Adios Chris

Chris got a research grant from USM and was able to go to Ecuador for 6 weeks to work on his thesis.  Hazel and I went to California while he was gone so we wouldn't be all alone in Mississippi, but we sure did miss him while he was gone.  He left on May 20th and got back July 2 (the same day that Hazel and I flew back from CA).  He had a great time down there and met a lot of really cool people but it was a long time to be away.  This was Chris' third time visiting Ecuador, so the country has a special place in his heart.  The first time he went was when he was 17, with his brother Tyler.  They were visiting their dad who was stationed down there with the Air Force for a few months. The second time he went was the first year we were married.  We went as a kind of belated honeymoon. This third time was his longest stay for sure, but his brother Tyler was able to fly down at the end to spend a few days together exploring the country they visited as kids.  I only have a few of the pictures he took on his trip, but his thesis is going to be awesome and I can't wait to see the finished product.  

Saying goodbye to daddy at the airport.  So sad to see him go.

 His research is on land use change in Otavalo using repeat photography and interviews.  He re-took some pictures that a professor took back in the 50's and its really cool to see the what the land used to look like in the 50's compared to today.  These are just some of the pictures he sent me while he was gone, but it is so beautiful down there.  

This was the hostel he stayed at in Quito for a few days when he first arrived.  Something got messed up with is reservation though, so when he got there at nearly midnight (after flying all day long) they didn't have a room or bed for him!  He ended up just sleeping on the couch in the common room for a few days before he headed up to Otavalo.

Looking down on Quito

Outside Otavalo

The hostel he stayed at in Otavalo (the same one we stayed at when we visited in 2012).

Love my handsome husband.