Hi

Loved Quito, after Guatemala City it was certainly a change. We stayed in the old area of the city )all a world heritage site, in a place recommended by Miguel. The area was much more visitor friendly and had some beautiful old colonial buildings, plazas etc that we could quite safely walk to. Visited the San Francisco Basilica/monestery - was awesome. There is no such thing as Occupational Health & Safety in these countries so we got to climb right to the very top up these old metal ladders, at the very top we were wandering around on metal mesh and hanging out carvings in the tower-view was amazing. Also visited a really great market and brought a few things- Pete bartering as per usual. Toby made brilliant purchases, actually one small wrist bracelet - he always has been the big spender of the family!!!!

In the afternoon we took a taxi up to a monument on the hill to get piccies, the taxi driver spent an hour and a half showing us around and waiting for us in the rain for $10!!!!!!

Then bused to Riobamba and rocked up on the doorstep of Pete´s friend Angela without any warning (only been 30 years since he saw her). After she had recovered we enjoyed some wonderful Ecuadorian hospitality. Took a trip out to the lakes area, 2hrs on an interesting road. What a magnificent drive tho, this country is truly beautiful, at least in the mountains where we spent our time. Around 10,000ft in the mountains, often shrouded in a ¨whispy, elegant mist not out of place in Lord of The Rings¨. (Toby´s line) Or they are a patchwork of various green plots where the locals grow all their vegetables.

The lakes themselves were in very step, rocky country very reminiscent of the Routeburn track for those kiwis among you. GO THE ALL BLACKS!!!!!! On the way back we got a fleeting glimpse of the mighty Chimbarosa, covered in snow just as the sun dropped behind it-a chilling site, in a good way.

Love the Clarks