http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Katm1987/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Katm1987 en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:26:27 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:26:27 +0000 Off to Mindo this morning although it took a surprising amount of time to even get there. I knew the bus terminal had moved but unfortunately not to where it had moved. Although I visited Mindo last year that was on the return trip from the beach and I actually asked to be dropped randomly in the north of Quito close to my hostel so I didn't go to the terminal. Fortunately our taxi driver was slig http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Mindo/blog-425325.html Back 'home' to Quito and after a few lazy days recovering from an exhausting week at the beach that sounds convincing doesn't it I decided to be slightly more cultured today and venture into the old town of Quito. I actually braved the bus system to avoid an extortionate taxi fare and was reasonably impressed with my success. Despite being told the bus pretty much went through the Plaza de la I http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Quito/blog-410223.html The scorching heat of yesterday had only grown in intensity for today probably not the best day to visit the beach but I'm not one to change plans if at all possible so we were off to Los Frailes today. The beach of Los Frailes makes up part of the Parque Nacional Machalillas the most beautiful part if I'm going to be biased.The options of getting to the beach were as follows a 'long but rewar http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/West/Parque-Nacional-Machalilla/Los-Frailes/blog-424225.html We finally arrived in Puerto Lopez today after travelling pretty much the whole width of the country overnight. Puerto Lopez has to be one of my favourite places in Ecuador due to it's perfect balance of being lively enough for an extended stay yet not overrun with tourists. Apparently tourist season hadn't started officially yet despite all hostels charging high season prices as the touts which http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/West/Puerto-Lopez/blog-421856.html Up bright and early for a whalewatching trip today although of course it was late leaving this is Ecuador after all Apparently they were refusing to take the boats out until the morning fishing boats had come back safely. Silly superstition and we ended up waiting until the fishing boats had unloaded before going. That said it was very interesting to watch the fishing boats coming in. They ha http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/West/Puerto-Lopez/blog-421542.html Feeling slightly more human today after the drenching we got yesterday but its amazing what a hot bath and good nights sleep can do. Absolutely gorgeous sunny weather today which was just a slap in the face coming the day after our soaking jungle venture. Still better weather meant we could actually do something today instead of skulking in the hostel as we had planned so we decided on visiting http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Centre/Puyo/blog-421835.html Arrived in Puyo expecting jungle. Was surprised to find out that the Lonely Planet description of a large town obsessed with the internet and American jeans was actually closer to the truth that monkeys and mosquitos. In fact miracle of miracles I managed to escape from the jungle without a single mosquito bite this truly is a miracle as Im normally the buffet for any kind of insect.Have an a http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/Centre/Puyo/blog-418628.html Arrived today in Cuenca and was instantly grateful for the slightly lower altitude than Quito that at least meant I could walk ten metres without wheezing like an asthmatic ant. Walked my feet to death as usual despite looking so small there is a deceptive amount of walking involved getting around Cuenca. At least the ridiculously organized block system means its next to impossible to get lost http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/South/Cuenca/blog-412248.html For once on my travels my bank account is not the main victim instead it's currently my feet which after two days being stomped all around Vienna in little ballet pumps stupid I know are protesting enough that a change of shoes is desperately needed. So what do I change into Trainers Sensible walking shoes No I choose brand new flip flops that have not yet been worn in to traipse the len http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-350453.html Navigated the metro enough to be able to reach Schnbrunn Palace on the outskirts of Vienna today. I make that sound harder than it actually was amazingly it was literally one train with no changes London could learn a lot from the tube system hereI have decided as of today that I need to live in Schnbrunn. That's need not want. Palaces are all very beautiful more or less but Schnbrunn I http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-349969.html We started the day bright and early determined to cram in everything possible had breakfast in the hostel before braving the Austrian metrosystem which proved to be ridiculously easy to navigate in comparison to the London tubes.The Gothic cathedral Stephansdom is the tallest building in the Innere Stadt of Vienna. The first church was built here in the 12th century the current structure dates http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Austria/Vienna-State/Vienna/blog-349947.html Finally arrived full circle in Reykjavik the least icy and least firey place in Iceland having travelled the entire way around the coast of Iceland. I'm ashamed to say it was a huge relief to see civilisation again However stunning the Icelandic countryside is and it really is it's slightly unnerving to be able to go all day without seeing another living soul and nothing but vast expanses of http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/Reykjavik/blog-347295.html Started the day bright and early with a visit to Akureyr. Stopped for gorgeous photos over the town and lake see panorama before continuing onto the town itself.Akureyr is the fourth biggest city of Iceland and the only metropolis outside Greater Reykjavk. The rdquoCapital of the Northrdquo as it is often called is the administration and service centre of Northern Iceland. Although only http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/North/Akureyri/blog-347288.html Off to Lake Myvatn today midge and mosquito capital of Iceland In fact that's what the word 'Myvatn' actually means. Strange to name a place after its most annoying inhabitant hardly the best advertising campaign Lake Myvatn is also apparently a bird watcher's paradise although we saw surpisingly few perhaps the cold was keeping everyone but the crazy English people indoorsThe lake is Ice http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/blog-347279.html Up bright and early to pay a morning visit to Dettifoss in Jkulsrgljfur National Park Europersquos most powerful waterfall with an estimated 110000 gallons of water passing over the falls every second which tumbles down the huge gorge of the JokulsaaFjollum river the longest in Iceland. If I wasn't awake before the spray was certainly enough to wake me up if not drown me We first visit http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/North/blog-347252.html .....The ice was all around It cracked and growled and roared and howledLike noises in a swound Not quite as dramatic as the Ancient Mariner's trip but still very impressiveToday began with an early morning boat ride of the Jokulsarlon lagoon and definitely one of the highlights of the trip. I believe it was even worth losing the feeling in my feet and hands for the whole day to see the blue http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/South/blog-347239.html We started the day with what for me was to be one of the highlights of the trip a trip to Inglfshfi aka Puffin Island. Despite being threatened that the puffins had already flown we were assured that the majority had not yet done so and we were guarenteed to see them. The word 'guarantee' should have put us on our guards to begin with but no matter. We piled onto our tractor pulled cart stan http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/South/blog-347188.html Morning drive from Hella to the Skaftafell Region to visit Seljalandsfoss our first waterfall of the day. Very fun if also very wet as it was possible to walk behind the waterfall although most of us spent the majority of the time trying to protect our camaras than actually appreciating the view The sun decided to come out for us briefly though did very little to dry us I am now resigned to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/South/Vik/blog-346999.html Less than a week after returning from sunny Ecuador I'm heading to a place significantly colder Iceland. Although it was certainly cold our first couple of days anyway I can't agree with the naming of the country at all as I had to wait until we say actual icebergs before I had seen any ice at all. Still had a late night arrival in Reykjavik followed the next day by an early morning start to http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Iceland/Southwest/blog-319656.html Well a trip to Ecuador wouldn't be complete without a trip to Otavalo to load up on all the touristy goodies that you can possible fit in your rucksack. Which is exactly where we were headed from the beach. Despite a six hour trip to Quito from Atacames and then three more hours to Otavalo I'm sure it doesn't usually take that long but we seemed to stop every five seconds to let someone on or off http://www.travelblog.org/South-America/Ecuador/North/Otavalo/blog-308776.html