Ecuador
Trip Start
Nov 18, 2008
1
8
55
Trip End
Nov 17, 2009
Quito,
Ecuador
Friday, December 12, 2008
Arrived in Quito at a height of 2800m (3 munros!) which seems a bit bizzare. It´s quite breathtaking- we were huffing and puffing a bit on the way up the hostal stairs! Might take a wee while to get used to this altitude malarkay!
Quito´s a totally different paced city to Caracas! Really enjoying it as there´s some touristy things to do! The first day we took it easy and wandered round the old town eating ice lollies and sitting in the plazza watching all the action. People walking the streets selling everything imaginable -newspapers, wooley hats, sun glasses, sweets, shoe-shine boys, beggers etc. We went intio possibly the most Bling church ever! Tonnes of gold leaf on the walls, ceiling, alter. It was quite dazzling! Went out for a chinese meal in the evening, 2 courses and beer for $8. We´re happy here!!
Next day brought some more aclimatising activity - climbing the rickety stairs of the basillica for some amazing views of the city. Also found a craft market! Pete was really enthusiastic at the thought of spending hours walking round every stall with me, but he cheered up a bit when he found the ice-cream stall.
Next day we took things to a new level and went up on the TeleferiQo - a cablecar which goes up to 4100m. We´d heard there was a walk you could do onto the next volcano but when the rocky spikey outline of Volcan Pichinca came into view we realised it was more than a wee walk! We set off slowly taking regular stops to ¨look at the view¨! Actually it was a bit of an effort to keep walking and not get totally breathless! We ended up being joined by 2 Ecuadorian guys, Jonny and Cleavor and 3 Aussie guys in flop-flops(!) who Pete guided up the scrambly sectionsto the summit! It was good fun and we shared some of the Venezualan chocolate on the top!
The descent was the best scree run ever, and we got back to Quito late afternoon, where I realised that I wasn´t feeling so well, and was sick! The altitude´s a strange thing coz Pete had had a sore head for most of the climb and I´d been ok, but then it hit me later! Ach well.
Next day we headed up to do the touristy essential trip to the equator line to pose for some photos in different hemispheres! A bit tacky but good fun, and a very cheap bus ride!
Next stop Latacunga.... Bring on Cotapaxi!
