A raining down in Banos

The small town, south of Quito, was located above a lush ravine where Rio Pastaza raged downstream.

The market town of Otavalo

North of Quito was Otavalo, famous for its markets: vegetables; woven mats; hand knitted woollens, silver jewellery; panpipes; you name it. Otavalo had it.
Travelling with a pack, I looked but hardly bought.

Mindo’s butterfly farm

After a few days hanging around the open Quito plazas and La Ronde, we bused to Mindo, northwest from Quito.

Quito took my breath away

There was a strong police presence around Quito to deter thieves from stealing from tourists. I wandered streets with ease until I came to a hill where I literally lost my breath. The nearly 3000 metres about sea level made me feel ancient. It wasn’t until my daughter arrived and she experienced the same breathlessness climbing hills, that I felt reassured.

A gathering in the high Andes

My daughter spent a year in South America and during that period, we decided to hook up in Ecuador. It happened to be the year I had a student from Ecuador in my class who was also heading south. While I waited in the capital for my daughter’s arrival, I met up with Samanta and her parents.