Goodnight Ecuador

A statue of the Madonna stands tall above the city offering protection to Quito.

Below the flickering lights of Quito bid us farewell as we dined for one final time, high above the city taking in the view.

Churches and buildings of importance are illuminated, marking their importance.

Goodnight Ecuador, thank you for a wonderful vacation.

Hacienda

We were treated to lunch at this 300 year old hacienda.

A large rambling location, the inner court yard and spacious rooms surely played host to many Ecuadorians.

Rose Success

Roses are one of Ecuador's chief exports.

At Rose Success we loaned how roses are bred and grown.

This location features over 80,000 rose plants in green houses around the property.

At a central location, the day's harvest is assessed, packaged and prepared for shipping. 

Ready to be enjoyed.

To Market, To Market

We visited a market where fresh local foods where sold.

From Guanabana (sour sop)

to Rambutan

all types of banana, including red bananas and plantains.

We found molasses

and eggs that have a green shell.

What is really nice about this experience is that all manner of foods are available, perfect, imperfect and  beyond ripe, unlike our grocery stores that display only the best looking products.

Sleeping Giant

The usually active volcano Tungurahua, lay asleep under blanket of cloud during the time that we stayed overnight at a nearby hacienda.

Now capped with snow (we are told), this volcano had been active a couple of weeks ago.

Vegetable Ivory

We stopped at a shop that made items out of vegetable ivory.

The craftman peeled the ivory and gave it its shape on a lathe.

He polished it with the ivory shavings and voila!

A miniature urn.

Chinchin Cable Basket

The people of Chinchin build their community during times of prohibition. People smuggled alcohol into Ecuador over here mountians.

To get across the deep gorge, they built a cable car, that is still in use today.

At a height of over 100 feet, this is a thrill ride - all for only $1.50.

Pailon del Diablo

The Rio Verde gets is colour from the minerals in the water as it flows from the mountains.

Along the Rio Verde is the 80 meter high, two part waterfall, known as the Devil's Caldron.

Stairs on either side bring you directly under the cascade water.

Perfect Day, Perfect Ending

Goodnight River!

Checking Out the Canopy

After a quick lunch we ventured up hill again to find the high flying canopy adventure. Some 15 - 20 feet in the air, we tackled an obstacle course that challenged our strength and courage.

Zip lining

Walking across swinging logs

And a suspension bridge with widely spaced slats.

With over twenty challenging obstacles, this course left many bruised and sore, but smiling.

Some capped this adventure with a ride back to the resort in a pick truck.

No Piranas Here

We paddled a raft on the Amazon,

 until some of us, hot from the the jungle trek, threw ourselves in for a refreshing swim.

Jungle Walk

A local guide took us on an early morning walk through the jungle.

Balsa wood trees compete for sunlight by growing tall. Their light weight wood is well known.

The Walking Palm grows new roots in an effort to reach maximum light to avoid falling.

Natural sand or clay are used to paint the faces of indigenous peoples.

We were saved from a steep climb by a basket zip line that was, at its highest 100 feet from the ground.

The suspension bridge shook with each step leaving some to tremble, while others jumped and danced with delight.

After a strenuous hour long up hill walk in the Ecuadorian jungle, we were meet with the inspiring sight of both the Napo 

and Ahona Rivers that will meet somewhere west of us to form the Amazon River.

We watched Pablo play with a bullet ant whose bites can hurt for hours.

and climb a hanging tree root.

Termite nest are built in trees here.

And some fungi are turquoise.

In the Morning Light

Fog rising from the river at first light, brought a sense of serenity.

This did not last long as soon children were picked up by 'bus' to go to school, 

and fishermen readied their nets.

Soon the fast flowing river will be teeming with life.

Jungle Food

Following our jungle visit we were treated to samples of jungle food. 

We had tilapia and yucca wrapped in palm leaves and cooked, boiled root vegetables and skewered and bbq'ed caterpillar washed down with guayusa tea.

All served on a palm leaf- plate.