Shortcake, Shortwave, Short Night

Tim, Ian and Ralph witnessed the end of an era of great shortwave

broadcasts from Ecuador. September 30 was the official final day,

but some broadcasts will continue through mid November.

Ken writes, "Just stepping on the property one knew that it was a special place."

Others declared that it was holy ground.

Whatever a person's viewpoint, these 130 acres of rolling green fields with a spectacular view of the perfect snow-covered volcanic cone of Mount Cotopaxi to the south were a single point from which shortwave radio programs could be beamed to the four corners of the earth."

Read "From Ecuador to the World," about the decades of shortwave service from Pifo, Ecuador. Ken's reflective writing on the Pifo transmitter site is found here. (In Spanish here, and in German here.)

Ralph writes, "Why strawberry shortcake?" you say.

A bittersweet experience maybe? (Naturally tart, strawberries -- like news you don´t want -- must be appropriately sugared.)

But the reality is that shortcake just happened, or as we say in Spanish, por casualidad. Tim wrote, "Just found strawberries -- will have short cake."

It was a cellphone text message. Appropriately enough, I suppose. We adapt to new technologies . . . rapidly or with less enthusiasm as we hit the learning curve. This little getaway on Pifo closing night, September 30, was planned entirely by text messaging:
SUNDAY SEPT 27
"When can I come and talk about Wedsday?"

"Come by right now."

ONE DAY LATER:

"Ian McF to pifo w us. When back?"

EVENING OF SEPT 30:

"Please pick me up at the compound whenver ur ready."

"Could take me an hour to unplug."

"Ok no hurry."

"Tell him 9745 to Mexico is on."

When Tim wrote about the strawberries, I wrote back "nice".








After the official closing date of Pifo (Sept 30) several languages continue, with the final, final end of transmissions there in mid November. Details are found here.