Blogs from Ecuador, South America - page 661

South America » Ecuador June 1st 2005

אחרי ה גלאפאגוס אנחנו ממשיכים את הטיול באקוודור נחתנו בקיטו ב- 1/6/05 יום חמישי 2/6 היינו בחוצה עולם אותי זה לא כל כך עניין יום שישי 3/6 היינו בשוק של אוטבלו, אותי זה לא כל כך עניין, אבל קנינו מתנות... :יום שבת 4/6 lake coycotcha עשינו טרקון נחמד באיזור יפיפה, הקבוצה שלנו היתה מאוד נחמדה זוג אמריקאים שפרשו באמצע כי אחד מהם לא הרגיש טוב, זוג אנגליות ושוויצרית אחת, המדריך סיפר לנו כל מני סיפורים מוזרים על ענקים ופרחים שעושים מהם תה עשינו מסלול סובב האגם (הר געש) במשך כארבע וחצי שעות יום ראשון 5/6 - עוזבים את קיטו נוסעים לבניוס יום שני 6/6 - בניוס טיול אופניים בשפת המקומיים עשינו את טיול המפלים כאשר סטינו קצת מהתוכנית ולקחנו גם כמה טרמפים לאיזור הר געש שלא כל כך ידענו איך מגיעים אליו אבל ראינו מלא ציפורים ... read more

Waterfalls and hikes

South America » Ecuador » Centre » Baños May 30th 2005

Sunset from the balcony

Hitchin and Beyond

Thursday 19th May 2005 : Goodbye Latacunga, Hello Banos Got up and left the Residencial Rieles without looking back. Had hoped to get breakfast nearby but all the places open seemed to double as greasy chicken joints and I walked past them all. Entering the bus terminal we were waved straight on to a bus for Banos, I thought. Once underway it became clear it was only going as far as Ambato where we could catch the Banos bus. Getting off the bus in Ambato the conductor showed us exactly where (just across the road) to pick up the Banos bus. As we reached the departure point there was a heated debate (by the conductors) about which was the best/next bus available. We were shepherded to a bus and sure enough it set off after a ... read more

Llamas in Pyjamas

South America » Ecuador » Centre » Chugchilan May 30th 2005

Hasn't Deb Grown ?

Hitchin and Beyond

Saturday 14th May 2005 : To Chugchilan Early breakfast. Taxi at 0800 but we need to stop for cash as the Black Sheep does not take CC. As we are closing the taxi doors all the staff from the B&B are on the doorstep waving us off. Taxi driver very obliging. Drops Deb and I in town centre and will pick us up further round the one-way system. We try three ATMs before we can get our money. Pile back in the car. Off to the bus Terminal Terrestre. The approach roads are being rebuilt, it is a nightmare. Queuing near a pile of sand and some railings he asks if we would like to get out here - no ta, I’ve no idea where we are. 5mins later we drive into the car park as ... read more

Days 5 to 10

South America » Ecuador » Centre » Baños May 30th 2005

Which one is the monkey

Bev and Paul

Well, we survived the rainforest but we´re not sure the rainforest survived Beverlee! We stayed in a Jungle lodge ( see www.eljardinaleman.com ) where we were joined for breakfast by a family of Monkeys and a Parrot. We went on a Dugout canoe ride for 20 kilometres followed by a 3 hour trek through some primary rainforest. Some of us came back wetter than others, guess who fell in a stream and couldn´t get up for laughing? We swung through the trees Tarzan style on a creeper. We saw lots of different birds and butterflies, all sizes and colours. In the lodge where we were staying they had some animals which they had rescued, including a 10 foot long Boa Constrictor. On the way to the lodge we stopped for lunch in another lodge where we ... read more

הגלאפאגוס האמיתי !!!

South America » Ecuador » Galápagos May 26th 2005

צב יבשה עצום

ohadi

יו יו יו כמובן בהתחלה הגענו לאי סן קריסטובל בעקבות סגירת שדה התעופה בבלטרה ראינו ביום הראשון יאמבה כלבי/אריות/חזירי ים הם מדהימים, כל זמן פנוי שהיה לנו פשוט ישבנו על החוף והסתכלנו עליהם ביום השני הלכנו ל"טרק" במטרה לראות צבי ענק הטרק היה טיפה מאכזב מכיוון שהם היו סגורים בשטח סגור - חצי טבעיים וגם לא ראינו יותר משש - שבע צבים בכל מקרה היה מצויין ראינו גם לגונה מאוד יפה ובכלל הכל פה מדהים אח"כ הגענו לחוף הים ליד שדה התעופה ושם ראינו הרבה איגואנות ים שחורות יפות... מירי לא מסכימה לגבי המילה יפות ביום השלישי(יום רביעי 25/5) שטנו לאי סנטה קרוז הספקנו לבקר במרכז דרווין וראינו צבים באמת גדולים וחברותיים וראינו גם את "הגורים" שלהם שהם נראים כמו צבים רגילים שיש בארץ וראינו גם איגואנות יבשה צהובות והיה נחמד ביום חמישי (26/5) הלכנו לעשות ... read more

The Bucket at the Centre of the Earth

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito May 24th 2005

Check me out... both hemispheres.

Export Quality

I didn’t think about it at the time but the trip to Quito was my last big bus ride. The service arrived in the city centre at 5am so I was relieved that the hostel I had planned on had rooms available. I sat in silence in the lounge room and ate a fantastic baguette sandwich prepared by the night watchman. Much later, as people began emerging from darkened dorm rooms, I began to get the idea that there had been a very big night here while I was dozing on the bus. Someone appeared to retrieve a pile of their clothes that they couldn´t remember shedding and another was vigorously accused of trying to spin on his head, breakdance-style. The hostel was very social and I quickly got to know the ringleaders and was brought ... read more

"Yeah... check it out... we're in... Delaware"

Day 3 & 4

South America » Ecuador » North » Otavalo May 24th 2005

Bev and Paul

We left Quito early yesterday morning and set off for Mindo which is in the Cloud Forest. We stopped on the way to visit an Orchid reserve and had a walk through the sub tropical rainforest where we saw some lizards and birds. We then made our way to Mindo Gardens which is the lodge where we stayed right next the Mindo river, which was about 6 kilometers from the nearest village along a dirt track. We had lunch in the restaurant whilst watching a selection of Hummingbirds feeding just outside the window. In the afternoon we went to a Butterfly breeding centre and saw Butterflies at all stages of development. Later on we visited another cafe where we saw some different species of Hummingbirds and a Parrot. Today we were woken at 5.30 am to ... read more

Day 2

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito May 22nd 2005

Bev and Paul

Unfortunately we are unable to add any photos at the moment but we should be able to in a few days time. Today we visited the old town of Quito. Some of the buildings are from the 15th century and are still standing after surviving several major earthquakes. We drove to the highest point of the town for some spectacular views. We had the afternoon free and managed to visit a local park where there were some paintings and local crafts for sale. We visited the main shopping centre which would put the quadrant to shame. This evening we went to a restaurant where they had some traditional music and dancing. Tomorrow we are up again at 7.00am, after breakfast we leave Quito and make our way to Mindo, which is in the cloud forest. On ... read more

Day 1

South America » Ecuador » North » Quito May 21st 2005

Bev and Paul

Arrived in Quito 1 hour late, not bad after 21 hours travelling. Flight okay, met the rest of our group at the airport, 10 of us in total we are the youngest!! Hotel very impressive views over a valley looking at a snow covered mountain. Just had a very nice bowl of Chilli and now looking forward to a good nights sleep before getting up at seven tomorrow morning. Looks like being a very busy 3 weeks. We'll try to upload some photos tomorrow.... read more

¨Come on and plug me in...¨ - The Mutton Birds

South America » Ecuador » South » Vilcabamba May 19th 2005

It was saying:

Export Quality

My time in The Valley was like nothing else I have experienced on my trip to date (and that is all I ask of each new destination). I arrived at the secluded hostel feeling broken and tired but still able to smile happily at the sweet girl who checked me in. I explained that I was sleep-deprived and manic from the buses and she took this as her cue to transform into Florence Nightingale, helping me with my bags and hurrying me into the restaurant so that I could eat before they closed for the night. I thanked her and waited for my menu. Looking around I could see why this place had been so highly recommended to me. (I decided to come here after a Cuba-Libre-conversation with a cool couple in Cusco who had raved ... read more