Ballin in Quito
Wow. I had just written a fair amount describing life in Quito and suddenly it all deleted. WTF. Obviously someone is telling me to write about something more interesting.
So I must confess that when I first got here I was pretty intimidated. Quito has the casual reputation of being very dangerous. We have had numerous lessons learning to never leave our bags in plain view, always be conscious of our pockets, and never ever accept the first price quoted for any purchase.
However, Quito is absolutely gorgeous. As I have stated before the peaks and valleys are amazing and the people are truly proud of their city, which is awesome (chevere in Ecualingo).
My favorite memory to date was hooping it up with the local Ecuadorians at the local park-Parque Carolina. Centrally located in the middle of the city this park offers chain net (lo mejor) basketball hoops on opposite ends of an ADIDAS pastelled propoganda court. Very cool. It almost seems as if you are in the middle of some sort of Nike streetball classic where alley oops will fly and trash talk will abound.
Except for one small fact. I am probably six inches taller than everyone else in the entire city. Absolutely ridiculous. Literally people who meet me refer to me as ´That tall guy´. So anyway I head out to the courts for some balling and salivate at my opportunity for domination. In addition to towering over everyone, let´s not also forget that I outweigh them by 50 pounds. I am Shaq incarnate.
Ah life. So in Ecuador you play three points to warm up before playing to 21. I promptly scored three points and our team looked secure for an easy victory until....Shaq met his free throw. Holy moly it is impossible to breathe at 9000 feet plus playing basketball. AFter the calientar session of three points I was absolutely gassed. Like breathing razor blades through my lungs. Unreal. I was lost in a sea of Ecua-men, mostly fatter than I, running Indy car circles around me as I gasped for breath. Hilar right?
Not nearly as funny as not being able to speak street lingo on the courts. I, with my high school taught Spanish, busted out my gramatically perfect colloquialisms all over the court, and let me just say that never in my life have I felt like a bigger nerd. I was running around the court spouting the English equivalents of ´Please pass me the ball. Yes please give me the ball sir, oh ok I have the ball now´etc. etc. etc. Unreal. Awkward to a whole new level.
Anyway after an hour and a half Ecua fat men 21-Kane dog and Ecua friends 20. Game over. Would have crushed them 21-10 in the states. Next time I guess.
So I must confess that when I first got here I was pretty intimidated. Quito has the casual reputation of being very dangerous. We have had numerous lessons learning to never leave our bags in plain view, always be conscious of our pockets, and never ever accept the first price quoted for any purchase.
However, Quito is absolutely gorgeous. As I have stated before the peaks and valleys are amazing and the people are truly proud of their city, which is awesome (chevere in Ecualingo).
My favorite memory to date was hooping it up with the local Ecuadorians at the local park-Parque Carolina. Centrally located in the middle of the city this park offers chain net (lo mejor) basketball hoops on opposite ends of an ADIDAS pastelled propoganda court. Very cool. It almost seems as if you are in the middle of some sort of Nike streetball classic where alley oops will fly and trash talk will abound.
Except for one small fact. I am probably six inches taller than everyone else in the entire city. Absolutely ridiculous. Literally people who meet me refer to me as ´That tall guy´. So anyway I head out to the courts for some balling and salivate at my opportunity for domination. In addition to towering over everyone, let´s not also forget that I outweigh them by 50 pounds. I am Shaq incarnate.
Ah life. So in Ecuador you play three points to warm up before playing to 21. I promptly scored three points and our team looked secure for an easy victory until....Shaq met his free throw. Holy moly it is impossible to breathe at 9000 feet plus playing basketball. AFter the calientar session of three points I was absolutely gassed. Like breathing razor blades through my lungs. Unreal. I was lost in a sea of Ecua-men, mostly fatter than I, running Indy car circles around me as I gasped for breath. Hilar right?
Not nearly as funny as not being able to speak street lingo on the courts. I, with my high school taught Spanish, busted out my gramatically perfect colloquialisms all over the court, and let me just say that never in my life have I felt like a bigger nerd. I was running around the court spouting the English equivalents of ´Please pass me the ball. Yes please give me the ball sir, oh ok I have the ball now´etc. etc. etc. Unreal. Awkward to a whole new level.
Anyway after an hour and a half Ecua fat men 21-Kane dog and Ecua friends 20. Game over. Would have crushed them 21-10 in the states. Next time I guess.
posted by ecuadortraveler at 7:34 AM
3 Comments:
I hope you busted out the old standby from the Lower Field Courts back in the day: "En Su Cara, Punta"
upspiggetsupsbiggetsupsbiggetsups
We can fly franchise down there to secure a victory. Mr. Whiskey Bowler you can play with the Ecua Fat Men and guard said franchise.
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