Day 2 - Around the hotel

 I went for a walk around the grounds while Paul was showering.  It was quite cool but the sun was coming up.   The main part of the garden is enclosed by hotel rooms and a conference centre so there were a few people about.  I went to the bottom garden where there was an Alpaca.  I thought I was more likely to see wildlife there but.....  I was joined by a cat.  It followed me everywhere until I left this part of the grounds.  All I heard were the alarm calls of the birds.

After breakfast we saw the hummingbird and he was regularly using a resting perch in the tree outside our room so got some photos and videos of him.   

 
Western Emerald Hummingbird

 
Western Emerald Hummingbird

We went for a walk on the footpaths in the ajoining farm (which may be owned by the hotel) and then along a disused railway which is now a cycle track.  It was lovely and peaceful and at times we had good views of Quito which is about 22 kms away.  

We started at a small lake at the side of the hotel where there were 3 alpacas and a small dog that we know belongs to the hotel as we saw him yesterday.  We took a slow walk around the lake and the dog walked just in front of us.  When we stopped, he stopped.  He stayed with us for the rest of our walk and only disappeared when we were back in the hotel grounds.  Another dog from one of the nearby houses joined us later so we finished the walk accompanied by 2 dogs. 

There are some farmland paths that are signposted so we took these and went past arable fields, an avocado orchard, some cows with calves and horses.  As we left the farmland we saw a cycle track on a disused railway line so walked along that for a while and got some good views towards Quito city.  Although we walked slowly and only for 4km I did find myself getting a bit breathless going up the hills but we are at an altitude of 2500 m.  

 
Tropical Kingbird

 
Paul with alpacas at the lakeside.

 
Calf in field

 
Hooded Siskin
 

 
Avocados on tree

 
Cactii

 
Paul with our friendly dog and one of his friends, 
with a corkscrew tail

 
View towards Quito and the mountains

 
The cycle track, formally a railway

 
Vermilion Flycatcher

 
Seen on the telegraph wires.  
This is a type of air plant.

 
Our guide dog

 
Large butterfly

In the afternoon Paul fell asleep so I walked around the hotel gardens on my own.  I had a small accident when I went to get into one of the hotel hammocks.  The one I chose looked ok and I got my backside in but when I lifted my legs, one of the supports gave way and I fell on the ground.  No injuries but my clothes got a bit dirty.  There were 2 other people sitting on a bench that might have seen me but fortunately no-one else was around.  I tried the next hammock and it was fine and I stayed there for quite a long time enjoying the sunshine.  Paul then came and joined me and we went to the hotel "tree house", which is like a sun room up high.  We then went into the small animal enclosure where we got close up to ducks, geese, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs and the peacock. 


 
Selfie in the hammock

 
Great Thrush with worm

 
Paul in the Tree House

 
Pet Rabbits

 
Duck Pond
 
 
The Peacock

We had dinner in the hotel tonight.  Much to our surprise, as our meals were brought to us, the hotel cat (same one that followed me this morning) jumped up on the chair next to Paul looking lovingly at his Chicken and Chips!!






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