Ecuador is one of the smallest South American countries, but it has a biodiversity that is second only to Brazil, the biggest country on the continent. First attracted to Ecuador by the immensely popular Galapagos Islands, we kept returning to it for its beaches and mountains, each blessed with stupendously rich fauna and flora. It's the mystic power of the mountain gods (still worshipped throughout the highlands) that keeps drawing us back year after year. We spent numerous weeks traveling along Avenida de los Volcanos visiting quaint indigenous villages, as we hiked to oxygen-starved heights to take the perfect picture of a crater lake, waterfall, or smoking volcano. The coast is no less fascinating. We spent endless golden days traveling along Ruta del Sol and Ruta del Spondylus enjoying fresh oyster cebiche and spectacular sunsets! In the small fishing ports we observed the daily ritual of bringing in the morning catch with hundreds of pelicans swarming the boats laying claim to some of it. For the fishermen, it was just another day: for us, it was an unbelievable experience. What more could one want? Well, there is also the fabulous rainforest, which takes one back to primordial times! Join me as I recount the wonderful experiences we had in this fascinating country.

The words Climate Change have entered our vocabulary with hurricane force. It's difficult to pick up a newspaper, view the evening news, or read more than a few minutes on social networks, or the web without encountering these words. But what do they mean? Is climate really changing? How is it changing? Hasn't it always changed? Didn't we just recover from an ice age that ended only ten thousand years ago; and, didn't Europe just recover from a mini ice age that ended only a few centuries ago? So, what does climate change really mean? Does any one know? If these questions interest you, then please read on, as I try to shed some light on this complex, socio-political issue.