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On the next weekend (Bryan's last), Adrean took us out to his flower farm (if US customs asks, I was never on any farm), and that of his brother. We brought along his two children, Renata (3) and Adrean (5). - P6120019
This as a picture of Pablo Castro, our excellent Spanish teacher with whom we had daily 4-hour lessons in the first floor of the Panchos' residence, which serves as a German language school in the afternoon. - P6110015
Although this picture doesn't do a very good job of capturing it, there was a gasoline distribution strike going on most of the time I was in Ecuador, creating lines for gas over a mile long at every gas station in the city. Whether the lines were actually caused by a shortage or just a fear of a shortage, we were never able to tell. - P6110014
Jeff was delighted by this sign at the Jardin mall. I'll leave the translation as an exercise for the reader. - P6110011
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We visited Parque Carolina, a huge park in the middle of Quito, which was quite nice, though mostly bereft of people. - IMG 2881
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After visiting the farm, we went to Adrean's parents' estate in Cumbaya to spend the weekend. There were a total of three houses and seven dogs, one of which outweighed me (a bull mastiff named "Kaiser") - IMG 2878
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At his brother's farm, another kind of flower called "Million Stars." You can see why. - IMG 2873
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After being picked, the flowers rest in dark, cool rooms, and are then dried and refrigerated for boxing so that they will last the two weeks necessary to make them salable. - IMG 2871
Gerber daisies in buckets getting ready to be shipped out, with netting around the blooms to protect them. - IMG 2870
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All of the unused plant matter is composted and used as fertilizer - IMG 2868
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While not a rose, this thornless flower is also grown and comes in colors you just can't get roses. - IMG 2866
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In addition to Liatris, he also grows Gerber daisies, which he has in some incredible colors. The pictures really don't do them justice. - IMG 2860 001
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