hostel were former guests of the hostel in Quito, so I knew everyone and I had to put on my charming smile once more.  Haha, who am I kidding... I´m just a charming guy all around. Not.  Actually, when I had an astrology reading done on me back in Vilcabamba, and anytime that I´ve done a personality assessment, it always states that I am half extroverted and half introverted, and therefore I need my alone time, time to rejuvenate and then I have episodic bursts of outgoingness.

Anyway, yesterday before coming back to work for my 3:00pm shift, I ended up going on a 5 hour horseback riding trip in the mountains with my co-worker Romana and these new friends from none other than Edmonton, AB, Canada.  I have only ridden a horse two times prior, and they were very tranquilo walks. Yesterday was a real ride, where I was trotting and galloping at times, with my horse bucking and naying. Alfonso was my horse´s name, a laid back kinda horse that beats his own drum, but at the same time follows the crowd. By the end of the 5 hours I began to understand his personality and really enjoyed being his companion. I now get why people fall in love with horses and the reasoning for terms like the ´horse whisperer´.

So I returned to work last night at 4pm exhausted (one hour late, but my fellow mates covered us) and then again this morning at 7am. This morning I awoke and pain covered my body, especially my ass, my shoulders, back, abs and legs... well, like I said, most of my body. Then to top it all off, in my 5 story hostel at 2800 meters altitude, I fell on one of the stairs and banged my knee really hard, which hasn´t stopped giving me problems since. Ouch.  Good one Dean.