The Mikkolas Return to Finland

Today is March 4th and the Mikkolas have started their journey back to Finland. Paulus, Lisbeth, and Alison arrived late last evening with Fanny Martinez, mother of Lisbeth. They were up early for a quick breakfast and left by taxi at about 6 am for their 8 am departure. They have an 8 hour delay in Panama.

Paulus, Lisbeth and Alison Mikkola

 

Alison

 

Paulus (l) and Fanny, mother of Lisbeth, wife of Edgar

 

Paulus and his family have a dream of constructing tree houses on the edge of the Amazon Rain Forest that can be rented out as part of eco-tourism business. He already has conceptual drawings of how they would look and how they would be constructed as not to harm the tree they hang from. The dream will be realized near the city of Cena.

Paulus is also well known in some circles for an incident at a bull fight near Riobamba. He related that a bull fighter was being attached by the bull, and the spectators did nothing. He jumped into the corral and ran up behind the bull. He then kicked the bull in the butt. The bull turned on him. He stated they stared at each other for a while. He recalled thinking that he was the weaker one of the two, and the bull was definitely going to win.

He started to back up at which point he fell down. The bull came for him and he grabbed it around the  neck and the bull lifted him up. He said he remembered reading, seeing, or hearing somewhere to put all one's weight on one side so he did so and the neck of the bull was twisted while Paulus legs and body blocked its vision. The bull became docile. People came and wrapped ropes around the bull and urged Paulus to let the bull go which he refused. He said he guessed what would happen should he release the bull. More ropes and urging. He refused a second time. Finally the bull was maneuvered to a place where Paulus could safely get off. Once he did his guess became reality. The bull began to struggle against the ropes, and the Ecuadorians instead of holding tight panicked and ran.

Walt and Avis