Thursday, 30 June 2016

5th May:City Tour of Quito

Ecuador is named after its position on the equator


Marco met us at 8:30am for our first sightseeing in South America.  It was a beautiful sunny day, which was a bonus as the forecast had been overcast with showers.  We started up in the hills above the town where there is a large statue of the Winged Virgin.  Set in pleasant parkland with great views it was the first photo opportunity with my new camera.  Disaster! Even though I had studied the instructions on the flight over (yes, really) I couldn't get it to work.  Back in the minivan I fiddled with the settings and got it working, I have no idea how.  Technology, huh! Next stop, the Middle of the World, an equatorial monument where we stood with one foot in each hemisphere.  I wasn't overly enthusiastic as I've done this before in Kenya (don't you know), but actually it was very well presented.  The monument is set in very pretty gardens containing bougainvillea, hibiscus and jacaranda trees that were just in bloom.  There were very few people and a distinct lack of pushing and shoving.  I loved the spectacular view of the Andes and Cotapaxi volcano from the top of the tower.  The volcano last erupted in August 2015 but was sitting quietly under a blanket of snow the day we were there. I experienced the stirrings of a reverential feeling for our planet that continued throughout the trip.  For me it was a good start, but Richard started to succumb to the altitude and was feeling very woozy.

Back in the centre of town our driver, Miguel, deposited us at Independence Plaza.  It's a buzzy place that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, flanked on each side by the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, City Hall and Archbishop's Palace.  The archbishop has long since moved to a more homely abode, and the palace has been turned into an artisanal shopping arcade, where Louise and I were able to buy gifts for the folks back home.  We had our photo taken with the presidential guards, were grossed-out by the gilded interior of the Jesuit church, had a moment of quiet contemplation in the cloisters of the Franciscan monastery and rounded it off with a coffee in the fair trade shop.  All standard city tour stuff and very pleasant too. 

Richard was feeling worse by the minute and so he and Ian walked back to the hotel, whilst Louise and I did a bit more souvenir shopping.  We particularly enjoyed the tasting in the speciality chocolate shop.  Back at base it was clear that Richard was feeling too sick and headachy to move from the room for the rest of the day.  I tried to cheer him up by reminding him that we would be back at sea level the next day, but he wasn't a happy bunny.  I left him to sleep and joined Louise & Ian in the hotel courtyard to sample some South American cheese and wine.  We had an interesting chat with the manager of the hotel, who spoke perfect English and was clearly delighted that we were enjoying the local fare.  Later we 'hiked' to the restaurant next door (ok, fair cop, last of the big explorers) where I enjoyed a plate of goat, rice and salad.



Vermillion fly catcher (matching the tree blossom)

Middle England meets Middle Earth

Who needs a Bugaboo?

We thought our guide may be limp-wristed

Quito style shopping mall 

Cops on Segway

Girls & Guards
 
 






































 

4th May: Arrival in Quito

Long Journey and I'm bored
 
 
We left Hemel Hempstead at 3:30 am and arrived in Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Ecuador 22 hours later.  Although the journey went to plan it was definitely long haul.  I watched two films: The Danish Girl (a disappointment, to be honest) and The Dressmaker (highly entertaining).  Food was possibly the worst I've ever had on a plane (yeah, Iberia).  Moving on.

Marco, our  tour guide, met us at the airport and Miguel the driver, whisked us to Quito. We were travel weary but they perked us up with a warm welcome during the 40 minute transfer to the hotel.  Marco was keen to point out the new airport, and the new road, and the new bridge.  The modernisation and development of the town was a theme throughout our stay in Quito and something Marco was clearly proud of.   Our hotel, Casa De La Ronda, is in the old town and just my style: a small boutique hotel, with loads of character.  Quito is at an altitude of 2850m, the highest capital city in the world, and whilst Louise, Richard and myself felt fine, Ian had a hint of altitude sickness - headache and slight shortness of breath.  We crossed our fingers that the traditional Andean recipe of hot coca tea that the hotel served would do the trick.  Our rooms were enormous - Louise and Ian's bed could easily sleep a family of 6! We were all dead beat and had no inclination or energy for venturing out and so all we managed on our first evening was a glass of wine and a meal in the hotel restaurant. Louise and Ian were dead impressed with my Spanish, which runs to 'Vino Tinto por favor'.  We retired to the comfort of bed. 
 
 

Pretty central courtyard of our hotel 

Typical meal throughout our trip - grilled pork, potato, fried plantain, corn, avocado with a tomato salsa