Well since Bronwyn is busily studying Spanish I took up the challenge of doing day trips around Quito. My first solo Adventure saw me visit the Pre-Inca ruins of Cochasqui Archaeological Park. Getting there was a feat in itself as I chose to catch a local bus from Old Quito. Basically catching the bus requires oneself to stick your hand out and jump onto the moving bus. Using my best broken Spanish I had to ask the driver to let me out at LCochasquiL(try pronouncing that word), and to my surprise he looked at me blankly, I think this is due to not many tourists going to this destination. After a 2 hour hike up a dirt road I landed at the Park where I picked up a compulsory Spanish guide for 1.5 hour to show me around. The park consists of grass covered pyramid ruins, disturbed only by the grazing llamas. The Quitu-Cara people built these in AD500 and were used as a luna and solar calendar. Mostly I learnt this form hand gestures from my guide as I still do not understand Spanish!! Today saw me leave Quito once again to the northern reaches to visit the largest cratered volcano in South America - Pululahua. Trying to follow the guidebooks directions I attempted the easy walk down into the 4km crater. However because I had to pay the hefty price of $5US (always a tight-ass) to go down into it I though I might attempt the 15km hike. Well my ass, legs and arms and now hating me for it, yet it was quite a pleasant 5 hour hike for those who like to hike. Basically the hike saw me walk through fertile grazing lands, birds, butterflied and walk through a cloud or 2. On completion of the hike I did the tacky tourist thing and visited the centre of the earth...the Equator!! This tourist site of Mitad del Mundo was the hight of tackiness with a huge 30m obelisk that aligns itself with N,S,E,W (as seen in the picture) and a yellow line passing through the whole town bisecting the Northern and Southern hemisphere's. What I find most amusing by the whole trip was my Hot Dog I had for lunch. It consisted of a Hot Dog in bread with mayo and mustard topped with broken bits of salt and vinegar chips!!!!