Galapagos - Quito (1 of 5)

     In March, 2015, Cyndi and Rick traveled to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, one of the world's premier and unique places. We were accompanied by Tom and Deb, also Lisa and Ross as we all flew through Atlanta direct to Quito. The trip was so interesting and varied that I am splitting my account into three separate sections and five posts. First, Quito and environs, then the islands, and finally our stay afterwards at a hacienda south of Quito.

     Quito is the capital of Ecuador, and the second highest (elevation) in the world. It exists at more than 9,000 feet above sea level. To a visitor from the US midwest, Quito can be a bit difficult to get around. It is hilly and the air is thin. But moving slowly and stopping for breath does the trick. If you feel a bit of altitude sickness, drink a cup of mata de coca - tea made from the coca leaf. It is mild, and does help. We found it quite useful!

     Quito was one of the oldest of the major Spanish settlements in South America. It was the capital of the surrounding province. Government offices were here, as well as the local headquarters of the Jesuit order. In fact, the Jesuits built a grand cathedral here which remains in use. It is spectacular - the interior is covered in gold leaf, mined from the surrounding mountains. I would show a photo, but taking pictures inside is strictly forbidden. We bought some postcards, but I cannot post these!

     Our hotel was the Patio Andaluz, an excellent establishment right in the heart of Old Quito, where the churches and sights were built. Walking was a treat, with narrow streets and plazas around every corner. Here are some photos; the photo at the top of this post was also taken in Old Quito:

Public square

Large plaza

Street

Winged Virgin Mary - symbol of Quito

Monument in a square.

Avenue, houses spilling over the hill.

Roof lines

Here's a video of one of the plazas in Old Quito:

     The expedition agency suggested two days in Quito before heading out to the Galapagos, so we had more than a full day to explore. We hired a driver, Arturo, who took us to the Mital del Mundo and some old volcano craters. Just north of Quito, Mital is a monument which caters to tourists and celebrates one of Quito's chief claims to fame - it lies almost directly on the equator! There is a big obelisk and a yellow line which purports to be the equator, where you can take all sorts of cheeky pictures. We did! There are also native dancers, hands-on exhibits such as standing an egg on its tip, and of course the ubiquitous souvenir shops. I bought a Latitude 0:00:00 coffee cup! Here are some pictures:

Dancers

The Middle of the World!

Lisa in both hemispheres

Rick & Cyndi

Tom and Deb

     Quito is also surrounded by active volcanoes, a couple of which you can see from the city on a clear day. These run up the spine of the Andes, both north and south of Quito. But there are few really clear days; even in summer, the sky is quite cloudy and it rains often. Oddly, even though it is very near the equator Quito can be quite cool, especially in the evening. Dampness and elevation will do that. So, more mata de coca.

Volcan Cayambe

     On the way back Arturo took us to the botanical gardens, in a large and beautiful park right in the center if Quito. The plants and flowers were quite varied, and exploring this garden was a treat we all enjoyed. Here are just a few photos:

Rick & Deb, Orchid house.

Tom viewing the cactus garden.

     The next morning we left the Patio Andaluz and took cabs way back out to the airport. The old airport was right in the middle of the city, surrounded by mountains and tall buildings. Pilots needed special certification to fly here. But now there is a brand new modern airport a couple valleys over. Nice for pilots, but a really long ride from the city, nearly an hour. Arturo took us out there for our flight to Guayaquil and then on to the Galapagos. It was here at the airport we met our two naturalist guides, Gabriela (Gaby) and Jose (Pepe) with whom we were to spend the next week on board the Letty. This is when we also met our fellow travelers, who turned out to be some of the most interesting and delightful fellow-travelers we could have hoped to know.

     The flight took us through the Andes for a stop at Guayaquil. This is Ecuador's largest city and its only significant ocean port. It is located on a large river, some miles inland. We saw only the airport, stopping to bring on a few more passengers, then on to the Galapagos. We flew to the island of San Cristobal, the smaller of the two airports on the Galapagos. There is but one small town on the island, Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, but it happens to be the administrative center for the archipelago. Here we found sun, warmth, and of course the Letty.

Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, Galapagos