Otavalo Quito

The lady who collected us from the airport last week and who later brought us to Otavalo, collected us just after 9.30 this morning.  We drove back to Quito (which is 100Km, not the 250Km I think I mentioned in the beginning of the diary...) which takes normally a couple of hours but now we made 3 stops en-route.

We stopped off in Cayambe which is 'famous' for its biscuits (biscochos) - fascinating to see how they are working and under what conditions - in a small house and looking like a family run business, all very informal.  Very dry and somewhat tasteless biscuits which they seem to like with cheese.  Once we can get some more photos on the website, will add them.

We then stopped in a town called Quinche to visit the very ornate historic church - as ever in poor countries one has to remark on the wealth inside the churches.

After this we stopped off at one of the equator monuments here in Ecuador.  Very low key indication of this special place and of course from where Ecuador got its name.  It seems that the current GPS systems have indicated that these locations are not 100% accurate!

We stopped off for lunch - horrible, just wish I could put the picture on the site!  We had a 'package' that included soup (rice, meat I would rather not contemplate its origins, some vegies somewhere and a greasy liquid), chicken (hacked in pieces - even Rob wasn't sure where to start!) with chips, rice (Portuguese ideas  here!), beans and a little salad (which has to be avoided in such places!). 

Then the search was on for a battery charger for my camera - eventually found, so now we are set for the Galapagos tomorrow.  Up at 04.30 as we need to meet up at the airport at 06.15!

Peace for whoever is reading this now, no more before 7 February!!