Quest Overseas - Gap Year Travel

Final update from the team's language phase, thanks to Jaiya!

As we entered our final week in Quito, Jimmy and Pete decided to spring upon us a set of group tasks that would challenge our knowledge on the local culture, language and history - as well as make us look absolutely ridiculous! After a long day of running around the city, consisting of human bullfighting in the Plaza del Toros, Charlie's Angels pouts with the policia and Titanic poses atop the Basilica (big church), the three teams tottered in, naturally shattered and immensely pleased to find the cook team creating a well-deserved pizza feast. The evening ended with what we were led to believe was a chick flick, yet only ended up being the most depressing and boring end to an eventful day... Thank you for the recommendation Alex.

So the Villa Maria team fly down to Lima to start their project work in Villa Maria this evening, but we're sure their time in Ecuador won't be quickly forgotten. Thanks to the sterling efforts of leader Jimmy 'Spielberg' McSparron - the 3 weeks of Spanish lessons, trekking, beaches and fun has been captured on film. Well done to the team - a great start to their 3 months in South America!

Think this look like a great way to start your Gap Year? Why not apply to join the 2013 Villa Maria Gap Year team departing in January!

The Villa Maria lot are gearing up to start their project tomorrow, here's what they got up to last week and the weekend before last. Thanks to Alex for blog number 2 and good luck for the start of the project!

Last weekend saw the Villa Maria team once again leaving the confines of Quito, this time for the beautiful Ecuadorian cloud forest. Ever the adventurers the intrepid lot set out on an 8 1/2 hour trek from the village of Yunguilla to visit Quest's old friends at Santa Lucia. Take a look at the Google Earth version of their route above!

And the reward for their hard work? Time to chill in a hammock with a stunning view, listening to the sounds of the forest and watching the world go by. Lucky them!

The Villa Maria team have only been in Quito a week but they have certainly packed a lot in....here's what they've been getting up toin their own words!

After dribbling into Hostel Tutamundo in Quito due to different flights, accusations of bribery at Miami Airport and food poisoning acquired before even trying Ecuadorian mussels, we shared our first meal and took a quick tour of the city. The team were quick to settle down to a movie in aid of jetlags ranging from New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the UK.

Friday was a day of hecticness. Our reason for visiting Quito kicked in. We have 4 hours of Spanish every morning, divided into 2 hours of vocab and grammar followed by 2 hours of practical work, so visiting the market and asking what the bizarre pointed purple fruit is, or taking a trip to the park and showing off your ability to tell the difference between un perro y un gato.

Our evening events began with what only can be compared to a booze cruise in Magaluf; the Chiva Bus. Alongside our Spanish tutors we began the debaucherous tour around Old Town and up to the Virgin of Quito fuelled not only by diesel but also unlimited amounts canalazo, a traditional warm cocktail. The night continued with a slight pause to consume traditional chicken, rice and potatoes with yet more of the canalazo, which at this point was traded in swiftly for the cervezas. In the club shapes were thrown, jager was bombed and this is where the hangover was born....