Trip Report: Ecuador

[Anonymous One]

Quito
My girlfriend, Ira, was making the long flight from Russia.  I had told her bye by sms as she got on her plane in Moscow, and allowed her to get halfway across the Atlantic before I caught my flight, via Miami, to Quito.

As I landed, I could see the volcano Pichincha with its twin peaks of Ruco and Guagua from my window. 

Quito is Ecuador’s capital and has a setting of great natural beauty, perched in the Andies.  It's a high city--2850m (9348 ft) above sea level.  I noticed some altitude sickness during the first hours after landing.  Later, when we climbed to the higher peaks, I felt it even more.

Quito was a beautiful Inca city that was destroyed shortly before the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors. Although no Inca traces remain, the city has preserved much of its Spanish colonial character, marked by the cathedral in the Plaza de la Independencia (the oldest church in South America).  I'll post pictures of that church next.

I waited at the airport for Irina to arrive.  After she landed, we made our way by taxi to our hotel, the Shearton Four Points, which had an ideal location in Quito.

[Anonymous One]

The next day we explored Quito.  We found an active market area and beautiful architecture.  We were most impressed with the cathedral in the Plaza of Independence.  Here are some pictures we made:

[Anonymous One]

After climbing steps for half an hour, we were at the top of the steeple.  We were rewarded with a breath-taking view of the city and the surrounding mountains.  Notice the statue on the hill in this picture:

[ScottinCrimea]

Wow, those pictures bring back memories.  I lived in Ecuador for a couple of years in my early twenties and still have very fond memories of the place.  The pictures of the cathedral and the statue on top of El Panecillo were great.

[Anonymous One]

Thanks, Scott.

Quito is a very beautiful city. I really think a lot of guys here should consider Ecuador for meetings with FSU girls, instead of places like turkey and egypt.

But guys-- always meet the girl in her home town and be serious about her, before you try a trip like the one I'll describe here...

[Anonymous One]

The next day, we hired a driver and made our way to the magical place for which Ecuador is named-- the Equator.

It was a short 50 minute ride outside of the city to the park with the monuments that proclaimed it.

I had read about it at age 8, and could not wait to "see" it for the first time.

As I stood on the center of the earth, I knew that I was on the fattest part of planet Earth.   It was a very special moment for both of us.

Here are a couple of pics, with my gf blacked out to protect her identity.

As you can see, a yellow line is painted over the path of the equator.  Later, more exact science showed the line was off a few yards.  But the monuments stayed put 

[Jack]

Ecuador?  Oh hell, I clicked onto the wrong discussion board, sorry.

[Jack]

No, I was on the Russian board!

[Anonymous One]

Welcome, Jack.

Surely you have something to say about the ladies of Ecuador?  LOL

[Anonymous One]

That evening, when we arrived back at the hotel, we found a big traffic jam. 

As we tried to go in the hotel, we were stopped and searched by soldiers.   About 100 troops with automatic weapons had the hotel well protected.

Turns out the presidents of Peru and Ecuador where meeting in our hotel.

Despite the border dispute finally being settled a few years earlier, there was still tension.  http://www.usip.org/pubs/peaceworks/pwks27/keypt_27.html

Locals told me they hated Peru, the bully of South America.

[Anonymous One]

I'll share a couple of maps, to illustrate the border solution.

[Anonymous One]

Our next quest was to volcano country, and the beautiful mountain town of Banos.

We wanted to see the deadly Black Giant...near Tungurahua, Ecuador.  It's located at  1.467 S, 78.44 W
and is 3 miles high with an elevation of 16,475 ft. (5023 m)

We hired a car and enjoyed the scenry of the all day drive to Banos.  It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen.

[Anonymous One]

We stayed at a resort, Luna Rutun, which was perched on the mountainside high above Banos.

http://www.lunaruntun.com/

It seemed we were on top of the world.

Tremors, and stories of recent evacuations of Banos because of volcanic activity, added a touch of danger and excitement to our stay.

Here are some pics I shot at the resort:

[Anonymous One]

We were staying the in very hotel that had housed Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe during the filming of their hit movie
PROOF OF LIFE.

Our guide had been Meg Ryan's personal escort and guide during her stay.  She liked him a lot, and had even had dinner with him and his family in his house.

He made my gf feel very good when he told her how much she looked like Meg Ryan and how much she reminded him of her.  He constantly stared at her, so I think he was telling the truth 

But he forgot to tell me how much I looked like Russell Crowe! LOL

[Anonymous One]

I'll admit it...even though I fancy myself
as the James Bond type,
I started to get a little nervous
about our setting and surroundings
as I reflected back on the story line of
PROOF OF LIFE.

I wondered if my gf
would be able to get me
back if I were kidnapped
by bad guys like the ones
in the movie.

The feelings intensified a few
days later when we hit a road
block on a winding mountain
road on our way to the rain forrest.

More on that later....

*frowns*

[Anonymous One]

Our next stop was Puya, where the rain forest was said to begin. (see map above)

The drive there was beautiful, with beautiful vistas and waterfalls on every mountain we climbed.

Ira had to stop at every one to take pictures!  At this rate, we would NEVER make it to the rain forest.

Once we were stopped my a stray calf that Ira just had to take pictures of. (see pic above)

An hour later, we were stopped by armed men who searched our jeep.  I was glad we had a driver and guide who handled the questions.  Their Spanish was much to rapid for me to understand.

I'll share pics of some of the amazing waterfalls next.

[Anonymous One]

We took a break from driving and riding, and the two of us got away for a couple of hours as we hiked down to the waterfall.

[Anonymous One]

Eventually, we made it to Puya, the gateway to the rainforest and the amazon.

First, we stopped by an animal park.  To my surprise, the animals were running free!

First, a monkey noticed us and jumped on a tree near us.  Then it tried to drink from my water bottle.  (See picture)

Later, several creatures, pig-like things, wanted to be petted.  I was afraid not to 

[Anonymous One]

Our guide dropped us off at our hotel, and wished us luck.

Then next day we made our way to the river that fed into the Amazon, where we caught a swiftboat.  We would travel down the river for 6 hours, where we would change to a slower riverboat that would take us to the place where we would stay a week in a wilderness outpost in the rainforest.

The trip was amazing; the river was in places as wide as many lakes.  I'll post some pics for you here.

[Anonymous One]

At last our trip was almost over.

We transfered to canoes, making our way up a stream and finally to a black lake.

Here is a video of the shoreline as we paddled across the lake.  "http://www.youtube.com/v/hHTnWUcaocM"

[Anonymous One]

The next day we went for a swim in the black lake.  The water was very pure and very black. 

And filled with Pirana!

[William3rd]

And you were both eaten alive-much to the chagrin of all who have been following your exploits

[Anonymous One]

And you were both eaten alive-much to the chagrin of all who have been following your exploits

Nah, they ate her toes but I escaped unscathed :-)  LOL

[Anonymous One]

Here is a picture of the Black Lake and the cottages...very primitive.

[Anonymous One]

Actually, guess who ate whom?

Hint, I went "fishing" off the dock you see in the picture above...