Hostal Sur Quito

Funny, we´re in Ecuador now, taking in the new, but missing the old. Colombia, we miss you!

When we 1st started this trip, planning it, we were thinking, 6 months? That´s aLOT of time to be spending in one continent.....really? Not so much. 2 years just might be sufficient. We´re doing the whirlwind tour. We´d like to rest, but can ...

... that we were doing the right thing. Good to hear.

The Robbery...
For today, I had to be reassured, time and time again, by my fabulous fiance who reassured me that losing material things really doesn´t matter. Today I fell victim to stories that travelers have told us time and time again and had my bag, with everything material that was important to me, lifted literally from beneath my feet. Granted, I was, and am ...

... you could easily be in Spain or Italy. Grand old churches and civic buildings line cobbled streets.

We're busily booking up our next few weeks with the Galapagos, the jungle and a short Spanish course to get us on our feet in the communication stakes to come. First though we are off to the market town of Otavalo – Catherine is in need of a new hat!

... the majority of them just left us alone, there were just 2 wannabebiker Ecuadorian 5 year olds who were transfixed until we left. When we eventually found the real monument, the bike still attracted as much attention from another school party, this time teenagers but still well meaning and just wanting to take photos. Maybe another celebrity should be added to the poster? (Bilbo)

No time to visit the ...

... change for me while I waited in her shop which was unattended.
I took a few photos but would prefer to wait for a city tour to go into the many churches so I can learn more of the history and so I just wandered from street to street until I landed upon Central Park where I sat for a good couple of hours watching all the people!! I love the concept of Latin America´s Central Parks - I guess the cultural equivalent in Australia ...

... front of which was a big croud of people waving flags and generally milling about excitedly. On the stage was a rather cheerful yet embarrasing looking man, resplendent in light-blue suit with a big 70s collar, holding a microphone and shouting things out to the crowd. A minute later and an absolute shitload of police arrived on motorbikes. Wondering what on earth was going on, we decided to sit down and have a drink at a cafe opposite the stage. We soon realised the nature of the event ...

... it, and also a main street that had seven stone crosses found throughout it. There were plenty of little restaurants and we also passed a massive vat of peanuts cooking in sugar….heavenly smell. We went into a convent that sold Jesus wine and biscuits…we skipped the holy communion stuff but did get a nougat biscuit thing so still ate some flesh. Wrong?
Went to another convent where the nuns sell face creams, health medicines and snacks. They are not allowed to see us, and ...

... I want to get a turtle when I get home... they are so cute! Russ took the job of digging a new ´**** pit´ - a new hole to dump the dirty poo in... since the old one was full. He started to really get into it and spent three whole days digging a hole - was getting really obsessed. Every day full of dirt. This morning the macaw wouldn´t let me get near russ.. very protective ...

... lady explained that it was fully booked. She then said that there was likely accommodation at a hotel called Margarita and that I just needed to cross the road to get there.

Margarita hotel had several floors and was very clean. My room was big, a TV overlooked a double bed and I had also my own shower. And the room gave me a beautiful view of the Basilica and the old city. Not bad for only 8 dollars a night. A knock on the door was soon ...