Day 3 Quito

 

I again took a walk around the gardens before breakfast and while Paul was getting ready.  It was already warm and sunny and there were clear views of the Andes.  The friendly dog from yesterday again joined me.  We found his name is "Wilson".  I had heard dogs growling and barking when I first came out and it looked like he had been in a bit of a fight as his face was bleeding.  It didnt seem to bother him and he ran off when I went back into the building.  He joined us at breakfast, making himself at home under our table and we fed him some of the cold meats.  We made the staff aware of his injuries and they said they would take care of him.

 
Golden Grosbeak

 
View across to the Andes

 
Wilson with poorly face

We took a trip into Quito today and did one of the "Free City Walking Tours" which are always good and give a lot more information on daily life of the local people.  You just tip the guide whatever you think the tour was worth.  This one was excellent, a lady called Andrea who is Quito born and bred.   She took us around the indoor market where we got to taste some of the more unusual fruit, to a convent where most of the nuns are not allowed to leave and cannot be seen by anyone outside, some of the main plazas, the Cathedral and to a Chocolate demonstration.  The meeting point was at the top of a very tall building and by the time we had climbed the stairs we were both feeling very breathless.  

 
The Basilica and surrounding area (north of old town)

 
El Panecillo and surrounding area (south of old town)

 

 
Entrance to Convent

 
Chocolate Demonstration

 
Inside a typical Colonial House

 
Presidential Palace

 
Grounds of the National Library

 
Inside the Cathedral

 
Inside the Cathedral

 
San Francisco Church

 
View into the hills.

We had lunch in the city and walked around some areas we had not seen last time and then caught a taxi back to our hotel where I just had time for a final walk around the grounds before it got dark and saw more hummingbirds and a Great White Egret.

 
Rufous Collared Sparrow

 
Hummingbird

 
Great White Egret

We had dinner at the hotel and were joined by both Wilson and the cat, who is called Sylvestre.  Wilsons wounds are looking much better now. They were both very well fed by us and other hotel guests tonight.

 I have really enjoyed staying at this hotel in the suburbs of Quito.  We have a very early start tomorrow as we are being picked up at 5.40 am to catch an 8.00 am flight to Galapagos.  There is unlikely to be any internet available while we are there (unless things have changed in the last 3 years) so I will probably be unable to publish any blogs until we return to the mainland.

 



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