Decapitated Piñata and crying babies

Yesterday we had no electricity. This morning we had no water. Our mobiles refuse to pick up a network so we have no telephone contact....but the sun is shining so all is well in Quito.

Our Piñata experience did not go exactly as planned. The head fell off before we had even started so Frédéric started hitting its body with a broom handle - at which point Luca ran inside shouting and Niko screamed with terror at seeing his father hit a headless child with a broom.

Never mind. We collected up all the sweets and toys that had been inside and tomorrow will deliver them to the hospital along with all the drawing and painting materials we have bought. (see the entry on the Sol y Vida Foundation).

We managed to buy a lot of things for just over $100 and we are looking forward to taking them to the children's cancer ward tomorrow. Lucie and Saskia are going to be doing some volunteer work with the children there on Tuesday and Thursday mornings which will no doubt be a life enriching experience.

We have only been here for a week but our experience in Ecuador has already had a profound effect on the whole family. The Ecuadorian people have an incredible capacity to find happiness despite the most challenging of circumstances. I will do my best to discover their secret so that I can share it with you before we leave!