The Road to The Condor Park

After our visit to the market in Otavalo we made our way by taxi the a Condor Park that featured a variety of birds of prey.  The trip there revealed breath taking scenery.  Otavalo and its surrounding area is nestled between two volcanoes.

Otavalo

We took a day trip by bus to Otavalo(northeast of Quito) with a population of about 40 000, and is renouned for its handicraft market.  We went with our new found friends from Hong Kong, Germany, and United States.  The market was smaller than I had anticipated, but quality of goods was exceptional.  We also enjoyed a delicious lunch.

 

New Year´s Eve

We had lots of fun on New Year´s Eve in Old Town Quito with th young people from our hostal.

Ecuador has funky traditions of burning epitaphs at midnight on New Year´s Eve.  So all the streets are full of fireworks and smoke.  People also wear colourful wigs and false eyes.

Our Room

Our room is basic, clean, and cozy.  We have a private double room with a shared bathroom and common area. We have met many great people, and a few we became friendly with, and took in a few sights together.  The hostal provides good security and we always feel safe.  Their breakfasts and suppers are decent and fairly cheap.  A tour company is located on the main floor and answeres questions, hands out maps, or lines up places for you to go.  Taxis are always readily available, but we mostly take buses and the price was unbelievable...25 cents.  The hostal also provides laundry service.

Sights From Our Terrace at The Secret Garden Hostel

The terrace is a great place to eat breakfast and supper, meet people, hangout, relax, work on devices.  The evenings are filled with merriment.  Drinks flow easily, and a wheelbarrow is used for bonfires.  Friendships are made, funny stories are shared, and plans for further travels are made.  I think I have fallen in love with Ecuador.  The following pictures are of the terrace and its views.

More Sights of Old Town

This woman was very busy selling meals.

Quito, Ecuador

After 18 hours of travelling, we found ourselves at a hostel called The Secret Garden.  The hour was late when we arrived, and a young Ecuadorian man greeted us at the door, and quickly showed us to our room.  The room was basic, very clean, and well cared for.  We opted for a private room with a shared bathroom...no dorm for us.  The next morning we had our breakfast on the terrace.  It is a great place to meet other people and network on where to go.  We are staying in Old Town, so the afternoon found us walking the streets of this cultural area of Quito.

        This little girl was sporting some fancy eyelashes to get ready for the New Year's celebration that will be taking place tonight.