First Photos from Quito and the Ecuadoran Andes

We start with two days in Quito.  The trip was arranged by a grand-father friend from Luke's Miami school.  He had been a leader in the tourism industry in Ecuador.
First morning was visiting the ancient Spanish churches.  (Our favorites were the "back-stage" access to the Jesuit's church and the national cathedral.)

Walking between the ceiling and cathedral roof.

Afternoon spent visiting the equator and its adventures in physics.  See how the  water goes down the drain differently (circularly), even though the three basins are only about six feet apart.

North Hemisphere (above).

Southern Hemisphere (above)

On the equator (below)

An evening in the old town streets.  Lauren and I find a cozy place to listen to live Spanish guitar and singing.

Next day, and two hours to the north, Zuleta, a farm of a former president (1940s).  We visit a condor rescue station and see three wild condors there (of about 100 in the country).  We also spot a spectacled bear hanging out on a cliff near the condors' roost.  Horses provide a gentle ride.

We help milk cows. I'm evaluated as "not very good", but I try...a lot.

Our 'milkmaid'

We visit a commercial rose farm (big business in Ecuador and Colombia both) and ancestral home of the owners' family; previously a Jesuit mission.

Heading south we pass through large indigenous peoples' markets...and leave with matching hats.

Arriving near live volcano Cotopaxi (19,000+' altitude) at Hacienda El Porvenir (means 'good things to come').  Rains diminish the view, but not the beauty.  During a wet afternoon, we learn to make (great!) empanadas.

With the morning comes a horse ride to scenery.  We dress warmly in the manner of chagras (Andean cowboys).  I suspect the chagra guides are evaluating our horsemanship to see if we're up to the planned three-day-ride that's planned for the tomorrow.
We pass the test.

Geraldo, last year's champion chagra, and our host.

New horses with more spunk, clouds lifting (a little), and we set off on a 45 kilometer ride to a remote house on the other side of the volcano (Geraldo and his brother share the house).  No fences slow us through the national park and neighboring lands.
About 8 hours later...Hurrah! We make it! And not sore...due to great saddles and mucho padding.

Next day we ride and gallop (!  They won't let you do that in the US!), returning to fish, hike and listen to our chagra hosts sing.

The night is perfectly clear.  The Milky Way is mind-blowing.
Dawn shows us Cotopaxi full and clear.  The horses are eager to run and off we go.

Our two guides are themselves stunned by the mountain's view,  "Best in 20 years".  The horses know the way and run hard.  (No photos of galloping...I'm just hanging on.)

We're guided to a slow stream that comes directly out from a hill.

Once back, the hot tub and sweat lodge call.  Posh.

The last night, our Miami-host insists we stay at his Ecuador farm.  Of course he does, and we do.  He brings friends and student chefs. Fiesta follows.

Chefs in the outdoor kitchen

Long-tailed hummingbirds buzz the party.

Back to Bogota on Day 10, disoriented at the spectrum of the journey.
(300+ photos to sort through).