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Ecuador Aug '12: Road Trip Anyone...?!

By : Cindy Samoray
Trip Begins August 11, 2012
Trip Ends August 19, 2012

Road Trip anyone...? Our 8 day adventure to Ecuador was highlighted by the 5 day, 4 night personalized road trip Adventure Life designed just for us. Everything I wanted to see and explore in the time I had available was granted; from the highlands and climbing on the earth's tallest active volcano (Cotopaxi), strolling along the Pacific Ocean near Don Juan, hiking, Zip-lining and Tarzan Jumping in the cloud forest at Mindo to visiting sacred ceremonial sites of the Yumbo civilization in Tulipe. Daniel, our capable, knowledgeable and expert driver and guide shared countless interesting facts about the country, culture and history along the way; as well as helping con mi espanol! Being able to see so much of the country and experience the way the locals live...has created memories to last a life time. You should go too and explore all the lush landscape and historical aspects of Ecuador. Hay mucho mas to do in Ecuador than we had time for; perhaps I will make it back. Until then, please join me and vicariously re-live the adventure...
See my photos : Ecuador: Road Trip Anyone...?!

Want to go? Bellavista Cloudforest

I went to: Ecuador, Quito, Cotopaxi, Mindo, Bellavista Cloud Forest Reserve
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August 11, 2012
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Exotic Adventure begins...

Quito, Ecuador

My dream of travel through remote Central or South America was first mentioned in my writing, my personal journal eight years ago. Eight months ago, a long thought idea to travel with a good friend to Europe and celebrate our upcoming milestone 50th birthdays...evolved instead into a family vacation. An exciting and exotic adventure to Ecuador with my two sons, Andy and Dennis. Having friends who live in Quito was a bonus for us and part of my motivation to visit Ecuador. Discovering Adventure Life and working with Erin (with help from Betty in Ecuador), Laura and then Daniel to create and experience this completely personalized tour was priceless.

Travel day found us being driven to the airport in style by my friend and fellow Limo driver Mike, w/Arbor Limousine; leaving home at 4am (...after getting only 3hrs of sleep) in order to make our 6:30am flight from Detroit to Miami. We arrived in Miami around 9am with a 7hr layover ahead of us before we would be in the air again. You'll notice that our photo album begins with Dennis and I napping at the MIA.

Flying Lan Ecuador from Miami to Quito was outstanding! Much to our surprise Lan includes long lost airline perks: hot meals, wine with dinner, after dinner coffee and whiskey, personal choice of movies, blankets and pillows! Four hours of first class treatment passed very quickly. Through a dark sky the millions of sparkling lights of Quito were a welcomed sight. After months of anticipation, my hard work and a very long day...we were finally there!

Because we had to wake up so early and spend the entire day traveling or waiting around...I knew we would be tired and want to have our own space when we arrived. I chose to spend our first 2 nights in Quito at the JW Marriott; an excellent decision. Having planned ahead, the moment we cleared customs and walked through the doors, we were greeted by a Marriott driver and quickly escorted to the hotel. Very shortly after landing we arrived at our luxurious hotel; finally able to put our bags down, spread out and relax...as we all appreciate, especially me...a dream come true!

August 12, 2012
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Relaxing with friends...

Quito, Ecuador

After a very restful night we awoke to enjoy our first full day in South America. Arriving after nightfall left us completely...In The Dark...on what the city and landscape actually looked like. It was exciting to open the curtains and see the mountains and city for the first time. The bountiful breakfast buffet was followed by a morning walk around the JW area where we discover that Sundays in Quito are for biking. Main arteries around the city are closed to cars and trucks; allowing space for individuals and families to safely ride their bikes. While leaving Quito the next morning...we discovered just how crazy the traffic can be. No wonder Sundays are for bike riding.

The afternoon was filled by our friends; Maria, Aaron, Diego y Pablo joining us for lunch and to play in the pool. Later that evening we took a cab to their house for dinner and to drop off excess luggage. Another reason for us staying at the hotel was to treat them, especially the kids to a day at the pool (...and what kid doesn't LOVE a pool?) as a way to say Thank You for the time we'll spend with them when we return from our road trip.

While I took a few pictures that day, I regret not getting more of the hotel and our room; frankly...any of the lovely rooms where we stayed. When I did...they were pictures after we had lived in and messed them up. Oh well...you'll just have to imagine or Google them to see how fabulous or quaint they were.

August 13, 2012
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Hitting the road to reach the sky...

Cotopaxi, Ecuador

Monday morning, day 1 of our road trip began early; the boys and I are fortified once again by the breakfast buffet. Everything we Norte Americanos might find at an elegant Sunday brunch plus a bevy of new and exotic fruits. By the way, breakfast was included! Shortly after we returned to our room and finished packing, Daniel our guide called to let us know he had arrived.

I must say, meeting someone for the first time is often a surprise and what a pleasant surprise it was to meet the man we'll be sharing the adventure with; a very capable, personable and proud Ecuadorian. He shared in the excitement to tour his country for our first time. Touring would be slightly different this time for Daniel because we were going to a couple places not normally visited through Adventure Life and it would be his last tour. Not only did he prove to be a great tour guide and driver (Yo confio en ti Daniel!) he is a remarkable human being. Certainly all excellent qualities to have in your tour guide!

Quito is the capitol of Ecuador and home to over 2.5 million people in a valley located high in the Andes mountain range. Traffic in Quito is crazy busy; NYC, L.A. or San Francisco would probably rival what we witnessed and something I'm glad I don't have to deal with every day. We learned in Quito, there is one day each week when you cannot drive. Your license plate numbers let people (and police) know when you need to park your car and find some other way around. As we left the city Dennis snapped many pictures. You will see a couple of them in the album; houses along the steep hill sides and one of the many street dogs wandering around and running into the streets. We learned that people purposely leave their houses unfinished or unpainted on the outside (...though I'm told they are completely finished inside) to pay less taxes and allow room to expand as their children grow. Traffic was slow, the city so big and long...it took a while to finally leave Quito behind.

Behind us it was as we twisted and turned through the lush green hues of the mountains on our way to the first stop, Cotopaxi, the earth's tallest active volcano. Along the way we learned about the many indigenous communities native to Ecuador. In the mountains they are usually farmers and the landscape was divided by, covered by their fields, the hectares(similar to acres) that make up a very hard working, proud and simple way of life.

After traveling through the Avenue of the Volcanoes, we finally reached the entrance to Cotopaxi National Park. As is customary, Daniel asked one of the local guides to come along and Carmen joined our group for the afternoon. My limited espanol and her more limited ingles gave each of us the chance to practice and with Daniel there, she was a welcomed source of informacion. Before we continue the drive into the park to hike up the mountain, we stopped to put on more layers. The boys bought sweaters and hats from local vendors and I added the long underwear and sweater I borrowed from Maria. The high altitude and lack of oxygen certainly did make the climb more difficult than I expected. Encouragement from Daniel and teasing from Andy and Dennis (...look those old people are doing this, you can too!) spurred me on to reach the base camp, el Refugio. Base camp is 15780 feet above sea level, Quito is only 9350 feet above...we really were reaching for the sky! After some rest and hot chocolate...I felt satisfied with going that far. While it would have been a thrill to touch the glacier about another 20 (35 for me) minute trek away...I decided that I was finished with this portion of our adventure and ready to head back. A good decision because while we were walking down...it began to rain, freezing rain which would not have been thrilling.

We dropped Carmen off near her home as we headed to our home for the evening; Hosteria Granja La Estacion. Staying at this charming and quaint hosteria was like stepping back in time; furnished comfortably and completely with antiques. The people and food were very warm and pleasant. Soon after the delicious and filling four course meal...the boys and I retired to our rooms for a restful night after our energized day.

August 14, 2012
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Compelled to the coast...

Samvara Eco Lodge

The plan for day 2 of our road trip was to meet for breakfast early; getting a jump start on the day. The drive to our next destination would take about five hours. I was up early enough to watch the sun rise over the mountains and was looking forward to seeing it set into the ocean.

Another fun fact about Ecuador is that there is always 12 hours of day light; 365 days a year the sun rises around 6:30am and sets around 6:30pm. No daylight savings time there. Terrain changes from the highlands to the lowlands is interesting to observe. Seemingly endless brown jagged snowcapped or green covered massive mountains evolve into drier and more tropical vistas. Commerce from the mountain side hectares are replaced by the endless rows of banana or african palm tree farms, cattle ranches or fishing villages along the coast. Several times throughout our travels Daniel would be curving and cruising along the road and have to slow down or stop because of a cattle drive. Donkeys and horses share the roads with trucks and cars, motorcycles and tricycle taxies for every day transportation.

Whenever I'm remotely close to a large body of water...I'm compelled to go near and be present. Because I wasn't able to include the Galapagos Islands in this trip, I let Adventure Life know that getting to the coast of South America was very important to me. Travel to the beach is something that hasn't been part of their tours in the past. Daniel has been to the coast on his own many times...but this was his first time on tour. We arrived at Samvara Eco Lodge early in the afternoon; allowing just enough time to settle in a bit and explore the property before hitting the road again for lunch at one of Daniel's favorite spots in the small, nearby coastal village of Jama. The fresh pescado (fish) was great, the shrimp...muy grande, the cerveza...cold and the price, by USA standards...outrageously low. Did you know that Ecuador uses US currency? It may have cost a bit to get there but once there...our money went a long way.

We made it back to Samvara in plenty of time to enjoy a long, peaceful walk along the beach and for Andy and Dennis to goof around in the ocean. Unfortunately for me...NO visible sunset; the sky was muy nublado(...very cloudy.) Dinner was at 7pm and served outside as we were serenaded by nature. Once again after traveling all morning in a very comfortable SUV, the fresh ocean breeze, good food, a couple cervezas and...it being dark...we retired to our cabins by 8:30 for the evening. We stay at Samvara for another day and night, so there was no need to get up early the next day; something that Andy and Dennis in particular...were very happy about!

August 15, 2012
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Coastal living...

Samvara Eco Lodge

Day 3 of our tour kept us on the coast. While my kids slept in...I longed for a good cup of coffee and was eager to take a morning stroll along the beach. The beach (la playa) was waiting but not the good coffee. Despite coffee being a major crop grown and exported from the area...making and drinking coffee isn't nearly as importante to the locals as it is to most Americans. Lo mas importante es jugo de frutas. (...what is more important is fruit juice.) Never before have I been treated to such an amazing variety of exotic fruit juices; blended slightly thick and always delicious. Without Daniel to help (...he was probably sleeping in as well) I set out to grab something to eat from the kitchen before I head out to explore the beach. Armed with a small command of espanol and my dictionary I soon discover that even words in the spanish/english dictionary don't always translate. I enjoyed every minute of our struggle to communicate and smiled at our success when we finally did!

Walking toward la playa I anticipated being alone to leisurely walk the coast, surf lapping at my bare feet while I collect rocks or shells and of course get lost in deep thought. While I did all of that at various times throughout our stay at Samvara...what I encountered was fascinating. Morning is very active along this stretch of beach. Samvara is a very comfortable place to stay but isn't a 4 star hotel along the coast with miles of other hotels and public beach. Samvara is right in the middle of real life. Families and fishermen live on the beach in a row of houses, shacks really, along both sides of Samvara's beach access. When I walked out toward the water that morning I saw dozens of men, small boats and trucks, on the beach with dozens more men and boats out in the water. Flying above or floating alongside in the water are hundreds if not a thousand birds; black sea gulls, pelicans and vultures all waiting for their breakfast too.

Boats were being rolled on big logs toward the Pacific. Those were heading out for the day, while other boats came ashore having been out all night. Their hulls heavy with a variety of seafood ready to take to market. Open top trucks, both big and small are waiting on the brown sand as fishermen nearly run from boat to truck and back again unloading the nights catch. One after another they push through the surf and sand carrying large crates filled with fish on their shoulders as they run up ladders attached to the trucks and empty their crate. On top of the trucks sit more men or young boys ready to cover and cool the bounty with ice. All the while huge birds fly above constantly diving down to grab with beak or talon their own catch of the day. As I said...fascinating!

I enjoyed being in the middle of all the activity, even asking if I might climb up the ladder to look inside...then jumping out of the way because another fisherman was about to run up behind me. Instead of being bombarded by vendors along the beach trying to sell me things...I am immersed in everyday life; which was exactly what I was looking to accomplish during this road trip. I saw women bring food and juice to their men as they head out to sea, men and boys who had finished work for the morning playing soccer, an old woman watching all from her window, a young father buying toilet paper and candy for his excited little ones from the old man walking along the beach to sell those goods and more from his bag. Real life was all around me, a life different than my own and an experience I will always treasure.

Back at Samvara, while sharing a much better breakfast we decide to head south to Canoa. A place where we might be able to para-sail. Aside from the sunset, that was the only specific idea I had in mind for our time by the coast. It took about an hour to travel to this slightly larger and more touristy town. Not only did I want to para-sail, I hoped to find a map of Ecuador to bring back, chart our travels and frame. Turns out that on a Wednesday in Canoa...there aren't people to take you para-sailing and finding a map is surprisingly difficult. While not exactly what I was looking for...we did find something that will do. Lunch again at an open air restaurante was of course seafood; camaron, langosta y pescado (shrimp, lobster and fish) undoubtedly all brought in fresh that morning! We toured the city a bit and at Daniel's suggestion looked at the work of an interesting artist he had met before. I really appreciated his work and was going to have a custom ring created as my special souvenir. Learning that it wouldn't be ready until after 9pm had me saying no; I didn't want Daniel to have to bring me the hour there and hour back...but dear Daniel said it would be fine with him. All he asked was that we went after the big Ecuador Vs Chili soccer game. However, as we were driving back to Samvara that afternoon; twisting and turning through the narrow roads, being stopped yet again by the cattle and then the police (...they were stopping everyone) a strong feeling washed over me that we should not go back that night. It was not important enough to ignore that inner voice and since I hadn't paid in advance, I felt it was right thing to do. Daniel assured me that the artist would surely sell it to another, besides now we were all free to relax and just enjoy our last evening on the coast. Fortunately the Samvara had a TV in their restaurante/bar; after another great meal we all (other guests and staff) got into the spirit and cheered Ecuador on to a 3 - 0 victory! Unfortunately for me...NO sunset and no stars that night either. El cielo estaba muy nublado otra vez. Oh well...I've seen sunsets before and will see them again. What I did see and experience during our time on the coast was so much more than I expected!

August 16, 2012
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Cloud forest awaits...

Mindo, Ecuador

Day 4 of our adventure yet again began early for me as the guys slept. We would meet for breakfast at 9 and say goodbye to the South American coast as we journey on to the cloud forest at Mindo. Of course I was drawn back to the beach one last time to experience costal life. Much to my surprise Samvara's two dogs, our adopted pets were lying on the steps as I opened the cabin door. They wanted to come along with me; a very sweet touch to my final morning at Samvara.

We decided against driving through part of Esmeraldas that morning to save a little time. While I would have enjoyed seeing that area as well, we would have only driven through; unable to enjoy the rich history, culture or marimba music and dance found in that region. Instead we head north east toward the city of Mindo and the Septimo Paraiso Cloud Forest Reserve and excitement in the forest. Excitement there was beginning with our arrival at Septimo Paraiso. While each of the places we had stayed so far; Estacion and Samvara were very charming and provided everything we needed...Septimo was supreme. Spacious rooms, comfortable beds, large and bright shower, beautiful setting and amenities with a friendly staff and deliciosa comida (food.)

As before, we only stay long enough to leave our bags in our rooms and we're off for adventure in the cloud forest. Daniel asked one of the local guides working with Septimo to lead the way toward something fun. It was our first time zip-lining and was an incredible rush. We zipped across 13 lines. I did the first few on my own; sitting up in the harness as I zoomed through the sky. Then with the help of the zip-line crew...was brave enough to try something new and do the butterfly and superman positions. Basically the butterfly has you flying flat as though you're lying on your back and looking up at the sky. And Superman...well that should speak for itself. Andy and Dennis zipped each way too and our smiles were huge. After zip-lining we all tried the Tarzan jump. Jumping off an 82 foot high platform to swing on a vine (cable) wasn't an experience I was familiar with either. It was truly a thrill and as my picture comment reveals...I might even try bungee jumping now!

Back at Septimo my sons and I were able to enjoy the grounds, even get out to the pool for a little bit of natural vitamin D and relaxation. The sun had been out and I wanted to catch a few rays before dinner and see it set behind the forest. Now, I can't remember exactly what we were served that night but I recall the soup was the best I've ever had, the main dish was wonderful and dessert of course...delicious! We ate very well throughout our entire vacation but particularly well each night of our whirlwind tour. After dinner the boys and I went to the recreation room, a cozy enclosure with satellite TV, pool table, foosball, books and games; anything you might want to do while on vacation. When we retired to our room I enjoyed the night air on the balcony hammock, cradled in comfort as nature nearly sang me to sleep...it really was paradise.

August 17, 2012
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Yumbo or bust...

Quito, Ecuador

Our final morning, day 5 of this exciting expedition rose bright and beautiful, yet bitter sweet because it was the last day of our road trip. On the way back to Quito we'll stop in Tulipe to tour the ancient ceremonial site left by the Yumbo civilization; followed by a visit to the actual equator.

After breakfast, Angel, the local tour guide working with Septimo joined us for a hike around the reserve. The dense forest was a visual feast and filled with natural remedies. Like the little nut or would you call it a pod...(?) that comes in very handy if you've been bitten by a snake. If bitten, you can squeeze and rub this on the bite giving yourself a couple more hours to get to a hospital and not die! Another example Daniel and Angel pointed out was a tree, the Croton Lechleri more commonly known as Sangre de Drago...Dragon's Blood! This tree has thick, red sap that when you cut into the bark will slowly seep out, dripping like blood. I've included a photo in the album to show the gash in the tree and another photo where Angel demonstrated how to use it. Very good for insect bites to relieve the itching and swelling or if you are cut...use it as a liquid bandage to stop the bleeding.

While we saw mucho vegetation, many shades of green, massive plants and flowers that we Norte Americanos might have in our homes as house plants; we didn't see much in the way of wildlife. Angel brought along a machete for protection, just in case we came across a puma or some other wild creature...but none were to be found. Daniel says it's because the animals are more afraid of us than we are of them. I agree, yet suspect it might have been all the noise five people make while hiking through the forest. What I found to be a humorous and interesting connection yet difference between Michigan and Ecaudor was that Carmen (our guide from Cotopaxi), Daniel and Angel all made sure to point out the tracks left by the beautiful though elusive white tailed deer!

I often hung back from the group as we hiked, letting them get quite a bit ahead of me so that I would have that sense of being alone in the wild. I would stand quietly; looking around, listening to whatever sound I might hear and simply BE in the middle of it all. Until of course I heard a strong yet low grunting noise. The sound was somewhere behind and a little below me. My imagination took over and I very calmly yet swiftly caught up to the men who would protect me from wild boars...putting an end to my alone time. Despite the lack of animal life and since we were traveling in the dry season; which meant the waterfalls and streams throughout the hike were less than sensational...my sons and I were in awe just to be there!

After the two hour hike, walking up/down, over and around steep inclines and ravines we return to Septimo to shower away the natural moisture inspired by our efforts. I commented to my kids, as I packed away the first aid supplies I brought along (pain, itch, sunburn relief, bandages, tape, large wrap) how great it was that we hadn't needed to use any of it! Looking back...I wish I hadn't mentioned that.

The drive to Tulipe only took a couple of hours as we passed through more villages, experiencing the real life of Ecuador; cows and donkeys tied up to graze along the narrow road ways, kids walking to or from school and passing truckloads of people using those unofficial taxi rides to get from one place to another. Simply being in the middle of everyday life, just as I hoped we would be. Visiting Tulipe was yet another way Adventure Life did an amazing job of designing our personal tour. I truly would have loved being able to see the ancient Inca ruins found in the southern part of Ecuador; just as I would have loved to tour the Galapagos or the Amazon. Unfortunately, until I win a lottery...I had to choose just a few places to visit and was thrilled to learn we would be visiting the sacred ceremonial site of the Yumbo, a pre-Inca civilization. I was very pleased that some sort of ancient ruins would be part of this adventure.

The museum and ancient piscinas (pools) have only been open to the public for a little over 10yrs. The tour begins with replicas of the Yumbo people; sharing information about how the piscinas were used in ceremonies celebrating the season or various stages in life and how they are astrologically aligned. It's fascinating how people knew those things back then! As we walked through the sites I was stuck by the differences between the ancient and modern structures that coexist in Tulipe today. For me, I was particularly passionate about the area in-between four of the piscinas. This location is believed to be the center of the earth; the source of good energy and mystical powers. While standing on that spot I symbolically take in that mystical and positive energy.

Positive energy boost aside a most unfortunate experience lay ahead of me. As I was climbing down a small embankment to get a better picture of the waterfall my unstable knee popped out, then back into place...Ouch! Sometimes it's only a minor annoyance when it happens and other times it's a major disruption. This was a bad one, yet I still took my photo and managed to climb up from the river to walk toward the final and most sacred piscina of all. What I couldn't do was walk any further. Thank goodness that was the end of the Tulipe tour and I could just wait there as Daniel drove the SUV to me; where I was able to wrap my knee and take some ibuprofen! We still had a little way yet to travel and visit the actual equator 00 00 00. While I wasn't able to go on the equator tour or do the experiments...I did manage to hobble over for a photo opportunity to show that I was there! Andy and Dennis did make the tour and told me it was very cool!

The road trip was now officially over and it's time to head back to Quito. This Adventure Life, personalized, only for us, exactly what I wanted road trip had come full circle and we are back where we started...in the crazy busy rush hour traffic of Quito. Eventually Daniel makes his way to our friends house where we will continue our Ecuador adventure with them. Before he drove away to start a new career; Dennis, Andy and I all take a few moments to share our gratitude and say goodbye. Gracias Daniel por todo y nuestra mejores deseos para su nueva carrera. Thank you Adventure Life (Erin, Betty and Laura)for putting it all together!

August 18, 2012
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Plan B....

Quito, Ecuador

Injuring myself and not being able to walk around was not in my plan for this vacation. Once back with our friends we were supposed to visit the Historic District in Quito, take a day trip to Otavalo to see and shop the markets. Perhaps dinner and dancing in La Mariscal...? I hadn't bought any souvenirs during our road trip. In part because we weren't really at touristy places...we were just IN Ecuador and because it was our plan to do that with our friends...but sometimes plans change.

Thankfully, this knee injury didn't happen at the beginning or middle of our trip. If it had...I would have missed out on so very much. At least we were now in one place for next few days and I could keep my leg elevated and iced with friends to help. Aaron picked up some crutches (not a souvenir I wanted) which made it possible to get around a little bit. We did take a trip to Parque Metropolitano Saturday afternoon. You might say that Parque Metropolitano is the equivalent to Central Park in New York City with many different sites to see or things to do. Again, because I'm not very mobile and in a lot of pain...I made my way as far as a cafe to visit with Maria while the boys and family dog took in the sites. After lunch we spent the rest of the evening at their home enjoying good company, good food and for me...staying off my feet and seriously swollen knee. Now, just so you don't wonder if I should have been seeking medical attention...I was certain I knew what had happened and there wasn't anything more that could be done. The best medicine was rest, ice and ibuprofen.

August 19, 2012
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Silver lining on our last day...

Quito, Ecuador

There really was a silver lining to that dark cloud of my injury. An unexpected personal touch for me that otherwise would not have happened. Instead of going out of town to Otavalo or some other day trip, we decided to make our way to Virgen de El Panecillo. Rio de Janeiro has the Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) looking over the city and Quito has madre de Jesus (Maria) to watch over her. We noticed the statue from a distance as our road trip began. I was certainly intrigued by it, wishing we would have been closer and able to get a better look but soon forgot as our trip unfolded. Only after being faced with coming up with Plan B did the idea come to mind. As it turned out, our friends hadn't explored the Panecillo or that part of the city yet either, so it became our destination, something new for all of us to explore together.

In fact, it was actually a cosmic experience for me because of a story I wrote last year for a creative writing class. In this story I decided that one of the main characters would originate from Quito. I wanted him to come from a very rough part of town. Maria and Aaron had just settled into Quito at the time so I asked for their help. After checking around, Maria told me about the San Rogue sector; which became the birth place of Carlos Alfaraz, my character. Getting to the Panecillo was not that easy. One way streets, steep hills and tight turns left us driving around for quite a while. Finally we were very near, at least on the right side of the ravine when Maria noticed a sign; we were right beside Estacion de policia de San Rogue. Wow...we couldn't believe our luck! Very poetic for me to be in el San Rogue and cosmic that Maria noticed the police station. Given that it was a Sunday morning on a bright and beautiful day; the streets filled with open markets and people...we were not concerned about the area and soon reached our destination. The statue was completed and opened to the public on March 29, 1975 and stands a total of 41 meters high. Inside the base there were 3 or 4 levels to walk around with interesting religious details to read or view. For me, the view from the 360 degree observation balcony was the most interesting part of this experience. It was beautiful; blue sky, lofty white clouds, the warm breeze and vast vista of a city that literally fills the mountain valley...was the perfect ending to our incredible vacation.

We wouldn't be leaving Quito until much later that night. The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent packing, resting, eating, visiting and trying to upgrade my seats on our planes. Trying to make it more comfortable for me to fly. Unfortunately our flight out of Quito on Lan Ecuador was full, not another seat to be had. There was another injured soul, a younger girl who was not able to bend her knee at all. At least I had some ability to sit in the seat. While it was extremely uncomfortable for me, I had my ibuprofen and Lan's wine and whiskey to help me make it through! After another 7 hour layover in Miami and...another nap, we board our plane to Detroit Metro then our limo ride home, with my friend Gerald this time.

The entire experience, sans the knee injury (which by the way has taken several weeks to recover from) ...this entire experience will forever be in my heart and soul. I hope you have enjoyed reading about our trip. Perhaps you're interested in going on a road trip yourself one day. I can't think of a better way to truly experience life in another country. When I am able to travel again to South America; Iquazu Falls being next on my radar (...after Panama I hope!!) I will most certainly contact Adventure Life!

1-5 of 54 imagesMy Travel Photo Album


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