Why is Frédéric wearing this hat?

You may well be asking this question. Luckily I know the answer, otherwise I would be asking it too. I love my husband very much but it is a good thing he was not wearing this hat when we met in Strasbourg, that's all I will say.

The arrival of this hat in our family is thanks to the Minister of Tourism, who is currently researching how Ecuador is perceived by visitors to the country. As part of this research the Ministry has been conducting focus groups with tourists of different nationalities. Through people that we have met here Frédéric and I were asked to take part in the French focus group.

Whilst Frédéric has the right credentials, as a half Finn half Brit I could hardly be less French, but I went along anyway just for the experience.

In fact it was a really fascinating afternoon. We were asked to say how we had perceived Ecuador before we came and how those perceptions had changed since.

For example, we had assumed that the weather would be sunny and hot. We were wrong. It has rained almost every day since we arrived, and this is not even the rainy season. The weather is apparently warmer on the coast, but with Quito being so high (2850m above sea level) is is often cloudy and always cold at night. (Incidentally...thank you everyone who has sent messages telling me how fantastic the weather is in Finland!)

We had also naively assumed that the cost of living would be cheaper than it is, and that the problems of the people here would be more visible. In fact, as is so often the case, if all you saw of Ecuador was the centre of the big towns, you could be forgiven for thinking that poverty is not really a problem here. Of course in reality it is a huge problem with the majority of people living with very little monthly income. (the official minimum wage is $240 per month ($220 net) but many people still earn far less than this.

I will introduce you in a later posting to Liliana and her family who have become our "adopted family" here in Ecuador and very dear to us. Liliana, a kind, friendly and highly intelligent woman of 23 was, until recently, working full time, (ie ten hours a day and six days a week) in a shop. She took home $80 per month. This was the only income for a family of four to live on...but more about this later.

The interview with the Ministry of Tourism was fascinating. We met Isabelle, a French lady who has totally fallen in love with Ecuador and is now planning to settle here. We all agreed that the best things about life here are the friendliness and openness of the people, together with their determination and stoicism despite the many challenges they face in life. They are truely a people to be admired. People here learn to live simply because they have to. They are good at saving and at making money stretch as far as it can. Despite everything, Ecuadorians are grateful for the little they have. If all they have is their health, then they concentrate on being grateful for this. In these respects Ecuador is an inspirational place.

We did, however, suggest to the Ministry that having a guinea pig as their logo may not be their best idea. This is because guinea pigs in Ecuador are not household pets. They are roasted and eaten. As a vegetarian I admit to not being completely objective, but even with my most objective head on I find it hard to imagine that, given their fate, a guinea pig logo would be a huge attraction for European children.

Ecuador is a fantastic destination. It has a huge amount to offer - particularly if you want to learn Spanish, learn to dance (if you have never danced the salsa you must try it before you die...) or have an interest in Latin American culture and artisanship. It is also a magnificent place to discover real human warmth and kindness. When asked who we would recommend Ecuador to, we replied (honestly) that we would recommend it to everyone we knew The only exception to this would be people in wheelchairs - who would find it almost impossible to move around here.

At the end of the interview we were presented with these hats (made in Cuenca) as a present from the Ministry, which we gratefully accepted....and so this photo of Frédéric came to be taken. We have an expression in English that every picture tells a story. At least now you know the story behind this one!

Incidentally...can I ask a favour from someone clever please? A couple of people have tried to add comments but without success. Is anyone able to explain what you need to do to add a comment please? All advice welcome! Thanks.