AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT - QUITO EDITION

From Bogota, we decided to put continue our high-altitude acclimatization in Quito.  At about 9,200 feet above sea level, Quito proved to be a true test.  We started off with a walking tour of Quito’s old town, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its well-preserved historic city center.  Our guide hosted a fantastic tour of the baroque-style monasteries and churches, as well as some cultural experiences, like sampling local fruits and a coffee tasting.  It was a great overview and a perfect way to start our stay here.

Street vendors selling their fruit and veg wares at the Mercado Central.

Looking up toward the Basilica del Voto Nacional - perhaps my favorite church ever...

...because the gargoyles are all Ecuadorian wildlife, like turtles and anteaters (zoom in).

Chocolate tasting!  So interesting... and delicious.

I love Quito's architecture!  This is one of the indoor courtyards of the old historic buildings around the historic town center.

Can't get enough of the colorful buildings - and blue sky.

Looking toward El Panecillo, an old volcano overlooking the historic old city.

Local fruits on display in the Mercado Central.

And, of course, graffiti art on display everywhere.  This was one of my favorites...

... and this one too.

As if the base elevation of Quito wasn’t high enough, we also took a trip up the teleferico, a gondola that takes visitors up the Pichincha volcano to a height of about 13,000 feet above sea level.  It offers spectacular views at the top.

View of Quito from the top of the teleferico.

As high up as we were, we still weren't at the top of Pichincha.  That yonder is the peak - and a day hike (at least for those who didn't have to stop every 20 feet to catch their breath) from the top of the teleferico.

Obligatory selfie to prove we were there.

But considering our current home in Jakarta is actually below sea level, all this elevation gain took a toll on both of us.  I had a headache for about three days, but Andrew actually got altitude sickness.  He was feeling really lousy, so back at our hotel in Quito, I inquired at the front desk if there was some sort of drop-in medical clinic we might visit so he could get checked out.  They suggested having a doctor come to the hotel room instead.  I started seeing dollar signs flash before my eyes, so imagine my shock and joy when they said this could be arranged for the cost of US$100.  Sign us up!  Within the hour, a doctor arrived, checked him out, and prescribed some meds to help get him back on track.  The meds were also delivered directly to us within the next hour for a cost of about US$12.  Two big thumbs up for the medical service in Ecuador.

A little caldo del gallina criolla (Ecuadorian chicken soup) helped put him on the road to recovery too.

While Andrew was resting back at the hotel, I booked a shuttle to head to the Mitad del Mundo – the “middle of the world” – to put my feet on the equator.  The Mitad del Mundo itself is a monument proclaiming your arrival at the equator, but to visit the monument, you pay a small entrance fee and maneuver through a Disney-esque tourist park.  I paid my fee, beelined to the monument, took a few obligatory photos, and headed back to the shuttle.  The next stop was a museum and interpretive center right next to the monument park that was far more interesting and entertaining, with all sorts of informative displays and fun facts. 

Made it!

Welcome to the middle of the world.

With Andrew back on his feet, we headed to the Mindo cloud forest for a couple days of hiking… and bird watching.  True, I completely hijacked this portion of our vacation.  Andrew took a pass on the 4AM start on our first morning there and let me go off with the guide on my own.  But while I was gone, the birds came to him, and when I got back, he gave me a run down on what I’d missed.  I think we may make a birdwatcher out of him yet.

Warning: Bird photos will ensue.  First up, blue-winged mountain tanager.

Oh, the flame-faced tanager and the golden-naped tanager can be friends... 

The Andean cock-of-the-rock... a contender for best bird name ever and the object of our 4AM departure.  Success!

Meanwhile, this masked trogon visited Andrew while he was sitting at the lodge having coffee.

Mountain toucan.

He was none to happy about this squirrel stealing his banana.

I wonder why they call it a cloud forest?

Still can't figure it out.

The great bird hunters.

And so, just as we’d finally gotten accustomed to the altitude, we took our leave of Quito and the cloud forest and headed back to sea level.  Next stop… the Galapagos.