¨I´ve always imagined that Ecuador smells like coffee¨

Sorry Amy D., Ecuador doesn´t smell like coffee.

It smells like: cigarettes, car exhaust, humidity, and the trees the maintenence men are trimming down the street.

It tastes like: rice, cilantro, cinnamon, fruit juice, and 7 different kinds of bananas.

It looks like: traffic, iguanas, palm trees, mangroves, and post modern architecture.

It feels like: tile floors, full tummies, long walks to the bus, kisses on the cheek, and the sudden change from overly-air conditioned rooms to humid courtyards.

It sounds like: reggaeton, car horns, spanish argot, telenovelas, tropical birds, the crying baby next door, and host brother swearing when he can´t what he´s looking for in the kitchen (usually rice).