Trip to Pindal

Longtime considered as the highest mountain on the planet, Chimborazo was dethroned by the Himalayan and Peruvian peaks. Nevertheless, considering the geometry of the Earth, this summit is known as the farthest point from its center (see section below for full explanation). This huge mountain is the highest point in Ecuador. It has five summits, the highest culminating at 6,310 meters (20,720 ft.).   The peak, however, is the furthest from the center of the earth.

I think the greenry is bamboo.

Mom thought it would be fun to go for a motorcycle ride with the mayor of Pindal!  Not sure if it's mission legal?

We went to Pindal with an optometrist.   She is a volunteer from Sicily.  She's been here three years now and will probably stay.  She tested the eyes of 40 elderly patients and provided glasses for them at no cost.

Here are some of the local people having breakfast while waiting to have their eyes checked.

A man with his new reading glasses!

We helped deliver some Christmas presents a few months late to 3 poor families who were very poor.

This is where the 3 poor families lived together.

Dad got them singing and dancing while they were waiting to have their eyes examined.

A beautiful swimming hole in Pindal.  They mayor had made it into a beautiful garden.

More garden

Another shot of the garden.

Some cows at the side of the road.

The group we traveled with to Pindal, an 11 hour car ride.  From left to right:  Gabriella the optomitrist, Don Julio (brother to Dr. Zambrano), us, the mayor and his wife Livar and Lupita Bustamante, Dr. Zambrano who works for Charity Anywhere and Enrique, our driver.