Hotel Rio Amazonas Quito

... we needed to go, the English Bookstore. Although Las Mariscal has a bad reputation, we were no longer intimidated by it, we have started to really like Quito and are not so worried, that apart, on the bus I had started talking to an old lady next to me in my limited spanish. As we arrived at our final destination, Quito new town, she turned around to me, pointed outside and said "Muy Peligroso", there it was again, “Very Dangerous”. Well despite that we happily got off ...

... to find out that two more volunteers had come that day, Laura from Spain and Robinson from France, a couple travelling together and seeming very enthusiastic about all the work there is to be done here. So in a social sense it&#8217;s very nice to share the experiences here with other travellers, in a practical sense there&#8217;s a lot more motivation to get the work done and in the scientific sense, I suddenly have my desired subjects to study, hehe.<br><br> Las Esmeraldas<br ...

Ecuador 8-9th October,<br><br>Currency - US Dollar<br><br>Arrived in Quito, Ecuador at 10pm after queuing for ages in immigration and with dying feet because of the dancing a few hours before and decided to book the first cheap looking hostel/hotel for the night called ´La Ronda. This was recommended to us at the airport desk and included a free transfer to Old Quito for $12US which we thought was reasonable, it was $10US each per night after that.<br><br>The first thing we noticed ...

I have found my way to the Spanish school, which as it turned out was only about 2 blocks from my initial hotel, and they have found me a local family to stay with for a couple of weeks...<br><br>My first impressions of Quito come directly from the transport infrastructure and based on this its quite an orderley town relatively speaking. The cars all drive in their own lane, the taxis are reliable and there seems a pretty organised ...

... banditos, we went on a wander for more cash points. Eventally we found a rather reputable looking bank with 4 cash points, where thankfully all of our cards did work. Was not happy about the fact that you get charged $1.50 by every cash point, plus my Nationwide card (i.e. minimal fees) refused to work, so I had to use my NatWest one (massive fees) and get financially violated. Anyway, we got our money and that was the important thing. We wanted something to do to pass the time; Rough ...

... all of you are welcome).<br><br>I bid this large piece of mother earth farewell. It´s quite possible that I will never again bask in it´s stunning landscapes and unabashed revelry. The thought of that brings immediate sadness to my existence.<br><br>So, what is next for your humble narrator? First of all, I need to get back home and go to work before the bank decides to take away my house. I also need to return before Jess trades me in for a younger, more flightless bird ...

After 18 hours in on planes and in airports, we are here! We left Phoenix at 5am yesterday, flew to Houston and after a rather enjoyable 7 hour layover spent mostly in the President´s Club (Thanks Mom!), we caught the only flight to Quito. It was pitch black as we were approaching Quito because night in the jungle has a lot fewer lights than back in the States where you can see lights the entire time you´re on a night flight. Then out of no where, the sprawling ...

... eating restaurant $2 metro .25 fresh pastries .40 to 1.50 hostal $7 including breakfast four day jungle tour $160 panama hats $15 laundry .90 a kilo cheap Cuban cigars $6 average Cuban $15 (a rip off) send a postcard to USA $2 ten hour bus ride $10 hour bus ride .80 Galapagos five day tour $1380 (didn´t do) hot chocolate in trendy spot $2.40 a shave and trim $1 free tour and photo of visit of presidential palace. round trip flight to Spain $500 (tempting)

... a la iglesia es gratis, pero si quieren subir hasta la cupula deben de pagar pero la verdad vale la pena hacer todo el recorrido por este santuario de fe bendecido por el Papa Juan Pablo II en 1985.<br>En nuestro recorrido por el centro historico de Quito llagamos al Palacio Presidencial o Palacio Carondolet, una hermosa estructura que es vigilada las 24 horas por guardias presidenciales y que cuenta con un hermoso museo. Otros de los atractivos es la Plaza Grande.