My days in Ecuador

Nothing was planned for my stay in Ecuador. It was a fast decision to visit my son and his family in Puembo near Quito. I wanted to see them, especially my grandson Rio Amadeo. I also wanted to bring books, rocks, photos, and other things they needed, wanted, or appreciated. Without any expectations, I was open to everything, even boredom. It turned out that those nine days where filled with magic and love. Everything was in a flow.

For several years, my son planned to build a house out of natural materials near Quito. It was great timing for me to be in Ecuador. I was able to witness the signing of the contract and the start of the house project. We celebrated it with a bottle of Champagne.

The architect Pedro with Rumi (Quechua name meaning stone), Ale and Rio playing with the dog, Lorenz and I

The property is located beside a deep gorge. Last year, big wildfires destroyed the vegetation and burned down many of the Eucalyptus trees. In one year, the area became green again and many of the Eucalyptus trees recovered.

View from the edge of the property down to the river

They planted fruit trees and shrubs to keep the soil from eroding

Heavy rain washed away the fertile soil. Diego, the gardener, is fixing the terrain with stacked up plastic bags filled with fertile soil. Roots of trees and shrubs planted later will prevent the erosion of the soil.

Rumi and his helper study the plan of the house and talk things over with my son.

The first load of hand made adobe bricks arrived when I was there. They consist of mud, cow dung and straw and are excellent for insulation. I was so impressed watching the couple Orlando and Luz unloading the bricks. Their movement was in total sync, like musical notes.

One of the bushes they planted last year – plants in Ecuador grow very fast.

My son Lorenz and I

It was a coincident that Ale, my daughter in law, found out about a concert in the Cuevas del Ilaló. The place was magical. The caves are located on the extinct volcano Ilaló close to Quito. The caves have several rooms connected by bending and turning walkways. Each room holds an art object representing one of the 4 elements. The most fascinating object was a pendulum hanging down from a spiral ceiling. The bottom of the pendulum made patterns in the sand below. The only light source is burning candles in carved out niches. It was a mystical experience.

When we drove up the steep road to the cave, four alpacas where welcoming us.

Before entering the caves, we passed a labyrinth

Art objects are also placed outside of the caves. You can see Tumbaco down below and Quito in the distance.

The tickets for the concert also included a glass of delicious hot wine. On the way to the outside bar, we passed a huge room built into the mountain. It is used for meditation, Yoga, sound healing, and other activities. Unfortunately, I did not have time to join a meditation session. They follow the Soto Zen Buddhism. I am practicing in the same tradition.

The concert was played by two jazz guitarists, Bjorke Lund and Andres Noboa. They played beautifully together. It was like an intimate conversation between two people who really knew each other. The raw earth of the walls made me feel at home, back in the womb of mother earth. The warm light of the candles added to this feeling. The music filling the space completed the experience.

The art object representing earth

The room with the pendulum was dark and mysterious. It was fascinating to watch the pendulum swinging silently back and forth. The calligraphy made by it was fascinating. Each moment, it made another streak, calmly, without stopping. During earthquakes, we were told, the patterns are especially interesting.

Time does not stop, but it always leaves a mark….. (Photo taken from the internet)

Even the door to the toilet is artistic and beautiful.

The person who created this place is an architect called Juan Alfonso Peña. It is his extented family who is managing the property. I did not find much information about this place. However, there is a short description about the Cuevas. The place is dedicated to natural beauty, arts wellness and a simple lifestyle. ” Living in harmony with nature is not a sacrifice but a pleasure”. What a beautiful philosophy!