Hotel Reina Isabel Quito

They there is a first time for everything... I feel like since I last wrote, I have expeirnced many thigns for the first time. I had the opportunity to go to Cuenca, a beautiful city in the south of Ecuador, and saw guinnea pig being roasted and consumed for the frist time. That is something I will never forget. That trip we also went hiking in Cajas National Park, which was the frist time I went hiking since I have had knee surgery. It was truly an ...

... did not, as a result she did not recieve her egg balancing diploma. Lastly we closed our eyes and tried to walk in a straight line along the equator, you could actually feel the pull on your arms in the opposing hemispheres. All in all it was a pretty cool day, I feel more proud about our first conquest of public transit in South America. The round trip for the day cost us just over $2 for the both of us.<br>

... talking to a couple from New Zealand who were travelling with two young children &#8211; I was impressed as it&#8217;s enough for us to get ourselves and our backpacks around!<br><br>We also walked back in the dark from old town after dinner and it was well lit with plenty of people around.<br><br>The next morning we caught a taxi from the hostel in the old town to the hotel in the new town or Mariscal Sucre as it is known, where our GAP tour to the Galapagos was starting that ...

... that while it&#8217;s not possible to &#8216;creep under the skin&#8217; of another person and thereby totally understand the thoughts and feelings of that person, it is possible to put yourself in a position allowing you to experience the given occurrences from more or less the same points of view as the ones of the given subject(s).<br>In this way I have reflected upon some situations I have experienced here in Ecuador. Though not directly relevant to my study of the volunteer ...

Traveling on a budget in a big city is not easy. In a city like Quito, Ecuador you would need blinders on and cotton in your ears to miss all of the great things to do. Unfortunately most of the attractions are outside of the city. With the help of a local, like our friend Karen, you can experience more of Quito in less time.<br><br>We arrived in Quito on Friday afternoon in the middle of La Mariscal, the entertainment district. Everywhere you look ...

... divisions. The house is on the same grounds as the center, from my bedroom window I constatnly hear the noise of children laughing and playing. <br><br>These past few days have been spent getting acclimated to the centers. in all Centro del Muchacho trabajador has 3 centers, one in Cotocollao (which is in a nightborhood and the place where I live), anothor (the orignial) in the historic part of Quito called La Marin, and the third La Gota de leche in the down town area. These centers ...

... t ask me why. Something about ankle support) are incredibly dusty and scuffed. After the sixth or seventh offer, he finally gives in and says, yes, shine my shoes.<br><br>The kid quotes us 25 cents, 5 times the going rate, but G's shoes are pretty awful. The boy settles down to work as his friends gather round to watch the spectacle. I, of course, am the next target. My boots are indeed dusty, but they are cloth on the outside, not leather. Every time a friend asks to do my shoes, I ...

... which is famouse for their bizcochos. These are buttery bread sticks that they eat with cheese for manjar, which is similar to caramel. We went to the best and most hidden bizcocho bakery, which is down a little path off a small, deserted street. Inside is an oven the size of a full bathroom filled with fresh bizcochos. Ours were still hot when we bought them. <br><br>Then we came home and I collapsed into bed. I had to prepare myself for my next week in Ecuador!

... and then and just hang around with travellers and the cheeky locals, while working on my Spanish! There are worse ways to pass the time! <br><br>Shane says; <br><br>We arrived at the Secret Garden Hostel at about 3pm and were welcomed with a beer and a view of the sun setting over the nearby volcano. I was pretty happy that this was going to be my new home for the next 4 weeks. That night we slept at the actual hostel (in the only room that came with an ensuite, though each room ...

... recommend travelling like this to anyone but I was a woman on a mission. I was also dirty, smelly, hungry and soooooo tired. I checked myself into a private room at the hostel as a treat, (I even had cable TV!), had the best shower ever and went out for some decent food. The next day I was up early to try and book a Galapagos trip as soon as I could. The travel agents were open but as it was Easter Saturday a lot of the actual boat operators ...