If it´s good enough for me, it´s good enough for FIFA

So a quick bit of background. As most of you probably don´t know, FIFA (the international football association) is introducing a rule to prohibit international matches above 2600m in altitude. This has obviously proved pretty unpopular here in Quito (at 2850m) and countries like Bolivia and Peru.

As an aside I thought it appropriate at this point to chuck in a sneaky long exposure night shot of Quito from the roof of our house. This has nothing to do with football. Ahem, please continue.

So last night I was invited to play my first game of football in South America. At first I thought it was just going to be a quiet kick about at the park but when we arrived at the indoor football arena and I fronted up in my Vans, I knew I was gonna be outta my depth. The stereotype that all South Americans are good at football is completely accurate and I soon realised that the only way I was going to hold my own was to run around frantically in defense and just generally try and get in the way as much as possible. I think I managed to mostly succeed in these endevours but after madly running around at high altitude with my baggy shorts, skate shoes and red face and after diving in for some ridiculous tackles I earned the nickname ¨loco¨. Seems I´ve brought down the bright reputation of NZ soccer and reversed all the good work of the 1982 All Whites.

Last week Tessa and I visited La Capilla del Hombre (the Chapel of Man), another Guayasumin museum which was designed by the artist himself with construction completed shortly after his death. His premise was to design a space for art dedicated to the struggles of man as opposed to one dedicated to a deity, as he had travelled through much of central and south america during some of the worst times in their history, his artwork strongly reflects this idea. The museum itself was enormous, the proportions of which made us feel dwarfed. There was an interesting area showing pictures of Guayasumin rubbing shoulders with such luminaries as Fidel Castro and Chairman Mao. The whole area of the complex was peaceful but felt somewhat out of place in a reasonably working class neighbourhood. Just over the fence from this fancy museum were rows of concrete block houses complete with washing hung on every available space.

We were just out to lunch at a spot near the university which serves delicious empanadas and giant menestras (a huge plate of rice, meat, fried banana and beans). Unfortunately a Canadian girl who we were with got her bag swiped from the back of her chair while we ate! It really sucks because she only had spanish notes and her glasses in the bag, nothing of any value to anyone else. The owners of the restaurant were really helpful and drove round trying to spot the people who had done the deed but to no avail. We have to try to be careful with our stuff all the time here, very different to back home.

We were invited to a BBQ for couch surfers on Saturday, in fact we didnt have to go very far cause it was at our house. It was a good chance to meet some new folks and to try out our spanish on poor unsuspecting locals. It happened that the BBQ coincided with the birthday of one of the ladies and her husband had organised a very traditional Ecuadorian surprise for her, Mexican Mariachi Singers. Before we knew what was happening they had bowled up the stairs and had us dancing, singing, clapping and stamping our feet. Very fun and very random. After downing many more drinks we bowled into town for some Schwarma (kebabs for those back home) and a bit of a boogie. All in all a pretty good night.

We have 4 more days of lessons left! Hoorah. Not that we are sick of learning spanish or feel that we have in any way mastered the language but our feet are getting itchy and its not athelete´s foot this time. On Saturday we head for the coast for some new adventures.