Day 1

Quito
Our flight from the U.S. was delayed at take-off and arrived in Quito after midnight. We checked into the Hotel Quito and awoke to clear skies in the morning. A view of our hotel.


The view from our hotel.



Quito is the second largest city in Ecuador and at 9,500 feet above sea level it is the second highest capital in the world.

With the clear skies we headed for Teleferico. A cable car that takes passengers to an elevation of 13,280 feet on summit of Cruz Loma.


Catholic church at the summit of Cruz Loma.


Shopping at the street vendors at El Ejido Park.






Lots kids in peddle cars enjoying a ride in the park.




Local food in the park. Each stick had meat and vegetables cooked over charcoal. It looked and smelled great, so I had one. Mine had, a sausage, a potato, chicken breast and banana. Good food for only $1.50.


You never know what you will find in the park.

Day 2

Quito

After a short meeting at the hotel with our tour guide we headed by bus to the "Old Town" section of Quito.

The Basilica of the National Vow (Spanish: Basílica del Voto Nacional)


Independence Square (Spanish: Plaza de la Independencia)


La Compañía Church


Iglesia de El Sagrario doors




El Panecillo hill


Street vendors





Street performers


"Old Town" street


Middle of the World
After a quick tour of Quito we headed north by bus to San Antonio de Pichincha, the Equator.


The monument and Equator line at "Middle of the World" is not exactly on the Equator. My GPS shows the Equator is actually a couple hundred feet to the north.





Helados de Paila, Pomasqui - an ice cream break


Road to Otavalo





Otavalo
After a day on the bus we arrive at our overnight location


The main lodge


Our cabin at the lake


Our room. The maid started the fire while we were at dinner.


Hummingbirds


At dinner we had a toast with a local drink served in a gourd . He man's drink had a hat and the woman's drink had beads.

Day 3

We got up early to see more of this lakeside resort.



Ecuador is noted for its hummingbirds but we only saw a couple.





Otavalo
After a short bus ride from the lake we arrived at the Otavalo market which is known for its hand-woven rugs. We liked this rug so much we brought it home with us.


Artwork for sale


Hats


Little helpers


Decorated gourds


A street vendor selling fruit from a mobile fruit stand


A market worker with a supply of fresh goat's milk


Peguche
Another short bus ride and we arrive at a village near the Peguche waterfalls





A local weaver


Path to the waterfalls


Bet and Mary at the waterfalls


Quichua
Another short bus ride to Quichua, a community of skilled craftsmen. We visited the home of a local musician.

He shows how some of the native instruments are made.


Beautiful examples woodworking


Flowers are everywhere




Cotacachi
Our next stop is Cotacachi which is noted for its leather handicrafts.


After Cotacachi we are back on the road and pass by San Pablo Lake.


Papallacta
Over the top of the Andes to Papallacta located on the east side of the mountains


We traveled up a narrow dirt road to find another beautiful place. The hot springs and spa at Papallacta.

Our cabin with a hot spring just outside our door.




The spa


Fred checking out the hot water at the spa


Mary, Bet and Fred enjoying the hot spring in front of our cabin.